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Mehta’s mother, Suman Mehta, also exemplified PRESERVING TRUST IN THE PROFESSION
strength to the children as she pursued her passion, Trust is the cornerstone of accounting, and
completing her degree and becoming a teacher accountants must engender trust in their character
while taking care of the family and home. and daily work.
As Mehta’s father progressed in his career, the One way accountants are increasingly being
family moved from India to Tanzania in East called upon to provide assurance is in the environ-
Africa and then to the United States. Growing mental, social, and governance (ESG) arena.
up in three countries on three continents instilled Mehta is passionate about the environment,
in Mehta the importance of embracing diversity and focusing on ESG efforts excites him. At
and the power that different perspectives offer SSAI, and now at AMA, he enjoys working
when people collectively work toward a solution. with engineers, researchers, programmers, and
Immigrating to Maryland in the early 1970s scientists. He feels privileged to work with
presented Mehta some challenges during his actual rocket scientists, and his passion about
adolescent years, and he noticed that “there weren’t protecting our planet has grown after observing
many people who looked like me.” Being viewed weather patterns and seeing images of Earth
as “other” was not easy, he said. But Mehta found a from space.
way to turn this challenge into an opportunity: He He views the accounting profession as occupy-
broke down social barriers while volunteering at his ing a critical role in promoting ESG initiatives
school and in his community. because accountants know the importance of
His high school years offered new opportunities, including financial and nonfinancial data when
and one teacher in particular, Mr. Miller, made reporting on business operations.
Mehta feel excited about his academic journey Mehta encourages fellow accountants to hold
and feel connected to his peers. Miller opened the corporations accountable to their stakeholders and
door for a new opportunity by allowing Mehta incorporate clear standards and measurements so
and a few classmates to remain under his tutelage investors can confidently understand the reports
for independent accounting studies. While this they read. Accountants “protect trust in the corpo-
may have been a small gesture on Miller’s part, his rate responsibility space,” he said, and are “driving
mentorship and vote of confidence inspired young a new normal in corporate responsibility.”
Mehta and made a lasting impact. This is one rea- Another way accountants engender trust is by
son that Mehta feels that all of us in the profession advising on risk-based approaches for effective
need to inspire the younger generation and support
their journey into the profession and throughout
their career.
While Mehta began college confident that Anoop Natwar Mehta, CPA, CGMA
he would go into the accounting profession, his Term as AICPA chair began: May 18, 2022.
journey to become a CPA took significant time and Title: Chair, American Institute of Certified
dedication. He didn’t pass the CPA Exam on the Public Accountants (AICPA); chief strate-
first or second try, and he began to doubt his career gist, Analytical Mechanics Associates (AMA).
trajectory. Location: Clarksville, Md.
On his 30th birthday, his wife, Bina A. Mehta, Education: Bachelor of Science, Accounting,
asked if he was satisfied with the current state of his University of Maryland.
career. This question served as a catalyst to reignite Family: Wife, Bina A. Mehta; daughter Anisha
his determination, and he decided to try the exam and son-in-law Nakul Vasudeva; daughter
one more time. Nikita and son-in-law Robert; grandchildren,
He attributes his tenacity to the emotional Riyan and Anika; mom, Suman N. Mehta;
strength and discipline he gained through martial father, the late Natwar G. Mehta; brother,
arts, along with support from his family. And the Ajay N. Mehta; sister, Jaimini Erskine.
confidence boost he gained in achieving a black belt Fun fact: I have a seventh-degree black belt.
was just the lift he needed to sit again for the exam. Best advice you were given: From my
In 1991, he passed. father: Live within your means.
“You are never too old to pursue your dreams, Hobbies: Martial arts, golf, and cooking.
and those three little letters — CPA — after your Favorite musicians: Mukesh, Billy Joel,
name open doors,” Mehta said. Eagles.

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