Elizabeth Pittelkow Kittner Receives the 2019 AICPA Outstanding Young CPA Award

The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) has named Elizabeth Pittelkow Kittner, CPA, CGMA, CITP, Head of Finance for the International Legal Technology Association (ILTA), winner of the 2019 AICPA Outstanding Young CPA Award in Honor of Maximo Mukelabai. Pittelkow Kittner was recognized for her efforts to advance the profession, as well as her extensive civic and volunteer activities.

The annual award, now in its eighth year, recognizes a CPA under age 41 who personifies a commitment to the profession as demonstrated through successful practices and involvement in and contributions to the interest of the accounting profession. The award was presented to Pittelkow Kittner at the AICPA’s EDGE conference by Kimberly N. Ellison-Taylor, CPA, CGMA, former Chairman of the American Institute of CPAs’ Board of Directors.

Pittelkow Kittner also was selected as one of the 2019 Most Powerful Women in Accounting, which is presented by the AICPA and CPA Practice Advisor magazine.

“Elizabeth has accomplished a great deal in her career, balancing impressive professional achievements with service to the profession and her community,” said Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA, executive vice president of firm services for the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. “Elizabeth truly exemplifies the values held by Maximo Mukelabai. Naming her as the 2019 AICPA Outstanding Young CPA Award recipient is a tribute to his legacy.”

Pittelkow Kittner is an active member of the AICPA and Illinois CPA Society, volunteering her time at both the state and national levels. She currently serves as a member of the AICPA governing Council and an editorial advisor for the Journal of Accountancy, and she previously volunteered with AICPA’s Business and Industry Executive Committee, Young Member Leadership Committee and EDGE conference planning committee. She is the current Treasurer of the Illinois CPA Society Board of Directors and is active as a continuing professional education (CPE) instructor.

More broadly, Pittelkow Kittner is committed to promoting and maintaining integrity within the profession. She serves on the Illinois CPA Society’s Ethics Committee and the AICPA’s Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations (NOCLAR) Task Force to ensure the Code of Conduct is consistent with other countries’ ethical standards. In addition, she frequently presents ethics sessions at accounting and university conferences, and she is an ethics columnist for Illinois CPA Society’s INSIGHT magazine. “When you are passionate about something, like your family or your profession, you put time into it, and you want to see it thrive,” said Pittelkow Kittner. “I want to do what I can to help move the accounting profession forward. It is second nature for me to volunteer my time, whether it’s promoting ethics efforts or mentoring younger CPAs just starting their careers.”

She is dedicated to helping new generations of CPAs enter and advance within the profession. Pittelkow Kittner is a 2013 graduate of AICPA Leadership Academy, a program she has continued to champion. She also supports the Mary T. Washington Wylie Program, which offers job training, resources and mentoring to African-American and other racial and ethnic minority college students with an interest in accounting. In addition, she participates in mentoring programs through the AICPA and Illinois CPA Society that encourage other CPAs.

Pittelkow Kittner is actively engaged in Toastmasters, a non-profit that promotes leadership and communication skills. She also organizes Cardz for Kidz events, in which she and her colleagues create homemade cards that are sent to children in hospitals around the world.

“Every CPA has the ability to make an impact on both the profession and their community,” Pittelkow Kittner said. “There are so many opportunities to volunteer, and I encourage CPAs who are starting their careers to volunteer in a wide range of roles as they seek to determine where their passion exists.”

The AICPA created this award to honor the legacy of Maximo Mukelabai, a member of the inaugural class of the AICPA Leadership Academy and the youngest chair of the North Carolina Association of CPAs Board of Directors. Tragically, his life was cut short at age 36.

The eligibility criteria to apply for the Maximo Mukelabai award are:

Holding the CPA license and being between the ages of 22 and 40
Encouraging students to pursue a career in accounting
Volunteering in activities that advance the accounting profession
Participating in community-based organizations that improve people’s lives

To be considered for the award, candidates submitted applications and details on their volunteer history, along with professional reference forms from peers, employers and state CPA societies. A task force of young CPAs then reviewed all qualified nominations to determine the winner.

Questions on the nomination process may be directed to YoungCPANetwork@aicpa.org. The application period for the 2020 award will begin this summer.