The way most businesses operate has changed dramatically over the past several years. Innovative technology – especially artificial intelligence – brings new processes and requires new skills. Evolving work expectations are altering the physical environment of the workplace and require new management techniques. The ways in which stakeholders measure success are getting more sophisticated as information is shared more quickly and widely.

All of those changes make keeping track of the numbers more important and more complex than ever before. That makes the accounting profession more pertinent than ever before.

But at the same time, the profession is struggling to retain its most talented members and recruit the next generation of leaders. The confluence of those issues could have severe and pervasive consequences for the broader economy.

Aiysha Johnson and the leadership of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants understand the moment, the challenges and the stakes. The CEO and executive director of the NJCPA cited the efforts the organization is making to make the profession come alive for young people in an interview with NJBIZ reporter Matt Fazelpoor.

“I think that events like that are so impactful because high school students can be in the room with CPAs and they’re telling their stories,” Johnson said. “And they are hearing how they had impact. They’re not just sitting behind a desk. They’re flying to different countries and different states. They’re on these different engagements. They’re helping businesses, startups to not only stay afloat – but to think about their strategy for the future, whether that’s a tax strategy or some other financial processes.

“For a student who wants to have impact; who wants to change their lives, their families’ lives, and to benefit the community – this profession is available to them,” Johnson continued. “And I think that that was an eye-opener – honestly.”

The impact that talented accountants can have is also evident in the profiles below. The professionals recognized here are doing the work of helping businesses meet difficult and ever-changing challenges. They come from a variety of backgrounds and work in different areas, but all of them are performing at a high level under sometimes tumultuous circumstances.

Keep all of that in mind as you read through this year’s Accounting Power 50. And please let us know what you think of the honorees’ work and the choices NJBIZ made in compiling the list.

As always, the top 10 honorees are listed in numerical order; the rest of the profiles are arranged alphabetically.

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Power list methodology

The power lists are compiled by the NJBIZ editorial staff based on our reporting throughout the past year with input from experts in a variety of fields and recommendations from our readers. The staff looks for people who have gained public attention – and perhaps acclaim – for their professional accomplishments and public service. Each list identifies individuals who, through their efforts, are helping to make New Jersey a better place to live, work and do business. Honorees are not necessarily better at their jobs than others in their profession, but they have contributed meaningfully to the advancement of the public interest through their work and/or community service.