President & CEO
| Req Number: | 51A5C5 |
| Location: | New York City, NY |
| Posted: | 5/24/2024 |
| Category: | Government/Not-For-Profit : Not-For-Profit |
| Job Type: | Permanent |
Position: President & Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants
Organization: AICPA & CIMA - Together as the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants
Location: TBD, Association hubs in New York City, NY; Durham, NC, USA and London, U.K.
Reporting Relationship: Association Board of Directors (“Board”)
Useful Links
Website: https://www.aicpa-cima.com
Association Leadership: https://www.aicpa-cima.com/resources/article/leadership
ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND
The AICPA and its predecessor associations have served the global public interest for 137 years. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, founded in 1887 as the American Association of Public Accountants, functioned as the national professional association for Certified Professional Accounts (CPAs) in the United States. Its international sister association, The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants® (CIMA), was founded in 1919 and served
as a global management accounting body based in the United Kingdom. In 2017, these two associations, AICPA and CIMA, came together to forge a powerful international alliance that might better promote accounting and finance in every corner of the world: a new combined organization
of AICPA & CIMA is called the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. Today, the Association serves 597,000 members, candidates and registrants in 188 countries and territories. By providing exclusive guidance and specialized resources — including prestigious designations, certifications, and credentials — the Association seeks to power opportunity, trust and prosperity for individuals, organizations, and economies around the globe.
Members of AICPA & CIMA are also members of the global Association supporting CPA and CGMA® and other designations that signal completion of rigorous learning and testing, ongoing competency development, and ethical behavior.
The Mission
The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants is dedicated to preservation and advancement of the accounting and finance professions. To further this mission, the Association seeks a new President & Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”).
The accounting profession powers trust, opportunity and prosperity for individuals, communities, businesses, and governments. People around the world rely on professional accountants for their unique expertise, commitment to a code of ethics and long history of innovation. Accountants instill trust in organizations and economies of all sizes with quality audits, assurance and tax services and strategic advice.
The confidence placed in our work strengthens capital markets and expands opportunities for sustainable and inclusive growth around the world. Accountants’ commitment to the public interest — to transparency and integrity — in a complex and ever-evolving regulatory environment fosters greater prosperity. That prosperity goes beyond the level of wealth of an individual, business or government to the freedom to set one’s own economic course, diversify, feel secure, and create competition.
Organizational Structure and Governance
Association Board of Directors: the Association’s Board of Directors is the core of its global governance structure. The Board aligns with the organization’s unique value proposition and addresses relevant issues while embracing opportunities to protect the public interest, advance the AICPA & CIMA membership bodies, and meet the profession’s needs.
The Board is composed of about 26 leaders from the profession and the public, representing the diverse perspectives and expertise of the membership and stakeholders we serve. They extensively monitor the external environment and key trends that could have the most significant implications for the profession and organization in the future. With that insight, they help shape and ultimately oversee the development and approval of the Association’s strategic plan and budget, monitor performance against goals, and provide overall enterprise risk management.
AICPA Governing Council: the AICPA’s Governing Council is made up of about 265 members and representatives from every U.S. state, district, and territory. The Council provides input to the Association’s strategic plan and programs in line with current and future market needs and works to protect the public interest. The Council convenes twice a year, in May and October, with smaller regional meetings held each March.
CIMA Governing Council: CIMA’s governing Council consists of up to 56 members, including honorary officers, elected fellows and associates, and members co-opted for the skills and experience they provide. The Council provides input to the Association’s strategic plan and programs in line with current and future market needs and sets standards and regulations for members in line with the objectives of CIMA’s Royal Charter and members’ wider duty of care to the public interest. Under normal circumstances, Council meets twice a year in person and twice virtually.
Regional Engagement Groups: Regional engagement groups (REGs) have two primary responsibilities: 1) provide insights and input into the Association’s strategic plan on local marketplace trends and offer the perspectives of members, students, employers, and key regional stakeholders, and 2) drive local member and student engagement by serving as a key conduit between the members, students, and stakeholders in the regions and the Association and Management Accounting Board. In this capacity, they represent, engage, and advocate for the CGMA designation across the globe. The Association’s Nominations Committee selects REG members and includes members, students studying to become professionally qualified, and employers.
The association operates in 188 countries, with over 1,100 staff and an annual budget of over $330M.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The President & Chief Executive Officer sets the overall vision and direction for the Association in collaboration with the Association Board of Directors and leads the Executive Team in managing all aspects of the organization’s business to manifest the vision. The President & CEO enhances and delivers sustainable growth of the Association’s global presence and influence.
The President & CEO has a significant responsibility to ensure the organization achieves its aim to transform the global accounting and finance profession and its purpose to power trust, opportunity, and prosperity for people, businesses, and economies worldwide while operating effectively and efficiently, maintaining strong relationships with its members and other stakeholders.
A unique quality of the Association is the maintained relative independence of both AICPA & CIMA following the merger of the two entities. As such, the President & CEO will work to create efficiencies between the two, addressing their shared priorities while valuing their unique histories and institutional memories.
The President & CEO will report to the Board of the global association while working closely with the leadership of AICPA and CIMA’s respective Governing Councils to best steward the two entities.
Specific responsibilities to include:
Strategic Planning
- Work with the Association Board and Executive Leadership Team to lead the development and execution of the Association’s strategic plan, including the vision, goals, and priorities for the organization, to grow the Association’s presence and influence globally, ensuring it remains the largest and most influential body of professional accountants in the world.
- Foster a culture of innovation and ensure new business opportunities are identified and optimized through the development of new products, services, and business models.
- Engage with regulators and other global stakeholders to ensure Association activities and strategic direction align with public interest.
- Ensure the Association’s activities and initiatives align with the agreed mission, strategic direction, and values.
- Anticipate future trends impacting the accountancy profession to ensure the continued relevancy of the Association’s plan.
Board Relations
- Work closely with the Association Board, the AICPA and CIMA Governing Councils, and with the Boards of related entities to ensure the organization is operating effectively and in accordance with its mission and values.
- Build strong, collaborative, and trusting professional relationships with leaders serving on the governing bodies.
- Work with volunteer leaders in creating effective board and council agendas to support current and future-focused activities.
- Provide regular updates to the Board on the Association’s activities and financial performance and work collaboratively with the Board to address any issues or challenges.
Financial Management
- Oversee the Association’s financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, and reporting, ensuring cohesive Association-wide, professional, and ethical financial practices while minimizing the company's financial risk exposure.
- Ensure the organization operates within its budget and that financial management is transparent and accountable.
- Identify new value-added services and products that provide member value and drive revenue growth to ensure sustainable financial strength for future innovations and investments.
Program Development & Evaluation
- Ensure the member experience is optimized by successfully implementing suitable, innovative, forward-looking programs, systems, and services.
- Oversee the development and implementation of the organization’s programs and assess their effectiveness in achieving the Association’s mission and goals.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Establish new and strengthen existing partnerships with key internal and external stakeholders globally, including members, state CPA societies, AICPA and CIMA Governing Councils, Regional Engagement Groups (REGs), regulators, politicians, staff, committees, volunteers, and others across the Accounting & Finance profession.
- Maintain strong relationships with other US and global accountancy bodies, including GAA, IFAC, FASB, FRC, SEC, PCAOB, CAQ, IFRS Foundation, and other like-minded organizations.
- Ensure advocacy strategies and tactics are created to enable favorable legislative and regulatory outcomes affecting the accounting profession in key global markets.
- Ensure the Association is responsive to stakeholder needs, legislative and regulatory changes, and maintain strong relationships with supporters and partners.
- Serve as a spokesperson for the professional globally to the membership, media, and other external constituencies.
Organizational Culture & Leadership
- Foster a positive organizational culture of internal collaboration and teamwork, innovation, accountability, excellent membership service, and continuous improvement to empower staff to drive the organization’s mission and vision. Engage, inspire, develop, and motivate the Association’s diverse, global team of professionals.
- Ensure the Association’s policies and practices support a culture of inclusivity, diversity, and equity.
- Champion authentic, transparent, and consistent two-way communications by engaging with staff globally regularly and frequently through webcasts, town halls, etc.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
The President & CEO will be an accomplished visionary leader who will guide the Association's future growth, relevancy, and impact. They will passionately advocate for the organization and the profession before diverse audiences globally. The President & CEO will have a demonstrated record of accomplishment for collaborating with various stakeholders to forge a robust vision for a global organization in a dynamic, disruptive environment and leading organizational transformation to achieve desired outcomes.
The President & CEO will possess executive presence and influence skills, essential for garnering the trust and engagement of the Association Board of Directors, AICPA and CIMA Governing Councils, membership, staff, and other external stakeholders globally. They will have at least ten years of executive-level leadership experience for a globally focused organization. The successful candidate will have a solid record of reliable delivery and general management experience, either as a President & CEO or with a proven record of successfully leading several functions. The CEO will be responsible for evolving the Association's operating
model and structure and lead the Executive Leadership Team of about eight direct reports to maximize effectiveness and innovation.
Additional qualifications include the following:
- Strong knowledge of the global accounting and finance profession as well as the landscape of related professional bodies who serve, enable, and evolve that profession.
- An innovative strategic thinker who can anticipate trends that impact the profession and the Association.
- A thought leader who takes a position on and adds value to global debates on topical trends and themes (e.g., economics, geopolitics, disruptive technology, etc.) to push the profession forward without waiting for consensus, even when the views shared are not popular.
- An ability to collaborate effectively with a volunteer Board of Directors, building trusting and transparent relationships.
- Credibility to influence strategy and policy such that they are considered a leading light in the industry.
- Global experience and a proven ability to quickly understand market or geographical nuances. Multi-cultural savvy and diplomacy.
- An understanding of association management as a business and how to create value in that environment.
- A charismatic leader who galvanizes a global team, develops top table talent, is culturally and politically astute, demonstrates a high degree of emotional intelligence, and ensures a high-performing leadership team is aligned to succeed together.
- An ability to coach and build competencies in others to ensure capability development across the leadership team and in potential successors.
- Proven record of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of leadership.
- An exceptional communicator and public speaker who will serve as a leading voice of the profession and present, defend, and negotiate sensitive and complex issues. Able to deliver compelling speeches and communicate with the media, with minimal preparation, to create global followership. An active listener who proactively engages diverse points of view.
- Outstanding relationship-building and networking skills, key to forging and sustaining positive global alliances and partnerships aligned with the interests of the AICPA & CIMA.
- A confident, measured, and data-driven decision-maker who operates with appropriate speed and conviction and can navigate ambiguity.
- A leader who operates with courage, resilience, and a willingness to take risks, being open to criticism and varying opinions.
- A system thinker who can balance multiple priorities simultaneously and is comfortable with constantly changing topics.
- Technology savvy with an understanding of how to leverage new tools to better serve members.
- A lifelong learner who embodies the values and attributes we espouse to members.
- A mindset and focus that balances the importance of being purpose-driven, serving the profession's needs (anticipating future needs), and the commercial fundamentals of running a healthy and successful business.
- Impeccable reputation for ethical behavior and integrity.
- Willingness and ability to undertake extensive travel globally and domestically approximately 50% of the time (potentially more at times)
Preferred Qualifications
- CPA and/or CGMA
EDUCATION
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is required. A Master’s degree is preferred.
WORK VISA
In compliance with U.S. Federal law, the successful candidate hired for the President & Chief Executive Officer role will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States.
COMPENSATION
A competitive compensation package will be provided to attract outstanding candidates.
KEY KORN FERRY CONTACTS
Lorraine Lavet
Senior Client Partner
(703) 919-6540
Lorraine.Lavet@kornferry.com
Beau Lambert
Senior Client Partner
(404) 518-3663
Beau.Lambert@kornferry.com
Bryce Gilfillian
Senior Associate
(409) 782-6083
Bryce.Gilfillian@kornferry.com
Emily Lynch
Senior Project Coordinator
(703) 498-7227
Emily.Reda@kornferry.com
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