AICPA and CIMA Members Overwhelmingly Approve Ballots to Position Profession for Future

Contacts: Gil Nielsen, 212-596-6008, gnielsen@aicpa.org, Jay Hyde, 202-434-9266, jhyde@aicpa.org  

New York (June 18, 2016) – Members of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) in separate membership ballots overwhelmingly approved the creation of a new international accounting association that will integrate operations and represent the entire accounting profession, while preserving the membership bodies of both organizations. 

Members of the AICPA and CIMA will continue to receive all existing benefits plus added value from the new association. The AICPA will continue its strong commitment to promoting, protecting and growing the CPA and advancing audit, tax and other core services. By joining together, the organizations will be able to strengthen advocacy, accelerate efforts to boost member employability, and provide additional resources to enhance the quality and competency of public and management accountants in the U.S. and abroad.

“CPAs have a long history of acknowledging and staying ahead of the trends that shape our profession and the environment we do business in,” said Tim Christen, CPA, CGMA, chairman of the AICPA Board of Directors. “This will benefit CPAs and CGMAs and the entire accounting profession worldwide.”

A supermajority of AICPA members who voted supported the proposal, 86.5 percent to 13.5 percent, according to the independent tabulator Survey and Ballot Systems.  CIMA members also overwhelmingly endorsed the proposal 89.7 percent to 10.3 percent, according to their independent tabulator, Electoral Reform Services.

“In developing this proposal, we were careful to structure commitments to CPA and CGMA, CIMA and AICPA and public practice and management accounting,” said Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA, AICPA President and CEO.  “We are excited about crafting a path forward that reflects how the world is changing.  At the same time, we will be extraordinarily mindful of protecting our collective history and the strong reputation both organizations have built over the past century. This is about building on what is great – and addressing an exciting evolving world.”

The approval of the new association signifies an evolution of the joint venture between the AICPA and CIMA that began in 2011 and launched the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation in 2012. The new association will represent approximately 600,000 current and next generation professionals.  Work to create the new association will begin immediately, and it will officially launch in 2017. All members of the AICPA and CIMA will have automatic dual membership in the association for no additional dues. Dues will continue to be set and adjusted in line with historic norms.

“Our current joint venture with the AICPA has been extremely successful, so we are evolving this partnership,” said Charles Tilley OBE, FCMA, CGMA and chief executive of CIMA. “In doing so, we will support our members and students further, which means both greater resources and the weight of a larger organization behind them.”

Additional information about the proposal is available on aicpa.org/horizons.