About Today’s CPA Magazine

• Artistic Assets
• ASC 350
• ASU 2025‑06
• Contract‑based Assets
• Crypto Assets
• Generative AI
• Goodwill
• Internal‑Use Software
• Mask Works
• Trade Dress
• Trademarks

FASB’s recent targeted GAAP improvements address the accounting and reporting of internally developed software. ASU 2025‑06 replaces development‑stage rules for internal‑use software with a “probable‑to‑complete” capitalization threshold.

By Josef Rashty, CPA

• AI Innovation
• CPA Licensure
• Member Engagement
• Mentorship
• Rise2040
• Student Outreach
• TXCPA Advocacy
• Virtual Communities

TXCPA’s 2026 Annual Meeting brought more than 200 leaders together to celebrate organizational achievements, discuss emerging trends and shape the future of the organization. As the organization enters the final year of its Strategic Plan, the meeting emphasized momentum, collaboration and continued involvement in TXCPA and the accounting profession.

• Accounting Career
• Career Readiness
• Community Engagement
• CTE Programs
• Firm Involvement
• K‑12 Outreach
• Students
• Talent Development

CPA firms, universities and professional organizations are using coordinated efforts to expand the future CPA talent pipeline by reaching students much earlier in the K‑12 system. Because many students choose career pathways as early as 8th grade, the authors emphasize shifting outreach toward freshmen and sophomores already inclined toward business studies.

By Linda Campbell, Ph.D., CPA, CGMA, and Kasey Martin, Ph.D., CPA, CIA

• Chapter Engagement
• Chapters
• CPA Licensure
• Leadership
• Mentorship
• TXCPA Advocacy
• Volunteer
• Workforce Development

Strong connections are essential to the future of the CPA profession. This CEO's Message highlights the power of mentorship, TXCPA’s efforts to strengthen the accounting pipeline, and the many ways members, volunteers and chapters are helping build opportunities for the next generation of CPAs.

By Jodi Ann Ray, CAE

• Chapter Awards
• Community Service
• Financial Literacy
• Leadership
• Member Engagement
• Member Networking
• Student Outreach
• Volunteer

TXCPA’s Outstanding Chapter Awards recognize small and medium-sized chapters for excellence in leadership, member service, innovation and community involvement. The 2025-26 recipients, TXCPA Rio Grande Valley and TXCPA East Texas, were honored for their strong student outreach initiatives, professional development opportunities, scholarship fundraising, member engagement and community service.

• Accounting Education
• Career Pathways
• CPA Licensure
• Internships
• Students
• Talent Development
• Workforce Development

Accounting offers far more career opportunities than traditional tax, audit and financial reporting roles. By introducing students to the diverse ways accounting skills can be applied, educators and practitioners can help the next generation of CPAs see the many possibilities an accounting career can offer.

By Dr. Ashley Bentley, Ed.D., CPA

• Chapter Events
• Community Service
• Legislative Updates
• Member Appreciation
• Strategic Planning
• Student Engagement

TXCPA chapters across Texas are strengthening connections through student engagement events, legislative conversations, member appreciation gatherings, and strategic planning sessions. From Corpus Christi’s student bowling mixer and to Southeast Texas’ celebration with Lamar University to El Paso's and San Antonio’s focused planning meetings and Victoria’s community‑building event, each chapter is fostering momentum, collaboration and professional growth.

• Accounting Academia
• Clinical Professor Roles
• CPA Career Paths
• Faculty Salaries
• Ph.D. Demand
• Work–life Balance

Is accounting academia still an attractive career path for CPAs? Although demand for accounting Ph.D. graduates has declined despite earlier predictions of faculty shortages, accounting professors continue to enjoy strong compensation, work/life balance, tenure stability and summer flexibility.

By Clement Chen, Ph.D., CPA; Keith T. Jones, Ph.D., CPA; Zhaochu Li, Ph.D.; and Iryna P. Lytvynenko

• AI in Accounting 2026
• CFO Career
• Executive Coaching
• Professional Growth
• Stewardship Leadership

Eric R. Alexander discusses the lessons behind his book “Stewardship Leadership for Stinkin' Accountants: Serving as the CFO” and how a servant mindset, wisdom and relationships create a lasting impact. He explores why trust, accountability and communication are essential to effective financial leadership, especially as AI transforms the profession.

• Double Materiality
• ESG Risks
• Risk assessment
• SASB Standards
• Sustainability Reporting

This article explains how CPAs can assess and disclose material environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks that may affect a company’s financial position, operations and stakeholders. The concept of double materiality is introduced, which considers both the financial impact of ESG risks on a company and the company’s impact on society and the environment.

By Tamara K. Kowalczyk, Ph.D., and Lynn Stallworth, Ph.D.

• CPA Pipeline
• Faculty Ambassadors
• Leadership
• Membership
• Student Ambassadors
• Volunteer
• Workforce Development

TXCPA celebrates and thanks our 2026–2027 Faculty and Student Ambassadors, whose leadership and enthusiasm bring our programs, resources and opportunities directly to campuses across Texas. Their commitment strengthens our connection to future professionals and fuels the growth of the CPA pipeline statewide.

• CPA Advisory
• Enterprise Value
• Firm Capital
• Leadership Depth
• Scalability
• Transferability
• Valuation Gap

A profitable business is not necessarily a valuable or transferable one, as enterprise value depends on organizational architecture rather than dependence on the owner’s involvement. The central message: profitable operations generate income, but only well‑structured businesses build equity that can be sold, transferred or relied upon for retirement.

By Jeff Beckley, CPA

• 2027 Texas Legislative Session
• Alternative Pathway
• CPA Licensure
• CPA mobility
• Legislative Advocacy
• SB 262
• SB 522

Texas has entered a new phase of CPA licensure with the implementation of Senate Bill 262 on August 1, 2026, creating an alternative pathway that allows candidates to qualify with 120 hours of education and two years of experience, alongside the traditional 150‑hour route. As the 2027 legislative session approaches, TXCPA is preparing to protect strong licensing standards, monitor deregulation efforts and engage newly elected lawmakers.

By Kenneth Besserman, JD, LLM

• ACAN
• Accounting Career
• AcctoFi Scholarships
• CGMA Designation
• Mentorship
• Tribute to John Baines
• TXCPA Member Insurance

In this edition of Take Note: A Legacy of Mentorship - A Tribute to John Baines, CPA-Dallas; Accountants Confidential Assistance Network (ACAN); CGMA® Designation; TXCPA Member Insurance

• CPA Firms
• Equity investment
• Exit Planning
• Practice sales
• Succession
• Tax Services
• Texas Sales Tax
• Virtual Firms

The Classifieds section of Today's CPA provides a one-stop destination to find practices for sale, connect with buyers, and access services that support growth, transition and market expansion.