August 5, 2011

Dear Friends,

One of the professions our Department regulates is certified public accounting. The Division of Certified Public Accounting, headquartered in Gainesville, is responsible for the regulation of more than 35,000 Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) and accounting firms.

We recently conducted a survey of the licensed CPAs and accounting firms in Florida to determine how we can improve the service we offer our customers. Of the 35,563 surveys sent out, we received responses from more than 1,100 participants, rating the Department's customer service and ability to resolve licensees' problems.

I was extremely pleased to find that the majority of respondents rated our Customer Contact Center above average and the overwhelming majority of responses indicated calls were answered in a timely manner and the information received was accurate and useful. Of the respondents who have interacted recently with the CPA Board and the Bureau of Education and Testing, the majority indicated their treatment was average or above average.

While it feels great to get such positive feedback, we know there are still things we can do better. Our ApplyNow! initiative to streamline and simplify all applications is underway, and the review of applications for CPAs and accounting firms is scheduled to begin in October. We are also looking at ways to improve our administrative support to the CPA Board and continue building our relationship with the accounting industry, as with every other industry and profession we license and regulate. We have an incredible responsibility to our customers, and we do not take this responsibility lightly. Thank you for allowing us to continue serving Florida's businesses and professions.

Sincerely,

Ken Lawson
Secretary

Department of Business and
Professional Regulation
1940 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Customer Contact Center:
850.487.1395
www.MyFloridaLicense.com