By James V. DeLuccia, PICPA manager, research, publications, and insights

Members of the Pennsylvania CPA Journal Editorial Board met in May for their annual meeting to plan the featured content for the 2022-2023 issues of the Pennsylvania CPA Journal. This was my first experience moderating the four-hour, fast-paced meeting with Cory Ng, chair of the Pennsylvania CPA Journal editorial board, and the PICPA members who help coordinate and write the features and columns for our quarterly publication. The group came into the meeting with their eyes on several critical issues facing CPAs, particularly in the areas of technical accounting, practice management and professional development, and the future of the profession.  

Over the next year, the Pennsylvania CPA Journal will feature detailed analysis of cryptocurrency tax considerations, digital cash flow management, a global minimum tax, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting. We will also dive into emerging nontechnical issues and their influence on the profession. Subject matter experts will explore “The Great Resignation” and its impact on staffing, the continued need for advanced leadership and emotional intelligence skills, workplace inclusion of those with learning disabilities and mental health issues, and a feature all of our members should keep an eye out for: the current state of Pennsylvania accounting firms. Pennsylvania firm leaders will be asked to participate in a survey this summer as part of a new PICPA Insights research project. We will use the data captured in the survey to provide analysis of firm demographics, practice management (services provided), technology processes and integration (including use of AI and automation), and staffing issues.  

Our feature pages will also address CPA pipeline concerns, such as the decline in accounting majors and the impact that is having on the profession. Authors will also take a closer look at the forthcoming revised CPA Exam blueprint, particularly how it affects those who previously passed certain sections of the exam as well as accounting curriculums.  

The state of the economy, private equity in accounting, and the intersection of artificial intelligence and blockchain were among many great topics that did not make the feature list, but they could still be covered within the columns section of the magazine or in PICPA’s CPA Now blog. The Pennsylvania CPA Journal columns, of course, will continue to address technical accounting, auditing, and tax concerns, the corporate finance function, career and professional development issues, and practical uses of technology. Topics covered in the blog are highlighted in our My PICPA Weekly newsletter, which can be tailored to your specific interests. So be sure to log in and check your areas of interest on the My Account page of the PICPA website.

While much is on the content docket for 2023, the 2022 summer and fall issues are next in line to address CPAs’ pressing information needs. The summer 2022 issue includes features on how the open source programming language Python can assist CPAs in their daily work, the current state of inflation and what it could look like in the future, and the value of public accounting firms adopting a social entrepreneurship mindset. Fall 2022’s issue will dive into the many hats of a small-business CFO, COVID’s effect on elder fraud, and an update on accounting and assurance standards.  

If you’re passionate about the topics described above – or about something else you’d like to see addressed in our publications – please let me know.  

James V. DeLuccia is manager of research, publications, and insights at the PICPA. He can be reached at jdeluccia@picpa.org.  

Sign up for weekly professional and technical updates from PICPA's blogs, podcasts, and discussion board topics by completing this form.