National CPA exec returns to alma mater

Barry Melancon, the Houma native and Nicholls State University graduate who has headed the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for the past 12 years, came back to his alma mater to deliver the fall commencement address on Dec. 15.

Melancon, who currently lives in suburban New York City, is president and CEO of the institute, the professional organization representing the nation’s certified public accountants.

“It’s a nice honor to go back to your alma mater,” he said. “It’s not something everyone experiences.”

In his address, Melancon told the graduates an education from a regional university like Nicholls State is as good as any other.

“I’ve traveled around the world and interacted with people who’ve graduated from the most prestigious universities in the world,” he said. “Going to a regional university won’t limit your success.”

Melancon’s message to the graduates about the accounting profession is that a changing of the guard has occurred. Baby boomers now dominate the managerial class.

“There are demographic changes, generational issues,” he said. “CPA firms are major employers of young people. The younger generation … is a much different generation from the baby boomers. How you react to that will affect how successful you will be.”

Melancon said he wanted to challenge the students to look at the issues facing the country in a broader context and to use their education to derive better answers to questions.

“Even if you don’t leave south Louisiana, we’re in a much different global environment,” he said. “You need to make decisions in that context. We’re not positioned like we were 20 or 30 years ago. We have to look at the wider world.”

Melancon graduated from H.L. Bourgeois High School in 1975 and Nicholls State in 1978. He began his career at the Houma CPA firm Bergeron and Company in 1979. He received an MBA from Nicholls State in 1983 and later became an adjunct professor at the university.

Melancon is from Bayou Cane, living there until 1987 when he became executive director of the Society of Louisiana CPAs (headquartered in Kenner) and moved to Destrehan.

He works full-time as president and CEO of the 330,000-member AICPA.

“We lobby Congress, testify when appropriate, do training, turn out publications and represent the domestic profession internationally,” he said.

“I travel about seven out of 10 days in some fashion,” he said.

Melancon is in his third five-year term and oversees 600 staff members.