VSCPA commits $15,000 to accounting diversity campaign, participates in national accounting careers program

To support attracting diverse voices to the accounting profession, the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA) is proud to commit a $15,000 investment over two years to Accounting+, a Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) initiative. The investment is one way the VSCPA is tailoring efforts to meet its strategic goal to increase diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within the CPA profession.

Accounting+ is a first-of-its-kind, national brand awareness campaign focused on reaching Black, Hispanic and Latino students at the high school and early college levels. The campaign communicates to students where they are — on social media and in classrooms — to provide access and support for accounting. 

The VSCPA is also supporting the CAQ’s new digital education program, Accounting Careers: Limitless Opportunities, launched in partnership with EVERFI, a leading social impact education innovator. This interactive digital curriculum exposes students to the wide range of careers available in the accounting and finance space. At the program’s kick-off event on March 22, three VSCPA members spoke to accounting students at H.D. Woodson STEM High School in Washington, D.C. Courtney Arrington, CPA, of Arrington Solutions, LLC in Midlothian, Jessica McClain, CPA, of Girl Scout Council Nation’s Capital in Washington, D.C., and Jamil White, CPA, of New Energy Equity, LLC in Annapolis, Md., shared their real-life experiences and unique perspectives on how students can shine in accounting. 

“Increasing the diversity of the profession has been a top VSCPA focus for several years,” said VSCPA President & CEO Stephanie Peters, CAE. “Supporting Accounting+ and all of the CAQ’s efforts in this area is an outstanding way to help move the needle. We want all students to know that accounting is an exciting, viable career path.”

The VSCPA has several initiatives to increase the diversity of incoming accounting students and prospective CPAs, including:

• VSCPA Educational Foundation minority scholarships (up to 17 available).
• Sponsoring the Accelerated Careers Awareness Program with the Richmond chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants.
• Conducting CPA visits in classrooms around the state to educate students on accounting career possibilities.
• Highlighting diverse VSCPA members through Accounting Career Experiences videos.

Learn more about VSCPA DEI student initiatives at vscpa.com/dei-students or contact Molly Wash, CAE, VSCPA Academic & Diversity Outreach Director, at [email protected] or (804) 612-9417. For more information on the CAQ Accounting+ program, visit joinaccountingplus.com.

About the VSCPA 

The Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA) is the leading professional association in the Commonwealth dedicated to empowering CPAs to thrive. Founded in 1909, the VSCPA has nearly 13,000 members who work in public accounting, corporate finance, government and education. For more information about the VSCPA, visit vscpa.com, email [email protected] or call (804) 612-9440. 

About the CAQ
The Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) is a nonpartisan public policy organization serving as the voice of U.S. public company auditors and matters related to the audits of public companies. For more information about the CAQ, visit https://www.thecaq.org/.