The Boards of Directors and members of the state CPA societies of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont say they have approved a merger to form the New England Society of CPAs, effective July 1.

The new organization will provide enhanced advocacy, expanded learning opportunities, broader peer networks and increased resources for accounting and finance professionals, their organizations and future talent entering the profession, the combined societies said in a statement.

State-specific advocacy and local member engagement will remain a central focus, guided by local leadership, committees and member communities in each state, the groups said.

“This is a member-first opportunity to build on the strengths of each of our state societies and create a more impactful organization for the profession across New England,” Massachusetts Society of CPAs President and CEO Zach Donah, who will take on the same role at the New England Society of CPAs, said in a statement. “Together, we can expand opportunities for members, strengthen our collective voice and invest more deeply in the future of the profession while preserving the local relationships and state advocacy that members value most.”

The merger was partly driven by a need to pool resources on things like continuing education in a more complex environment. But also, by combining resources and expertise across the region, the new organization is intended to have greater capacity to expand outreach efforts that engage students and future CPAs and elevate awareness of accounting career opportunities throughout New England.

The new society will maintain existing staff across the five states and is expected to have 14,500 members at its inception.