Lexy Kessler. CPA, CGMA, Elected as Chair of the American Institute of CPAs and the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants
Jan Lewis, CPA, CGMA, Named Vice Chair of the American Institute of CPAs
Washington, D.C. (May 14, 2025) — Lexy Kessler, CPA, CGMA, Partner, Aprio, is the new chair of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). She also will serve as chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, which combines the strengths of the AICPA and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
Kessler, a CPA who also holds the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation, was elected to the one-year AICPA volunteer post by the organization’s governing Council, which concludes its Spring Council session tomorrow. Jan Lewis, CPA, CGMA, Tax Partner with BMSS Advisors, was voted in as the AICPA’s vice chair.
“You have my commitment to help facilitate what I can during my term as chair – to listen and connect,” Kessler said in her acceptance speech. “Helping to move our profession forward on the pipeline, innovation, adapting technology at a disruptive pace and celebrating the value of our profession.”
Throughout her tenure, Kessler will concentrate on shaping the future of the profession and working closely with members to align our vision, strategy, and direction for success –
Prioritizing the profession’s commitment to quality by delivering value and providing guidance to tackle major challenges faced by individuals, businesses, and economies.
Showcasing the profession’s drive to transform and spirit to innovate by embracing new technologies, services, and skill sets to meet evolving business needs.
Empowering the future of the CPA, CGMA, and the profession by fostering collaboration among members to attract, develop, and retain top talent.
The next generation of accounting professionals is especially important to Kessler, who previously served as chair of the National Pipeline Advisory Group, which focused on developing a comprehensive pipeline strategy for the accounting profession in the U.S.
Kessler served for the past year as the AICPA’s vice chair and has held several other volunteer posts, including AICPA Board of Directors, AICPA Audit and Finance Committee, PCPS Executive Committee, AICPA Investments Committee, and as a member and elected state representative of Council. She is former chair of the board at the Maryland Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Kessler has won several awards, including Forbes (2025) Best-In-State Top CPAs, Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential Women in Accounting (2024), AICPA’s Most Powerful Women in Accounting for three consecutive years, Maryland’s Top 100 Women as a Circle of Excellence member, and MACPA’s Most Powerful Women to Watch in Accounting. She was also named to the Washington Business Journal’s list of “Women Who Mean Business.”
Kessler earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Maryland. She serves on the Board of Trustees at Marymount University. She previously served on the Aprio Board of Trustees, is a former Chairman of the board of the Choral Arts Society of D.C. and is the Treasurer for the Professional Services Council.
About the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, AICPA, and CIMA
The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association) advances the reputation, employability, and quality of CPAs, CGMA designation holders, and accounting and financial professionals globally. Founded in 2017 by the AICPA and CIMA, it represents 580,000 AICPA and CIMA members, candidates, and registrants in more than 150 countries and territories, advocating for the public interest and business sustainability on current and emerging issues.
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Contact: Bill Ferguson
bill.ferguson@aicpa-cima.com