Leslie LaManna, CPA: California's president of the profession.

• Author: LaManna, Leslie
• Position: Q&A - Interview

Appointed to the California Board of Accountancy in January 2007, CalCPA member and CPA Leslie LaManna was recently elected president of the CBA. Prior to her presidency, LaManna had terms as CBA vice president and secretary/treasurer as well as served as president of CalCPAs San Diego Chapter. LaManna also served as adjunct professor in accounting for the University of California, San Diego Extension. California. CPA caught up with LaMana, a partner at LaManna and LaManna, CPAs--and 'video gamer--to congratulate her on her appointment and see what the new president has in store for the profession.

When did you decide being a CPA was the profession for you?

My grandfather and lather were self-employed and both had bookkeepers working for them. I started going to work with them at a very young age, 5 or 6, and always ended up spending the day with the bookkeepers. I felt like I lit in there. I liked using the calculators (they bad crank handles then), organizing the invoices and whatever small projects they could come up with.

How long have you been a CPA?

I've been a CPA for 18 years. I was, and still am, an enrolled agent prior to becoming licensed as a CPA. It took me many years alter graduating with an accounting degree to become licensed because, at that time, audit hours were required. I was working for a small firm that did strictly tax work. I contacted the local CalCPA chapter leadership hoping for assistance in obtaining audit hours. I must have been one of many as CalCPA-sponsored legislation emerged soon after that allowed for candidates to become licensed as "G" licensees. The CalCPA Government Relations Committee encouraged concerned members to meet with local legislators, and those meetings ultimately led to my being appointed to the California Board of Accountancy.

How has the profession changed since you became CPA?

I work primarily in the tax arena, and the advancement in technology has to be the biggest change. The first few years I was employed we were using "remote job entry"--tax returns were keyed on workstations and then transmitted to the tax service for processing. It was very expensive arid cumbersome.

What kind of practice do you have?

My husband, Salvatore LaManna, is also a CPA. We have a partnership specializing in individual and small-business taxation.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing small practitioner today?

Staying current with tax law and technology

What have you learned about the CPA...