“Out here in California, the skies are filled with smoke, many people have homes in ashes or that are fire damaged, and now the AICPA has gone out of its way to give away our livelihoods to non-CPAs.” That’s the sentiment of one CPA/ABV who has joined colleagues in boycotting the annual FVS conference in Atlanta this November. BVWire has seen a number of similar emails from others who “won’t give the AICPA a penny” for the conference this year. They are distressed with the AICPA’s decision to open up the ABV credential to non-CPAs, a stance the AICPA maintains despite nearly unanimous criticism from the ABV community, which is gaining steam.

Growing ranks: State CPA societies have begun making their voices heard. The New York State Society of CPAs, in a comment letter members of the society’s BV Committee drafted, expressed its “strong opposition to the AICPA’s decision that effectively removes much of the value of the ABV designation by offering it to non-CPAs,” the letter says. Also, the society’s BV committee “is in communication with its counterparts at other state societies in order to promote a larger, nationwide effort to convince the AICPA to reverse its decision.”

The California Society of CPAs (CalCPA) formed a task force to examine the matter and concluded that the AICPA did not provide sufficient information to members about the reasoning for the change prior to the AICPA Council’s vote. In a letter to the AICPA, CalCPA says the change is “unpopular with many CalCPA members as well as CPAs nationally.” But it makes the point that the change “could still have” a chance to succeed with more member support. CalCPA’s recommends that the AICPA:

• Put the decision to open up the ABV to non-CPAs on hold for at least a year;
• Have a meaningful dialogue with members about the business case for the change;
• Consider abandoning the proposed change unless a majority of ABVs agree on it;
• Improve the ability to communicate to members about major changes; and
• Ensure that member feedback is solicited before the AICPA’s National Accreditation Committee to the Council makes recommendations.

CalCPA stressed that it had “respect and appreciation” for the work the AICPA’s volunteers and staff did and hoped that it would give the task force’s findings “careful consideration.”

Not budging: When BVWire asked the AICPA to comment on the state society letters, it gave us no indication that it would consider the recommendations to reverse its position and redo the decision process. Instead, it reiterated its position that it gave “careful consideration” to the change, which it feels is needed in the marketplace. As for concerns that CPA/ABVs will see their ABV credential diluted, the AICPA says, “CPA/ABVs will continue to be differentiated by their CPA license.”