Are you a young CPA looking to grow as a leader?  Volunteer to serve on a committee.

Serving on a committee enables you to network with your peers and play an influential role in shaping the future of your profession.  A good place to start is with FICPA committees.  There are over 30 committees to choose from, and those include the Young CPA (YCPA) and Accounting Careers Committees. 

The Accounting Careers Committee is great for recent college graduates since the goal of the group is to promote accounting career opportunities to attract college students to become Certified Public Accountants through creative and effective outreach programs.  Recent college graduates can leverage their liaison contacts with organizations to include Beta Alpha Psi and Student Accounting Society.

The YCPA Committee is geared towards those members 35 or younger to promote YCPA participation by coordinating social, educational, and philanthropic activities locally and throughout the state with outreach to other young CPAs, local professionals, and accounting students.  Events include planning the YCPA Leadership Academy and CPA Day of Service as well as networking activities at Committee Days and the Accounting & Business Show.

Sign up today on the FICPA Committees website for the 2017-2018 term!  Deadline is Friday April 21, 2017. 

If you are looking to expand your network outside the state of Florida, then the AICPA has even more opportunities with nearly 200 volunteer groups utilizing approximately 2,500 volunteers.  With a membership base of over 400,000 CPAs, volunteer appointments can be competitive based on the large pool of potential applicants for these positions.  Suggestions for YCPAs include the Student Recruitment and Young Member Leadership Committees.

The Student Recruitment Committee is for members with less than 15 years of experience in the profession with a mission to encourage and support the recruitment of talented and ethical students to become CPAs.  Committee members collaborate with AICPA Next Generation Initiatives staff liaisons to promote the profession through resources to include www.StartHereGoPlaces.com.

The Young Member Leadership Committee is for those members in the 22-40 age demographic to actively promote and enhance the young CPA experience in the accounting profession by providing targeted leadership programs and networking opportunities.  Events include the AICPA Leadership Academy and The Edge Experience.

Applications for the 2018 term will be accepted on the AICPA’s Volunteer Central website now through July 10, 2017.

Volunteering on committees was critical in my development into the leader I am today.  Committee involvement has opened doors for additional leadership opportunities I did not know existed.  I serve on the FICPA’s Young CPA (YCPA) and Accounting Careers Committees in addition to the AICPA’s Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) Credential and Student Recruitment Committees.  I am the chair of the CFF Exam Task Force and have been selected for the 2018 term on the AICPA’s Joint Trial Board.

It’s never too early or too late to become a leader.

Natasha Novikov, CPA/CFF, CFE
YCPA Committee