NEWS RELEASE

Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax; 713/743-8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 20, 2004

Contact: Angie Joe
713/743-8153 (office)
713/617-7138 (pager)
ajoe@uh.edu

BY THE NUMBERS: STATE’S TOP CPA TO LECTURE AT UH

The state’s top CPA will speak at the University of Houston Feb. 25, discussing the corporate reforms of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and new guidelines for independent auditors.

Billy M. Atkinson Jr., presiding officer of the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, will speak as part of the Bauer College of Business’ Distinguished Leaders Series lecture. The event is free and open to Bauer College students, faculty and staff, invited guests and the media.

He serves on the 15-member board under the state’s Public Accountancy Act. The board is charged with licensing and qualifications (examination, certification, licensing, registration, continuing professional education and peer review); enforcement (investigation/prosecution of complaints); public information; and administration and support (executive, financial, information resources and operating support) for Texas.

Atkinson, a CPA licensed to practice in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, has more than 30 years of public accounting experience with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Coopers & Lybrand LLP. From 1997-2001, he served as partner-in-charge of the firm’s Middle Market Advisory Services practice for the Southwest Region and Houston. For nearly 10 years, he was the team leader in the firm’s Quality Control Review Program.

He is a 1972 graduate of Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree of science in accounting. He remains active with his alma mater, serving on the president’s advisory council. He was formerly the PricewaterhouseCoopers’ team leader for its recruiting program at the university.

The governor, with the Senate’s consent, appoints 15 Texas State Board of Public Accountancy members for six-year staggered terms. The members are required to be citizens of the United States and residents of the state. Atkinson’s term expires Jan. 31, 2005.

WHO: Billy M. Atkinson Jr.
WHAT: Distinguished Leaders Series lecture about current CPA issues and updates from the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy
WHEN: 6 p.m., Feb. 25, 2004
WHERE: Room 110, Melcher Hall, UH Entrance 1

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.