Leading Accounting Organizations Partner to Diversify the Accounting Profession

Pilot program from IMA, AAA, NABA, CalCPA, CAQ, and Gleim will reach out to Black students and professionals in California

Under the partnership agreement, the six organizations will combine their resources for outreach to Black students and to professionals for teaching roles in California. Pending the success of this pilot program, it can eventually expand to other demographic groups and geographies.

The program will comprise four exclusive tracks that will aid participants in their success — three student tracks: the CMA^® (Certified Management Accountant) track, which will map out a career in management accounting and ready participants to become CMAs; the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) track, which will map out a career in public and private accounting and ready participants to become CPAs; the leadership track to help participants become business leaders; and the faculty track, which will include faculty development from AAA and assist in the practitioner-to-faculty transition.

All of the tracks will include complimentary memberships to the respective relevant organizations in the partnership, along with resources and exposure to Black business leaders and faculty. Participants in the CMA and CPA tracks will receive access to Gleim Exam Prep courses, a leader in the accounting exam prep space and trusted by candidates for more than 45 years.

The pilot program implements actionable solutions from the April 2022 Diversifying Global Accounting Talent Actionable Solutions for Progress report from IMA, CalCPA, and IFAC (International Federation of Accountants), in which all other organizations in this pilot program partnership were involved, that are directed toward attracting diverse talent with various types of campaigns. This program responds to the key call to action found in the research: advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Applications for participants will open in January 2023. For more information about the program, visit https://nabainc.org/diversifying-the-accountancy-pipeline-program/ . 

About IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants)
IMA® is one of the largest and most respected associations focused exclusively on advancing the management accounting profession. Globally, IMA supports the profession through research, the CMA® (Certified Management Accountant) and CSCA® (Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis) programs, continuing education, networking, and advocacy of the highest ethical business practices. For more information about IMA, please visit www.imanet.org.

About CalCPA
For every past, present and future CPA and accountant, CalCPA is a members’ club and professional education provider offering the leadership the CPA profession needs for change, and the knowledge you need for what’s next. Our education, member community and advocacy are transforming the profession for a brighter future.

About NABA
NABA Inc. is a nonprofit membership association dedicated to bridging the opportunity gap for Black Business Leaders in accounting, finance, entrepreneurship, and related business professions. NABA advances people, careers, and its mission by providing education, resources, and meaningful career connections to professional, student and corporate members. Visit http://www.nabainc.org to learn more.

About The American Accounting Association
The American Accounting Association is the largest community of accountants in academia. Founded in 1916, we have a rich and reputable history built on leading-edge research and publications. The diversity of our membership creates a fertile environment for collaboration and innovation. Collectively, we shape the future of accounting through teaching, research and a powerful network, ensuring our position as thought leaders in accounting.

About The Center for Audit Quality 
The Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) is a nonpartisan public policy organization serving as the voice of U.S. public company auditors and matters related to the audits of public companies.

About Gleim^® Exam Prep
Gleim creates online self-study courses for accounting certification exams, including the CPA, CMA, CIA, and EA. For 45+ years, Gleim’s mission has been to maximize knowledge transfer while minimizing customers’ time, frustration, and cost. With their proven system of success, Gleim Exam Prep has helped millions of candidates earn passing scores.

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Organization Quotes

“One of our objectives is to reduce inequities by exposing participants in this program to the life changing outcomes that the accounting profession can provide, and our hope is that Black students and professionals will take advantage of our program’s resources to remove barriers, choose accounting as a career path, and in turn, thrive in their careers and lives,” said Loreal Jiles, vice president of research and thought leadership at IMA.

“Black students and professionals often lack exposure and access to resources to explore the range of opportunities available in the accounting profession,” said Suzanne Brown, senior vice president, program design and implementation, NABA Inc. “This program is giving students an avenue to pursue management and public accounting, and professionals the opportunity to leverage accounting for success or become adjunct faculty and influence the next generation of Black Business Leaders.”

“As evidenced by the research and solutions offered over the last few years, it is essential that we diversify our profession and its leadership for everyone’s benefit,” said Denise LeDuc Froemming, CPA, CAE, CEO of CalCPA. “As the largest accounting organization in California, we are proud to be the first state to offer this program to our Black students and professionals and to partner with organizations that share our common goal.”

“The foundation for tomorrow’s accountants begins in the classroom and it is important for students to have representation from those that are instructing them,” said Yvonne Hinson, CEO, American Accounting Association. “With this program, our hope is to turn accounting practitioners into adjunct faculty and provide a presence for the Black community that improves readiness for the profession and retention within collegiate accounting programs.”

“The accounting profession is laser focused on closing the diversity gap,” said Liz Barentzen, vice president, talent initiatives, CAQ. “With this pilot program, we are able to connect Black students with resources and mentors that will help them understand the benefits of a career in accounting and ultimately join this profession.”

“Diversity is at the core of Gleim Exam Prep and has been since its first published CPA Review in 1974. Dr. Irvin Gleim created a course that everyone could benefit from no matter their background,” said Lorie Gleim, chief executive officer of Gleim Exam Prep. “This program is a natural fit since our mission has never changed, and we continue to invest resources to reach diverse students and provide the best accounting support to help them pass the CPA and CMA exams. We are ecstatic to support Black students pursuing a career in accounting."