Carla McCall Reflects on AICPA Chair Term with Message to the Profession
As her term concludes as 2024–25 Chair of the American Institute of CPAs and co-chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, Carla McCall, CPA, CGMA, AAFCPAs’ Managing Partner, offers a message centered on leadership, transformation, and human connection.
McCall, the 111th chair and only the seventh woman to serve in the role, uses her platform to advance a people-first vision for the profession—one grounded in trust, creativity, and progress. Her 2024-2025 chairship and ongoing ambassador role as immediate past chair focuses on three key themes: modernizing the profession through innovation, strengthening its long-term sustainability, and creating greater opportunity for all.
With more than 30 years of experience, McCall brought to the role the perspective of a managing partner at a U.S. Top 100 and growing CPA and consulting firm. She modeled a form of leadership that broadened the profession’s view of what effective leadership can look like. By leading with candor, creativity, and authenticity, she showed that staying true to yourself may not only resonate, but it may also create space for others to do the same. McCall now embraces her ambassador role with both gratitude and purpose.
With her international platform, McCall positions CPAs as agents of change. She encouraged the profession to move beyond legacy narratives and toward a broader understanding of its role in society. That includes helping organizations manage complexity, lead digital transformation, and operate sustainably. She urges CPAs to embrace a more agile, human-centric leadership model—one that listens, invites ideas, and adapts. She also emphasizes the need for more outreach and early engagement.
Carla McCall
“What I learned early in my career is that this is a relationship profession. When you build genuine connections, you earn trust—and that trust becomes influence. And when you have influence, leadership becomes magic,” she said. “We have always been at the leading edge of transformation and technology. No matter where you sit in this profession, you’re in a position to help others manage change. I’ve encouraged our own team members to visit high schools and colleges to talk about the profession and what they do. It’s exciting, and it is making a difference.”
Her one-on-one connections have had a lasting effect. Students have shared that her presence and perspective helped them see the profession differently. One even credited her with influencing a decision to pursue accounting as a major. These personal moments reflect how authentic leadership rooted in connection may directly shape the profession’s future.
Her support of the 2024 CPA exam launch aligned with her broader vision for change. She emphasizes that to remain relevant, the profession must meet the expectations of a new generation raised on technology and tell a more complete story about the career paths it offers.
Reflecting on her role as a global advocate and voice of the profession, McCall points to the lasting value of challenging assumptions and promoting new ways of thinking.
“What has fulfilled me most in my role as chair is the impact I’ve had on others and being able to encourage people in the profession to think differently, to get creative, to not get stuck in the mentality of ‘this is the way it’s always been done.’”
She also reflects on the global perspective the role provided. As co-chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, McCall attended the CIMA Council meetings and saw firsthand how accounting professionals around the world approach complex issues in different ways. It also gave her a deeper appreciation for the value of bringing management accountants and public accountants together. We are facing the same issues, and we can learn from each other.
“It was just an amazing opportunity to learn about issues and how people approach issues differently, no matter where you sit in the profession or around the globe,” she said. “We are leaders. We lead our members through change so that we don’t sacrifice what we have built and what we’re known for—quality, prosperity, and protecting public trust.”
In May 2025, McCall handed the chair reins to Lexy Kessler, the 112th Chair and now the eighth woman to serve in the role. She was also part of the monumental transition to new CEO, Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA.
Now in her role as immediate past chair, the vision continues. Watch her full message below.
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