ACA Members – The Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting | Accounting Today

Joanne Barry
Executive director and CEO, NYSSCPA
As head of one of the largest and most influential state societies, Barry is a major voice for strong professional education, vigilance in maintaining accounting’s integrity in its public service role, and more inclusion for women and minorities.

Career Highlights: Executive director and CEO, New York State Society of CPAs, 2010-present; executive director, Foundation for Accounting Education, 2010-present; executive director, Moynihan Scholarship Fund, 2017; publisher, “The CPA Journal;” deputy executive director, 2008-2009; managing director of communications, 2006-2008; director, Communications Division, 1986-1989; assistant director of PR, 1981-1986. … Assistant director of public information and publications editor, Hackensack Medical Center, 1980-1981 … PR, New York City School Volunteer Program, 1977-1981.

Other Affiliations: American Society of Association Executives … President, CPA Society Executives Association … Board, Montclair State University Accounting, Law and Taxation Advisory Board … St. John University’s Peter J. Tobin College of Business, Department of Accounting and Taxation Executive Advisory Board; Accountants Forum Board of Directors … Board, New York Society of Association Executives … Past chair, AICPA PR Conference.

Education: New School for Social Research, MS … Montclair State University, BA.

Personal: Born in Jersey City, N.J. … Married to Edward …Three sons.

Barry Melancon
President and CEO, AICPA
Leading both versions of the AICPA — the institute and the association, with more than half a million members worldwide — Melancon is indisputably the most influential person in accounting. But it’s not numbers that make the difference: It’s his vision for where the profession is headed, including major plans for the audit, and his ability to bring accountants along with him.

Career Highlights: President and CEO, AICPA, 1995-present … Executive director, Society of Louisiana CPAs, 1987-1995 … Shareholder, Bergeron & Co., 1979-1987.

Other Affiliations: CEO, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (joint venture with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) …Chairman, International Integrated Reporting Council … U.S. Delegation, IFAC … Chairman, XBRL-US … U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness … Board, Global Accounting Alliance.

Education: Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, La., 1983, MBA; 1978, BS.

Personal: Born 1958, Houma, La. … Married to Patty … One son.