When did you know you wanted to become an accountant?

I was recruited for a position at a CPA firm in 1995 while I was still an accounting student; it was something I actually liked, so I kept accounting as a career going forward.

Richard H. Austin, CPA licensed in 1941 was the first African American CPA in Michigan. He was a senior partner in the firm of Austin, Washington & Davenport which was later sold to George G. Johnson when Austin became Michigan Secretary of State in 1970. The firm then became known as George Johnson & Company and now operates as GJC CPAs & Advisors. GJC CPAs & Advisors is the first and oldest African American owned CPA firm in the State of Michigan

When did you know you wanted to become an accountant?

I was introduced to accounting my senior year in high school and I decided to become an accountant my first year of college. They asked me to declare a major and as I looked down the list (in alphabetical order) accountant was at the top so I chose it.

The National Society of Black Certified Public Accountants, Inc. (NSBCPA) recently announced today the selection of Darryl R. Matthews, Sr. as its President & CEO. NSBCPA is currently the only organization completely focused on increasing the number of Black CPAs by providing CPA Exam candidates with the resources and coaching to pass the exam, ensuring they become CPAs.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Charles A. Beckett, CPA licensed in 1941 was one of the first African American certified public accountants in Illinois. He was also a community activist who helped found Paul G. Stewart Housing Development; which was named after his friend Paul G. Stewart, CPA.

When did you know you wanted to become an accountant?

I never wanted to become an accountant. In a sense, the profession chose me. I started out as a general business major, but I didn't feel adequately challenged by the educational curriculum. The demand for more out of my education led me to inquire about the most challenging major in the university's business program; and, voila, an accountant was born!

Theodore A. Jones was the 9th Black CPA licensed in 1940 and hailed from the State of Illinois by way of Colorado. He attended the University of Illinois, where he studied accounting and economics. His professors ignored him; therefore, he pretended to be asleep one day, and the professor called on him. Theodore answered the question correctly and, from that day forward, was recognized by his professors. Though people stated he could not succeed because of his color, he proved them wrong and noted as a man ahead of his time.

When did you know you wanted to become an accountant?

I was aware of accounting during my high school days when my little sister took an accounting class but that was the extent of my understanding. I would not see accounting again until my sophomore year at Rice when I had to take an accounting class as part of my business minor (and even then I chalked it up as a necessary evil in the pursuit of my education. It was hard and I think I passed with a B-).

When did you know you wanted to become an accountant?

I first learned about accounting during my first year in college. I had not heard of accounting or accountants before that time. I was in the business school at Temple University and one of the first required courses was accounting. I immediately liked it because to me it was similar to solving a puzzle.

When did you know you wanted to become an accountant?

I knew I wanted to be an accountant in high school after taking the bookkeeping class. I knew what an accountant was because my parents went to an African American CPA in a small town in Louisiana to get their taxes done. I always admired him and his office ever since I was a little girl. My aunt also married an accountant in 1977 and his twin brother was a CPA at Arthur Anderson in the 1990's.

In 1938, Alfred W. Tucker was the 8th #BlackCPA and the 2nd to be licensed in the State of New York. Mr. Tucker was a graduate of Columbia University and a charter member of the Omicron Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi. He founded the firm Lucas (Major Wilmer Lucas, CPA) and Tucker which was the first Black Certified Public Accountant firm in the State of New York.

When did you know you wanted to become an accountant?

Accounting 101 was one of the required core courses when I switched my major from Computer Science to Business Management in my freshman year. Accounting balanced; there was always a right answer. I liked the certainty of it. Of course, it doesn't always work out like that in real life, but it was enough in textbook practice to get me hooked!

Louis Rawlings, CPA, the 7th Black CPA hailed from Illinois making him the 3rd Black CPA licensed in the state in 1937.

In 1937, Paul G. Stewart was the 2nd licensed Black CPA in the State of Illinois, which makes him the 6th Black CPA.

No one could have imagined that in 1922 the fifth Black Certified Public Accountant would hail from NYU, one of the two top business schools, but as many of the first Black CPAs General Wilmer F. Lucas, CPA was above average!

Jesse B. Blayton, Sr, CPA graduated from Langston University and served in the US Army in World War I. Mr. Blayton passed the Georgia accounting examination in 1928, becoming the state's first black Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and only the fourth African American nationwide to hold the certification. 

Imagine sitting in a room of 49 white men and you are a black man that is trying to fulfill your dream to become a Certified Public Accountant.

Who is this gentleman? I am glad you asked.

John W. Cromwell Jr., the first Black Certified Public Accountant, graduated with honors from Dartmouth College and earned a master’s degree but chose to teach high school math because of limited practice opportunities.