Indiana CPA Society builds experience and diversity in the talent pipeline
Indianapolis, IN (PRWEB) January 16, 2015 -- The Indiana CPA Society is a national leader in diversity awareness with its INCPAS Scholars program - a free, year-long career awareness and mentoring program for minority high school students in Indiana. This program reaches beyond the Indianapolis area and is fully funded by Indiana CPA firms and businesses that employ CPAs.
In 2013, Caucasians made up 75 percent of all accounting employees. Asian and Pacific Islanders were at 15 percent, Hispanic/Latino at 5 percent, Black/African-American at 4 percent and multiethnic at one percent (AICPA 2013 Trends Report).
The Scholars program was founded in 2011 as a new way to address this disparity of ethnic diversity in the CPA profession. Scholars are high-potential students with an interest in business or accounting (2.5 GPA or higher). The Scholars program gives them the opportunity to explore the CPA profession and understand the variety of opportunities it offers.
“If we don't bring in this talent that doesn't have the typical background, the profession will continue to look the exact same,” said chair of the INCPAS Diversity Advisory Council Sherry Davis, CPA, CGMA. “The country, the people and the customers are changing very rapidly. If we want to stay relevant, we need to change along with it.”
The program takes a multi-faceted approach to introducing high school students to the profession. Once the Scholars are selected each year, they are immersed into the profession through graduation and beyond:
Colleges, Companies & Conferences. Scholars visit universities and businesses, and participate in professional events and conferences to experience how CPAs operate in real-world environments.
Dress & Dine. Scholars learn about appropriate business attire and formal dining etiquette. The program includes a stipend for professional apparel of their choosing, as well as tailoring.
Mentors. Scholars are paired with mentors - this is especially beneficial to those who will be first-generation college students. Mentors help Scholars begin to hone in on what they want to do post-graduation and create a plan of action on how they will accomplish their goals.
Buddy System. Scholars are paired with a college accounting student from an Indiana college/university - most of whom are former Scholars - to have additional guidance on the college experience.
Networking. In addition to bonding with mentors and meeting CPAs at different firms in Indiana, students get the chance to meet and mingle with CPAs at INCPAS member events.
Stipend. After successfully completing the program, each student receives a $500 academic gift to help with books, tuition, computers, supplies, etc.
Letter of recommendation. Scholars receive a college and/or scholarship letter of recommendation from INCPAS, their mentors and/or firm partners.
Future leadership. Once Scholars graduate, they continue on as a leader – serving as a college buddy, speaking on panels and helping recruit future Scholars by serving as alumni ambassadors.
“The Scholars program has given my son a wide view of the field of accounting and its applications while developing softer skills like networking, communications, business and social etiquette, etc.,” said parent Arti Shah. “What he is learning is going to be valuable no matter what path he chooses.”
Notable Numbers and Successes:
By the end of 2015, the first Scholar graduate will meet the 150-hr requirement and will begin sitting for the CPA Exam.
76 Scholars total have participated, 21 of which are currently in the program.
47 are currently enrolled at a university (44 of them in Indiana) and 39 have declared Accounting/Business as their major.
The innovative and effective solutions offered by the INCPAS Scholars program have the potential for a broad impact on minority students and the CPA profession nationally. Not only will advances in ethnic diversity stemming from this program model increase the talent pool of future CPAs, it will help the profession become more representative of today’s society.
“Normally as a student you are used to listening and acknowledging professionals, but in the INCPAS Scholars program it was the opposite - CPAs listened to us,” said 2011 Scholar Bianca Davis. “It made us feel good to know that professionals really cared about what students were doing and were impressed by our achievements.” (see full blog)
The award-winning INCPAS Scholars program has already been recognized three times. In 2013, College Mentors for Kids named INCPAS Leadership and Outreach Manager Allison Paul the Inspire Awards winner in the Accounting, Legal and Finance category for her work with the Scholars program. The American Society of Association Executives presented the program with the Power of A award in 2013, and in 2014 the Indiana Society of Association Executives gave it a STAR award for Best Philanthropic Program.
Applications to be considered for the Scholar program are due June 15, 2015. See more program information.
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Currently, more than 8,200 CPAs in public practice, industry, government and education are members of the Society. INCPAS serves the public interest as well as its members. Its members are required to abide by the CPA profession's code of conduct. INCPAS members also receive access to quality educational programs provided by the Society, resources that enable them to better perform their job functions, and peer networking for information sharing that broadens their skills and knowledge base. Indiana CPA Society members are the most highly qualified and competent CPAs in Indiana. Make sure your CPA is a member of the Indiana CPA Society.
Elise LeBlanc, CPA Center of Excellence, http://www.cpacoe.com, +1 (317) 726-5012, [email protected]
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