News & Updates

From shifting licensure pathways to AI acceleration and new expectations around governance and culture, the accounting profession is entering a decisive new phase. In this featured analysis from Accounting ARC, Donny Shimamoto, Liz Mason, and Byron Patrick unpack what’s changing, what it means for firm leaders, and why the next wave of opportunity may belong to those willing to rethink how their firms are designed.

What does it really mean to be “career ready”? In this end-of-year episode of Student-led Conversations, our student hosts reflect on a season of honest conversations with professionals across the accounting profession — and what they learned when students were trusted to lead the dialogue.

The Accounting ARC trio Liz Mason, CPA, Byron Patrick, CPA.CITP, CGMA, and Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA, react to the U.S. Department of Education’s move to treat accounting master’s programs as non-professional for federal loan limits.

The Center for Accounting Transformation is proud to announce that its founder and “inspiration architect,” Donny Shimamoto, CPA.CITP, CGMA, has been named to Accounting Today’s 2025 Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting, published in the magazine’s December issue.   The Accounting Today Top 100 honors individuals whose influence extends beyond organizational boundaries—leaders advancing the profession’s relevance, resilience, and public value during a period of profound change. 

What does it really look like to speak up for your community—and still build a powerful career in accounting? In this episode of Accounting ARC – Student-Led Conversations, our student host sits down with E. ZeNai Savage, CPA—founder of The Savage Advantage, community advocate, former statewide candidate, and Gen Z role model for turning values into action.

The Center for Accounting Transformation’s award-winning recruitment video delivers a fast-paced, cinematic message that positions accountants as innovators and changemakers, earning top honors from the Viddy Awards.  The Center for Accounting Transformation is proud to announce that its flagship recruitment video, Unlock the Power of the Accounting Profession, has been honored with a gold Viddy Award in the Non-Broadcast |

Accountants don’t just crunch numbers—they cultivate hope. In this Know-How Korner episode, host Donny Shimamoto talks with Katelynn Hopson of Arkansas Tech University about her new research on hope in public accounting and how it ties to stress appraisal and retention—especially during busy season. Hear practical ways firms build a “hope culture,” reduce turnover intentions, and even pass hope on to clients.

The Center’s AoT entries were selected from among more than 6,000 submissions from the U.S., Canada, and 41 other countries. The Center for Accounting Transformation is honored to announce that its Agents of Transformation initiative has received international recognition, earning a Gold Award and an Honorable Mention in the 2025 MarCom Awards, one of the world’s most prestigious competitions celebrating

Understanding how prices are set helps you make smarter decisions and see the “story” behind every product. What makes a $6 Starbucks latte feel “worth it”? Why do we pay more for designer brands—or splurge on movie theater popcorn? This episode of Student-led Conversations will change how you see every price tag—from coffee shops to online subscriptions. Whether you’re a student, entrepreneur, or curious consumer, you’ll walk away thinking differently about the invisible psychology behind every purchase.

Firms set goals, build guardrails, and train relentlessly so AI creates measurable value. Large-firm CIOs are buzzing about Copilot and other AI—but should you flip the switch for everyone? Liz Mason, Byron Patrick, and Donny Shimamoto unpack what effective rollout looks like, compare agentic AI vs. plain automation, talk prompt discipline, and explain why “start now—but be strategic” is the only path.