Accounting Accreditation Practitioner Engagement Program

August 20, 2017

Program Overview

The AACSB is working with the AICPA and other influential accounting organizations to increase CPA practitioner engagement in the accreditation process. Increasing accounting practitioner engagement in the accreditation process will add value for the university accounting program seeking accreditation/reaffirmation and ultimately for the profession. Selected practitioners will be a vital part of the accreditation process and governance structure by volunteering to serve on an AACSB accounting peer review team or AACSB committee. 

If you are interested in participating in this program, please fill out an application. If you would like to recommend a practitioner who you think would be a good fit please fill out a recommendation form

If you have any questions, please contact Cortney Sanders, AICPA - Senior Manager, Professional Media and Academic and Student Engagement.

AICPA CPA Practitioner Volunteer Attributes1

The following are four skill sets/backgrounds required for the selected practitioners to be recruited to take part in the accreditation process:

  1. Practicing or recently retired CPA and member in good standing of the AICPA and their state society AND
  2. For the initial recruiting period, individuals can commit to serving for 3, 4 or 5 years (average one PRT per year) on teams or on committees AND
  3. Sufficient experience in accounting practice to be of optimal benefit to the accreditation process.

Plus, the selected practitioner should meet at least one of the following three requirements: 

  1. Service on firm peer review teams 
  2. Service on an Accounting Advisory Council/Board 
  3. University teaching experience and an understanding of university processes and governance

Onboarding

Selected practitioners must attend a two-day in-person onboarding workshop before being placed on a peer review team or committee. The onboarding workshop will be offered in-person only. Trainings may be recorded as a refresher for practitioner volunteers.

For in-person training, AICPA will cover the following associated training costs for all participants:

  • Training space
  • Training materials
  • Internet access
  • Group dinner on night of first training day
  • Lunches on both training days

Attendees who volunteer on behalf of the AICPA will have the following costs covered by the AICPA :

  • Transportation and lodging costs
  • Travel expenses
  • Other meals costs during training,
  • Other approved incidentals.

Volunteer Reimbursement

For each accreditation visit, the AACSB will coordinate payment of volunteer expenses of each volunteer practitioner from the college or university associated with the accreditation visit, including lodging and transportation.

Program Timeline


Ongoing – Recruitment of accounting practitioner volunteers
June 2019 – Onboarding for volunteer practitioners and selection for Fall 2019 visits

Next Steps

We are currently in the process of selecting practitioners for the second onboarding in June 2019.

Please note: If you have been notified that you have been accepted into the program, but have not received an onboarding date, we will reach out to you at a later date. Practitioners are placed according to the needs of the AACSB and therefore practitioner onboarding is completed in phases. All volunteers cannot be onboarded and given an accreditation assignment at the time of program acceptance.

If your availability or circumstances change and you no longer wish to participate in the program please email Cortney Sanders.

 

1 Non-CPAs are welcome to participate but are responsible for their own transportation, lodging, and other travel expenses.