Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D-Cicero) announced that legislation he authored to ensure all firms offering certified public accountant (CPA) services undergo peer review as a condition of state registration renewal passed the Assembly (A.7895-A).

“All accounting firms should be subject to review, whether they employ one CPA or hundreds,” Stirpe said. “By pushing firms to follow best practices and strive to keep improving, we can ensure that consumers receive the highest quality of service.”

Currently, accounting firms that are sole proprietorships or employ two or fewer accounting professionals are not required to undergo peer reviews as a condition for registration renewal. New York is the only state to make this distinction and offer an exception to certain firms. Stirpe’s legislation would correct this oversight and ensure that all such companies have their performance measured and reviewed. This bill is part of Stirpe’s continued efforts to protect consumers and help ensure they aren’t taken advantage of.