The Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants is a statewide professional association that provides leadership, training, advocacy and resources for its nearly 10,000 CPA members, who are employed in private practice, industry, government and education.
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As CPAs, the MACPA’s members are business and financial professionals who are committed to protecting the public interest. In Maryland, CPAs must pass a rigorous four-part examination, adhere to strict ethical and professional standards and, beyond college, complete 80 hours of continuing education every two years to be certified by the state.
The MACPA is governed by a Board of Directors, managed by a full-time staff, guided by a strategic plan and constantly strives to serve the needs of Maryland’s CPAs.
History
The MACPA was founded in 1901, less than a year after Maryland Gov. John Walter Smith signed into law the third bill in the nation that recognized the need for certified public accountants. Recognizing the importance of trustworthy financial information in a market-based economy, the law established requirements and state licensing for accountants who would meet certain educational, examination and experience standards to ensure the reliability of financial information.
Only CPAs are allowed to perform audits, which are often used by banks and other third parties for credit and borrowing purposes.
Maryland’s first CPA certificate was issued in 1900 to Max Teichmann, co-founder of the MACPA. Teichmann, considered the father of public accounting in Maryland, lobbied for passage of the CPA law and was recognized as a key figure in the CPA movement. He and a handful of other pioneers established the MACPA on February 12, 1901.
Advocacy
The MACPA is active in state and federal government, monitoring and responding to issues that affect CPAs and their clients. The association has been successful in getting important legislation passed and supports legislation through the efforts of committee members and an active, statewide legislative network of members.
Its advocacy efforts are highlighted each year by CPA Day in Annapolis, an annual event in which MACPA members discuss issues of importance in face-to-face meetings with their legislators in the Maryland General Assembly. An active Legislative Executive Committee monitors events and legislation in Annapolis and Washington D.C., develops position papers on important issues and updates members on the status of key legislation.
The MACPA’s political action committee educates legislators about matters that are important to the profession and supports like-minded lawmakers. An active “Key Person Program” recruits volunteer CPAs who know state legislators personally and can further educate them on key issues.
Member benefits
MACPA members receive a variety of publications (both print and electronic) that keep them informed of developments in the profession. The association has developed partnerships with a number of vendors who offer members discounted access to their products and business solutions. A comprehensive insurance program helps members meet their personal and professional insurance needs. Members also benefit from the MACPA’s brand management efforts, through which the association works to change the stereotypes of the CPA profession through ad campaigns, student recruitment and self-promotion.
Member activities
Seven chapters and numerous committees made up of hundreds of MACPA members develop programs and address issues to help all members be successful professionals. Hundreds of members are also active in the association’s legislative efforts, various special-interest task forces, and in targeted groups like the Career Awareness Program, which tries to convince more young people to study accounting and enter the profession.