Ken Witt, CPA, CGMA, AICPA & CIMA associate director–Management Accounting Research and Development, explains in this JofA podcast episode why finance decision-makers in the second-quarter Business and Industry Economic Outlook Survey are less optimistic now compared with the first quarter.

Witt summarizes the survey results, including CPA decision-makers' expectations for revenue and profit increases and the top challenges facing them and their businesses.

What you’ll learn from this episode:

· Why Witt says the outlook this quarter is “mixed.”

· An overview of respondents’ sentiment about the domestic and global economies.

· The “signs of strength” in KPIs, including revenue and profit projections for the next 12 months.

· One metric that Witt will monitor in the third-quarter survey results.

Anoop Mehta, CPA, CGMA, is the chair of the selection committee that will choose the next AICPA & CIMA CEO. Mehta, a former AICPA chair and Association of International Certified Professional Accountants chair, discussed the qualities the organization seeks in its next leader, a planned timeline for the selection committee, and the importance of knowledge transfer.

The CEO chosen will replace Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA, who on May 22 announced his retirement, effective at the end of the year.

Mehta, who recorded the episode at AICPA & CIMA ENGAGE, also shared why he thinks prospective CPAs should attend the annual event in Las Vegas and why he expects to continue meeting with accounting students.

Resource: AICPA & CIMA CEO job description

What you’ll learn from this episode:

· A planned timeline for hiring the next CEO.

· The qualities being sought in the next leader.

· Mehta’s explanation of how a strong leader can balance openness to hearing others’ perspectives with making an unpopular decision.

· The importance of the Association chair and co-chair in the selection process.

· The state of talent development and why Mehta says he gets “energized.”

Trisha Nomura, CPA, CGMA, and Abel Soares III, CPA/PFS, don’t live far from each other, but they didn’t know the other’s story until Soares was featured in an AICPA & CIMA Member Spotlight Series video.

They joined the JofA podcast recently to discuss how connecting has led to mutual admiration — and opened up new ideas for mentoring. The episode is in recognition of Asian American Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and intended to celebrate the diverse voices of the profession.

Resources

n AICPA & CIMA home page for diversity, equity, and inclusion

n Full index of the Member Spotlight Series focused on diverse voices:

What you’ll learn from this episode:

· How Nomura and Soares learned that they were essentially neighbors.

· The background of each CPA and why it matters — particularly this month.

· Their advice for fellow accountants on being more entrepreneurial.

· The inspirational emails Nomura has received after speaking to students about accounting.

· Why Soares wanted to go “beyond the numbers” with his firm’s focus.

· Their ideas for helping to grow the profession.