Sam McCall, Florida State University’s chief audit officer, has been chosen to receive one of the nation’s most prestigious awards for a certified public accountant, the 2016 Outstanding CPA in Government Career Contributions Award.
The award recognizes certified public accountants that have made significant professional contributions to the CPA community through government service at the local, state or federal level over their entire career.
As the university’s chief audit officer, McCall oversees internal audits and investigations of university programs, activities and functions. He also serves as the university’s ethics officer.
“Sam McCall is a highly respected figure in the national accounting and auditing community, so this recognition of his professional stature and distinguished career is well-deserved,” said FSU President John Thrasher.
McCall will be honored with the award at the annual AICPA National Governmental Accounting and Auditing Update Conference, Aug. 8-9, in Washington, D.C.
“It’s nice to have your work recognized,” said McCall, who discussed his professional contributions with his characteristic humility. “I get to work with the smartest people in the world at all levels — national, state, city and now at the university level.”
The Institute of Internal Auditors-American Center for Government Auditing and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants nominated McCall for the award due to his dedicated service to the government, his exceptional leadership and high ethical standards.
He is also the recipient of numerous professional awards and honors, including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountant’s Outstanding CPA in Government Award and the Robert King High Memorial Award, the highest award given by the Association of Government Accountants.
McCall has worked at FSU for the past three years and has more than 47 years of experience in the auditing profession at the local, state and federal level, including 30 years working for the state, 13 of which he spent as the Florida deputy auditor. He was also general city auditor for Tallahassee for 13 years. He’s worked as a certified public accountant, certified global management accountant, certified internal auditor, certified government auditing professional and certified government financial manager. He has also served on national auditing and accounting standards boards, including serving as president of the Association of Government Accountants.
For the past five years, he has been a member of the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board, an organization that establishes generally accepted accounting principles for the federal government, and has served 10 years on the Advisory Council on Government Auditing Standards.