Lexy Kessler, a partner in the assurance services practice at top 30 accounting firm Aprio, was elected the new chair of the American Institute of CPAs during the group’s Spring Council session on May 14.
She also will serve as chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, which was founded in 2017 by the AICPA and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
Kessler, a CPA who also holds the CGMA designation, was elected to the one-year AICPA volunteer post by the organization’s governing Council, which concludes its Spring Council session on May 15.
Jan Lewis, CPA, CGMA, a tax partner with top 100 accounting firm BMSS Advisors, was voted in as the AICPA’s vice chair.
During her acceptance speech, Kessler said, “You have my commitment to help facilitate what I can during my term as chair—to listen and connect.” She added that she will work toward “helping to move our profession forward on the [talent] pipeline, innovation, adapting technology at a disruptive pace, and celebrating the value of our profession.”
During her tenure as chair, Kessler stated she will concentrate on shaping the future of the accounting profession and working closely with AICPA members to align the collective vision, strategy, and direction for success. Her goals for the next year include:
- Prioritizing the profession’s commitment to quality by delivering value and providing guidance to tackle major challenges faced by individuals, businesses, and economies.
- Showcasing the profession’s drive to transform and spirit to innovate by embracing new technologies, services, and skill sets to meet evolving business needs.
- Empowering the future of the CPA, CGMA, and the profession by fostering collaboration among members to attract, develop, and retain top talent.
The next generation of accounting professionals is especially important to Kessler, who previously served as chair of the National Pipeline Advisory Group, which focused on developing a comprehensive pipeline strategy for the accounting profession in the U.S.
That talent pipeline, which has started to dry up in recent years, could soon be replenished as the AICPA and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy announced earlier this morning that CPA candidates will now have an optional alternative pathway to obtain CPA licensure. Candidates can still choose to get licensed by following the 150-hour rule, but now it’s no longer the only means to become a CPA.
- Related article: CPAs Provide Six Ways to Replenish the Talent Pipeline
- Related article: It’s Official: CPA Candidates Finally Given Additional Path to Licensure
Kessler served for the past year as the AICPA’s vice chair and has held several other volunteer posts, including serving on the AICPA Board of Directors, AICPA Audit and Finance Committee, Private Companies Practice Section Executive Committee, and the AICPA Investments Committee, and she is a member and elected state representative of Council. Kessler is former chair of the board at the Maryland Society of CPAs (MACPA).
With 40 years of experience in the public accounting industry and extensive experience in assurance, tax, and consulting, Kessler joined Aprio in 2023 after the firm acquired Aronson LLC, where she had worked since 1985. She previously served on the Aprio Board of Directors and led the firm’s Government Contracting segment.
Kessler has won several awards, including CPA Practice Advisor‘s Most Powerful Women in Accounting (2022, 2023, and 2024), Forbes (2025) Best-In-State Top CPAs, Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential Women in Accounting (2024), AICPA’s Most Powerful Women in Accounting for three consecutive years, Maryland’s Top 100 Women as a Circle of Excellence member, and MACPA’s Most Powerful Women to Watch in Accounting. She was also named to the Washington Business Journal’s list of “Women Who Mean Business.”
Kessler earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Maryland. She serves on the Board of Trustees at Marymount University. She is a former chairman of the board of the Choral Arts Society of D.C. and is the treasurer for the Professional Services Council.
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Tags: Accounting, AICPA, AICPA chair, Aprio, Lexy Kessler
