Serving on the Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy for the last eight years and as chair this year has enabled me to expand my knowledge of the issues facing CPAs and to be involved in the evolution of our profession. I am a shareholder with the firm AMGL, PC in Grand Island and have practiced public accounting for more than 30 years. Early in my career, I started volunteering with the Nebraska Society of CPAs, participating on several committees, serving a term on the Society Board of Directors, and teaching an annual course on school district audits. This involvement with the Society really opened the door of opportunity for me to become involved with the State Board.

If you have not already done so, I strongly recommend that you consider becoming active in the Society and serving on the State Board when the time is right for you. Volunteer service for the Society or State Board allows you to enhance your understanding of state, national, and international issues impacting our profession. This has been beneficial and assisted me with an understanding of the “big picture” while focusing on my own firm. It is so important and fulfilling to understand the current issues and future needs of our profession and to address them as an active member of the CPA profession. We all have a duty to pay it forward, as this profession cannot thrive unless we all take an active role in its evolution and pass these ideals onto the next generation of CPAs.

As you consider getting involved with one of these two organizations, it is important to understand the purpose of each, as sometimes people confuse our functions. The State Board is the regulator of our profession; it grants (and can take away) CPA licenses. The Society assists its members in the professional practice of both public and private accounting, promoting our profession through education and other initiatives. The State Board collaborates with the Society on matters of mutual interest such as proposed legislation.

If you are interested in getting involved in the Society, please reach out to Joni Sundquist or Kelly Ebert at the Nebraska Society of CPAs office at joni@nescpa.org or kelly@nescpa.org, respectively. If you are interested in serving on the State Board, go to the governor’s website at https://governor.nebraska.gov/board-comm-req to complete an application. The governor makes direct appointments to the State Board for four-year terms.

As we move into 2022, I also want to update you on a few State Board activities, as follows:

• The State Board will continue to work with the Society on movement of a legislative bill to remove the physical ownership requirement for CPAs. I had the opportunity to participate on the task force that reviewed and recommended the change. We think this will assist in small firm succession issues and align us with our neighboring states’ requirements.
  
  
• The State Board also continues to monitor anti-regulation initiatives within the Legislature that could affect our profession’s requirements. We will work closely with the Society on this issue and will be prepared to address any initiatives that might harm our great profession.
  
  
• The State Board continues to provide input and monitor the CPA Evolution project being led by NASBA and the AICPA. The changes to the Uniform CPA Examination will be significant, and the State Board will continue to address any regulations and changes in Nebraska needed to move this initiative forward.

Please take care during the upcoming tax season and never hesitate to reach out to our office and staff if you have any questions and/or concerns at (402) 471-3595 or at dan.sweetwood@nebraska.gov. You can also reach out to me directly at mluth@gicpas.com.