Jen Cryder: Rewrite the Rules | Accounting Influencers

As the first woman CEO of PICPA, Cryder shares how she’s tackling the CPA pipeline crisis and why it’s time to re-evaluate long-standing licensure rules.

Accounting Influencers
with Rob Brown

In this episode of Accounting Influencers, Jen Cryder, CPA, CEO of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), opens up about her unexpected path to leadership, the challenges shaping the accounting profession today, and why she believes this is one of the most exciting times to be a CPA.

With oversight of 20,000 accounting and finance professionals, Cryder is not just a figurehead—she’s a force behind reshaping the profession’s image and strategy. From the CPA pipeline crisis to questions about the 150-hour rule, she addresses head-on the systemic changes needed to secure the future of the profession.

“The perception remains that accounting is boring work. It couldn’t be farther from the truth,” says Cryder. She believes the profession suffers from an image problem impacting student enrollment and career choice, especially as finance and tech roles compete for top talent.