gettyWith the global economy in turmoil, the CPA profession is caught in the crosshairs: The incursion of private equity. The impact of AI. The challenge of filling the profession’s talent pipeline. Each looms as an existential threat to accounting. As demand for accountants continues, CPAs might be forgiven for channeling Mark Twain: Rumors of their death are greatly exaggerated. Indeed, in a world in which the truth is increasingly ambiguous, the ability of accountants to bring clarity to complexity and provide evidence-based business insights is more critical than ever. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a regional franchisee, a C-suite executive or a citizen filing taxes, when you’re in need of accounting assistance, nothing rivals the multifaceted skills of a top CPA. As former AICPA Chair Bill Reeb, CPA contends: “There’s nothing you can’t do as a CPA—nothing. If you name a job, any job, I can find you a CPA that does it.”CPAs act independently, championing the cause of integrity, in every sector of the economy. They are fluent in the language of business and capable of assessing each firm’s or individual’s unique financial condition. But as they retire in record numbers, lured by private equity buyouts in the midst of extraordinary demand for their services, CPAs are also in short supply, forcing some firms to turn away business.With that in mind, the Forbes editorial team has devoted the past year to determining our second annual list of America’s Best-In-State CPAs, which this year identifies top CPAs from across all 50 states. We again set out to offer Forbes readers a resource for their personal and business accounting needs, and in compiling the list we again gleaned insights from the listmakers themselves—both cautionary and optimistic—about the vital role they play in business.Defenders Of Financial TrustAs always when discussing their profession, the CPAs we interviewed returned time and again to the notion of trust. Case in point: DC-based CPA Lee Klumpp, who says the biggest challenge facing the CPA profession in 2026 is “sustaining trust in an increasingly complex and uncertain environment. The work has fundamentally changed.” Klumpp, a National Assurance Partner at BDO, adds, “It’s no longer just about financial reporting or compliance. It’s about interpreting risk, navigating policy shifts and helping organizations make decisions in real time.”It’s CPAs themselves who are most keenly aware that businesspeople of all stripes need internal control reviews and assurance services to chart their course across the troubled waters of 2026. As CPA Andy Mintzer, a principal at Hemming Morse in Los Angeles, notes, “For the CPA profession in 2026, it's finding a balance between innovation and integrity . . . while protecting credibility in an environment that’s getting more complex and more technology-driven. The demand for sound professional judgment hasn’t gone down, it’s gone up—and so has my concern for the public interest.” Indeed, the bottom line for CPAs is not merely the bottom line—it’s integrity. The integrity to maintain the trust that sets the profession apart. The integrity to bring the same independence to businesses large and small, without bias, in everything from artificial intelligence startups to cryptocurrency. The integrity to navigate an array of services beyond just tax returns, from forensic accounting to financial plans and valuations, as well as offering management consulting for everything from ranches to blockchain and AI. Maintaining That Trust In An AI WorldSpeaking of AI—and speaking of trust—in talking with those who made our Best-In-State list, many echoed a singular concern: the impact of artificial intelligence on the profession. Karen Lascelle, a New Hampshire–based CPA, sees both the promise and the peril of AI are abundantly clear: “AI is rapidly transforming how data is processed, analyzed and even interpreted. While this creates some fantastic opportunities for efficiency and insight, it also introduces significant risks: over-reliance on black-box models, reduced transparency, and the potential erosion of critical thinking. CPAs are ultimately responsible for the conclusions they sign off on, regardless of whether those conclusions were assisted by AI.”Missouri CPA Ryan Sivill, partner at Forvis Mazars, voices similar concerns. “Our profession is entrusted with protecting the financial markets. Simultaneously, our profession has significant opportunity [for] transformational change with the evolution of artificial intelligence. Our profession will have to be inquisitive to seek to unlock the power of AI while being disciplined to understand the risk of failing to verify outputs in [our] role in protecting the public trust.” Such transformation is no longer merely theoretical. As is the case for much of the world economy, the CPA profession is engaged in a technological arms race adopting tools to fit specific accounting needs. According to a recent survey by Wolters Kluwer, the percentage of accounting firms that reported utilizing AI-enabled tools rose from 9% in 2024 to 41% last year. Meanwhile, a November 2025 survey by Thomson-Reuters found only 25% of CPA firms had no plans to utilize AI, compared to 49% a year before.As Washington-based CPA Jason Woon, partner at Armanino, says, “While AI tools have progressively gotten better, 2026 is the actual year of widespread agent adoption, AI-powered workflows and using AI tools. Just using Copilot, ChatGPT or Claude is table stakes, and simply relying on chatbots after 2026 as a CPA will put you behind.” Which is not to say that all accountants are as fully on board. Washington, DC, CPA Mac Lillard is a Principal at GRF CPAs and Advisors, where he leads the Fraud, Forensics and Valuation services—and seems decidedly less impressed. “Many firms are rushing to implement AI and be an early adopter but are failing to see a return on investment to their firm. Instead, they are consuming valuable resources and staff time researching, implementing and training team members on AI solutions that provide minimal time savings or efficiencies, and in some cases, are actually creating fatigue and burnout.”Still, AI implementation is, for others, already an expectation. To Texas CPA Jeremy Myers, a partner at Atchley & Associates, it’s a vital recruitment and retention solution: “Almost everyone we interview and our current staff want to make sure they are working for a forward-thinking firm that has a plan in place to make their futures brighter and provide them with challenging work that will lead to their future growth.” Ultimately, as Connecticut CPA Justin Wilcox, a partner at FML, says, “We are on the brink of an existential question, because we know clients have AI at their fingertips, and the technology will only improve with time: Will clients put their trust and faith in a CPA to be better at prompting AI and interpreting the findings of AI, distinguishing erroneous answers, and ultimately get to the correct result more efficiently [or] reliably?” The Deep Impact Of Private EquityIt’s a heady question—and one often paired with another posed by our Best-In-State listmakers: How will the growing influence of private equity reshape the accounting profession? According to CPA Practice Advisor, research from the International Federation of Accountants reveals that private equity investments have impacted more than 1,000 accounting firms worldwide over the past 10 years, with deal-making activity ramping up significantly since 2022. As more firms accept PE investment, the competitive landscape is bringing increased pressure on firms that remain independent.It’s a distinction worth considering when choosing a CPA. As Oregon CPA Tricia Duncan says, “I believe one of the greatest concerns is the accelerating trend of mega‑mergers and private equity acquisitions.” Duncan, a partner at Jones & Roth and an instructor at the University of Oregon adds, “Communities need local CPAs who understand their industries, local economies, and the unique challenges small and midsized businesses face, particularly during difficult times. The value a CPA provides is far more than the profit generated; it is the peace of mind, stability, guidance and strategic support offered to businesses, organizations and individuals.” Florida CPA Lisa Rispoli is the Private Client Services Leader at Grassi, and for her, the trend is clear: “We are seeing a continued pipeline of clients who have walked away from PE-backed firms in search of consistent, relationship-driven service. As private equity and consolidation become dominant trends across the profession, many firms are being called to renew their focus on service quality and relationship building.” Without question, private equity is changing the landscape, with PE firms buying and even flipping investments in CPA firms. One model employed by those PE firms is to separate the CPA firm from the tax, consulting, valuation and other services, which then function as an alternative practice structure approved by the AICPA. The AICPA’s Professional Ethics Executive Committee (PEEC), which focuses on how existing independence rules apply to firms adopting alternative practice structures, and the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) have, in turn, launched projects to review ethical standards for accounting firms partnering with private equity, focusing on independence risks. As an IESBA Staff Alert noted, the potential exists for PE investment to cause structural, strategic and operational changes that can threaten professional standards. Amidst all this, Alabama CPA Paul Perry, practice leader of Warren Averett’s Risk Advisory & Assurance Services Group, says, “It remains vital for the CPA field to be a profession of trust. Our biggest focus is to continually show it, so the public sees it as we promote, educate [and] advocate. In public practice you are helping the present and future of business to understand it, mitigate it, report it, prevent it. . . . It only works when the rest of the profession follows their trust and integrity commitments.” There is a reason, after all, why CPAs remain the exclusive licensed professionals authorized to render opinions on the fairness of financial statements. State board of accountancy treat integrity violations with reprimands, fines, suspensions and even loss of license to practice public accounting. Which helps to explain why, as Colorado CPA Michael Bellin—PwC’s U.S. IPO leader—says, “In a world of increasing complexity—geopolitical volatility, regulatory change, AI-driven business model disruption—the demand for trusted, credentialed financial judgment is growing.” Or as Bill Reeb says, when recalling how clients wanted their CPAs to review everything from product tracking to IT: “I want that job—where the trust is so high that their opinion matters no matter what; whether they know what the topic is or not, their opinion is still valuable.”For the full list of America’s Best-In-State CPAs 2026, click here.MethodologyTo create our second-annual list of America’s Best-In-State CPAs, Forbes first sought nominations from every accounting association and corner of the profession. Thousands of CPAs were considered from a variety of backgrounds, specializations and locations. Those candidates were evaluated base on their professional achievements, years of experience, community involvement, thought leadership, regulatory compliance and dedication to the profession. The list identifies CPAs from across all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands who are in the practice of public accounting. This year, exceptions were made to recognize the leaders of the SEC, FASB, GASB and PCOAB—all CPAs themselves. Forbes identified a wide array of eligible candidates through interviews with industry insiders, outside nominations, editorial research, and an independent advisory board of experts from small, mid-size and Big 4 CPA firms. To qualify, CPAs were required to be active and licensed. To narrow that universe, a variety of backgrounds, specializations and locations were ultimately considered. Although lifetime achievements were considered, emphasis was placed on their most recent accomplishments. For more information on the selection process see Forbes Top CPAs and Best-In-State CPAs Methodology.As with all Forbes lists, candidates do not pay any fee to be considered or selected. For questions about this list, please email cpalist [at] forbes.com.Steel Rose, CPA is a senior editor who covers accounting, with a frequent focus on recognizing the top practicing CPAs in America in addition to investigating stories about audit failures.