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To celebrate Black History Month (Tuesday, February 1, 2022 – Tuesday, March 1, 2022), the New England Society of Certified Public Accountants (NECPAs) recognizes members who have helped shape the accounting profession. AAFCPAs Partner Sorie Kaba, CPA was among those recognized.
What initially interested you in the accounting field?
When I took over my family retail business in Liberia, I wanted to do things differently in terms of developing a better financial reporting system. I applied what I had learned as an economics major and built a system for success that accounted for not only our sales but inventory and expenses as well. By seeing the positive impact it had on the family business, I decided to change course from studying science and physics to pursue a degree in accounting.
Do you have a mentor or person you look to in the industry for guidance?
At AAFCPAs, coaching/mentorship has always been and continues to be a key component of staff development. My entire working career in America has been with AAFCPAs, where I have been fortunate to have great mentors. Prior to becoming a partner, I worked with Matt Hutt, CPA, CGMA, and Tom Washburn, CPA, CGMA, who have been great mentors that I still look to for guidance. We have a collaborative and team-oriented culture, so it is easy to reach out to almost any partner, including the managing partner, for guidance, whether work related or personal.
Do you have any advice for students looking to go into the accounting industry?
Students should be aware that the accounting industry and profession are changing rapidly, which means you must be willing to adapt to be successful in accounting. Students should consider taking courses in technology and analytics as a means of differentiating themselves as the skill set requirements continue to expand for the profession. At AAFCPAs, we are talking to students to encourage them to study math and applicable courses that could lead to a career in the accounting industry.
What would you like to see change in the accounting industry?
I would like to see growth in groups that are underrepresented at various levels within CPA firms. I am glad and grateful that NECPAs continues to promote and prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as one of the goals in their 2022-2025 Strategic Plan. This is a step in the right direction, and I hope more firms across the nation develop DEI programs that will create an inclusive workplace and not only recruit but retain diverse employees at various levels. My firm, AAFCPAs, launched a diversity, equity and inclusion Initiative in 2017 to make this a fundamental part of the firm’s core values. This is an important part of our work every day, and as chair of my firm’s DEI Committee, I am proud of the work we have done so far and continue to do in promoting DEI within the firm.
About Black History Month
Every February, people in the United States celebrate the achievements and history of African Americans as part of Black History Month. Black History Month was created to focus attention on the contributions of African Americans to the United States. It honors all Black people from all periods of U.S. history, from the enslaved people first brought over from Africa in the early 17th century to African Americans living in the United States today.
About Sorie Kaba, CPA
Sorie has extensive experience providing assurance, tax, and consulting solutions to sophisticated nonprofits, including multi-service human & social services providers, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Community Development Corporations and their affordable housing projects, and community development financial institutions (CDFIs). He is highly sought-after for his authoritative knowledge on the subject of tax credit-based financing, including New Markets tax credits (NMTCs), Low-Income Housing tax credits (LIHTCs), federal and state Historic Rehabilitation tax credits, Renewable Energy tax credits, and projects that combine tax credits with various levels of debt and rental assistance subsidies.
