The Hidden Compliance Crisis: How 2026 Changes to CPA Licensing and Mobility Laws Will Impact Firm Operations
CPA firm leaders are navigating a rapidly changing regulatory environment this year, as updates to CPA licensure pathways and mobility laws reshape how firms hire talent, serve clients across state lines, and manage compliance risk. While much of the conversation has focused on individual CPAs, firm management teams are increasingly responsible for understanding how these changes impact remote employees, attest services, and multi-state operations.
This session will translate complex licensing changes into practical business guidance. Attendees will learn where firms are most vulnerable based on recent state board enforcement actions, common operational blind spots, and the internal processes leading firms are using to reduce risk. Participants will leave with actionable steps to strengthen governance, protect growth plans, and future-proof their firms in an increasingly complex compliance landscape.
Presenter and Moderator Bios
Presenter: Lindsay Patterson, CPA CIA, CEO, CPA Quality Pro
Lindsay N. Patterson, CPA CIA is the Co-Founder and CEO of CPA QualityPro, a software that helps accounting firms stay in compliance with increasingly complex licensure requirements across all 55 U.S. jurisdictions.
Patterson has over 15 years of experience in finance, accounting, and not-for-profit leadership. Prior to founding CPA QualityPro, she served as Executive Vice President of Membership, Marketing, and Communications at The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), where she led global membership growth, stakeholder communications, chapter engagement, and business development initiatives. Earlier in her career, she served in multiple roles at the American Institute of CPAs, supporting efforts related to state accountancy laws and regulations, the CPA Exam, accounting standards, and more.
She currently serves on the Beta Alpha Psi Board of Directors, the American Accounting Association Foundation Board of Trustees, and the American Psychological Association Board of Directors. She is also a CPA Practice Advisor 40 Under 40 honoree.
Patterson holds a Master’s degree in Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Oklahoma, and two Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Texas at Austin—one in Government and the other in Journalism. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), and Certified Association Executive (CAE).
Presenter: Julia Woislaw, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Regulatory Affairs, CPA Quality Pro
Julia Woislaw is the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Regulatory Affairs at CPA Quality Pro. Woislaw brings over a decade of experience in licensing, advocacy, and communications in the CPA profession. Most recently, she served as Director of State Society Relations at the American Institute of CPAs, where she led engagement strategies with state CPA societies nationwide.
Woislaw holds a Master of Jurisprudence degree from the Texas A&M School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Society from American University.
