Arkansas Society of Certified Public
Accountants
Strategic Plan
2012
Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants
11300 Executive Center Drive  Little Rock, Arkansas 72211-4352
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ARKANSAS SOCIETY OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
MISSION STATEMENT
The Arkansas Society of CPAs (ASCPA) is an active professional organization of CPAs,
working together to improve the Profession and serve the public interest. The ASCPA is
committed to acting on behalf of its members and to providing support for and enabling its
members to enhance the quality of professional services.
Introduction to Strategic Plan
Change has been and will continue to be a major factor affecting the accounting profession,
as well as the Arkansas Society of CPAs.
The ASCPA’s Strategic Planning Committee is charged with the responsibility for
formulating strategic plans that result in policies, which may be realized through specific
measurable goals. This responsibility includes studying and evaluating the strategic planning
done by the American Institute of CPAs, incorporating identified growth services and
priorities, examining information available from other state societies and obtaining input
from the ASCPA leadership.
The Strategic Planning Committee is committed to devoting more of its time to systematic
and continuous efforts to search for important cues about how the world and our profession
are changing and how these changes are likely to affect our organization.
While the accounting profession remains proudly connected to its traditional foundation,
innovation is essential. The Arkansas Society of CPAs and the Strategic Planning Committee
understand that change is inevitable but innovation is key to success. To ensure that
tradition does not become obsolete, we must not only plan, but we must also update and
monitor our plan and proactively respond to the issues that affect our members.
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Strategic Vision
Vision is about changing in order to meet the needs of the future.
Each individual accounting professional, as well as his or her state and national accounting
associations, should not only identify growth services (technology, assurance, information,
integrity, management, performance management, financial planning, international services,
etc.) but also work as a profession to develop and incorporate the competencies needed to
provide these services.
The Arkansas Society of CPAs is committed to identifying the service needs of its members
and has pledged its resources to implementing programs and services that will help its
members realize their potential. Monitoring emerging trends and issues is a vital part of the
ongoing mission of the Arkansas Society of CPAs.
Strategic Initiatives
The Strategic Planning Committee has developed the following strategic initiatives to serve
as the basis for the Society’s strategic planning efforts:

Membership Services

Continuing Professional Education

Professional Recruitment

Innovation and Leadership

Enhancing Public Perception
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STRATEGIC INITIATIVES
Membership Services
— Increase the participation of existing ASCPA
members, strengthen society relationships with local chapters, assist in implementing
chapter objectives, and improve the effectiveness of communication with members and
chapters.
Increased member participation would permit expanded services. Chapters, through their
close contact with members, can provide leadership and effective communication of
important information. While methods and speed of communication are changing, effective
exchange of information continues to be of paramount importance.
 Promote chapter membership — Help chapters attract members and increase
participation in chapter activities.
 Enhance communication with chapters and members — Educate members
on website advantages, continue to improve newsletter, brochures, and electronic
communications with members and chapters.
 Expand services for CPAs in non-public employment — Identify and
implement programs, activities, and services relevant to non-public CPAs.
 Focus on participation and demographics — Identify young, minority and
retired members and increase their participation in activities and programs.
 Promote membership benefits — Recognize and provide benefits important to
members.
Responsibility:
Membership Service Task Force, Industry and Commerce Committee,
and other task forces as needed.
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Continuing Professional Education – Monitor CPE presentations
and maintain quality control to improve the effectiveness, value, availability, and
delivery of lifelong education for CPAs.
The presentation of high quality, cost effective, continuing education programs will
continue to be a high priority service for the Arkansas Society of CPAs.
 Focus on competency building – Identify and implement programs which will
enable CPAs to enter new areas of practice, improve their effectiveness in established
practice areas and stay abreast of technical changes.
 Adjust to new CPE delivery systems in concert with marketplace
changes – Expand, integrate, and enhance CPE delivery systems to encompass
emerging technologies, while incorporating CPE enhancements offered by the
AICPA.
 Focus on relevance and uniqueness of CPE for Members.
Responsibility:
CPE Committee
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Professional Recruitment – Encourage and support the recruitment
and retention of talented people in the accounting profession and increase the
number of Arkansas CPAs who are members of the ASCPA.
It is more important than ever before that students recognize the desirability of accounting
as a career path and that CPAs support each other and the profession as members of the
ASCPA.
 Initiate a Student Intern Program – Develop a database for firms seeking
interns.
 Expand CPA presence at schools and colleges – Encourage accounting
professionals to volunteer as mentors and speakers; develop a pool of professionals
willing to speak when called upon. Provide chapter leadership with tools to make
effective presentations at career days and through the school year at local high schools
and colleges. Encourage students with bachelor’s degrees to get their MBA and to sit
for the CPA exam.
 Increase membership in ASCPA – Initiate contact with non-member CPAs
throughout the year to inform them of various benefits which can be obtained
through membership in the ASCPA.
 Expand promotion of CPAs to include ASCPA – Incorporate advertising
generated by the AICPA and others to promote the value of ASCPA membership for
accounting professionals.
Responsibility:
Chapter Education Liaisons & Task Forces as needed.
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Innovation and Leadership - Identify trends, issues, and technical
advances affecting the profession.
Changes in the profession and technology will present challenges for CPAs and the ASCPA.
In order to meet these challenges, we encourage members to specialize, form strategic
alliances, and affect legislation and regulation. The ASCPA will be a valuable resource for
connecting CPAs with each other.
 Monitor the business environment - Recognize outside influences that impact
the profession, and work to alleviate any negative impact whenever possible, by
influencing legislative and/or regulatory issues.
 Strengthen the Society’s political advantage - Maintain and enhance a
proactive lobbying effort and the Key Person contact program. Encourage members
to become better informed and more involved in the professional and political
process.
 Strengthen communication - Seek innovative ways to encourage communication
within the membership and between the membership and the ASCPA in order to be
able to respond to issues more effectively.
Responsibility:
Legislative Committee, AICPA Council Representative, AICPA
National Key Person Coordinator, State Board Liaison and Task Forces
as needed
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Enhancing Public Perception – Ensure the success of the profession
by improving public perception of the CPA’s abilities and services.
The future of the accounting profession relies, at least in part, on the public’s perception of
CPAs’ competence, integrity, and ability to enter new markets. Certified Public
Accountants must be considered the first choice for financial issues in the marketplace.
 Improve communication with the business community and the public –
Publicize achievements and community service projects of CPAs and inform business
leaders of qualification of and services available from CPAs.
 Promote the value of the CPA designation – Ensure that AICPA promotional
efforts reach Arkansas businesses, and continue to supplement those efforts with the
help of Chapters and CPA symbols and merchandise.
 Advertise new competencies – Utilize media coverage to inform businesses and
individuals of new services and technology.
Responsibility:
Public Relations Committee, Board of Directors.
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