Chief Executive Officer

About NCACPA

For over 100 years, the North Carolina Association of CPAs has successfully served the accounting profession and North Carolina community, while providing superior member service to over 12,000 members across the state.

To fulfill its mission, the North Carolina Association of CPAs (‘the Association’ or ‘NCACPA’) seeks to enhance the accounting profession and the community it serves through advocacy, connections, education, and resources. Through its 30+ committees, task forces, and advisory groups, the NCACPA regularly interacts with the North Carolina State Board of CPA Examiners, North Carolina General Assembly, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Financial Accounting Standards Board, Internal Revenue Service, and other regulators who shape state and national accounting standards.

Headquartered in Raleigh, NC, the Association has a $7.2 million budget and a 30-person staff. It is governed by a dedicated and professional Board of Directors invested in the future of the profession.

NCACPA plays a prominent role regionally and nationally in guiding and shaping the future of the profession. The organization is well-poised to provide critical thought leadership related to the challenges facing the profession today and in the future.

NCACPA delivers its mission through several strategic initiatives, including:

• Offers in-person and virtual convenings, courses, continuing education, and programs throughout the year.
• Advocates for the profession at the federal and state level on emerging issues specific to the profession that may impact individuals, accounting firms, and businesses in North Carolina.
• Keeps members, legislators, and influential leaders in the state apprised of the most pressing issues of the day, such as the CPA pipeline, AI, and the future of the profession.
• NCACPA is committed to having members’ voices heard through its advocacy efforts. The Association closely monitors legislative issues and works with state and federal agencies on regulatory issues and compliance.
• Through collaborative efforts with members, businesses, and educational institutions, invest in strategies to grow the CPA pipeline.
• Promote programs and services that reinforce the Association’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the profession.
• Meet the current and emerging personal and professional development needs of the accounting community, creating spaces for networking and knowledge sharing.

NCACPA’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: The Association is committed to cultivating diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout its membership, leadership, staff, and business relationships. The Association will continue to grow the accounting profession and strengthen the CPA pipeline by increasing diversity within the profession, especially by creating greater access for historically marginalized students and professionals. NCACPA believes that diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts must be one of many efforts prioritized to ensure the adaptability and sustainability of the Association and the broader accounting profession.

The North Carolina Association of CPAs oversees the following additional organizations:

NC CPA Political Action Committee

NCACPA strives to represent the profession’s interests in areas of public policy formation, standard-setting, and rule-making that impact our members, the accounting profession, and North Carolina’s business climate. Through the NC CPA Political Action Committee, we identify and support the election of candidates for state office who share our viewpoint on policy issues important to the profession. From the North Carolina General Assembly to Capitol Hill, NCACPA works to influence change that advances the CPA profession and our state’s business climate.

NC CPA Foundation

Since 1984, the Foundation has worked in partnership with NCACPA to provide scholarships to students wanting to explore an accounting career and understand the opportunities that come with the CPA credential. The Foundation has awarded over $2 million in scholarships, impacting nearly 1,700 accounting students in North Carolina.

For more information on the North Carolina Association of CPAs, please visit www.ncacpa.org.

The Opportunity

The next CEO will build upon over a century of excellence in supporting the CPA profession in North Carolina and beyond. Working collaboratively with the board, staff, members, and partners, the CEO will lead NCACPA in setting a clear vision for the Association’s next chapter, developing a strategic approach to maximizing its impact and value to membership and the profession.

The Association is seeking a leader who will elevate the future course of the organization and address challenges facing the profession head-on, which includes promoting programs and initiatives with partners; diversifying revenue streams; delivering high-caliber and engaging experiences and resources for members; equipping teams and members with the knowledge and skills to embrace a rapidly evolving digital landscape; and fostering ongoing membership growth and engagement. While the profession is facing challenges related to a declining pipeline and technological advances, NCACPA is well-poised to modernize its existing business model, given its strong financial position and the creativity, resilience, and dedication of the Association’s staff, board, membership, and partners.

The CEO will serve as an influential voice, locally and nationally, regarding issues impacting CPAs and the accounting profession. This executive will attract, lead, and retain a high-performing staff that will work as a team to retain the Association’s status as a premiere membership organization and advocate for CPAs regionally and nationally. A visionary leader, the CEO will oversee the organization’s operations, culture, values, talent, and financial performance consistent with the Association’s strategic goals as it continues to grow and evolve.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

Strategic & Visionary Leader

• A visionary leader, the CEO will be a solutions-oriented and inspirational executive, prepared to address the changing needs of NCACPA’s members and the profession overall. They will be capable of offering creative ideas to enhance the Association’s existing offerings as well as reevaluate the current business model to ensure strategic and financial sustainability.
• The CEO will be adept at guiding a multi-dimensional organization and articulating its value to a diverse set of stakeholders with a variety of perspectives and needs.
• A critical thinker, the CEO will approach leadership with ingenuity and perseverance, not shying away from bold decisions that will result in positive change.
• The CEO will partner with key stakeholders to refine and implement the strategic plan, direct all operations and activities, and implement policies and programs in a manner that is fiscally responsible and consistent with the organization’s values and strategic goals.
• This CEO will prioritize efforts to build a diverse and inclusive membership and workforce, build upon the NCACPA’s strategies to create a pipeline fit for purpose, and invest in programming that promotes diversity and inclusion in the industry.

Innovative & Experienced Organizational Leader

• The CEO is a savvy executive with strong operational and financial management experience, and an eye to the future of work. This leader has a track record of sound financial planning, oversight, and accountability, with the ability to clearly communicate financial status and strategies to key stakeholders.
• The CEO will understand and implement best management practices and planning, ensuring that overall day-to-day operations are aligned with strategic goals.
• This leader will be effective in diversifying revenue streams, have experience in and be willing to embrace the digital age, delivering high-caliber and engaging products, and growing and further engaging a membership body. The CEO will be skilled at thoughtful and strategic change management, bringing others along in a thoughtful and collaborative way.
• This leader will bring an excellent track record of building and leading high-performing teams to achieve quantifiable outcomes while encouraging the growth and development of staff.
• The CEO will demonstrate the ability to lead with transparency, respect, and empathy. They will be skilled at active listening and learning, with a deep belief in fostering a collaborative, innovative, and productive culture.
• The CEO will have a rich understanding of and deep belief in the power of celebrating and advancing equity, inclusion, and diversity at all levels, internally and externally. This executive will recognize and prioritize equity and inclusion as a strategic business imperative and can attract, retain, and develop diverse staff, members, and partners.

Strong Relationship Builder & Collaborator

• This leader is a persuasive and authentic communicator with the ability to convene the Association’s stakeholders, develop strong working relationships with key leaders, and leverage those relationships for the organization and membership.
• The CEO will demonstrate a high level of emotional intelligence, with a track record of quickly establishing credibility and trust through leadership, listening, and collaboration.
• The face of the organization, the CEO will be a highly visible member of the community, responsible for stewarding relationships with critical partner organizations, policymakers, media, and other key external stakeholders.
• The CEO will partner closely with the Director of Advocacy to build relationships with legislators, regulators, and other key stakeholders to ensure the Association is well-positioned to carry out NCACPA’s advocacy agenda.
• This executive will be an authentic and proactive leader who excels at achieving consensus among differing opinions.
• The CEO understands the importance of a robust partnership with the Board and possesses the knowledge and ability to ensure the Board is achieving its primary responsibilities of excellence in governance.

Passionate Ambassador

• The next CEO will bring a sincere passion for the Association’s mission and genuine excitement about the future of the profession.
• The CEO will work with key stakeholders to understand the forces, trends, and challenges impacting current CPAs, the next generation of CPAs, and the CPA profession.
• It is imperative that the CEO models a leadership style that stays true to the values of the organization and motivates others to action.
• This leader is an ambitious, yet humble, individual dedicated to building a sense of shared purpose and engagement in the future of the Association and profession.
• The ideal candidate is an individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics, and values; a servant leader, they are someone who is authentic and can be trusted without reservation.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $300,000 - $350,000 with a generous benefits package. 

Relocation to the Raleigh area is required. Employees are currently on a hybrid in-person schedule.

Contact

Koya Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Corina Benitz and Molly Brennan of Koya Partners have been exclusively retained for this search. To express interest in this role, please submit your materials by filling out our Talent Profile or email the Koya team directly at [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.

Koya Partners is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request accommodation for the interview process.

NCACPA is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.

About Koya Partners

Koya Partners, a part of Diversified Search Group, is a leading executive search and strategic advising firm dedicated to connecting exceptionally talented people with mission-driven clients. Our founding philosophy—The Right Person in the Right Place Can Change the World—guides our work as we partner with nonprofits & NGOs, institutions of higher education, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.

At Koya, we don’t just accept difference—we celebrate it, support it, and thrive on it for the benefit of our team, our clients, and the communities we serve.

For more information about Koya Partners, visit https://diversifiedsearchgroup.com/koya-partners/.