IMA, AICPA, AAA CHIEFS ON PROFESSION’S TOP ISSUES

One of the best attended events at this year’s annual conference of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) was the panel discussion with the chief volunteer officers of the IMA, AICPA, and American Accounting Association (AAA). This year’s conference was held in New Orleans and the panel was moderated by Margaret Butler.

AAA President Mary Stone focused on the much-discussed study of college-level accounting education that was joint sponsored by all three organizations and the Big Five. (See The CPA Journal, March 2001, “The Perilous Future of Accounting Education,” by W. Steve Albrecht and Robert J. Sack.)

AICPA Chair Kathy Eddy discussed the Institute’s proposed global business credential (XYZ), which dominated the session’s question-and-answer segment.

Panelist and current IMA President Frank Minter said, “The IMA has always had a strong interest in these three organizations working together, especially on projects like XYZ, and this panel is an opportunity for our members and the rest of the professional community to interact closely with the organizations’ leaders first-hand.”

Noting that IMA has not taken a position on XYZ either pro or con, Minter noted that, “The IMA has its own well-established international credentials—Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Certified in Financial Management (CFM)—so not surprisingly many members ask, ‘Why another one?’ Moreover, the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) has three certifications that overlap with the XYZ concept.”

Minter said that the country’s economic woes did not adversely affect the conference’s mood, although he noted that fewer members have their conference participation supported by their employers. The tightly-programmed conference included 34 hours of CPE. IMA’s next annual conference will be held in San Diego, June 23–26, 2002.

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