Members of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA) visited 66 high schools in New Jersey during the fall of 2025 to discuss accounting careers and the benefits of becoming a certified public accountant (CPA). Through the NJCPA’s Career Awareness Program, 67 members made presentations throughout the state.
Under the program, members visit New Jersey high schools, often their alma maters, to discuss the many ways businesses and individuals rely on CPAs for financial guidance and business strategies. Discussions focus on various career trajectories available to CPAs and how data analytics and the latest technological trends play significant roles in shaping accounting functions today.
“High school is a pivotal period for self-discovery, during which students begin to explore potential academic majors and future career paths. Presentations delivered by members of the NJCPA play an important role in supporting students who may be uncertain about their postsecondary plans or whether accounting is the right fit for them,” said Patrick Cleaver, CPA, audit senior associate at Crowe LLP and the vice chair of the NJCPA Student Programs and Scholarship Committee. “By providing a broader and more accurate perspective, the presentations highlight the diverse skill sets, professional traits and career pathways available within the accounting and CPA professions.”
“We are very thankful to our members who take the time to tell their stories to students and answer questions about careers in accounting. The profession has changed significantly, and high school students need to be aware of all of their opportunities,” said Aiysha Johnson, MA, IOM, CEO and executive director at the NJCPA.
The Career Awareness program also encourages students to seek funding that is available through many scholarship opportunities via the NJCPA Scholarship Fund. Every year $1,500 scholarships are awarded to college-bound New Jersey high school seniors who intend to major in accounting or obtain a concentration in accounting. The Fund also awards scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $6,500 to accounting students at New Jersey colleges or universities who are currently in their sophomore or junior year or in their senior year and entering an accounting-related graduate program. In 2025, the Fund awarded $190,000 in scholarships to New Jersey-based high school and college students. Learn more at njcpa.org/scholarships.