Certified public accountant Mary F. Bernard has been in the business awhile. She has more than 25 years experience with national and local accounting firms, she’s a member of numerous CPA groups, sat on the Governor’s Tax Policy Strategy Workgroup last year, and is a past president of the Rhode Island Society of CPAs.
Now Bernard has a new title to add to her resume. Gov. Donald L. Carcieri has appointed her to the R.I. Board of Accountancy, the first woman to be so appointed. She answered a few questions about it.
PBN: What are the responsibilities of the Board of Accountancy?
BERNARD: The Board of Accountancy is mainly responsible for licensing certified public accountants, as individuals and businesses. They are also charged with governing the professional conduct of all licensees under their jurisdiction. This would include CPAs licensed out of state but practicing within Rhode Island, even on a temporary basis. The recent mobility legislation that has been passed by 45 states mandates that CPAs crossing state borders to service clients will be subject to regulation under the laws of that state. This legislation has expanded the role of the Board, while making it easier for CPAs to service clients outside of their state.
PBN: Why did you have an interest in becoming a board member?
BERNARD: As a tax principal at Kahn, Litwin, Renza & Co. Ltd., which operates in multi-states, I found it important to the firm and the profession to align my efforts with others who are making a difference in the business world by streamlining bureaucracy.
In addition, while serving as president of the Rhode Island Society of CPAs, I supported legislation to establish mobility for CPAs practicing in our current global environment. Through this interaction with the board, I developed an interest in further updating the operations of the profession to adapt to our ever-changing environment. The Board of Accountancy has the ability to affect our expanding impact on the business world.
PBN: I read that some of the duties of the board include investigating complaints and sanctioning or penalizing accountants? How often does that happen?
BERNARD: Although those statistics are not made public, I can say that the number of complaints is extremely low. The board seldom revokes a license.
PBN: Is there any special meaning to you that you’re the first woman on the Board?
BERNARD: Having worked in the profession for more than 25 years, I have had the experience of working primarily in a male-dominated industry for many years. Although the profession is now more evenly divided by gender, many females are still not empowered for leadership roles. Sometimes it’s environmental conditioning or personal responsibilities that keep women out of management roles. We’ve made a lot of progress, but much more work still needs to be done to encourage more women to be involved in positions of authority.
PBN: Why did it take so long for a woman to be appointed?
BERNARD: Positions on the Board are appointed by the Governor. My involvement with the legislative and political process began with serving on the Governor’s Tax Policy Strategy Workgroup last year. There were only two other women in this group of 21 advisers. Historically, there have not been many women involved in significant professional activities outside of their workplaces; however, I am confident that this is the beginning of a change in trends.
During my tenure on the board I hope to be able to continually promote the profession through improved processes of licensing requirements in our constantly changing global environment.
