The Cognitor -- And Barry the Destructor
Re: AICPA's Plan for Cognitor Designation Forges Ahead
From: Frank Zaveral, fmzaveral@uswest.net

I do not know what the hell a Cognitor is, but I do know that whatever goodwill the CPA profession has built up over many years is on the brink of destruction by the profession itself.

For years we have dumped on our primary service -- the audit -- by suggesting it is a service of little value (we ourselves say that it is not a value added service) that focuses on the past while the client and we ourselves should be focusing on the future.

Part and parcel to our own destruction of our only franchise service has been the bidding war that we ourselves started on the fee structure for audits, often times giving away the audit service in order to sell some future-oriented, value added service to the same client.

It is little wonder that the Securities and Exchange Commission is concerned about the profession's independence. Do you think that other long-standing professions will be changing their names? If so, what would be the new names for priest, lawyer, doctor, engineer?

Oh, and as for Melancon, while we professionals might end up being named Cognitors, he and his colleagues will forever be known as destructors.

-- Dec. 1, 2000

Read more Letters to the Editor regarding the Cognitor designation.