Event Planner & Membership Specialist

About The Pennsylvania Institute Of Certified Public Accountants

PICPA is a future thinking, equal opportunity employer fostering a positive and collaborative work environment where you can make a difference in every role. We value collaboration and personal initiative, and PICPA is committed not only to our members but to our employees’ satisfaction and success. We recognize that our people are our greatest asset, enabling PICPA to achieve outstanding results. We invest heavily in technology and provide our team with ongoing education, training opportunities, competitive benefits, and flexible work schedules.

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Medical, vision and dental insurance
• LTD
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement

Position Summary

The Event Planner & Membership Specialist is a dynamic, member-facing role responsible for delivering exceptional in-person experiences and driving member engagement across the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA). This dual-function position is critical in advancing the mission of the Member Programs & Foundation team by managing strategic event logistics while cultivating deep relationships with our diverse and growing membership base.

This individual will lead the planning and execution of key events—ranging from the PICPA Annual Meeting to local gatherings—and partner across internal departments to ensure recruitment and retention goals are met through a deep understanding of member needs, experiences, and feedback.

Job Description

Event Planning & Execution (Approximately 70%)

• Strategically plan and manage high-quality in-person events and other engagement opportunities aligned with PICPA's mission and brand.
• Lead development and oversight of complex, high-dollar budgets, ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with program goals.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with the Member Programs, Marketing & Communications, and Finance teams to ensure seamless coordination and promotion of events.
• Oversee all aspects of event execution, including venue selection, contract negotiation, vendor and contractor coordination, A/V needs, catering, and registration.
• Serve as lead staff on major initiatives such as the PICPA Annual Meeting, governance meetings, and Foundation-sponsored events.
• Approve preliminary event-related financials and expense requests; ensure timely reconciliation post-event.
• Maintain ongoing communication with third-party contractors and partners to ensure all production needs are met and on budget.
• Provide leadership of in-person events; manage staffing schedules and assign responsibilities during events.
• Review and analyze event survey feedback and prepare reports to share with appropriate stakeholders.
• Travel frequently across Pennsylvania and be available for evening/weekend events as required.

Membership Coordination & Engagement (Approximately 30%)

• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to regularly update and execute feedback systems (surveys, interviews, engagement metrics) to continuously assess member experience and satisfaction.
• Become a subject matter expert on PICPA’s membership, including segment needs, interests, and professional development drivers.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with members through outreach, engagement at events, and personalized follow-up.
• Coordinate with marketing and program teams to ensure member value is consistently communicated and demonstrated across all touchpoints.
• Support data-driven decision-making by regularly synthesizing member feedback and insights for internal stakeholders.

Required Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in hospitality, business, nonprofit management, or related field.
• Minimum 3–5 years of professional experience in event planning, program management, membership services, or related roles.
• Proven experience managing large-scale events and developing/monitoring high-dollar budgets.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a customer-first mindset and passion for relationship-building.
• Excellent organizational, time management, and multitasking abilities in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Comfortable with frequent travel across Pennsylvania and flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Experience working with volunteers or committees is a plus.
• Familiarity with membership databases (such as Nimble AMS or Salesforce), survey tools, and Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with Association Management.