Pub. 2 2020 Issue 1

J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 0 8 nebraska cpas I want to acknowledge again President Joni Sundquist and the Nebraska Society of CPAs leadership in allowing the State Board to utilize this space to reach out to you and keep you informed of the activities of the board and requirements to keep your license in good standing. Your State Board will be busy in 2020! Under the capable leadership of Chairman Michele “Shelly” Stromp, CPA, the State Board will address some very important issues, including: • Monitoring and supporting LB 782, introduced by Sen. John Stinner on behalf of the Nebraska Society for consideration before the Nebraska Legislature this session. After discussion and recommendations by the State Board’s Education Advisory Committee (EAC), ledbyStateBoardmemberMarcy Luth, CPA, a formal recommendation was made to increase the number of provisionaldaystositfortheUniformCPA Examinationbeforemeeting the150-hour educationrequirement.TheEACconsists of Nebraska accounting educators and CPAs with the charge to address the 150-hour education requirement to sit for the Uniform CPA Examination and make formal recommendations to the State Board. It had been reported that some graduate candidateswere sitting for the examination in other states based on the ability to sit with a bachelor’s degree. The State Board hopes the provisions in LB 782 will motivate candidates to sit as Nebraska candidates. • Launch i ng a CPA Exami nat ion Application Task Force to review and make recommendations to the State Board’s examination provider, the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) CPA Examination Services (CPAES), regarding the application process for Nebraska candidates to ensure the process is efficient and not overly burdensome. • Continuing to review some very complex enforcement matters that come before the State Board’s Enforcement Committee. The State Board and Enforcement Committee will lose a key player on the enforcement team in 2020. Robert Grimit, a longtime former partner and currently of counsel to the Baylor Evnen law firm, has been a special assistant attorney general for more than 35 years and will retire this year from State Board service. He has provided a common-sense, even- handed approach to the cases that have come before the State Board. I have witnessed this approach for more than 16 years and cannot express enough appreciation for the professional work provided. Jim Titus, owner of the law firmMorris & Titus and a former State Board member, will take over these important duties in 2020. • Continuing to review theCPAEvolution project presentedbyNASBAandAICPA leadership. This important project will have a direct impact on future CPAs and you! After much discussion and feedback fromstakeholders outlining the changes needed for the profession, your State Board knows it must be prepared to address any recommendations to ensure the public remains protected and the profession remains relevant in Nebraska. Several State Boardmembers will attend a regional NASBA meeting this summer to receive direct updates and recommendations. • Welcoming a newState Boardmember, Melissa Ruff, CPA. Ruff replaces the former chairman of the State Board, Lori Druse, CPA, who has completed serving her two four-year terms. We will miss Lori, but we look forward to working with Melissa! These and several other items will require our attention in 2020. As you can see, your State Board remains busy! I also want to take this opportunity to remind you to contact the State Board office with any questions or concerns. Kristen, Heather, and I will answer the phone or respond to your email requests. It is our goal to get back to you as soon as we can! t BY DAN SWEETWOOD, NEBRASKA BOARD OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY S TAT E B O A R D R E P O R T THE STATE BOARD WILL BE BUSY IN 2020! 2020 Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy Members: Michele Stromp, CPA—Chairman Thomas Purcell, CPA—Vice Chairman Marcy Luth, CPA—Secretary Michael McClure, CPA Ken Brauer, Public Member Glen Waltemath, CPA Jeff Kanger, Public Member Melissa Ruff, CPA Staff Members: Dan Sweetwood, Executive Director dan.sweetwood@nebraska.gov Kristen VanWinkle, Administrator kristen.vanwinkle@nebraska.gov Heather Myers, Business Manager heather.myers@nebraska.gov 1526 K Street, Suite 410, Lincoln, NE 68508/(402) 471-3595/ www.nbpa.ne.gov