Management advisory services by CPA's : a survey of current expansion of sole proprietor professional practice units.

Abstract

This thesis is about Management Advisory Services (MAS) and issues associated with both current and future practice expansion efforts of sole proprietor Certified Public Accountant (CPA) firms. The sphere of MAS is described with emphasis placed on the CPA and his or her expanding role in delivery of professional management consultative services. A review of the MAS operating environment, various services, knowledge factors and internal CPA firm organizational aspects, provides a comparative basis for the reader's understanding of MAS pursuits by sole proprietor CPA practitioners. The research was conducted through a survey and interviews with State of California CPA practitioners for the purpose of identifying practice trends and the professional's desire to expand current services. The survey results are presented relative to specific directions of MAS and a number of conclusions are made such as the need for firm specialization, client education, public advertizing and enhancement of knowledge skills and areas where more detailed study is required.