CPE & Event Calendar

In today's business environment creative problem-solving and innovation are more important than ever to succeed. In this course, you'll discover how to unleash your own creative potential as well as that of your colleagues and teams. Learn when to take smart, educated risks; how to become a forward-thinking leader capable of generating fresh ideas, and how to see the positive aspects of failure. The helpful advice you'll receive in this course will bring both personal success and corporate success. Note: There is a minimum passing rate of 70% for this course. The webcast was originally broadcast on August 3, 2015.

Throw away the tax code and regulations and make sense of estate planning. Learn how to structure an effective estate plan using a highly visual, real-life situation approach. Diagrams, charts, tables, and calculation sheets are used to present key elements of any successful estate plan - from the simplest to the most complex.

Despite the rising use of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ratings, there is substantial disagreement across rating agencies regarding what rating to give to individual firms. As what drives this disagreement is unclear, we examine whether a firm's ESG disclosure helps explain some of this disagreement. We predict and find that greater ESG disclosure actually leads to greater ESG rating disagreement. These findings hold using firm fixed effects and using a difference-in-differences design with mandatory ESG disclosure shocks. We also find that raters disagree more about ESG outcome metrics than input metrics (policies), and that disclosure appears to amplify disagreement more for outcomes. Last, we examine consequences of ESG disagreement and find that greater ESG disagreement is associated with higher return volatility, larger absolute price movements, and a lower likelihood of issuing external financing. Overall, our findings highlight that ESG disclosure generally exacerbates ESG rating disagreement rather than resolves it.

Get the best value CPE package on the market. For one low price, enjoy 12 months of access to every Surgent CPE course in every online format--plus unlimited CPE credits! This is the only package that includes premium courses, such as our late-breaking tax updates and specialized courses. Order now and you'll receive access instructions via email, so you'll be able to startPackage includes 12 months of access to:•  Over 8000 credits•  1,200+ live webinars•  190+ self-study PDF courses•  100+ on-demand webcasts•  Surgent's exclusive premium coursesPricing:  As a member, you pay just $675.00 – 25% off Surgent’s retail price! Why Choose the Unlimited Plus Package?Get the best value CPE package on the market. For one low price, enjoy 12 months of access to every Surgent CPE course in every online format--plus unlimited CPE credits! This is the only package that includes premium courses, such as our late-breaking updates, specialized courses, and our Weekly Expert Hour.  Order now and you'll receive access instructions via email from info@surgent.com.  You'll be able to start registering for live webinars and accessing self-study courses right away. Earn as much CPE and explore as many topics as you'd like for one full year from the date of purchase. What Is Included in the Package?Show all - https://www.surgentcpe.com/search-all-cpe-courses?Readyforsale=Yes&Includedinunlp=Webinar -  https://www.surgentcpe.com/cpe-courses/webinars#/?Readyforsale=Yes&Includedinunlp= Self-Study – https://www.surgentcpe.com/cpe-courses/self-study?Readyforsale=Yes&Includedinunlp=

Surgent's Unlimited Self-Study PackageSurgent's Unlimited Self-Study Package includes every PDF download course in Surgent’s catalog – over 250 courses, each from 2-16 credits. As a member, you pay just $399.00 29% off Surgent’s retail price!  Get 12 months of access to the most practical guidance and analysis in the industry in the form of downloadable pdfs. With over 250 courses, including ethics, accompanied by reference materials, you can learn anytime, anywhere at a pace that works for you. And when you’re ready, take the test with instant results and immediate certificate delivery. Order today and immediately start downloading the course material you need for the next 12 months.Package includes annual access to:• 1,200+ credits• 250+ downloadable courses• Reference material downloads• Instant test results• Immediate certificate deliveryWhat’s included? Click here to view the current course list: https://www.surgentcpe.com/cpe-courses/self-study?Readyforsale=Yes&Includedinlibr=True&sref=

Surgent's Unlimited Webinar PackageSurgent's Unlimited Webinar Package get unlimited access to our webinar catalog.With 40+ webinars offered every week, including weekends, airing at a variety of convenient times throughout the day and evening, you’ll never have to worry about our webinars fitting in your schedule. And with the most modern webinar platform in the industry and interactive courses with renowned expert discussion leaders you’ll get the guidance and analysis you need with an unmatched customer experience. As a member, you pay just $525.00– 30% off Surgent’s retail price!Why Choose the Unlimited Webinar Package?• Get unlimited access to over 1200 webinars • Enjoy 12 months of access, available one year from the date of purchase• Includes 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 8-hour options in all the topics CPAs need.  Up to 5,000 credits!• Choose from daily options at many convenient times, including evenings, lunch hours, and Saturdays• You'll earn live CPE credit without exams (certificates delivery within 24hours)• All Surgent webinars feature high-quality audio and video, plus an easy-to-use attendance verification system (you'll just need to click the screen when prompted to verify that you're watching)Technical support and interactive Q&A are available throughout all webinars.Order a package now and you'll instructions via email from info@surgent.com. You'll be able to start registering for live webinars courses right away.________________________________________What’s included? Click here to view the current course list: https://www.surgentcpe.com/cpe-courses/webinars#/?Readyforsale=Yes&Includedinunlm=True&sref= 

Both businesses and individual clients face major changes as a result of tax reform, and tax professionals face the considerable challenge of delivering effective planning advice and services to address this myriad of recent developments. This course addresses this challenge and also encompasses the latest tax legislation applicable to individual and business clients. Continually updated to reflect enacted legislation.

This course is designed to assist practitioners in preparing Offers in Compromise (OIC). After this course, you should have an understanding of how proper planning can make a significant difference in the amount eventually paid to the IRS and the resulting financial well-being of your client. This program covers the basics, from choosing the proper forms to utilize through the filing of an appeal if necessary. We will also explain how to increase your chances of having your OIC approved by the IRS by going over the complexities involved.

If you work with governments and not-for-profits, a thorough understanding of the Yellow Book is essential. This course will equip you with a comprehensive knowledge of the Yellow Book requirements and increase your confidence and proficiency in performing Yellow Book audits. The course materials utilize a highly illustrative and innovative format including over 20 focused exercises on key practice issues.

If you work with governments and not-for-profits, a thorough understanding of the Yellow Book is essential. This course will equip you with a comprehensive knowledge of the Yellow Book requirements and increase your confidence and proficiency in performing Yellow Book audits. The course materials utilize a highly illustrative and innovative format including over 20 focused exercises on key practice issues.

When exit planning, it is important to weigh various issues, including tax implications, to achieve an effective management and/or ownership change. Many envision tax-free reorganizations being the most preferable structure to avoid capital gains tax, but the opportunities come at a cost to the seller. This course will provide a well-rounded discussion of the various strategies to consider when advising on exiting a business.

Many small- and mid-size entities hold fewer complex investments including alternative investments. This module will provide an overview for evaluating the proper recognition, measurement, and disclosure of common investment types as well as how to audit them. Derivatives and other more complex investments will be discussed in another module. (Please Note: This module is part of Surgent's Audit Skills Training: Level 2.)

Cash and cash equivalents tend to be one of the first areas assigned to new auditors since it tends to be straightforward with less complexity and risk as other areas. In addition, there is little subjectivity involved and persuasive audit evidence from a third-party is generally available. Interestingly enough, this is an area that can have a significant risk of misappropriation of assets if the appropriate level of segregation of duties and other internal controls is not present. New auditors should approach cash with the same professional skepticism as other areas since there is always the risk of material misstatement. (Please Note: This module is part of Surgent's Audit Skills Training: Level 1.)

Designed for accounting and auditing practitioners at all levels in both public accounting and business and industry, this course provides an overview of recently issued AICPA auditing and attest standards that will be effective for December 31, 2022 audits and beyond. Next, the course will review ethics interpretations recently issued by the Professional Ethics Executive Committee and review the current status of the AICPA's proposed Statements on Quality Control Standards.

This course provides an overview of the accounting requirements with respect to accounting changes and error corrections and the reporting implications within an entity's financial statements. The scope of accounting changes includes a discussion of changes in accounting principles, changes in accounting estimates, as well as changes of a reporting entity. The course also provides an overview of the accounting requirements of correcting errors in previously issued financial statements as well as restatement considerations. A majority of the information included within this course is sourced from the requirements found within FASB ASC Topic No 250, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections.

In addition to being experts on the nuts and bolts of accounting and auditing, experienced auditors must also be aware of the emerging trends in our industry, as well as those complex topics with which we don't need to deal on an everyday basis. In this session, we'll cover some of those emerging and challenging topics. First, we'll review technology hot trends and how they will likely impact your clients and how you will need to address them in your audit risk assessments and procedures. Next, as the FASB continues to implement more opportunities to value assets and liabilities at their fair value, we'll review the accounting definition of fair value and how it's determined. Lastly, we'll review two areas that use fair value concepts pervasively, accounting for business combinations and asset impairment. With a sound understanding of the basic accounting concepts related to these complex topics, auditors will be able to significantly enhance the level of services that they can provide to their clients. (Please Note: This module is part of Surgent's Audit Skills Training: Level 4.)

This course provides an overview of the accounting requirements with respect to accounting principle changes. The scope of accounting changes includes a discussion of changes in accounting principles, changes in accounting estimates, as well as changes of a reporting entity. A majority of the information included within this course is sourced from the requirements found within FASB ASC Topic No. 250, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections.

ASC 326 significantly changes the accounting for credit losses. Given its pervasive scope, virtually every company will need to at least assess the impact of the new ASC 326 guidance and potentially record a material adjustment to implement the new accounting guidance. In this module, we will review the scope of ASC 326, the key provisions of the accounting model and how entities can estimate credit losses for a variety of in-scope financial assets. As the CECL and other credit loss methodologies under ASC 326 represent accounting estimates, the module will also review both the current and soon to be effective auditing guidance related to this often complex area. (Please Note: This module is part of Surgent's Audit Skills Training: Level 5.)

Revenue is often one of the largest and most significant line items in a company's financial statements. It is also the line item that is most susceptible to fraud. Further, all companies reporting under U.S. GAAP have either recently completed or are completing their transition to a complex new accounting standard for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers, ASC 606. Clearly it is imperative that all auditors have a detailed understanding of both ASC 606 and how to effectively audit revenue transactions. In this session of the Surgent Audit Skills Series, we'll review the key elements of ASC 606, including the new disclosure requirements for private companies under the new standard. Then, we'll focus on how to audit revenue, including the elements of an effective risk assessment related to revenue, key controls over the revenue process and substantive procedures. This information with both provides you with the information to audit revenue effectively and efficiently and comply with relevant auditing standards related to revenue. (Please Note: This module is part of Surgent's Audit Skills Training: Level 3.)

Guarantees are often included within certain purchase agreements, sales agreements, commercial agreements, and many other types of agreements. This course provides an overview of the accounting, reporting, and disclosure requirements related to guarantees. The U.S. GAAP guidance related to guarantees is prescribed by ASC Topic 460.