AICPA Promotes Sue Coffey, CPA, CGMA to CEO of Public Accounting

The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association) announced today that Sue Coffey, CPA, CGMA has been promoted to chief executive officer of public accounting.

Coffey will partner with Association and AICPA president and CEO, Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA to set strategy for, strengthen and advance the global accountancy profession and the value of public accounting domestically and abroad. Coffey will continue to report to Melancon.

In her new role, Coffey will lead key strategic initiatives that will transform the public accounting profession and the way it supports clients and businesses. Her role includes identifying and supporting the performance of emerging advisory and assurance services, evolving the CPA pipeline and the value of the CPA and reimagining and transforming how some of the profession’s most important services are performed. Coffey will also focus on building relationships with key profession leaders and stakeholders to identify and develop opportunities and quality within the profession. This includes relationships and alliances with domestic and global firms, as well as governmental and private organizations, and their leaders. Coffey will work closely with Andrew Harding, FCMA, CGMA, the Association’s chief executive officer of management accounting and Erik Asgeirsson, the chief executive officer of CPA.com.

“This is a tremendous achievement and reflects Sue’s leadership and strategic capabilities, plus the hard work and success of Sue and her team. Her foresight and global network have been key to the success of many innovations, such as the soon-to-be-launched Dynamic Audit Solution, the modernization of auditing standards and the re-envisioning of CPA licensure to address accountants’ emerging skills and competency needs,” said Melancon. “Today, more than ever, accounting professionals are viewed as trusted advisers, and we have Sue’s vision and commitment to thank for this achievement. The Association’s support of the business community, CPA firms of all sizes and the public continues to grow, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. I am confident that with Sue’s passion and talent, the accounting profession will further leverage its strengths and thrive.”

“I am incredibly honored and excited to be assuming this new role. Many past and present Association leaders, as well as CPA firm leaders whom I’ve worked with over the years, have supported and prepared me for this challenging role. I am eternally grateful to them,” said Coffey. “My new role will allow me to engage my strategic thinking, relationship-building and problem-solving experience in finding new ways to support and grow the profession and its commitment to protecting the public. I am also thankful to have an amazing, highly qualified team that I look forward to partnering with.”

Coffey’s initial focus will be to work with practitioners to understand how the Association can better support their success and that of their clients and grow her cross-functional team to drive that success. She will use her passion for the profession to advance the Association’s important public interest and trust-related activities, including developing strategies to help it use new technologies.

Coffey is a licensed CPA in the states of New York and New Jersey, as well as a CGMA, and is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the New Jersey Society of CPAs. She has been honored over the years by being recognized as one of the Most Powerful Women in Accounting by the CPA Practice Advisor, and in 2020 Accounting Today placed Coffey in the top 10 of its Most Influential People in Accounting list. Coffey holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT.

The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association) is the most influential body of professional accountants, combining the strengths of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) to power trust, opportunity and prosperity for people, businesses and economies worldwide. It represents 650,000 members and students across 179 countries and territories in public and management accounting, and advocates for the public interest and business sustainability on current and emerging issues. With broad reach, rigor and resources, the Association advances the reputation, employability and quality of CPAs, CGMAs and accounting and finance professionals globally.