Owner of Buffalo accounting firm named NYSSCPA president

Edward L. Arcara, CPA, owner of Edward L. Arcara, CPA PC, which has three offices in Western New York, began his one-year term as board president of the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA) on June 1, the Society announced.

He is the 101st president of the NYSSCPA, which was founded in 1897, and third president of the NYSSCPA from the Western New York region. He replaces Ita M. Rahilly, tax partner with the firm of RBT CPAs, LLP in Newburgh, who had served as NYSSCPA president for the 2019-2020 term.

 During his term, Arcara says he plans to strengthen relationships with New York State legislators and regulators and to diversify the NYSSCPA membership to better reflect society.

 “We are taking a local focus to ensure that incoming members reflect the makeup of our great state. We will be working with colleges and universities to do this work and help to create an equal playing field and an inclusive profession,” Arcara said in a statement.

 Arcara will also continue the Society’s work to help firms provide comprehensive resources to their clients, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic that has disrupted the state and the nation, while continuing to move the accounting profession forward.

Arcara previously served on the NYSSCPA’s board as a director-at-large. He also was chair of the tax division oversight committee, and as a member of the audit, awards, continuity of practice, member benefits, nominating, and small firms practice management committees. He joined the NYSSCPA in 1986 and is a member of the Buffalo Chapter, for which he served as president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer.

Arcara’s accounting firm is based at 465 Franklin St. in Buffalo and serves over 1,200 individuals and 250 businesses from its three offices. Its services include financial preparation (reviews & compilations), tax preparation and consulting, financial planning, full-service payroll processing, and tax-audit representation.