questions

with Jeff Frable

Jeff Frable, a CPA and partner with Curzon Cumbey & Kunkel PLLC, rece ntly completed his term as president of the Oklahoma Society of CPAs.

I've never experienced a culture similar to our firm, and I get the opportunity to be part of the leadership te am that dTives that culture. I get the opportunity to work with many entrepreneurs who need someone to alleviate thei r burdens related to various tax and business issues. The various roles I play with my clients and partners fosters a growth culture that can be very exciting.

What do you do as a partner with (urzon C bey & Kunkel PLL(? um

I took my first accounting class my junior year of high school. From that point, the curriculum seemed to click with me and I continued to follow the path to where I am today. I've learned relationsh ips and trust are just as important as the technical aspect. I love taking care of clients and making them feel important. Many times, being proactive, solving a problem or simply returning a phone call strengthens the relationship and builds trust.
YOU just ended your one-year term as president of the Oklahoma Society of (PAs. What was the most challenging issue you faced during your tenure, and what did you find most rewarding?

When did you become interested in numbers?

MAn BARNARD/ Tulsa World

IInterview conducted by Nancy Hollingshead, World staff wri ter.

A significant portion of our professionals are older than 50. The development of the "New CPA" - defined by the OSCPA as younger than 40 or having five or fewer years of experience as a CPA - is imperative to the continuance or our profes-

sion and leadership with in the profession. This ini tiative reaches as far back as grade or high school to develop our future leaders. The most rewarding aspect has been the continued success of the Financial Literacy Initiative. CPAs have initiated grass-roots efforts with free resources and tools to educate all ages on basic financial topics. A great example of this is "Do it Herself: A Journey to Financial Freedom," a conference held each year in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. H und reds of women attend, and many leave educated and empowered to take control of their financial well-being.

data, and the United States is reportedly gearing for the change. What is the IFRS, and what will the change mean to you and your clients?
The transition from our nation's Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) to IFRS is not a tax issue; therefore, it will not affect most individual taxpayers. IFRS is a set of accounting standards that may one day be the global standard for the preparation of public company financial statements. IFRS might also come into play for any entrepreneurial business owner with the need or desire to present fina ncial statements on the same basis as foreign competitors, which would make comparisons easier. Conversion to IFRS could be more than an accounting exercise, though, as it could affect many

aspects of a u.s. company's operations. A date for mandatory u.s. implementation has yet to be set. CPAs will react, though, when the Securities and Exchange Commission designates a date for voluntary, or even mandatory, adoption of IFRS by all U.S. public companies, and maybe even nonpublic companies.

More than110 countries worldwide have adopted International Financial Reporting Standards for financial

It's a great time to be a CPA in Oklahoma. The public holds our profession in high regard as a trusted resource with much integrity. With pending tax and financial reporting changes on the horizon, the public will continue to look to our profession for insight, understanding and answers.

How does the year ahead look for Oklahoma's (PAs?