Author: Kelli Yoder

Governor Glenn Youngkin appointed Christine B. Williamson, CPA, PMP, of Manassas, Virginia, to the Virginia Board of Accountancy effective Nov. 1, 2025.

Williamson has been in the advisory, tax and consulting business for more than 35 years and is currently a Partner at CohnReznick. She served as the firm’s Government Contracting Industry Practice Leader for over 17 years including several years as the Office Managing Partner for the Tysons Corner office. Her specialty is to provide advice on financial and complex accounting issues to government contracting clients. She has expert knowledge in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Cost Accounting Standards (CA)S and tax compliance issues. 

Williamson is highly experienced with accounting software products for government contractors of various sizes and often serves in an advisory capacity for companies that are interested in customizing and incorporating compliance into their system. She was instrumental in forming a software implementation and consultation subsidiary business to clients using various project-based products. Additionally, she provides training and writes white papers on government contracting regulations both internally and for clients. 

Williamson pioneered the annual CohnReznick GovCon Lunch and Learn Series, in its 16th year and launched the GovCon Academy, teaching government contractors a variety of subjects. She is the co-author of the GAUGE report, in its 9th edition.

Williamson is a graduate of the University of Maryland. She is finishing an unexpired term, which will end June 30, 2026. Her first meeting was Dec. 4.

Find all board member bios here >>

New legislation signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin will widen the current pathways to CPA licensure effective Jan. 1, 2026.

In general, to become a licensed CPA in Virginia, you will still need to meet the 3 E’s: education, exam and experience. However, beginning in 2026, CPA candidates can choose one of three pathways to licensure in Virginia, each combining education and experience differently.

All applicants must still pass the CPA Exam, receive a bachelor’s or higher degree and complete an accounting concentration or equivalent as defined by the board. The new legislation has removed the total semester credit hour requirements historically associated with earning a Bachelor’s degree (120 hours) or a Master’s degree (30 hours).

Virginia’s Pathways to CPA Licensure (effective Jan. 1, 2026)

You can find the documentation needed to apply on the Licensure Requirements page.

The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act expanded the rules for how 529 education savings accounts can be used to include costs associated with CPA licensing such as exam fees and continuing professional education courses.

These expanded rules apply to funds withdrawn after July 4, 2025.

If you’re a CPA exam candidate, they can be used tax free for testing fees, tutoring, online courses and application fees associated with the CPA exam.

If you’re an active CPA, you can use 529 funds tax free for continuing professional education course fees.

Find more information at invest529.com.

The latest issue of Accrued Interest is now available. Inside you will find:

• A letter from Nadia A. Rogers, CPA, the VBOA’s new chair
• The 9th edition of the UAA, out now
• Highlights from the board meeting held at Virginia State University

Accrued Interest is published twice yearly in the winter and summer and is one of our primary sources for communicating to accounting professionals including individual licensees, firms and CPA exam candidates.

Share any questions or content ideas with Kelli Yoder, the Virginia Board of Accountancy communications coordinator: kelli.yoder@boa.virginia.gov or (804) 367-1586.

You can find all of the VBOA’s previous newsletters here >>.

The 2025 VBOA CPA license renewal season ended June 30.

If you missed the deadline, your license is now expired. To reinstate an individual license, you must demonstrate proof of 120 CPE hours and pay the $350 reinstatement fee. When your license is expired, you may not use the CPA title or provide attest or compilation services until your license has been reinstated and is shown as “Active” on the VBOA Licensee Search.

Please contact us by email at boa@boa.virginia.gov or by phone at (804) 367-8505 with any questions regarding renewals.

The previous version of the VBOA Education Handbook, which provides the education requirements for taking the CPA exam and licensure, expired on June 30, 2025. As of July 1, candidates need to follow the latest version of the Education Handbook. The latest version went into effect July 1, 2023, and provides the new education requirements that are the sole requirements accepted as of July 1, 2025.

You can find a chart outlining the changes that took effect with the new version of the handbook on page 7 of the Summer 2023 newsletter.

The latest issue of Accrued Interest is now available. Inside you will find:

• In Memoriam: William R. Brown, CPA, MBA
• Guy Davis, CPA, joins VBOA
• Highlights from the board meeting held at Virginia Tech

Accrued Interest is published twice yearly in the winter and summer and is one of our primary sources for communicating to accounting professionals including individual licensees, firms and CPA exam candidates.

Share any questions or content ideas with Kelli Yoder, the Virginia Board of Accountancy communications coordinator: kelli.yoder@boa.virginia.gov or (804) 367-1586.

You can find all of the VBOA’s previous newsletters here >>.

CPAs can begin meeting the annual ethics CPE requirement as of Feb. 1, 2025. VBOA-approved ethics courses can be found here:

At its Dec. 5 meeting, the Virginia Board of Accountancy approved a letter written in response to the two exposure drafts issued this year by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA):

• The Uniform Accountancy Act (UAA) Exposure Draft.
• The CPA Competency-Based Experience Pathway Exposure Draft.

You can download and read the letter from the board here.

Governor Glenn Youngkin appointed Guy A. Davis, CPA, CIRA, CFE, CDBV, of Henrico, Virginia, to the Virginia Board of Accountancy effective Nov. 1, 2024.

A practicing CPA in Virginia for over 30 years, Davis specializes in corporate restructuring, bankruptcy litigation, financial damages, business valuation, and corporate transactions. As senior managing director at FTI Consulting, a global leader in restructuring and dispute resolution services, he leads the firm’s Bankruptcy Litigation Practice.

Davis started his career as a financial analyst in the oil and consumer products industries. In 1989, he joined C.W. Amos & Company, a Maryland-based accounting firm where he assisted in the startup of a management advisory services practice. In 1996, he co-founded Penta Advisory Services, a boutique restructuring and litigation consulting firm that ultimately merged with Navigant Consulting, Inc. After five years at Navigant, he was hired as a managing director at Protiviti where he worked for 17 years as the co-leader of the firm’s Litigation and Restructuring Services practice.

Davis has represented plaintiffs and defendants in some of the country’s largest insolvency-related disputes including K-Mart Corporation, Nine West Holdings, Inc., Sears Holding Corp. and Purdue Pharma LP. He provided operations management services, conducted fraud investigations, asset liquidations, and debt restructurings, and served as an expert witness in a variety of asset recovery and other litigation matters.

Davis is a graduate of the E. Claiborne Robins School of Business at the University of Richmond and earned his master’s degree in business administration from Loyola College in Baltimore. 

Davis is finishing the second term for William R. Brown, CPA, MBA, on the board, which will expire June 30, 2025. His first meeting will be Dec. 5.

Read his full bio here >>