Clients & Successes
The CPAs Enter the 21st Century
At the beginning of the 21st Century Rhode Island’s certified public accountants (CPAs) were still governed by antiquated laws written in the 1950’s. Forty three other states had passed a Uniform Accountancy Act (UAA), but Rhode Island was one of the half dozen states that had not.
The R.I. Society of CPAs saw the need for modernization, even though a small group of politically-connected older members did not - they opposed any change at all. Their vehement opposition and the complex accounting issues involved had stalled any attempt at reform for years.
Working with the Society, David Preston created a strategic plan backed by a simple message. “The accounting issues involved were arcane and complex, and legislators were having a hard time following the debate,” he explained. “It was easy for them to take a ‘hands off’ policy and dismiss this as an internal disagreement.”
Ultimately, with a lot of meetings and shoe leather at the State House, a simple effective message and the grassroots power of the Society effectively harnessed, the General Assembly approved the UAA, and the much needed modernization that came with it.