Joshua Nelson, CPA, Selected to Attend AICPA’s 2026 Leadership Academy
Joshua Nelson, CPA, was one of only 36 professionals honored by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) as a member of the Leadership Academy’s 18th graduating class. Nelson was selected based on his exceptional leadership skills and professional experience for the four-day Leadership Academy program December 1st – 4th.
Nelson has been a member of the Palm Beach Accounting and Financial Services (PBAFS) team since 2015 and currently serves as Senior Client Manager of Client Account Services. He earned his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license in the State of Florida in the summer of 2026 and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Florida Atlantic University. Nelson is also an alumnus of the Leadership Palm Beach County Focus Class of 2019 and a member of the Lake Worth Beach Rotary Club, where he remains actively involved in the local community.
The AICPA Leadership Academy was designed to strengthen and expand the leadership skills of promising emerging professionals while they network with a peer group of talented and motivated CPAs.
The Leadership Academy features career-development workshops and sessions with some of the accounting profession’s most prominent influencers. Participants were selected from public accounting firms of all sizes, corporate finance, non-profit, academia, wealth management, and consulting.
The 2026 Leadership Academy attendees were recommended by their employers, state CPA societies, and/or volunteer organizations. Candidates submitted resumes and a statement explaining how participating in the Leadership Academy would impact them personally and professionally.
To date, more than 550 professionals have participated in the AICPA Leadership Academy, many of whom have gone on to take on leadership positions in their firms, businesses, and organizations.
Click here to learn more about the AICPA Leadership Academy.
About the American Institute of CPAs
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) is the world’s largest member association representing the CPA profession, with a history of serving the public interest since 1887. AICPA members represent many areas of practice, including business and industry, public practice, government, education, and consulting. A founding member of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, the AICPA sets ethical standards for the profession, attestation standards, and U.S. auditing standards for private companies, not-for-profit organizations, and federal, state, and local governments. It develops and grades the Uniform CPA Examination, offers specialized credentials, partners across the profession to build future talent, and drives continuing education to advance the vitality, relevance, and quality of the profession.