TMCnet News
AICPA and U.S. Small Business Administration Announce Strategic AllianceThe American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) has joined forces with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to help CPAs advise and advocate for small businesses seeking relief from undue regulatory burdens. As part of this collaboration, the AICPA will be able to direct CPAs whose clients are confronting federal regulatory compliance or enforcement challenges to designated SBA Office of the National Ombudsman (ONO) contacts for assistance in resolving the issues. ONO helps small businesses when they experience excessive or unfair regulatory enforcement actions, such as repetitive audits or investigations, excessive fines, penalties, threats, retaliation or other unfair enforcement action by a federal agency. The agreement also provides opportunities for representatives of the AICPA and SBA to speak at each other's events, while the SBA will encourage the AICPA to attend National Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Hearings and Regional Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Roundtables hosted by ONO. The SBA will also make ONO publications available to AICPA members. "CPAs play a key role in the small business community as trusted business advisors," said Carl Peterson, CPA, CGMA, the AICPA's vice president of small firm interests. "This strategic alliance between the SBA and AICPA will provide our members with the latest tools and resources when they or their small business clients have concerns regarding regulatory enforcement." The agreement with the SBA renews a previous collaboration between the two organizations that began in 2008. The AICPA and SBA have a shared goal of fostering conditions to help small businesses grow and thrive. "Our partnership withthe AICPA will enable the SBA Office of the National Ombudsman to further expand our reach to, and impact upon, an even greater number of CPAs who could benefit from our assistance," said Mina Wales, the SBA's Deputy National Ombudsman. For more information, visit the AICPA's U.S. Small Business Administration Resource Center. To learn more about the Office of the National Ombudsman, visit www.sba.gov/ombudsman or call 888-734-3247 (REG-FAIR). About the American Institute of CPAs The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) is the world's largest member association representing the CPA profession, with more than 431,000 members in 137 countries and territories, and a history of serving the public interest since 1887. AICPA members represent many areas of practice, including business and industry, public practice, government, education and consulting. The AICPA sets ethical standards for its members and U.S. auditing standards for private companies, nonprofit organizations, federal, state and local governments. It develops and grades the Uniform CPA Examination, offers specialized credentials, builds the pipeline of future talent and drives professional competency development to advance the vitality, relevance and quality of the profession. The AICPA maintains offices in New York, Washington, DC, Durham, NC, and Ewing, NJ. Media representatives are invited to visit the AICPA Press Center at www.aicpa.org/press. About the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association) is the most influential body of professional accountants, combining the strengths of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA (News - Alert)) to power opportunity, trust and prosperity for people, businesses and economies worldwide. It represents 667,000 members and students across 184 counties and territories in public and management accounting and advocates for the public interest and business sustainability on current and emerging issues. With broad reach, rigor and resources, the Association advances the reputation, employability and quality of CPAs, CGMAs and accounting and finance professionals globally. About the U.S. Small Business Administration The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180625005062/en/ |
