NASBA Hosts 106th Annual Meeting

Author: Cassandra Gray, NASBA Communications Manager
Posted: November 18, 2013

Representatives from 46 U.S. jurisdictions attended NASBA’s 106th Annual Meeting, October 27-30, in Maui, Hawaii. Held during the fall of each year, the Annual Meeting provides a unique opportunity for Board of Accountancy members, executive directors and other valued stakeholders to network and candidly discuss current and emerging issues facing state regulation of the accounting profession.

This year’s agenda featured three days of plenary sessions, regional meetings and interactive forums, all of which encouraged attendees to share their views and consider ways in which Boards can effectively fulfill their missions and be more responsive to the public’s needs.

As a new Annual Meeting offering, NASBA’s Center for the Public Trust (CPT) and the Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) co-sponsored a pre-meeting workshop on Deterring & Detecting Fraud. The goal of the workshop was to promote the deterrence and detection of financial reporting fraud through the introduction and discussion of a Harvard Business School case study. This participant-centered discussion attracted approximately 100 attendees and was facilitated by Harvard Business School Associate Professor Karthik Ramanna.

The Meeting officially opened with greetings from the Honorable Alan Arakawa, Mayor, County of Maui, and an opening keynote address from Russell G. Golden, CPA, Chairman of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). During his address, Golden shared insights on the FASB’s top priorities and how FASB will impact accounting practice and regulation. Following the keynote address, Gaylen R. Hansen, CPA, presented the chair’s report, followed by presentations on the Future Plans of the AICPA and Audit Quality from AICPA Chairman William E. Balhoff, CPA, CGMA, and Audit Quality and Investor Protection from PCAOB Member Jeanette M. Franzel, CPA.

Additional Annual Meeting plenary session topics included:

• State Boards and Standard Setters – A Panel Discussion
• The Changing Landscape – CPA Canada Update
• Rethinking MRAs
• Threats & Safeguards

NASBA’s Annual Business Meeting was held on day two of the conference. The Business Meeting serves as a time to learn about the state of NASBA (as shared by NASBA President & CEO Ken L. Bishop), hear reports from NASBA committees, salute the contributions of NASBA’s distinguished award winners and elect and formally recognize new and retiring Board of Directors members.

Passing of the gavel is also a significant component of the Annual Meeting. This year, NASBA congratulates and welcomes Carlos E. Johnson, CPA, of Oklahoma, as chair for 2013-14, and thanks Past Chair Gaylen R. Hansen, CPA, of Colorado, for his work as 2012-13 NASBA chair.

During Chair Johnson’s inaugural address, he emphasized the significant and positive impact that establishing relationships and being proactively involved in the community can have on enhancing the brand of Boards of Accountancy.

The Meeting concluded with reports from three new NASBA Committees—Standard Setting Study Group, State Society Relations Group and Legislative Support Projects—and presentations on Changes to the UAA and the CPA Examination of the Future.

In 2014, all roads will lead to the nation’s capital, Washington, D. C., for NASBA’s 107th Annual Meeting, November 2-5.