WHY I'M A MEMBER

Learning Never Stops for CPAs

Truth be told, when someone suggested to Nancy L. Mancini back in high school that she should consider pursuing an accounting degree in college, she wasn’t all that excited.

“At the time, I thought it was a boring profession,” said Mancini.

But just maybe, a seed had been planted.

“It wasn’t until I worked in a small retail establishment, where I began providing bookkeeping services, that I realized the full potential of becoming a CPA.”

Now a shareholder with Caliri, Mancini & Barbieri, PC, with offices in Exeter, Cranston and North Providence, Mancini has a much broader view of a profession that has afforded her “an invaluable opportunity” to work with individuals in both the non-profit and private sectors. And how rewarding, she says, to have discovered a profession in which the learning never stops.   

That early experience in the retail world fueled Mancini’s drive towards earning a degree from Bryant College (now Bryant University) and a position at Arthur Young (now Ernst & Young). It was during her time at Arthur Young that Mancini was encouraged to join the Society.

Like so many young accountants, the initial draw to the organization was its unprecedented commitment to providing CPE credits.

However, as the years passed, “I realized that the RISCPA was not only a provider of excellent continuing education opportunities, but also a valuable tool when exploring unknown specialties,” said Mancini.

Mancini, who has served on several RISCPA committees over the years, describes the ability to network with other CPAs through the RISCPA as especially beneficial.

“I have met and worked with many individuals in both public accounting and private industry for an invaluable sharing of information,” she said.

Maybe now more than ever, Mancini says, there are practical benefits to being a RISCPA member. An unsettling economic climate, after all, makes it all that more important to stay informed, she says.

“Through RISCPA email newsletters and emails, the RISCPA keeps members informed about important local and national legislative proceedings that may impact the profession,” said Mancini.   

And so, the learning never stops.