Position Summary
The Research Specialist will work with the Director of Research to create research studies and research products for CPA Crossings (CPAx), state CPA society partners, and other research partners. The Research Administrator will use experience, research, data analysis, and other skills, as well as resources from across CPAx and PICPA, to generate and bring to market data findings and insights about the CPA profession. In partnership with CPAx’s CEO, COO, and Director of Research, the Research Administrator will also help implement CPAx research strategy, and support state society research partnership and industry issues.
Capabilities required for this role:
Stakeholder Relationship Enablement:
Builds and sustains collaborative, trust-based relationships with internal teams, volunteer leaders, and external research partners. Communicates with clarity and empathy, adapting insights for diverse audiences and ensuring stakeholders remain engaged and aligned throughout the research lifecycle.
Analytical Insights & Decisions
Applies advanced analytical thinking to interpret complex data sets, identify emerging trends, and surface insights that inform strategic decision-making. Translates findings into clear, actionable recommendations that support both internal priorities and external partner goals.
Data Driven Insight & Reporting
Designs and implements methodologies for collecting, evaluating, and presenting data in ways that drive learning and impact. Delivers high-quality reports, visualizations, and publications that highlight key findings, support programmatic decisions, and elevate the visibility of PICPA’s research agenda.
Professionalism and Impact
Acts as a credible representative of PICPA and CPAx research initiatives in all internal and external engagements. Communicates with polish and precision, upholding high standards of quality, discretion, and ethical conduct while balancing multiple priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Techincal Expertise
Demonstrates fluency in research tools, data visualization platforms, and project management software to produce accurate and efficient outputs. Serves as a technical lead on research systems, survey tools, and data analysis environments, ensuring rigor and reliability in all research products.
Industry Knowledge
Develops and maintains a deep understanding of the accounting profession, the challenges facing CPAs, and the evolving regulatory, educational, and workforce landscape. Applies this knowledge to ensure research topics, insights, and recommendations are relevant, timely, and aligned with the strategic priorities of PICPA, CPAx, and partner organizations. Anticipates emerging issues and uses subject matter awareness to position the organization as a thought leader within the profession.
Responsibilities
Research Design and Implementation:
Manage end-to-end research processes, including survey design, data analysis, reporting, and dissemination.
Work with CPAx leadership to create and format questions for a variety of studies and other research products.
Build expertise and experience in a variety of research methods to create research instruments, tests, best practices, etc. Create surveys, polls, and other research vehicles in research/data collection tools, specifically Alchemer.
Data Collection:
- Monitor data collection within platforms/tools and provide periodic status reports.
- Identify any data collection issues (such as lack of time or responses) and report issues and implement solutions to the Director of Research.
Data Findings and Visualization: - Collect raw data and provide data findings, insights, and visualization.
- Serve as a knowledgeable resource for the creation of white papers, reports, data visualization, presentations, and other publications based on research.
- Create draft research outputs/products, including white papers, reports, etc.
- Work with Management and Marketing to finalize research outputs/products.
Project Management: - Direct cross-functional project teams, ensuring clarity of roles, timely execution, and alignment with strategic research objectives.
- Orchestrate project kick-off meetings, create timelines, and address gaps in scope or resources proactively.
- Proactively address project delays by reorienting teams, reallocating resources, and adjusting workflows to stay on track and meet critical deadlines.
- Communicate shifts in timelines to internal and external research partners and stakeholders, ensuring transparency and alignment on revised deliverables.
Stakeholder Engagement:
- Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including managers, VPs, and CXOs, to align project goals with stakeholder priorities.
- Work with Director of Research to produce weekly research status report for CPAx’s CEO and COO.
- Facilitate communication between teams to ensure consistent branding, messaging, and deliverables.
- Serve as a liaison between technical and non-technical audiences, translating complex data into actionable insights.
- Process Optimization:
- Streamline workflows by introducing structured methodologies, timelines, and accountability frameworks to improve efficiency.
- Identify and mitigate risks and bias, ensuring project deliverables meet quality standards and stakeholder expectations.
Go-to-Market:
- Create accessible and visually engaging deliverables, including reports, e-mail outreach, slide decks, dashboards, and infographics tailored to research partners.
- Engage in new research initiatives in combination with leadership aimed at scaling and expanding the scope of the research function, provided adequate resources are available to support these efforts.
- Serve as a subject matter expert for CPA Crossings research by engaging in presenting webinars, conferences, and round table discussions.
Other Duties: - Provide further clarification to marketing staff and CPAx and PICPA leadership when needed.
- Collaborate with Director of Research to bring the Research line of business to market and ensure its success through increased revenue and margin.
- Travel Expectations: Dependent upon location, up to 20%.
Education & Experience Requirements
- Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Psychology or relevant science
- Knowledge of the CPA and accounting profession a plus
- Minimum of four years’ experience in B2B market research, preferably with associations--spanning both qualitative and quantitative analysis
- Minimum of four years’ experience working in developing, formatting, and implementing research study questions
- Minimum of four years’ practical experience in applying and knowing data visualization
Skills Requirements
- Ability to provide data findings, identify trends, and offer detailed analysis to develop business insights that are relevant and prescriptive for our research partners.
- Expert level of knowledge with survey platform such as Alchemer or Qualtrics
- Experience leveraging artificial intelligence for research
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple initiatives concurrently
- Ability to stay on course and meet deadlines
- Strong interpersonal and communications skills – conversational, presentation, business communications, and writing
- Ability to work in a team environment
- Expert level of knowledge with project management software like Asana
- Knowledge and proficiency in current Windows operating systems, current Microsoft Office 365 products, and Microsoft Teams
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Preferred Skills
- Accounting & Finance subject matter knowledge preferred
- Knowledge of the concepts and practices of adult learning and current trends in technology-based learning; expertise with the full spectrum of methods and alternatives for delivering learning solutions.
Internal Contacts
CPAx leadership
PICPA leadership
PICPA members