Why can't I have CPE classes in my community?
In order for the WYOCPA to break even on courses we need 12-15 CPAs in the class. Instructors are expensive, and many charge us an honorarium per participant. Books and travel costs continue to increase. Instructors are aging, and many don't want to travel as often as they have in the past. Many vendors require a minimum number of participants, and the WYOCPA has to buy "seats" to make the class happen. Renting out hotel space and providing meals also adds to the cost of the course. With all this being said, many of Wyoming's small communities cannot bring enough CPAs to the course to cover our costs. If they can, we can't get an instructor for these communities.
Explain more about the health insurance benefit.
If you are working for a public accounting firm, your insurance may be coming from the WYOCPA insurance program. The Wyoming Professionals Benefit Plan and Trust was established in December of 2007. They operate under a separate board of trustees to provide health insurance coverage to its members. The firm's owner(s) must be a member(s) of the Wyoming Society of CPAs and decide if the firm will participate. The insurance would cover the CPA/staff and their dependents. It is one of the very few plans, along with an early retiree plan, that bridges the gap to Medicare. To be eligible, you must be in public accounting with a firm size of at least two. CNIC is the insurance provider, and currently, there are 108 people covered under the plan.
Do I get a break on my firm's dues if someone wants to join the WYOCPA in the middle of the year?
Yes, we charge pro-rate dues. The Wyoming Society of CPAs' fiscal year is May 1—April 30.
How can we increase the number of CPAs in the state?
Recruiting students into the CPA profession is a priority for the Wyoming Society of CPAs. Each fall, we help sponsor the annual Practitioner's Day at the University of Wyoming College of Business. We work with Beta Alpha Psi to help schedule Meet the Firms, Beat the Firms, and make presentations at their meetings. We also meet with faculty from the University and community colleges at their Articulation Conference. This past year, we helped sponsor presentations at the community college level, and we continue to assist in scheduling and providing materials to CPAs for high school visits. Scholarships are also funded, thanks to our generous members. The more students in the pipeline, the more quality staff will be in your firms and businesses.
What is the WYOCPA doing for Young Professionals?
This is a new initiative that we are taking on this year. Networking, social media, CPE and a few other ideas are being discussed to meet this specific groups wants and needs. If you are interested in helping us get started, we would love to hear from you!
How do I log into the new website?
Your username is the email address the WYOCPA office has on file for you. Your password is your last name and first initial. For example, Cowboy Joe's password will be joec. Be sure to change your password upon your first login. This will help maintain the security of your Membership profile.
If you have any more questions, please contact the WYOCPA office; we will be more than happy to help you. You can email us at admin@wyocpa.org or call 307-634-7039