National Society of Black CPAs Celebrate 1-Year Anniversary As More Accountants Create Generational Wealth in Black Communities blackenterprise.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from blackenterprise.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Meet The First Black Woman to Become a Certified Public Accountant in the United States
(Image Credit: Courtesy of Illinois CPA Society)
Mary T. Washington Wylie made history when she became the first Black woman Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the United States. She was also the 13th Black CPA in the country.
Wylie’s CPA designation and accounting firm opened the doors for the next generation of Black CPAs. It became the learning laboratory that gave birth to many of the first 100 Black CPAs in the country.
“Ms. Washington was a perfectionist and expected high-performance. She was a taskmaster but she was also kind and nurturing,” says Lester McKeever, one of the first 100 Black CPAs and former chairman of the Chicago Federal Reserve. “She was responsible for so many young men and women becoming licensed CPAs. Her firm was the only place where someone could get experience even after passing the CPA exam. She always wanted to help and encourage young people, introduc
‘There is No Place for Mediocrity’: 86-Year-Old Accountant Shares Powerful Success Tips
(Image Credit: Courtesy of Lester McKeever)
Lester McKeever made history as one of the first 100 African Americans to become a Certified Public Accountant in the U.S. According to the National Society of Black Certified Public Accountants (NSBCPA), less than 1% of all CPAs in the U.S. are Black.
“Being a CPA, a highly recognized credential in the business world, provided me the opportunity to leverage many unique opportunities,” says McKeever in an exclusive interview with
Black Enterprise.
For many decades, McKeever has worked to expose more students to the accounting profession. Through various programs, he has raised millions of dollars to provide scholarships and job opportunities for the next generation of leaders.
By Victor Omondi
Vista Equity founder, chairman, and CEO Robert F. Smith has promised to give $1 million to the National Society of Black Certified Public Accountants (NSBCPA) to encourage more Black people to be Certified Public Accountants in the United States. The Wall Street Billionaire gained recognition when he cleared the student loan debt of 2019 Morehouse graduates.
NSBCPA is an organization that was established in 2020 to provide knowledge, resources, and sponsorship to Black CPAs. It also provides a platform for professional CPAs to mentor their young counterparts. Increasing Black representation in the accounting profession is a high-priority item in the organization’s list since Black Americans only make up for less than 1% of all CPAs in the United States.