CPE & Event Calendar

This course examines actual fraud circumstances through the lens of potential prevention. We will examine how selected frauds were accomplished and consider what internal controls may have prevented fraudsters’ ability to accomplish their nefarious acts.

Adapting to the Engagement - Differentiating the Requirements of Preparations, Compilations, Reviews, and Audits is a critical foundational course. A CPA may perform various attest services under relevant professional standards, including compilations, reviews and audits. Reviews and audits are also considered assurance services, providing either limited or reasonable assurance that financial statements are free of material misstatement. In addition, the CPA may perform non-attest services, such as bookkeeping or preparation of financial statements. CPAs must fully understand the professional responsibilities related to each of these varying levels of services, in order to effectively and efficiently satisfy engagement objectives. Note: This course is recommended as a part of a 16-hour audit skills curriculum for beginning auditors and attest providers, while it is also appropriate for anyone who has assurance responsibilities under the SSARS. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

We all know what we would like to do and achieve, but how realistic are those expectations? Are your clients' goals and objectives truly attainable? Do you feel like you can help your clients accomplish their financial planning goals? This session focuses on developing real-world applications in a new era-The Roaring 20s. This past year, we've experienced swings in the market and other critical financial issues that have impacted our clients. Being prepared is crucial! Similar comparisons have been made to the Roaring 20s of the last century. The economic game may change positively and negatively during the decade and it is more important than ever to help us relay the importance for our clients to stay focused.

Artificial intelligence (AI) processes have arrived and CPAs who can understand and utilize existing AI processes are now at a competitive advantage. This course provides fundamentals of what AI is and examples of current uses in the accounting profession.

Keep current on ethical requirements imposed by standards-setting organizations and legislative action. Discuss regulatory, legal and ethical requirements affecting the profession. Take a pragmatic approach to ethics, recognize potential regulatory problems, and avoid liability.

Identify and discuss various tax planning opportunities related to the operation of a corporate business with an S corporation election. Topics range from annual recurring planning to unusual transactions, such as stock redemptions and the sale of the corporate business.

Join us for an insightful presentation featuring John Higgins, a renowned technology advisor to the CPA profession, who has assisted many firms with Microsoft 365 (M365) deployment. Discover how to leverage the M365 suite of apps to unlock new efficiencies and opportunities within your firm. Don't miss this chance to supercharge your practice with cutting-edge tools! Whether you are a solo practitioner or larger firm, this "bootcamp" will provide you with an ROI many times greater than your investment to attend. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Stay current on recent changes in accounting and auditing. Review Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Private Company Council (PCC), Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) standard-setting activity in the current year. Implementation dates will be provided so you can plan for changes, and the course will highlight the changes that will be implemented in the current year. Also, we'll discuss the difference between public and private company requirements.

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered corporate and public accounting in ways we could never have imagined. This broad-based course will discuss accounting and auditing implications that have arisen as a result of the pandemic. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

According to the FBI, “white-collar crime is … synonymous with the full range of frauds committed by business and government professionals … characterized by deceit, concealment, or violation of trust …. The motivation behind these crimes is financial—to obtain or avoid losing money, property, or services or to secure a personal or business advantage.”  CPAs can and should play a crucial role in preventing and detecting white-collar crime, as well as in prosecuting the perpetrators.  This session will explore whether we are up to this challenge, heighten awareness regarding the CPA’s role as a front-line defender of the public interest, and assess whether we are deserving of the public trust we enjoy.

The Microsoft 365 ecosystem of apps offers tremendous value for any business organization. The key to maximizing the ROI of your monthly subscription fees is to understand how all the apps work together. John Higgins, a strategic advisor to the profession on Microsoft 365 deployment, will share a number of "best practices" for deploying Microsoft 365. This course will help you discover the hidden gems in the Microsoft ecosystem to increase productivity across your organization and help you avoid making costly mistakes in your deployment. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

This program provides an update to the latest tax developments, rules and regulations affecting business taxpayers, including a review and integration of 2023-24 legislation.   **Please Note:  If you need credit reported to the IRS for this IRS approved program, please download the IRS CE request form on the Course Materials Tab and submit to kori.herrera@acpen.com.

In today's dynamic corporate landscape, HR professionals are no longer just HR experts; they are integral business strategists. This session unveils the pivotal role HR plays in shaping and influencing a company's overarching business strategy. It emphasizes the need for HR to don the hat of a businessperson first and an HR professional second. In this engaging presentation, we will delve into the critical strategic business concepts that HR leaders should not only grasp but also embrace confidently at the executive level. Moreover, we will explore how HR can navigate the fast-paced, technology-driven world by adapting to evolving strategic HR concepts. Discover how HR can transform from a support function to a strategic partner, contributing directly to the organization's bottom line. Learn how to align HR initiatives with business objectives, fostering a synergy that propels the company forward. Join us as we explore the art of blending business acumen with HR expertise to create a winning formula for success at the executive table. It's time for HR to lead the way in strategic synergy!

This course introduces practical ways that public accountants can use Excel to enhance both the efficiency and effectiveness of client engagements. We will reinforce core concepts by illustrating ways that Excel is a tool for analysis and reporting. We will introduce numerous analytical methods and techniques by using practical examples to illustrate how to unleash the power of Excel when obtaining, analyzing, and reporting information.

Penalty abatement is a technique that tax practitioners can utilize to help their clients reduce penalties and interest they owe to the IRS if the taxpayer can prove "reasonable cause". This informative and insightful webinar will provide you with some insider tips, practical steps and effective strategies to help your client manage IRS tax penalties and interest. Learn about various types of penalties that you may face, and the various forms and procedures used for requesting penalty and interest abatement, including First Time and Reasonable Cause abatement. Plus, learn about the procedure to follow when requesting refund of paid penalties. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

The phrase "time management" is misleading. No one manages time. Instead, we manage events in our lives which consume time. Like money, time is both finite and valuable; it should be budgeted and used wisely. Those individuals who "manage" or budget their time wisely often are more productive, less stressed, and able to achieve their goals more effectively than others. Professionals by nature place a high value on their time. Still, successful time management strategies vary based upon the personality, motivation, and discipline of each individual. This course provides simple, practical, and powerful techniques that help professionals work efficiently and achieve better balance in their lives. Successful time management skills also reduce the risk of burnout, which in turn improves the likelihood of achieving success in any endeavor.

Many team members now work remotely, whether by choice or necessity. As a result, questions abound about remote access to desktops and data, security, communications, collaboration, and other considerations in this new normal. When implemented correctly, remote work strategies can be a "win-win" for all involved; however, failed implementations may lead to inefficiencies, security issues, and dissatisfied team members. This session will teach you today's best practices for working remotely. Specifically, you will learn about various remote access tools, communication and collaboration options, and security best practices. You will also learn about managing and monitoring workflows in remote work environments and tools you can use. After completing this session, you can implement a remote work strategy that yields efficiency, security, and satisfaction to all involved.

Audit Documentation - Creating Workpapers That Pass Review is an important foundational course. Proper documentation is essential to a high-quality audit and other assurance services, as auditors are required to prepare and maintain documentation to demonstrate that sufficient and appropriate audit evidence was obtained to support the auditor's opinion. It is critical for workpapers to provide a clear understanding of the nature, timing and extent of procedures applied, the results of those procedures, source of evidence obtained, and conclusions reached. Both audit effectiveness and efficiency are directly impacted by the nature and extent of audit documentation. Note: This course is a part of a recommended 16-hour audit skills curriculum for beginning staff. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

George Washington once wrote, "We ought not to look back, unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dear bought experience." The cost of fraud, dearly paid by governments and nonprofits, is too severe not to learn and profit from. In this course, we will look back at real-world government and nonprofit frauds and derive useful controls to stop them. The course materials utilize a highly illustrative and innovative format. Over 15 focused exercises are included to provide an enhanced working knowledge of fraud and anti-fraud controls to both auditors and industry professionals.

This session provides insight on the realities of internal audit management roles, and the elements needed to build a strong internal audit department to provide the most value for your company.   The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) has done a tremendous job raising the profile of the auditing profession. As auditors, we strive to abide by the standards and guidelines. But have you ever asked management within your company if they knew such standards existed? Do they truly understand the concepts of risk-based auditing, independence and obligations to the board or charter requirements? It is surprising how so many of these basic concepts are taken for granted by auditors and that we assume management is aware. Individuals considering an internal audit management role should understand the challenges as well as benefits that may be presented to them within this role. It is critical that certain elements of the job be well understood by those holding the positions. This session is designed to step into the reality of the internal audit management role and discuss some of the concepts that aren’t always openly discussed within organizations…but are important concepts the internal audit manager should ensure they can clarify with management and be prepared to address on the job.