Board denies petition to accept nonconforming private‑industry experience for CPA licensure

The Connecticut Board of Accountancy on Nov. 4 denied a petition from Matthew Parkinson seeking to count nonconforming private‑industry work experience toward CPA licensure where that experience was not supervised or verified by a licensed CPA.

Parkinson described roughly 18 years in private investment management and said his responsibilities included preparation and analysis of financial statements, audit coordination, internal control walkthroughs and interaction with external auditors. He said he believes his work demonstrates the competencies the board measures for licensure and that several experienced professionals he has worked with could attest to his capabilities.

Board members, however, noted that Connecticut’s experience requirements have long required that qualifying experience be supervised and verified by a licensed CPA. Board discussion referenced prior similar requests and earlier precedents in which unaffiliated auditors’ attestations were not accepted in lieu of direct supervision. One board member cited an earlier case years ago that established the same interpretation.

Members acknowledged the policy tension: several states and professional groups are discussing alternate pathways to licensure and NASBA may have related work under way, but the board concluded it could not waive the supervision requirement in the present case. A motion to deny the petition passed. Board members directed staff to research whether other states or NASBA task forces are developing alternative pathways or equivalency approaches that might inform a future rulemaking or policy change.

No change to Parkinson’s petition was made at the meeting; board staff told Parkinson and the board that the board would revisit the policy question after further research.