Montana Society of CPA's

From Wikicpa

The Montana Society of Certified Public Accountants 33 South Last Chance Gulch, Suite 2B

Helena, Montana 59601

(406) 442-7301

FAX: (406) 443-7278

Web: http://www.mscpa.org/index.cfm

About us

The Montana Society of CPAs (MSCPA), founded in 1913, is the statewide professional organization of certified public accountants. With over 1400 members, the Society is divided, geographically, into eight chapters. Nearly 70 percent of the certified public accountants in the State of Montana belong to MSCPA.

• The Society sponsors and conducts an extensive continuing education program for members and their employees.
• The Society's purposes are to promote advancement of the profession, maintain high professional and ethical standards, expand professional knowledge and render public service to the community.
• MSCPA is directed by a 12-member volunteer board elected by the membership. Service on the board is among the highest honors in the profession. A full-time staff, headed by an executive director, administers the group's activities. Offices are located in Helena.
• The Society provides numerous services for its members, including forums for peer contact, continuing professional education, insurance plans, legislative representation and relationships with the media, state and local governments, colleges and universities and other professional associations.
• Montana Society members, including a former American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Chair, also are involved in national professional associations.
• The history of Montana's professional accounting organizations began in Butte, in 1908, with the formation of the Montana Society of Public Accountants, a group centered around the mining interests of William A. Clark and the Anaconda Company. The state's first accounting law, based on regulations developed in New York, passed during the 1909 legislative session. The law was revised in 1919, 1933, 1969, 1979, 1983 and 1989.
• The Montana Society of CPAs established formal offices in Helena in 1969, staffed with a part-time secretary who also worked with the state board. In 1972, the Society hired a full time executive secretary and, in 1977, a full time executive director.

Membership Benefits

Annual Meeting: Members and their families are encouraged to attend this annual function that includes business, educational and social events.

Professional Recognition: To clients, fellow CPAs and the public, affiliation with MSCPA serves as an example of commitment to the profession, including adherence to the code of Professional Conduct and to a stringent set of professional and technical standards.

Current Developments: The information distributed by MSCPA committees, through the newsletter, CPA Line Items, special mailings and publications, informs members of important changes in the areas of taxation, accounting and auditing, ethics and other current developments which affect the accounting profession.

Standard Setting: Through written comments to the AICPA, Financial Accounting Standards Board, Internal Revenue Service and other bodies, members of MSCPA committees and the board of directors represent the CPA profession in Montana to help shape new national standards.

Self-Regulating Activities: MSCPA committees in areas such as Ethics, Governmental Audit Accounting Financial Reporting, Peer Review, Financial Statement Review and Profession Monitoring, work toward meeting the public's demands for accountability and for maintaining high standards for CPAs. The Society offers an educational service of reviewing financial statements submitted by a member's firm without cost and on a confidential basis. In addition, the Society administers the AICPA Peer Review Program for resident AICPA members.

Special Seminars: The Society and local chapters sponsor special programs on topics of current interest to the accounting profession. MSCPA often co-sponsors programs with such organizations as the universities, local government course developers and other providers. Such programs often include speakers on econominics, governmental affairs, organizational behavior and communication skills.

Other Publications and Resources: The Montana Society publishes several booklets, brochures and other documents available to members and the public. Some of these include the Tax Guide for Legislators and the Resource Guide.

Insurance Plans: The Society offers members medical insurance, several major medical plans, a dental plan, life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance at low group premium rates.

Legislative Representation: State and Federal legislators hear from MSCPA through the Legislative Key Person Program and Society technical committees. Pertinent legislation affecting the public and the profession is subject to input by MSCPA members, as well as the Society's outside legislative counsel. The Society's staff, legislative committee, legislative intern and legislative counsel monitor legislation and distribute this information to apprpriate MSCPA members.

Meetings with Government Departments & Agencies: Through committees and the Society as a whole, members have frequent contact with the governmental bodies whose actions have an impact on CPAs such as the Local Government Assistance Bureau, the Legislative Auditors Division, State Board of Public Accountants, Department of Revenue and the IRS.

Public Service: Committees, chapters and task forces offer various kinds of public service opportunities. Members provide their professional skills for such programs as Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Career Days in various communities. Chapters sponsor public tax programs and members appear on talk shows. The Society office circulates articles for local newspapers and disseminates public service announcements on taxation and money management.

Student Membership: A student membership is available to all students, junior and senior level, enrolled in an accredited accounting program at a Montana college or university. The student member receives selected mailings, including the Society's bi-monthly newsletter, CPA Line Items. The student member is entitled to attend the Society's annual meeting as a non-voting member.

Meeting Room Facilities: The Society has a conference room available for members at our Helena office. The facility seats up to 12 individuals and staff is happy to help coordinate lunches and special meeting needs.

Career Information: The MSCPA Vision Task Force is responsible for an extensive program on student recruitment and career opportunities.

Awards & Scholarships: Each year the Society grants awards and scholarships to students at the University of Montana, Montana State University, Montana State University-Billings and Carroll College based on scholastic achievement.

At the annual meeting, the Board of Directors presents the Distinguished Service Award and the Jack J. Kempner Outstanding Educator Award. The latter honors a former, distinguished, UofM accounting professor.