I had the pleasure of accompanying Jay Rothstein from the AICPA on his visits to G400 firms in Massachusetts this week. These visits confirmed for me that hiring and retaining staff are still the biggest issues for all firms, and adding more diversity to the profession is critical for our growth.

In response to this need, the MSCPA launched new initiatives this year to help fill the accounting pipeline with diverse candidates. One particularly exciting program was the new Accounting Career Awareness Program (ACAP), which is an opportunity for young people from underrepresented ethnic groups to experience a free, week-long program at Fisher College to increase their understanding of accounting and business career opportunities. Accounting Today recently published an op-ed I wrote on the importance of these programs for encouraging diversity in the profession – you can read it here.  

We will continue the conversation on October 10 during HUBweek, Boston’s popular festival for the future that unites leaders from the top business sectors in Boston. Our introspective panel will cover unconscious bias in the hiring process, best practices for a diverse workplace, the role diversity plays in venture capital funding, filling the pipeline of future workers and the business benefits of increased diversity. Registration is free – click here for details. I hope to see you there!

Have a great weekend!

• AAFCPAs, Westborough/Boston/Wellesley, announced that:
• JONATHAN BLOOM, CFP, wealth advisor of the firm’s Wealth Management and AMY MORRISON, CPA, manager, were nominated to the Board of Directors of The Whole Child in Upton;
• MATT HUTT, CPA, CGMA and COURTNEY MCFARLAND, CPA, MSA, in collaboration with the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers (The League) and the Rhode Island Health Center Association (RIHCA), presented Medicare and Medicaid Cost Report Training sessions for Massachusetts and Rhode Island community health centers; and
• CARLA MCCALL, CPA, CGMA was honored recently as the recipient of the inaugural Harry C. Bentley Alumni Achievement Award. McCall was also recently featured in AccountingToday in articles titled “AAFCPAs’ ‘Women’s Opportunity Network’ gives female leaders a pathway” and “Diversity in accounting has a long way to go.”
• BAKER NEWMAN NOYES, Boston, was awarded the 2017 Marketing Achievement Award for Technical Published and Feature Articles by the Association for Accounting Marketing (AAM) on June 14 in Las Vegas. The award was presented at the 2017 AAM ENGAGE Summit, presented in partnership with the Association of Certified Public Accountants. AAM is the nation’s leading trade association focused exclusively on marketing and business development for the accounting profession.
• GRAY, GRAY & GRAY, LLP, Canton, will host its 30^th annual Year-End Business Planning seminar on November 7.

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