Lipscomb alumnus named AICPA award winner for extraordinary performance on the CPA exam
Lacey Klotz |
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants recently announced its winners of the Elijah Watt Sells Award, and Lipscomb University alumnus Matthew Bishop (’07), who recently completed Lipscomb’s Certificate of Accountancy program, was named among the 75 winners.
With a total of 93,742 individuals who took the Uniform CPA Examination in 2015, the award is given to candidates who have obtained a cumulative 
average score above 95.50 across all four sections of the exam, passing all four sections on their first attempt. Bishop's overall score was the highest in the State of Tennessee for 2015.
“This year’s winners earned the Elijah Watt Sells Award for their truly extraordinary performance on the CPA Exam,” Michael Decker, AICPA vice president of examinations said in a recent press release announcing award winners. “On behalf of the AICPA, I’d like to congratulate the winners on their accomplishment and wish them the best of luck throughout their careers in the profession.”
Bishop, a native of Burns, Tennessee, is a Bison through and through.
As both an undergrad and graduate student in Lipscomb’s College of Business, Bishop is a prime example of the type of successful student that Lipscomb seeks to produce, said Ray Eldridge, dean of the college.
“We are intentionally striving to ensure our accounting program lives up to its great reputation earned by many who were before us,” said Eldridge. “I believe this is proof we are on the right track.”
Bishop first came to Lipscomb in 2003 and graduated with a joint Bachelor of Science degree in finance and economics as well as a business management degree in 2007.
After graduating from Lipscomb, he continued his education at the University of Memphis from 2007-2010, earning a Juris Doctor degree, before opening and running his own practice in Brentwood, Tennessee.
“I spent a significant amount of time running my own law practice, mainly doing estate planning and probate work before deciding I wanted to pursue a career in accounting,” said Bishop.
In 2014, Bishop, having known he wanted to change career paths from law to accounting, enrolled in Lipscomb’s Certificate of Accountancy Program in May.
Through this eight-week, accelerated summer program, Bishop worked with professors such as Brian Masterson, assistant professor and chair of the Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics; Perry Moore, professor of accounting and director of graduate business programs; Charles Frasier, professor of accounting; and Jeff Mankin, assistant professor; to whom Bishop credits his success on his CPA exam.
“Each of these professors have their niche and do such a great job of teaching within their programs,” said Bishop. “Whether it was learning about laws, taxes or audit, business or financial components, the things I learned within the CAP program at Lipscomb definitely helped prepare me for the CPA exam.”
Masterson, who got to spend significant time with Bishop during his time on campus, says the news of Bishop being named an Elijah Sells Award winner is no surprise to him.
“Matt was an outstanding student with an incredible work ethic,” said Masterson. “We could not be any happier for him on this well-deserved honor.”
Bishop currently works at Hospital Corporation of America in Nashville as an internal auditor and has been there nearly two years. He says receiving this honor was ultimate affirmation of the journey to his career in accounting.
“Professionally it’s a nice recognition of all the hard work that goes into the CPA exam and having a career in accounting,” said Bishop. “Having changed careers, however, the ultimate validation is knowing I get to go to work every day and love what I do and that it was a good decision.”
The Elijah Watt Sells Award program was established by the AICPA in 1923 to recognize outstanding performance on the CPA Examination. Sells, one of the first CPAs in the U.S., was active in the establishment of the AICPA and played a key role advancing professional education within the profession.
The Uniform CPA Examination plays a crucial role ensuring that individuals who earn their CPA license have demonstrated the skills and knowledge necessary to protect the public interest in an increasingly complex and ever-changing business and financial environment.
To learn more about Lipscomb’s College of Business and CAP Program visit: www.lipscomb.edu/business/certificate-of-accountancy-cap.