Awards and Recognition

This award is the Illinois CPA Society's highest honor, recognizing members who have demonstrated distinguished service to the Society and the CPA profession.

Eligibility:

• Nominees must hold a CPA credential and be members of the Illinois CPA Society, with a demonstrated longstanding tenure in both.
  
• Nominees must demonstrate distinguished service to the CPA profession throughout their career. Consideration will be given to the following factors:
  • Contributions to the CPA profession, with an emphasis on Illinois contributions
  • Illinois CPA Society volunteerism or other community and public service involvement
  • Professional positions attained
• Nominees cannot currently be serving on the Illinois CPA Society’s Board of Directors or the Lifetime Achievement Award Task Force. 

This award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the accounting profession, their organizations, and the development of women as leaders.

Categories:

1. Emerging Leader
2. Experienced Leader

Eligibility:

1. Nominees must demonstrate a history of significant contributions to the accounting profession and the advancement of women as leaders.
2. Emerging Leader: Less than 10 years of work experience.
3. Experienced Leader: 10 or more years of work experience.
4. Nominees must hold a CPA credential and be members of the Illinois CPA Society.
5. Past recipients are ineligible.

Award recipients will be invited to participate on the Women to Watch panel during the ICPAS Women’s Leadership Forum in May 2027.

This award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing diversity in the accounting profession.

Categories:

1. Emerging Leader
2. Experienced Leader

Eligibility:

1. Nominees must demonstrate a history of outstanding and ongoing contributions to promoting and advancing diversity in the accounting profession.
2. Emerging Leader: Less than 10 years of work experience.
3. Experienced Leader: 10+ years of work experience.
4. CPA credential and Illinois CPA Society membership preferred, but not required.
5. Past recipients are ineligible.  

This award recognizes educators who have made significant contributions to the education of accounting students through leadership, teaching excellence, and active involvement in the accounting profession.

Eligibility:

1. Nominees must demonstrate continuous and outstanding contributions to the education of accounting students.
2. Nominees must be full-time accounting educators in Illinois or have retired from full-time teaching within the last 24 months.
3. Nominees must have a minimum of five years full-time accounting related teaching experience.
4. CPA credential, doctoral degree, and Illinois CPA Society membership are preferred but not required.
5. Past recipients are ineligible. 

This award recognizes a young professional who has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills in their career, in public or community service, and through involvement in professional organizations.

Eligibility:

1. Nominees must demonstrate a history of outstanding leadership within the accounting profession, including contributions to their career, public or community service, and involvement in professional organizations.
2. Nominees must be 35 years old or younger as of March 31, 2026.
3. Nominees must hold a CPA credential and be members of the Illinois CPA Society.
4. Past recipients are ineligible. 

This award recognizes individuals who demonstrate a commitment to excellence by taking on additional challenges and responsibilities in their volunteer service with the Illinois CPA Society during a specific term or year.

Eligibility:

1. Nominees must demonstrate exceptional performance and initiative in their volunteer role with the Illinois CPA Society, by displaying initiative and taking on additional challenges or responsibilities.
2. Nominees must have made significant contributions that enhanced the value of the CPA profession and/or the Society’s mission.
3. Nominees must exhibit strong leadership and teamwork, effectively fostering collaboration and inspiring fellow volunteers. Volunteer leaders (chairs, vice chairs, etc.) are eligible if they exceeded expectations of their role.
4. Nominees must be members of the Illinois CPA Society. Exceptions apply to Peer Review committee members, as this group included volunteers outside Illinois due to the scope of the Society’s peer review services.
5. Past recipients of this award are eligible, but preference is given to individuals who have not received this award in the past five years.

This award recognizes an accounting firm or organization that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to supporting its employees' professional growth, fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture, encouraging social responsibility, and driving innovation in the accounting or finance profession in the past year.

Eligibility:

1. The organization must actively support its employees in pursuing and obtaining the CPA credential through financial assistance, time off for studying, mentorship, or other resources.
2. The organization must encourage and facilitate its employees' involvement in community service, charitable activities, or other socially responsible initiatives.
3. The organization must demonstrate a commitment to creating a positive, welcoming, and inclusive workplace environment that values diversity and promotes employee well-being.
4. The organization must show leadership in innovation, particularly in ways that positively impact the accounting or finance profession, whether through technology, processes, or other forward-thinking initiatives.
5. The organization must have employees who hold the CPA credential and are members of the Illinois CPA Society.
6. Past recipients of Illinois CPA Society organizational awards are eligible, but preference is given to those who have not received this award in the past five years.

The Illinois CPA Society previously recognized organizations for their outstanding commitment to community service by honoring them with the Time and Talent Volunteer Service Award.