OKLAHOMA CITY – An Oklahoma City certified public accountant became the 51^st inductee into the Oklahoma Accounting Hall of Fame during the Oklahoma Society of CPAs annual awards ceremony on June 11.

Barbara A. Ley, CPA, a managing partner and shareholder with Barbara A. Ley, A Professional Corporation, in Oklahoma City, became the newest member of a very exclusive class of Oklahoma CPAs.

An OSCPA fellow member since 1978, Ley earned her bachelor's in accounting from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater in three-and-a-half years, all while being a member of the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi. Ley holds permits to practice in Oklahoma and Texas.

She began her career with Peat Marwick, Mitchell and Company, joining as audit staff. Soon she was an audit and tax senior, then a tax manager. By the time she left in 1983, she was a senior tax manager.

When she left, she became a partner in professional corporations and firms, but within six years, she was president and founder of her own professional corporation. Then, her career really started to bloom, as did her service to her profession.

For example, for the AICPA, she's served as the Oklahoma representative to the National IRS/CPA Issues Meeting. She's also served with the Member Management Consulting Services for Information Technology and Tax Divisions, as a CPA Exam item reviewer, on the Virtual Grass Roots Panel and as AICPA Council Member. She was appointed to a three year term of the national Tax Practice Guides Committee and authored the initial Oil and Gas Tax Practice Guide, and was appointed member of the national Tax Practice Improvement Committee.

For the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, she's served on the Education Committee and on the CPA Licensing Examinations Committee. She was appointed to the Oklahoma Accountancy Board by Governor Brad Henry and has served as secretary and is currently serving as vice chair.

She served as Governor Frank Keating's appointee on The Citizen's Task Force on Taxation and as the Task Force's chairman of the Subcommittee on Estate Tax. She was also co-chairman on business issues for Governor Frank Keating's Task Force on Taxes, and was appointed member of Citizen and Legislative Task Force on Tax Reform in 2002.

Her extensive list of volunteer work for the Oklahoma Society of CPAs includes serving on numerous committees, serving as a trustee on the Educational Foundation, acting as the Oklahoma Tax Commission Liaison, acting as the Oklahoma representative to the Austin Service Center Focus Group, chairing the Nominating Committee, chairing the Taxation Committee, and serving on the Executive Committee since 2002 – as secretary, treasurer and president.

The Oklahoma Society of CPAs Accounting Hall of Fame Award was created and first awarded in 1968 to honor members who extensively and generously contribute to the accounting profession. For the inductee selection, the Society incoming president appoints a nominating committee of prior recipients who then recommend a member to be considered for the award. Suggested criteria include participation and leadership in the OSCPA, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Oklahoma Accountancy Board, and in civic and community organizations. Members are also judged based on professional attainments, such as journal publication and career achievement.

With more than 6,600 members in public practice, industry, government and education, the OSCPA is Oklahoma's only statewide professional association of CPAs. Since 1918, the organization has continued to provide professional education, conduct quality reviews and promote and maintain high standards of integrity and competence within the accounting profession. Visit http://www.oscpa.com/ for information about joining the OSCPA or visit http://www.knowwhatcounts.org/ for a free CPA referral and 30-minute consultation.

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