By Rebekah Olson, CPA – CEO, Maryland Association of CPAs.
There have been many discussions, surveys, comments, and concerns about how the lingering effects of the pandemic of impacted foundational professional and communication skills in the accounting profession .This gap isn’t just about technical know-how — it’s about the ability to lead, communicate, and thrive in a profession that is built on trust, relationships, and adaptability.
Recent surveys and research has found similar results, including a recent article in Accounting Today
- Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Accounting: A Complete Tutorial for Professionals
- The Impact of Remote Work on Accounting Firms
- 5 Most Important Takeaways From COVID-19’s Impact on CPA Firm Operations
Why this matters now
Traditionally, many firms took the lead in onboarding new professionals — not just into their organizations, but into the profession itself. But with today’s capacity crunch, evolving business models, and competing priorities, not every organization has the time or resources to develop these broader skills in-house.
At the same time, the profession is expanding. We are welcoming talented individuals from non-traditional backgrounds who bring fresh perspectives but may not be familiar with the CPA-led but not CPA-only ecosystem that defines our work.
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How the MACPA is responding
In conversations with members of the Maryland Association of CPAs, we’ve seen this need emerge as well. To address it, we’re piloting two programs co-created with our members to help close the gap.
- Emerging Professional Membership:
A year-long, cohort-style onboarding experience into both the profession and the broader MACPA community. This program supports firms and organizations that recognize the need, but may lack the bandwidth or resources to provide this level of onboarding internally.
- Emerging Professional Learning Cohorts: Shorter, focused programs that zero in on the competencies today’s new professionals need most — communication, leadership, adaptability, and more.
Why state society involvement matters
Even for firms that already have strong internal onboarding programs, there’s a unique value in connecting professionals to the broader community. Exposure to peers across industries and firms provides perspective. Engagement in state society initiatives offers opportunities to practice leadership, communication, and collaboration in a setting that looks different from the workplace but ultimately strengthens it.
And for those entering the profession from non-traditional pathways, this connection to the wider profession can accelerate their understanding of our ecosystem. In fact, it might even inspire some to pursue the CPA license along the way.
Looking ahead
We can’t afford to let gaps in professional and communication skills hold back the next generation of leaders. By investing in cohort-based learning and encouraging state society involvement, we not only strengthen our profession — we create professionals who are better equipped to serve, lead, and thrive.
Rebekah Olson, CPA, is CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs.
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