Five Questions With: Robert A. Mancini

"IT'S PARTICULARLY important for our society to stay close to our members. Fortunately, we've been able to stay abreast of key issues and, as such, have amplified the value-added component," said Robert A. Mancini, executive director of the Rhode Island Society of Certified Public Accountants. /

Robert A. Mancini isn’t a certified public accountant, but he oversees an organization that has about 1,800 of them as members. Mancini is the executive director of the Rhode Island Society of Certified Public Accountants. He recently answered a few questions about the group, its future and the accounting sector in Rhode Island.

PBN: In a nutshell, why is there a Rhode Island Society of Certified Public Accountants? What’s your mission?
MANCINI:
With more than a century serving the CPA profession and the community, RISCPA’s mission is to provide leadership and resources to the society promoting the high standards of integrity and honor of the CPA profession while contributing to the success of our members. Elaborating further: motivated by a licensing requirement calling for the completion of 40 hours of continuing education annually, RISCPA supports its member’s efforts in this area by offering a nationally recognized program of courses specifically tailored to address matters from the traditional in nature to the latest issues facing the profession. RISCPA also serves to represent its members in the area of legislative advocacy, fostering a strong committee structure, helping develop forward-looking leadership for the profession, community outreach and business development.

PBN: Are all CPAs in Rhode Island members of the society?
MANCINI:
Unlike some professional organizations where membership is by mandate, joining RISCPA is voluntary. Presently, our membership totals 1,800. Members range from the sole practitioner to firms locally, regionally and nationally based representing various levels of membership. Interestingly, our membership parallels the national American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) in that membership is evenly split between public accounting and the category defined as business, industry and government. Overall, in terms of licensed CPAs in the Rhode Island, there are approximately 2,300.

PBN: It’s January, so the society must be preparing for its annual event for networking. Can you tell me a little bit about it and why it’s important?
MANCINI:
I’m glad you asked. As a matter of fact, this event, which was initiated well before I came on board, serves both as RISCPA’s annual business meeting announcing new board nominees and addressing other issues of consequence, and as a networking opportunity for CPAs, attorneys and financial professionals. This year the Westin Providence is the venue where many of the Ocean State’s finest will mingle, munch and make new friends. Considered by many to be the premier professional networking gathering in the area, this year attendance is expected to top 400. We’re pleased to announce our lead sponsor is Citizens Bank. To register, I’d encourage all to visit www.RISCPA.org.

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PBN: Looking into the New Year, what initiatives or goals do you have set for the society?
MANCINI:
During our board planning session held last June, RISCPA refined its three-year strategic goal program, along with defining annual benchmarks working toward each goal, placing emphasis on the following:
• Develop future leaders of the society and the profession – critical to both is staying abreast of professional issues and sustaining a vibrant and participatory membership; improve RISCPA’s technology resources so as to enhance operational efficiencies.
• Become a relevant resource of knowledge for members, government, educational institutions, business and the community; And leverage our CPA brand to attract and retain accounting graduates from Rhode Island colleges and universities.

PBN: How is the economy affecting the accounting field and your organization?
MANCINI:
No doubt, the economy remains a cause of significant concern for us all. Of course, while CPAs play a critical role as trusted advisers covering everything tax and financially related, their value cannot be stressed enough given these trying times. As profit centers, however, they too have to deal with problems many businesses face today, namely, slower turnover of receivables, negotiation of price, escalating costs, etc. Like any strong professional organization, RISCPA’s strength is anchored in its membership. It’s particularly important for our society to stay close to our members. Fortunately, we’ve been able to stay abreast of key issues and, as such, have amplified the value-added component. For the future, as noted in our strategic plan, the challenge will be to attract and retain accounting graduates from Rhode Island educational institutions. This will depend on the critical changes needed to create a more productive business climate in our fair state.

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