NYCPA Trusted Professional Podcast
Sep 3, 2026 · 29 min · 15 segments
In this episode, Michael Durant, CPA, the president of NYCPA, shares insights on the evolving role of CPAs, the importance of technology, and the future of the accounting profession in New York and…
Calvin Harris Jr.Host
Michael DurantGuestFirst, from the Journal of Accountancy, on June the 9th, student enrollment in accounting continues to rise.
In encouraging news for the accounting profession and for the third consecutive year, Accounting undergraduate enrollment in U.S. colleges and universities is on the rise.
An AICPA analysis of data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center found spring semester enrollment in four-year undergraduate accounting programs rose 8.9% from spring 2025.
The increase follows a 12.7 rise in spring 2025 and a 4.8 increase in spring 2024.
Additionally, the number of accounting candidates and candidates in general taking the CPA exam for the first time has increased significantly as well.
And no doubt, having additional pathway options like what we've done in New York and throughout the state and throughout the country will no doubt help as well.
Next, from CPA Practice Advisor on May the 26th, an article titled, 78% of tax pros say tax season negatively impacts personal and professional life.
The article notes that while the increased student enrollment is exciting, the profession still has some work to do when it comes to busy season and balancing our needs.
A recent self-assessment of 438 U.S. accountants finds that 78% scored in the survived tier or worse on the tax season survival index.
Now this means that they finished the busy season with real measurable damage to sleep, health, relationships, and their overall decision quality.
The respondents completed the survey in four weeks following the April 15th federal filing deadline.
Other data in the survey includes that one in two slept fewer than six hours a night during the busy season.
Two in three woke up at least weekly thinking about a specific client return.
And one in two reported a stress level of eight out of 10 or higher in the final 72 hours before April the 15th.
I suspect many of our colleagues who focus on personal tax would find those numbers not terribly surprising, but certainly represents a great opportunity for us to enhance the quality of all parts of the profession.
First, from the Journal of Accountancy, on June the 9th, student enrollment in accounting continues to rise.
In encouraging news for the accounting profession and for the third consecutive year, Accounting undergraduate enrollment in U.S. colleges and universities is on the rise.
An AICPA analysis of data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center found spring semester enrollment in four-year undergraduate accounting programs rose 8.9% from spring 2025.
The increase follows a 12.7 rise in spring 2025 and a 4.8 increase in spring 2024.
Additionally, the number of accounting candidates and candidates in general taking the CPA exam for the first time has increased significantly as well.
And no doubt, having additional pathway options like what we've done in New York and throughout the state and throughout the country will no doubt help as well.
Next, from CPA Practice Advisor on May the 26th, an article titled, 78% of tax pros say tax season negatively impacts personal and professional life.
The article notes that while the increased student enrollment is exciting, the profession still has some work to do when it comes to busy season and balancing our needs.
A recent self-assessment of 438 U.S. accountants finds that 78% scored in the survived tier or worse on the tax season survival index.
Now this means that they finished the busy season with real measurable damage to sleep, health, relationships, and their overall decision quality.
The respondents completed the survey in four weeks following the April 15th federal filing deadline.
Other data in the survey includes that one in two slept fewer than six hours a night during the busy season.
Two in three woke up at least weekly thinking about a specific client return.
And one in two reported a stress level of eight out of 10 or higher in the final 72 hours before April the 15th.
I suspect many of our colleagues who focus on personal tax would find those numbers not terribly surprising, but certainly represents a great opportunity for us to enhance the quality of all parts of the profession.
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