Introducing the New England Society of CPAs: Frequently Asked Questions

This member-first decision is made from a position of strength, focused on fulfilling a shared mission and serving members. While each of our societies is strong on its own, together, we can have a greater impact on members, communities and the profession we serve.

This merger will: 

• Amplify our collective voice in advocacy through increased membership;
• Expand your peer network;
• Increase educational options;
• Strengthen pipeline efforts with the ability to reach more students and future CPAs;
• Enhance support, tools and your community while maintaining local connections you value; and
• Ensure long-term stability, relevance and sustainability.

As our profession confronts significant pressure that brings both challenges and opportunities, we believe we are better positioned to support our members by coming together. This is about defining our future, not reacting to it. 
 
Additionally, merger and acquisition activity in the accounting profession has increased approximately 15% over the past two years. Data from the association sector reveals that close to half of associations are contemplating a merger in the next two to five years. 

Your local connections will remain the same. You will still work with the same staff and get the same member service and programs you have come to count on.

Zach Donah, CAE, current President and CEO of MassCPAs, will lead the New England Society of CPAs as President and CEO. CEOs of the other state societies are all staying on in the new organization as state directors to preserve local voice and connection. A board of directors will ensure the participation of all states.

The merger will take effect on July 1, 2026, after systems, processes, operations, and personnel are fully integrated. There will be ongoing communications in the meantime to keep you updated on the transition.

Over the coming months, we will continue thoughtfully integrating programs, services and systems across all five states so members can benefit from expanded opportunities, broader resources and stronger regional connections.

Most importantly, the local relationships, advocacy, programs and member support you value today are not going away. Members will continue working with the same staff and engaging in the state-specific communities and initiatives that matter most to them. Governance and staffing structures are also being finalized to ensure every state maintains meaningful representation, local input and strong member engagement.

We are committed to being transparent throughout the transition and will continue keeping members informed as new opportunities, enhancements and resources are introduced.

Over the past year, board members, volunteer leaders and staff from all five state societies have worked together to design a model that strengthens what matters most: your state advocacy, local relationships and your connection to the people who know you, while adding more resources, opportunities and community across New England.

A Long-Term Sustainability Committee of members from across the profession formed to ensure that the societies remain strong, relevant and positioned to meet the needs of current and future members. After months of study, thoughtful discussion, and careful deliberation, the committee concluded that while each of the current societies is strong, together we can be even stronger, creating greater impact for our members, our communities and the profession we all serve.

Local priorities will remain front and center of advocacy and member engagement, with increased capacity to deliver on state-specific goals, programs, outreach and member support.  States will maintain a local voice and relevance and preserve local presence and personal connection. You will still work with the same staff and get the same member service and programs you count on. Each state will continue to have a voice in shaping strategy and setting direction for the new entity.

Our name will be the New England Society of CPAs, and we will have a new logo to match the new name. Beyond that, what is changing is what we will be able to offer. We will expand our reach through shared resources and greater impact, pooled expertise to deliver more educational options, broader peer connections, stronger advocacy and the ability to reach more students and future CPAs.

There is no impact on your FY27 dues rate as the result of this merger.

We understand members’ concerns about rising CPE costs, especially as more programs have shifted to virtual formats. The proposed merger will not automatically change the price of individual CPE programs, but it will give us greater flexibility to manage costs, expand offerings and deliver more choice and value over time. 

Many CPE programs, especially high-demand and national offerings, are provided by third-party vendors. In those cases, pricing is largely set by the provider, not the state society, and that would not change as a result of the merger. However, a key goal of the proposed merger is to create greater scale and buying power. With a larger regional membership base, we expect to be in a stronger position to negotiate with vendors, strengthen partnerships and make more strategic decisions about which programs we offer directly.

Overall, the merger will expand the range of our CPE offerings while continuing to grow reduced rate and free CPE opportunities for members.

There will be no change to licensure as a result of this merger. Members will continue to maintain their license through their state board.

Many firms and members already work across New England, and this evolution reflects the regional nature of today’s practice. By combining our strengths, we can better support the way members do business while keeping local relationships and advocacy intact. The strength in numbers that results from this merger will lead to a combined entity with stronger and more singular voice and greater ability to build a talent pipeline with more young people choosing accounting careers. In short, we acquire strength through size.

For small firms, sole practitioners, corporate professionals and state-specific firms, the benefit will be better support, more tools and a bigger community to lean on while maintaining local resources and connections. Advocacy in every state will also be enhanced because of the larger organization and its greater scale.

Each of our state societies has a long history of supporting members, advancing the profession and building strong local communities. By coming together as one regional organization, we can build on those strengths and create even greater value for members across New England.

This merger is rooted in the idea that there is strength in numbers. Together, we can expand learning and networking opportunities, strengthen advocacy efforts, invest more deeply in the future talent pipeline and provide broader resources and support for members at every stage of their careers.

Many firms, organizations and professionals already work across multiple New England states, and this evolution reflects the increasingly regional nature of the profession. By combining our expertise, resources and voices, we are creating a stronger, more connected organization that is better positioned to support members and advance the profession for the future.

This merger is designed to deliver greater value in the first year as a regional organization, while building a stronger, more sustainable future for your profession.

• Your state advocacy stays local and gets stronger
• You gain access to expanded CPE, programs and resources
• Your peer network grows across New England
• You benefit from greater scale, power and professional influence
• You remain connected to the people and priorities that matter most to you

Read more about what members can expect here.