As part of NCACPA’s centennial celebration, the Board is having a lot of fun reminiscing on the past 100 years. We are also engaging in conversations about how to ensure the future success of the Association while navigating the great pace of change happening all around us. Since it had been over a decade since the statements had been reviewed, 2019 seemed like the perfect time to initiate these discussions.
Over the summer, a task force was created to study the statements and determine if there was a need for change. After much deliberation, the task force decided change was necessary. Since that time, the Board approved the task force’s recommendation.
We want to introduce these new statements to the membership and as part of the communication, we ask 3 things:
The video presentation can be accessed on a special page created for this initiative. Please plan to spend approximately 30 minutes watching the presentation. If you have issues accessing the file, please let Lorrie Leonhardt know.
In the December issue of Interim Report, you’ll find a comprehensive article that provides information on the Task Force, defines vision and mission statements, presents the new statements, and of course, asks for your feedback.
After watching the video and/or reading the full article, we ask that you complete a short survey. It should take no more than 5 minutes of your time. Feedback from this survey will be shared with the Board of Directors at their January 15, 2020 meeting.
The survey will be open through January 3.
“Did you know NCACPA has vision and mission statements to guide its future direction? I didn’t either, until I became a member of the Board of Directors. The vision and mission statements were last updated in 2006. I think it’s safe to assume we’re all in agreement that things look slightly different now than they did thirteen years ago.” — Scott Showalter
Read the rest of Scott’s thoughts, and join the conversation on Connect!
NEW VISION STATEMENT
Remembering a vision statement is aspirational, forward-looking, and the end state the Association is striving to achieve, the Board unanimously approved the following vision statement:
A highly valued accounting profession advancing the success of individuals and organizations.
NEW MISSION STATEMENT
Remembering a mission statement describes what an organization does and who it does it for, the Board unanimously approved the following mission statement:
Enhancing the accounting profession and the community it serves through advocacy, connections, education, and resources.
FAQ’S
What is a vision statement?
A vision statement is a short phrase (consisting of 5-14 words) describing the future an organization is working to achieve. It focuses solely on the outcome, and not on the organization itself. The vision statement may or may not be unique to the organization.
What is a mission statement?
A mission statement is a short sentence (consisting of no more than 20 words) describing why an organization exists. In other words… what an organization does and who it does it for. A mission statement is unique to the organization; pairing actions with beneficiaries. The mission is used to focus both current and future decisions of the organization.
When were the current vision and mission statements written?
The Association’s vision and mission statements were last refreshed over a decade ago—in 2006.
What prompted the NCACPA Board of Directors to study the Association’s vision and mission statements now?
As part of NCACPA’s centennial celebration, the Board and the Association staff have been engaging in conversations about how to ensure the future success of this organization while navigating the great pace of change happening all around us. Part of this effort included conversations with members of the broadly defined accounting profession—some of whom are NCACPA members and some of whom are not.
How was the task comprised?
During July 2019, Board Chair Austin Wachter appointed seven members to serve on the Vision and Mission Task Force. These members reflect the diversity facing the accounting profession—youth and experience; public accounting and industry; and both smaller and larger organizations.
The names of these members, and the organizations they each represent, can be found here.
What was their assignment?
The Vision & Mission Task Force was asked to:
- Evaluate the current vision and mission statements.
- Determine if there is a need for change based on current and future profession trends.
- If so, develop recommended vision and mission statements for consideration by the Board.
What was their process?
The task force reviewed existing vision and mission statements from CPA associations and national nonprofit organizations; analyzed definitions of the elements of vision and mission statements; and identified existing and projected changes to the accounting profession that will impact the Association and the individuals and organizations served by NCACPA. Next, each task force member drafted their own vision and mission statement. All statements were vetted at the in-person meeting, and after deliberating each and every word, the task force agreed upon a recommendation.
Why were changes to the statements needed?
The previous vision and mission statements did not provide a platform for growth for NCACPA. The task force considered the changes currently facing the accounting profession and those projected over the next three to five years:
- Given the pace of change, accounting professionals in public accounting, industry, and government will need to retool their skills.
- Accounting firms and companies have modified their hiring to include individuals who have computer science and data analytics degrees. Thereby, everyone in the accounting profession, may not consider themselves an accounting professional.
- Professionals today are not attracted to joining organizations, but rather would like to purchase needed services without belonging to the organization.
- The lines are blurring between what CPAs and non-CPAs do.
What’s the difference between the previous and new vision statements?
The biggest difference is that the previous vision statement focused on the Association and was limited to the state of North Carolina. A vision statement should focus on the future state the Association seeks to achieve, so the enhanced version focuses on the future of the accounting profession and does not limit the Association’s influence to North Carolina.
What’s the difference between the previous and new mission statements?
The task force concluded the mission statement should be clear about what the Association does and guide the strategic initiatives of the Association. For example, the word “enhancing” was more proactive than using “promotes.” Further, use of advocacy, connections, education, and resources clearly states what the Association can provide today and tomorrow, while “competence, integrity, and civic responsibility” were more of an outcome than a service.
Is there a summary that shows why these particular words were chosen for the vision and mission statements?
Yes; Immediate Past Chair Scott Showalter wrote an article and participated in a video that shares the information. The article also appears in the December 2019 issue of Interim Report.
Have these statements been approved by the Board?
The task force report was presented at the October 2-3 Board meeting. After a thorough discussion, and asking numerous questions, the Board unanimously approved the proposed vision and mission statements with a few minor modifications.
What are the next steps?
The Board will review feedback from the membership during their January 15, 2020 conference call. A video of the task force’s recommendation can be accessed at this link. The Board is encouraging members to watch the 30-minute video and complete a brief survey. The Board is very interested in how the new vision and mission statements resonate with members and the individuals and organizations we serve.
How can I provide feedback to the Board?
A brief survey can be accessed here and feedback is requested by January 6, 2020. A post was made on Connect to engage members in the discussion as well. You can also share your reaction to the new vision and mission statements with any Board member, committee chair, or NCACPA staff member.