The PCPS CPA Firm Top Issues Survey gathers insights from practitioners nationwide to identify the most pressing issues facing firms of all sizes. The results provide perspective on the state of public accounting, both now and over the next five years. Practitioners can use the survey results to learn about trends they may have missed and to identify emerging challenges that they should be prepared to address.
The AICPA and its Private Companies Practice Section (PCPS) team use the survey results to guide the development of tools and resources to help firms address the top issues and manage the everyday intricacies of running a practice.
About the survey: What’s new in 2022
The survey responses are broken down by firm size, with separate lists released for sole practitioners and for firms with 2 to 5, 6 to 10, 11 to 20 and 21 or more professionals. In addition, the results for firms with 21+ professionals are further broken down for the first time into firms with 21-50 professionals, firms with 51-100 professionals and firms with more than 100 professionals.
2022 also marks the first time the survey has been held in consecutive years. It returns to a biennial schedule with the next survey in 2024.
Commentary, resources, articles and more!
Use the below commentary, analysis and recommended resources to gain understanding of the challenges firms are facing as well as the issues practitioners expect to have the most impact on their practices over the next five years.
2022 Top Issues commentary: Standing firm during taxing times
This commentary reviews the survey results for each firm size in detail. It focuses on the top 10 issues but also includes insights on key issues outside the top 10.
Resources to address CPA firm top issues
PCPS and the AICPA provide numerous resources to help firms manage the issues identified in the Top Issues Survey. Review the resources to help your firm turn challenges into opportunities.
Fast-Access Resources Roadmap
Quickly find the resources that can help your firm address the 2022 top issues. The Resources Roadmap is a downloadable PDF that offers dozens of links in digital format and can also be printed for distribution at meetings or conferences.
Podcast: Survey says firms face many top issues
Listen to the Small Firm Philosophy podcast as two AICPA executives, Carl Peterson, CPA, CGMA, Vice President – Small Firms, and Lisa Simpson, CPA, CGMA, VP – Firm Issues, offer their insights on the survey’s top takeaways.
Key insights from the 2022 PCPS CPA Firm Top Issues Survey
Read more of Peterson’s analysis in this article from Small Firm Solutions series.
Staying calm in choppy waters: Top issues facing today’s practitioners
This Practicing CPA article identifies the survey’s top takeaways and what steps firms should take in response.
IRS challenges emerge as top concern for firms
Read the Journal of Accountancy’s coverage of the survey results
PCPS is committed to helping firms with these and many other practice management issues. For more information, please contact Jeff Drew, or call 1-800-CPA-FIRM.