ACCOUNTING
ACCOUNTING
New NJCPA CEO Tackles Profession ’ s Pipeline Issues
Aiysha “ AJ ” Johnson , the new CEO and executive director of the NJ Society of Certified Public Accountants ( NJCPA ) gives a simple definition of her role – advocate and voice of the membership .
But the challenges she is facing defy simplicity . Since taking the helm of the 13,000-member organization six months ago she has waded into one of the profession ’ s most complex issues – the dwindling numbers of accountants .
The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants ( AICPA ) has been carefully tracking the issue nationwide , using information supplied by the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System . The latest figures show the number of bachelor ’ s degrees in accounting for the schoolyear 2021- 2022 dropped 7.8 percent after steady declines of 1 to 3 percent a year since 2015-2016 . A similar story is seen in the master ’ s programs , where the drop off was 6.4 percent .
The association ’ s report highlighted trends and found declines reach back over a decade . In 2011-2012 the data from responding universities showed there are 57,483 bachelor ’ s degrees earned in accounting , compared to 47,067 in the 2021-2022 class . Among the academics surveyed only 44 percent believe accounting enrollment will increase in the 2023-2024 schoolyear , while 22 percent expect it to drop .
Upon graduation fewer students are taking the examinations to be CPAs also . Just eight years ago there were 48,004 students applying for the examination , while in 2022 the applicants totaled only 30,251 .
Within the profession , the downturn is referred to as a “ pipeline ” problem and to rectify it Johnson says : “ we ’ re looking at turning every stone to support the profession .” The NJCPA established a task force , headed by Zack Cohen , the chair of its Emerging Leaders Council . Johnson is an “ unofficial ” member of the task force and encouraged it to “ think freely and brainstorm ,” said Cohen , who is a senior manager at CFGI , the nation ’ s largest non-audit accounting advisory firm .
The task force was charged with developing recommendations specific for New Jersey and appreciated the rapport Johnson has been establishing with firms statewide as she met with leading professionals across the Garden State in the past few months . For her part , Johnson is forging partnerships with the key stakeholders , including government officials , leaders in higher education , member firms and others to devise strategies . She brings 20 years of association management experience and knowledge to the task .
Johnson succeeds Ralph Albert Thomas , who retired last spring . Both the current and former CEOs were trailblazers as the first African American woman and man , respectively , to lead any CPA society in the nation . Thomas made diversity a priority and Johnson echoes the commitment . There are few minorities in the profession , she notes , emphasizing that striving to enhance diversity overlays all her work , especially on pipeline challenges .
Before accepting the NJCPA position , Johnson was executive director at BKR International , an association of independent accounting and advisory firms . She was in charge of the executive offices in Manhattan and dealt with members across the nation , Canada and Latin America .
Her tenure there coincided with the early throes of the pandemic when accountants were working through the new regulations of the federal Payroll Protection Program , helping business clients through the crisis . When she was offered the NJCPA job , “ I thought what better way to continue to serve the profession ,” she said .
Johnson ’ s commitment well impressed the NJCPA as it was interviewing candidates for the CEO slot . “ The search committee considered many factors with a focus on leadership skills , strategic planning , vision and a passion for the accounting profession . AJ embodied all of these characteristics and came to the NJCPA with relevant experience and significant knowledge of the profession , said Edward G . O ’ Connell , CPA , a partner at Withum . “ As the NJCPA president , I have been working very closely with AJ , and she has been very focused on meeting with many members , firms and other business leaders . She has placed emphasis on several strategic areas , including the pipeline challenges , and is well positioned to lead our 125-year-old organization into the future .”
Johnson holds a master ’ s degree in administration and policy from the University of Chicago . Early in her career she worked in health care . That industry ’ s strict regulatory compliance well prepared her to enter the accounting realm .
The new CEO is looking forward to “ a lot of grassroots activities around advocacy and just supporting the profession as a whole .” She wants to ensure that “ members have the resources at their fingertips to support them in their day to day work .”
A majority of the state ’ s licensed CPAs belong to the CPA Society . Johnson wants to support them throughout the “ continuum ” of the profession . That starts with the early career and licensing qualifications , extends to the more
Aiysha “ AJ ” Johnson , CEO and Executive Director , NJ Society of Certified Public Accountants ( NJCPA )
experienced accountants seeking pathways to promotion and greater opportunities and naturally includes the veteran leaders who are approaching retirement and ceding their partnerships to the next generation .
Johnson is motivated and inspired by young accountants , who have shared the stories about how they impacted their communities . “ They are telling me we need to tell a different story ( about the profession ),” she said .
Cohen said one of his task force ’ s primary recommendations was aimed at eliminating the profession ’ s negative stigma . He wants to quash the old stereotype of accoåuntants as stodgy and boring . “ I think being an accountant is absolutely crucial in today ’ s world , especially in terms of how we could be strategic advisors – it adds a whole different dimension ,” he said .
Starting at the high school level , Cohen said the Society must “ educate the educators ” about the rewards of an accounting career and make presentations in schools to engage the students .
The Society is also working with state leaders to have accounting recognized as part of the STEM education program . Johnson said the designation would increase awareness , provide access to government support and possibly increase funding . If more financial assistance is available , it could open doors for more diverse students , she noted .
The Society has a robust scholarship program and Cohen said another proposal under consideration would allow recipients to use scholarship funds for CPA examination prep classes . Tackling the pipeline issues will continue to demand multi-pronged approaches .
“ We are at the future of accounting . What we ’ re doing now is going to make an impact ,” said Johnson , who plans to support the profession for the long haul .
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