An article from CPA Today, a periodical published by the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants:
Staying Ahead of the Curve
Talk of change has been all the rage for the past several years, especially in the accounting profession. From those predicting change to those prophesying its unknown perils, escaping the monotonous debate has seemed all but impossible.
Taking a bold step in front of the prognosticators, the FICPA's 70th president, Barbara Burner, declares an end to the conversation. "We've talked about the future for a long time. It's here. The future is now," she asserts.
Remolding the accounting profession in anticipation of these changes has kept Burner busy for the better part of two decades. Originally intent on becoming a chemist, the Palm Bay sole practitioner instead channeled her love of science and mathematics into a career track that was more "geographically obtainable and flexible." A most fortunate decision for CPAs all over the state.
Working her way through Florida International University as a bookkeeper with Main Hurdman Cranston, Miami, Burner began building the network that would tie her to practically all the important movements in the profession of the past two decades. When she graduated with a B.A. in accounting in 1979, Burner earned her certificate and went to work for Deloitte & Touche forerunner Touche and Ross, Miami, in 1980.
A Leader is Born
By 1982, she was a chapter officer for the FICPA's South Dade Chapter. That was just the beginning for Burner, who exemplifies professional and community service. Six years after joining the Institute, Burner garnered a coveted seat on the Board of Governors. Since then, she has presided over the South Dade Chapter, chaired six committees and several task forces, served on scores of others and played a role in every major decision affecting the Institute and profession since she decided chemistry didn't hold the same allure as accounting.
Whether she's developing innovative public awareness campaigns or convincing young CPAs of the benefits of professional association, Burner's leadership philosophy is clear: "It's very important for us to devise ways to stay ahead of the curve. For the profession and particularly our members, we have to be able to drive the train and create opportunities instead of letting it run us over."
Perhaps the most important change to come down the track in years occurred this spring when the state Legislature modernized 50-year-old accounting regulations. "This is a very dynamic time to be in the profession. A little scary because all the rules are changing, but one of the few times in any profession that we can carve our own path and decide what the profession is going to be," she states.
Those important regulatory changes--allowing CPAs to accept commissions and contingent fees for certain engagements, and partial non-CPA ownership of CPA firms--germinated from ideas forged by two task forces on which Burner served.
Easing the Transition
With the law change, cautions Burner, the Institute's next task is to ensure a smooth transition to the brave new world of financial services where CPAs should emerge as the business advisers of choice. "We want to be able to remain CPAs during this period of dynamic change. Global influences on the economy mean greater opportunities for CPAs. But we have to be willing to change, or at least have the opportunity to change for those who want to partake," she explains.
With the new legislation in place, and the future awaiting definition, Burner reflects on the new law's unwritten virtue. "One of the most important things we crafted into the legislative proposals was to make them permissive in nature. The core of the profession is not changing. We've just been able to create opportunities on the boundaries of the profession--areas where we can apply all the training and expertise we have," she states.
It is precisely that training and the many ways of applying it that has Burner so enthusiastic about the coming years for the profession. "What you have in this profession is people who are good at a lot of things other than just adding columns. The skills CPAs possess are skills that allow them to be good at a lot of other things."
There's more to these new opportunities than skill and training. The profession, internationally regarded for these traits, has, nonetheless, built its name on trust, integrity and serving client needs. "These new services, though I may not have considered them in the past, are the result of client demand," Burner explains. "We've spent years developing a level of trust with our clients, and they want to be able to seek our input on things that, in the past, we had to be careful about. We're venturing into some new areas, so we still need to be careful. But we have more latitude to build upon that trust and serve client needs."
What's Ahead?
Though the law has been passed, and a bridge to the future is in place, many questions remain to be answered. Defining the new practice parameters will require months of public hearings with the Florida Board of Accountancy; hearings at which Burner is sure to be present. "The Executive Committee has already held preliminary meetings to discuss the Institute's position and the recommendations that we'll make to the BOA," Burner says.
Burner is calling on all interested CPAs to participate in the process. To include as many voices as possible, Burner will build on a program that her predecessor, Wayne "Skipp" Fraser started. She, along with Fraser, president-elect Carol Deegan and FICPA Executive Director Lloyd "Buddy" Turman, met with chapters throughout the year to solicit input to draft the legislative proposals. "Skipp very wisely scheduled all these meetings. We saw so much excitement from the members, and by no means were they unanimous, but from all the opinions we were able to develop legislation with broad appeal," she explains.
"Group Think" is Secret to Success
Group think is the process Burner credits with aiding in the development of that appeal. "There certainly wasn't a groundswell of opposition that we encountered, but the neatest, most intriguing experience in the course of the year was to see group think at work," she says.
In these makeshift workshops, CPAs from all over the state drove the process with insightful questions and comments about the nature of the law changes. "It was great to watch all of this and the impact it had. The initial proposals we had changed substantially between September and when we finalized the language in the bill. We were really able to kick the tires with members to make sure everyone was comfortable," Burner enthuses.
If her leadership philosophy is to push innovation to ensure the future success of the profession, then her style is simply group think. Burner employs the democratic process in most, if not all, of her endeavors.
It's a method she plans to apply often during her tenure. "I will visit all the chapters that invite me and continue the dialogue with them." With the practical applications of the changes still largely undefined, Burner hopes to use the bully pulpit of the FICPA presidency to keep members informed. "We're going to have a very active campaign to help members in this transition period. A lot of people will be involved: the entire Executive Committee, and the leadership at all levels."
Organizing a large machine to deliver the Institute's message is nothing new for Burner, who chaired the first FICPA Committee on Public Awareness and won FICPA Chairman of the Year honors in 1995. Burner also appreciates the importance behind delivering a positive image. "This is going to start at the Leadership Conference where we can coordinate our message. We will have to educate members about the new rules, our plans to further enhance CPAs' image, that CPAs provide a lot of different services, and that we provide things other than just audits and tax returns," she explains.
Dispelling the Myth
People are often surprised, Burner admits, when they discover that she's a CPA. "They'll say to me, 'Boy, are you sure you're an accountant.'" Dealing with clients from all walks, and businesses and organizations of many kinds means CPAs must possess a flexible and open disposition. "Anyone who has survived in this profession knows you have to be a people person, especially if you're out there running your own business," Burner explains.
Burner knows about running her own business and she's done the national firm route as well. The thread that ties practitioners from solo operations to large national and international firms and CPAs in private practice is belonging to professional organizations. "That's one of the greatest things the FICPA gives you: relationships within the profession to help us all survive. It's tough to practice in a vacuum, particularly with so many changes occurring. The FICPA works like a network to keep all of its members abreast of everything that's going on," Burner states.
Changes Bring CPAs Back Under the Same Roof
Burner's optimism and excitement about the future are contagious. She sees positive applications and side effects of the recent law changes in every aspect of accounting. Bringing CPAs back together under one roof, while allowing for a broad range of practice areas is one such side effect. "Many of my friends who are CPAs have, at one time or another, decided to pursue other careers where the law forced them to make a decision to put their certificate in a box in the closet. We've eliminated a lot of that and that's exciting."
Since, according to Burner, the future is now, she's turned her inexhaustible energies to the future of 10 to 15 years from now, as well. "Ours is a global economy and it's functioning on a global basis. With all the technology out there, the business world will continue to change by a tremendous multiple. CPAs have always been cautious and deliberative. I don't think we'll have that luxury in the future. We'll have to be more flexible, more nimble when changes occur, which will come with greater rapidity," she states.
With the dawn of the Knowledge Age quickly approaching where vast amounts of information will lie at the fingertips of those connected to the global village, Burner predicts continued success for CPAs. "Because of our history as thorough thinkers and analyzers, no one is better suited to lead in the age of lightning fast information."
Whether discussing the near or distant future, Burner is well prepared for the continuing debate. As she presides over the Institute for the next year, practitioners can take heart in her words, "The FICPA is a force and leader in molding what the profession will look like in this state and on the national level for years to come."
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