K2's Technology Conference (VIRTUAL)
Online
16.00 Credits
Member Price $489.00
Price will increase by $35 after 6/11
Non-Member Price $614.00
Price will increase by $35 after 6/11
Overview
IMPORTANT: Please be aware this is a 2 day, 16 credit conference and you must register for both days.
This Conference is filled with 16 hours of fast-paced presentations designed to maximize your time and enhance your learning. Nationally recognized speakers have extensive expertise in numerous software applications. They will share their knowledge with you in order to help you do your job with efficiency and ease. Participants will receive helpful tips and advanced techniques, along with the tools and skills necessary to keep up with the ever-increasing pace of changes in computer technology. This conference is designed for CPAs in public practice or industry who want to take better advantage of technology to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Designed For
This conference is designed for busy accounting and finance professionals in both business and industry and public accounting who want to learn about the new technologies impacting their profession. It is also designed for those looking to take advantage of technology to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Notice
By registering for this program and, accordingly, receiving the eMaterials, you're acknowledging that you understand both the copyright restrictions on your eMaterials and the CTCPA cancellation policy.
Wednesday, June 18
General Session
- K2’s Tech Update
Randolph Johnston, Executive Vice President, Shareholder, K2 Enterprises, LLCRandolph Johnston
Randy Johnston is a nationally recognized educator, consultant, and writer with over 40 years of experience in Strategic Technology Planning, Accounting Software Selection, Paperless, Systems, and Network Integration, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning, Business Development and Management, Process Engineering, and outsourced managed services.
Staying up to date with advances in today's technology has never been more vital, and K2's Tech Update equips you with the knowledge to stay ahead of the rapid pace of innovation. This comprehensive session is designed for accountants who want to understand the evolving technological landscape and its implications for the accounting profession. Which technology trends are worth monitoring? What are the proper hardware and software products for your strategic and tactical plans? How do Artificial Intelligence, quantum computing, Software-as-a-Service, and productivity suites like Microsoft 365 influence practice, especially since this year marks the 40th anniversary of the release of Excel? Separate vendor hype from reality and discover how to achieve a 2X or more return on investment from your technology expenditures. Attendees will leave with actionable insights, including ideas they may not have previously considered.
Major Topics
• Trends in AI and machine learning
• Applications of quantum computing in accounting and finance
• The growing role of blockchain and digital currencies in accounting
• Innovations in software and hardware
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you should be able to:
• Trends in AI and machine learning
• Applications of quantum computing in accounting and finance
• The growing role of blockchain and digital currencies in accounting
• Innovations in software and hardware
Who should attend: Business professionals seeking to stay abreast of key technology developments that affect accounting and financial professionals
Credits: 2 - Information Technology
This session is available to registrants only.
Breakout Session
- K2’s CPA Firm Update
Randolph Johnston, Executive Vice President, Shareholder, K2 Enterprises, LLCRandolph Johnston
Randy Johnston is a nationally recognized educator, consultant, and writer with over 40 years of experience in Strategic Technology Planning, Accounting Software Selection, Paperless, Systems, and Network Integration, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning, Business Development and Management, Process Engineering, and outsourced managed services.
In a rapidly evolving public practice accounting landscape, K2's CPA Firm Update continues to be your essential guide to staying ahead. This session provides actionable insights into transformative technologies and management strategies reshaping the profession. With a focus on data analytics, cybersecurity, practice management, and client service excellence, this year's update delves into how firms can thrive amidst change. Key technologies covered include AI-powered auditing, blockchain applications for financial processes, advancements in cloud computing, robotic process automation (RPA), and workflow optimization tools. Gain clarity on significant trends and how they affect your firm's strategy, enabling you to make well-informed decisions for sustainable growth.
Major Topics
• Emerging trends like changes in client expectations, supplier strategies, and competitive dynamics
• AI and advanced software innovations with tailored solutions for service lines like tax, audit, advisory, and niche industries
• Next-gen automation tools, including the role of machine learning, RPA, and advanced analytics in streamlining operations
• Optimal technology stacks to enhance firm productivity, efficiency, and profitability
• Cybersecurity advancements. Proactive approaches to safeguarding client and firm data
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you should be able to:
• Understand supplier and market changes impacting the profession
• Compare and assess software solutions for various service lines and specialties
• Explore emerging technologies that enhance efficiency and deliver competitive advantages
• Select the most suitable technology stack for your firm's long-term success
Who should attend: This course is indispensable for partners, managers, and IT professionals in CPA firms responsible for adopting and managing innovative applications and strategies.
Credits: 2 - Accounting
This session is available to registrants only.
- K2’s Taking A Fresh Look At Teams
Thomas Stephens Jr., Shareholder, K2 Enterprises, LLCThomas Stephens Jr.
Tommy Stephens received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree (Major in Accounting) from Auburn University in 1985. In 1992, he earned a Master of Science degree (Major in Finance) from Georgia State University in Atlanta. Presently, Tommy is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Information Technology Professional, and a Chartered Global Management Accountant.
During his professional career, Tommy has gained valuable experience in a variety of positions, including:
• Working as an auditor and technology consultant for an Atlanta-based public accounting firm; • Leading an Internal Audit staff and managing a Cost Accounting team for a Fortune 500 company; • Serving as a Chief Financial Officer for an international engineering organization; and • Founding and managing his public accounting firm that provides accounting, tax, and consulting services to individuals and a variety of small and emerging businesses.
In 1995, Tommy began authoring and presenting continuing professional education courses to accounting and finance professionals. In 2003, he affiliated with K2 Enterprises, and in 2007, he joined the firm as a partner. Over the past twenty-seven years, Tommy has presented over 2,900 educational sessions to over 73,000 participants throughout the United States and Canada.
Tommy maintains professional memberships with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants. Additionally, he is a past member of the Institute of Internal Auditors.
Just because Microsoft Teams is no longer a new tool doesn’t mean it hasn’t evolved…it certainly has! Since its introduction in 2016, Teams has become the de facto business productivity platform for organizations worldwide. Yet, many users barely scratch the surface of all that Teams offers. Participate in this session to learn how to get more from Teams and enhance your ROI on the platform.
In this session, you will learn about the core options available in Teams and how to leverage them. You will also learn about new enhancements in Teams, including threaded conversations, enhanced meeting features, and integration with Microsoft’s Copilot platform. If you use Teams and want a deeper understanding of the platform, don’t miss your opportunity to participate in this session.
Major Topics
• How Teams got to where it is today
• Major components in Teams
• Collaboration options
• Extending Teams functionality
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you should be able to:
• List examples of core functionality in Teams
• Identify new opportunities to improve Teams-based communications
• Specify how to integrate other services into Teams
• Name options for collaborating with internal and external Teams users
• List some of Teams most significant competitors
Who should attend: Business professionals seeking to leverage Teams to a higher level
Credits: 2 - Computer Software & Applications
This session is available to registrants only.
- K2’s Top Ten Productivity Booster Apps In Microsoft 365
Brian Tankersley, Director of Strategic Relationships, K2 Enterprises, LLCBrian Tankersley
Brian Tankersley is a consultant who advises US firms and companies on accounting technology issues. Mr. Tankersley is a frequent speaker at continuing education courses for K2 Enterprises, writes for multiple accounting media outlets, and publishes a nationally recognized blog on accounting and technology (www.cpatechblog.com). Mr. Tankersley has over 30 years of professional experience, including accounting, auditing, technology, and education, has been with K2 Enterprises since 2005.
Tankersley has been recognized eight times as one of the “Top 25 Thought Leaders in Public Accounting Technology” by Cygnus Business Media. Brian has made presentations in 48 of the 50 US states and has served as a guest speaker for many professional accounting organizations across Canada. He has received numerous awards for his writing and speaking from state CPA societies. Brian has presented sessions at most major national accounting technology conferences, including AICPA TECH+/Practitioners Conference, The Sleeter Group’s Solutions Conference, Sage Summit, CCH Connections, and Thomson Reuters Synergy User Conference.
Brian is a certified public accountant (Tennessee), a certified information technology professional (CITP), and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). He holds bachelor’s degrees in both Accounting and Finance, cum laude, from the University of Tennessee. Tankersley also maintains numerous vendor software certifications, and is a member of the Tennessee Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs.
Brian and his family make their home in Farragut, Tennessee.
This two-hour CPE course is designed for accounting professionals and technology enthusiasts seeking to enhance productivity through Microsoft 365's versatile applications. Participants will explore ten key apps — including Shared Mailboxes, Planner, Lists, To Do, Stream, Viva Learning, Forms, Bookings, Approvals, and Places — and learn to integrate them effectively into their workflows. The course emphasizes practical applications within accounting contexts, aiming to streamline operations and foster collaboration.
Major Topics
• Enhancing communication and collaboration: Shared Mailboxes, Groups, and Places
• Optimizing task and project management: Planner, Lists, and To Do
• Streamlining training and workflow automation: Stream, Viva Learning, Forms, Bookings, and Approvals
Learning Objectives
• Upon completing this course, you should be able to:
• Identify and describe the basic functionalities of at least three of the ten productivity apps discussed in this session
• Explain how Shared Mailboxes and Groups enhance team communication and help manage departmental emails more effectively
• Identify at least two of the three applications that can be used to manage tasks and/or projects available in business and enterprise versions of Microsoft 365
Who should attend: Business professionals seeking enhance their ROI on Microsoft 365
Credits: 2 - Computer Software & Applications
This session is available to registrants only.
Breakout Session
- K2’s Automation – Beyond The Basics With The Microsoft Power Platform
Brian Tankersley, Director of Strategic Relationships, K2 Enterprises, LLCBrian Tankersley
Brian Tankersley is a consultant who advises US firms and companies on accounting technology issues. Mr. Tankersley is a frequent speaker at continuing education courses for K2 Enterprises, writes for multiple accounting media outlets, and publishes a nationally recognized blog on accounting and technology (www.cpatechblog.com). Mr. Tankersley has over 30 years of professional experience, including accounting, auditing, technology, and education, has been with K2 Enterprises since 2005.
Tankersley has been recognized eight times as one of the “Top 25 Thought Leaders in Public Accounting Technology” by Cygnus Business Media. Brian has made presentations in 48 of the 50 US states and has served as a guest speaker for many professional accounting organizations across Canada. He has received numerous awards for his writing and speaking from state CPA societies. Brian has presented sessions at most major national accounting technology conferences, including AICPA TECH+/Practitioners Conference, The Sleeter Group’s Solutions Conference, Sage Summit, CCH Connections, and Thomson Reuters Synergy User Conference.
Brian is a certified public accountant (Tennessee), a certified information technology professional (CITP), and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). He holds bachelor’s degrees in both Accounting and Finance, cum laude, from the University of Tennessee. Tankersley also maintains numerous vendor software certifications, and is a member of the Tennessee Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs.
Brian and his family make their home in Farragut, Tennessee.
This session is for accounting professionals aiming to enhance their automation expertise with the low-code/no-code tools in Microsoft Power Apps and Power Automate. Participants will explore techniques to create simple workflows and develop custom applications, including “describe it to design it.” The session focuses on automating processes, such as approvals, workflow automation, and data manipulation, while accessing and utilizing data from Microsoft Fabric and external databases. Attendees will learn about different types of workflows and the platform’s tools for Robotic Process Automation (RPA). Further, they will leave with a better understanding of the Power Platform so they can drive digital transformation in their organizations.
Major Topics
• Explanation and demonstration of the use of a wide range of automation tools with a focus on “low-code/no-code
• Practical examples of real-world applications for Power Platform tools - such as Power Apps and Power Automate, as well as integration into Microsoft Fabric and other solutions
• Challenges and risks of automating business processes
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you should be able to:
• Design workflows in Power Automate for automating approvals and basic workflows.
• Understand and describe how diverse data sources, including Microsoft Dataverse, can be incorporated into process automation solutions
• Name one of the demonstrated tools used to address specific automation requirements efficiently and accurately
Who should attend: Business professionals responsible for creating, maintaining, or auditing automated workflows
Credits: 2 - Computer Software & Applications
This session is available to registrants only.
- K2’s Collaboration Tools And Best Practices
Thomas Stephens Jr., Shareholder, K2 Enterprises, LLCThomas Stephens Jr.
Tommy Stephens received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree (Major in Accounting) from Auburn University in 1985. In 1992, he earned a Master of Science degree (Major in Finance) from Georgia State University in Atlanta. Presently, Tommy is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Information Technology Professional, and a Chartered Global Management Accountant.
During his professional career, Tommy has gained valuable experience in a variety of positions, including:
• Working as an auditor and technology consultant for an Atlanta-based public accounting firm; • Leading an Internal Audit staff and managing a Cost Accounting team for a Fortune 500 company; • Serving as a Chief Financial Officer for an international engineering organization; and • Founding and managing his public accounting firm that provides accounting, tax, and consulting services to individuals and a variety of small and emerging businesses.
In 1995, Tommy began authoring and presenting continuing professional education courses to accounting and finance professionals. In 2003, he affiliated with K2 Enterprises, and in 2007, he joined the firm as a partner. Over the past twenty-seven years, Tommy has presented over 2,900 educational sessions to over 73,000 participants throughout the United States and Canada.
Tommy maintains professional memberships with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants. Additionally, he is a past member of the Institute of Internal Auditors.
Collaboration remains one of today’s hottest topics. Technology has fueled today’s collaboration options, and work-from-anywhere environments virtually demand collaboration platforms. In this session, you will learn today’s best tools and practices to facilitate more effective collaboration in your organization.
In this session, you will learn about today’s mainstream collaboration platforms – Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Zoho – and how these options are similar and differ. You will also learn about other collaboration options, including Slack, Zoom, and Webex, and you can incorporate these tools into your collaboration environments. Further, you will learn about some of the best practices and procedures that must be in place to optimize your collaborative environments and experiences.
Major Topics
• The primary drivers of collaboration
• Who are the leading collaboration technology providers
• Why collaboration sometimes fails
• Best practices to facilitate collaboration
• Today’s leading collaboration providers and tools
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you should be able to:
• List at least three drivers for today’s collaboration needs
• Differentiate between key technology providers in the field of collaboration
• Specify examples of policies and procedures that can enhance collaborative efforts
• Name key benefits and risks associated with collaboration
Who should attend: Business professionals seeking to create or enhance collaboration in their work environments
Credits: 2 - Information Technology
This session is available to registrants only.
- K2’s Expense Reporting Automation
Randolph Johnston, Executive Vice President, Shareholder, K2 Enterprises, LLCRandolph Johnston
Randy Johnston is a nationally recognized educator, consultant, and writer with over 40 years of experience in Strategic Technology Planning, Accounting Software Selection, Paperless, Systems, and Network Integration, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning, Business Development and Management, Process Engineering, and outsourced managed services.
Managing and auditing employee spending on personal and corporate credit cards is a challenge everywhere. Legacy manual expense reporting preparation and approval processes are tedious and repetitive and are an excellent place to start your company’s use of business process automation solutions. This session will cover a variety of expense workflow tools which use technologies and features like bank feeds, mobile receipt capture, OCR data extraction/filling, automated policy enforcement, and artificial intelligence-based validation to automate and eliminate the tedium. Attend this session and learn how to use automation and cure the expense reporting blues for you and your employees.
Major Topics
• Overview of selected expense and corporate credit card reporting and management platforms
• Major fraud schemes associated with expense reporting
• Extracting and importing transaction data from bank feeds and matching to receipts
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you should be able to:
• Select at least two types of employee expenses that are identified as very risky by the course
• Identify at least two common expense reimbursement fraud schemes.
• Choose responses that explain how bank feeds are different from data extraction/OCR applications
• Identify at least two comprehensive expense reporting solutions discussed in detail during the course which offer both OCR data extraction and mobile receipt capture
• Explain how artificial intelligence can be used to identify unusual items in expense reports
Who should attend: Business professionals seeking to improve expense reporting process
Credits: 2 - Computer Software & Applications
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- K2’s Excel Tips – Today’s Best Features
Thomas Stephens Jr., Shareholder, K2 Enterprises, LLCThomas Stephens Jr.
Tommy Stephens received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree (Major in Accounting) from Auburn University in 1985. In 1992, he earned a Master of Science degree (Major in Finance) from Georgia State University in Atlanta. Presently, Tommy is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Information Technology Professional, and a Chartered Global Management Accountant.
During his professional career, Tommy has gained valuable experience in a variety of positions, including:
• Working as an auditor and technology consultant for an Atlanta-based public accounting firm; • Leading an Internal Audit staff and managing a Cost Accounting team for a Fortune 500 company; • Serving as a Chief Financial Officer for an international engineering organization; and • Founding and managing his public accounting firm that provides accounting, tax, and consulting services to individuals and a variety of small and emerging businesses.
In 1995, Tommy began authoring and presenting continuing professional education courses to accounting and finance professionals. In 2003, he affiliated with K2 Enterprises, and in 2007, he joined the firm as a partner. Over the past twenty-seven years, Tommy has presented over 2,900 educational sessions to over 73,000 participants throughout the United States and Canada.
Tommy maintains professional memberships with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants. Additionally, he is a past member of the Institute of Internal Auditors.
Wow! So many new Excel features and so little time! Microsoft continues to add tremendous functionality to Excel – the business professional’s tool of choice. Yet most Excel users have not discovered these new tools and remain mired in yesterday’s practices for working in Excel. In this session, you will learn how to use many of Excel’s latest features to work more efficiently and effectively with your spreadsheets.
Participate in this session to learn about recently released features such as PIVOTBY, GROUPBY, Office Scripts, integration with Copilot, new ways to share and collaborate in Excel, and data entry and formula improvements. If you work with Excel – and who doesn’t – this session is necessary to help you improve your efficiency and effectiveness when using Excel.
Major Topics
• New features and functions in Excel
• How to improve efficiency and effectiveness when working in Excel
• Taking advantage of Copilot integration with Excel
• Better ways of creating and working with formulas
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you should be able to:
• List examples of key new features in Excel and how and why business professionals can take advantage of these tools
• Identify use cases for Excel’s PIVOTBY and GROUPBY functions
• Specify how Office Scripts differ from traditional Excel macros
• Cite examples of using Copilot in conjunction with Excel
• List examples of new opportunities to collaborate with others using Excel
Who should attend: Business professionals seeking to become more efficient and proficient with Excel
Credits: 2 - Computer Software & Applications
This session is available to registrants only.
Thursday, June 19
General Session
- K2’s Data Security And Privacy Issues And Solutions
Thomas Stephens Jr., Shareholder, K2 Enterprises, LLCThomas Stephens Jr.
Tommy Stephens received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree (Major in Accounting) from Auburn University in 1985. In 1992, he earned a Master of Science degree (Major in Finance) from Georgia State University in Atlanta. Presently, Tommy is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Information Technology Professional, and a Chartered Global Management Accountant.
During his professional career, Tommy has gained valuable experience in a variety of positions, including:
• Working as an auditor and technology consultant for an Atlanta-based public accounting firm; • Leading an Internal Audit staff and managing a Cost Accounting team for a Fortune 500 company; • Serving as a Chief Financial Officer for an international engineering organization; and • Founding and managing his public accounting firm that provides accounting, tax, and consulting services to individuals and a variety of small and emerging businesses.
In 1995, Tommy began authoring and presenting continuing professional education courses to accounting and finance professionals. In 2003, he affiliated with K2 Enterprises, and in 2007, he joined the firm as a partner. Over the past twenty-seven years, Tommy has presented over 2,900 educational sessions to over 73,000 participants throughout the United States and Canada.
Tommy maintains professional memberships with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants. Additionally, he is a past member of the Institute of Internal Auditors.
Data security and privacy issues continue to plague businesses of all sizes. No matter where you look, the numbers are bad – really bad! But that doesn’t mean you can’t take steps to reduce these risks. In this session, you will learn about the key security and privacy risks facing businesses today and the steps you can take to mitigate these risks.
This session starts with a review of how cybercriminals attack businesses of all sizes and the related costs of these attacks. From there, you will progress into discussions of practical tools, policies, and other solutions you can use to mitigate cybersecurity risks to prudently acceptable levels. This is a “must-see” session for all concerned about data security and how to mitigate threats to sensitive and confidential data.
Major Topics
• Understanding the differences between data security and data privacy
• The major types of security and privacy breaches
• Key steps you can take to mitigate your risks of becoming another victim
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you should be able to:
• Identify at least five examples of common data security and privacy issues affecting businesses today
• Create estimates of the costs associated with data security and privacy breaches
• List examples of internal control best practices you can use to mitigate your security and privacy risks
Who should attend: All business professionals concerned about data privacy and security
Credits: 2 - Information Technology
This session is available to registrants only.
Breakout Session
- K2’s CRM – The Ultimate Business Automation Tool
Brian Tankersley, Director of Strategic Relationships, K2 Enterprises, LLCBrian Tankersley
Brian Tankersley is a consultant who advises US firms and companies on accounting technology issues. Mr. Tankersley is a frequent speaker at continuing education courses for K2 Enterprises, writes for multiple accounting media outlets, and publishes a nationally recognized blog on accounting and technology (www.cpatechblog.com). Mr. Tankersley has over 30 years of professional experience, including accounting, auditing, technology, and education, has been with K2 Enterprises since 2005.
Tankersley has been recognized eight times as one of the “Top 25 Thought Leaders in Public Accounting Technology” by Cygnus Business Media. Brian has made presentations in 48 of the 50 US states and has served as a guest speaker for many professional accounting organizations across Canada. He has received numerous awards for his writing and speaking from state CPA societies. Brian has presented sessions at most major national accounting technology conferences, including AICPA TECH+/Practitioners Conference, The Sleeter Group’s Solutions Conference, Sage Summit, CCH Connections, and Thomson Reuters Synergy User Conference.
Brian is a certified public accountant (Tennessee), a certified information technology professional (CITP), and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). He holds bachelor’s degrees in both Accounting and Finance, cum laude, from the University of Tennessee. Tankersley also maintains numerous vendor software certifications, and is a member of the Tennessee Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs.
Brian and his family make their home in Farragut, Tennessee.
This course provides an in-depth exploration of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems as a critical tool for business automation. Designed for accounting professionals, it emphasizes CRM’s role in streamlining workflows, organizing communications, enhancing client relationships, and improving efficiency. Participants will learn about key CRM features, integration with accounting software, and best practices for successful implementation. We will highlight practical applications with actionable insights to help attendees optimize their processes. This two-hour session ensures you walk away with a basic understanding of CRM’s transformative potential for business and financial management.
Major Topics
• Overview of CRM functionalities tailored to accounting, including customizations and integrations
• Integrated tools that leverage CRM data for automating tasks and improving efficiency
• Strategies for successfully adopting a CRM platform and solutions to overcome common challenges
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you should be able to:
• Define Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and explain its significance in business automation
• Identify key CRM features that optimize accounting and financial workflows
• Name at least two best practices for implementing and customizing CRM systems for use in common accounting workflows
Who should attend: Accounting and other business professionals seeking to leverage CRM technologies for more profitable client/customer interactions
Credits: 2 - Information Technology
This session is available to registrants only.
- K2’s Client Accounting Services For CPA Firms: Strategies For Growth And Success
Randolph Johnston, Executive Vice President, Shareholder, K2 Enterprises, LLCRandolph Johnston
Randy Johnston is a nationally recognized educator, consultant, and writer with over 40 years of experience in Strategic Technology Planning, Accounting Software Selection, Paperless, Systems, and Network Integration, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning, Business Development and Management, Process Engineering, and outsourced managed services.
Client Accounting Services (CAS) have become a cornerstone of modern CPA firms, offering opportunities for enhanced client relationships, recurring revenue streams, and streamlined operations. This course provides accounting professionals with practical guidance on implementing and optimizing CAS within their firms. Participants will explore the foundational elements of CAS, including service offerings, pricing models, and client communication strategies. The course delves into the technology tools essential for CAS, including accounting software, workflow automation, and reporting platforms. It offers insights into best practices for managing client expectations and delivering consistent, high-value services. In addition, participants will examine case studies of successful CAS implementations, review current trends impacting CAS, and identify critical steps to build a scalable CAS practice that aligns with their firm's goals. The course also addresses the importance of data security, governance, and compliance in providing CAS to ensure ethical and professional service delivery.
Major Topics
• CAS overview to understand the service offerings, client needs, and market opportunities
• Selecting technology tools in CAS for accounting, workflow, and client collaboration
• Designing Service Delivery Models that are scalable and efficient processes for CAS
• Managing client relationships and setting expectations to deliver consistent value
• Evaluating pricing strategies, including fixed fee, subscription, and other pricing models
• Ensuring governance and meeting regulatory standards for data security and compliance
• Adapting to emerging technologies and evolving client demands to future-proof the practice
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you should be able to:
• Define the scope and benefits of Client Accounting Services for CPA firms
• Identify essential technology tools and strategies for CAS implementation
• Evaluate various pricing models and their application to CAS offerings
• Outline critical considerations for maintaining data security and regulatory compliance in CAS
• Develop a roadmap for building or enhancing a scalable CAS practice
Who should attend: Accounting professionals seeking to successfully enter or expand the client accounting sector of their practice
Credits: 2 - Accounting
This session is available to registrants only.
- K2’s Taking Another Look At Power BI
Thomas Stephens Jr., Shareholder, K2 Enterprises, LLCThomas Stephens Jr.
Tommy Stephens received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree (Major in Accounting) from Auburn University in 1985. In 1992, he earned a Master of Science degree (Major in Finance) from Georgia State University in Atlanta. Presently, Tommy is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Information Technology Professional, and a Chartered Global Management Accountant.
During his professional career, Tommy has gained valuable experience in a variety of positions, including:
• Working as an auditor and technology consultant for an Atlanta-based public accounting firm; • Leading an Internal Audit staff and managing a Cost Accounting team for a Fortune 500 company; • Serving as a Chief Financial Officer for an international engineering organization; and • Founding and managing his public accounting firm that provides accounting, tax, and consulting services to individuals and a variety of small and emerging businesses.
In 1995, Tommy began authoring and presenting continuing professional education courses to accounting and finance professionals. In 2003, he affiliated with K2 Enterprises, and in 2007, he joined the firm as a partner. Over the past twenty-seven years, Tommy has presented over 2,900 educational sessions to over 73,000 participants throughout the United States and Canada.
Tommy maintains professional memberships with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants. Additionally, he is a past member of the Institute of Internal Auditors.
Although Power BI has been available for ten years, most business professionals don’t fully appreciate all it can do and its easy use. Further, many are intimidated by the platform and continue to use less efficient and effective reporting practices. If this describes you, invest some time in this session to learn how to work with Power BI almost immediately.
In this session, you will learn how to use Power BI to create compelling dashboard reports. You will also learn how to optimize these reports to enhance their effectiveness. If you want to improve financial and operational reporting processes, this session is for you!
Major Topics
• Getting started with Power BI
• Creating effective visualizations in Power BI
• Publishing Power BI reports to dashboards
• Optimizing dashboards for viewing on mobile devices
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you should be able to:
• List the basic steps necessary to generate a Power BI report
• Distinguish between Power BI reports and dashboards
• Identify the necessary steps to link data into Power BI
• List the steps necessary to create a Power BI report
• Specify the steps necessary to convert a Power BI report to a dashboard
• Generate user-defined calculations in Power BI
Who should attend: Business professionals seeking to improve financial and operational reporting by using Power BI
Credits: 2 - Computer Software & Applications
This session is available to registrants only.
Breakout Session
- K2’s AI – Better Prompts, Better Results
Randolph Johnston, Executive Vice President, Shareholder, K2 Enterprises, LLCRandolph Johnston
Randy Johnston is a nationally recognized educator, consultant, and writer with over 40 years of experience in Strategic Technology Planning, Accounting Software Selection, Paperless, Systems, and Network Integration, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning, Business Development and Management, Process Engineering, and outsourced managed services.
Generative AI is seemingly everywhere, and business professionals are embracing the technology. And for a good reason – generative AI provides opportunities for enormous gains in efficiency and productivity. However, those gains can be even greater if you understand best practices for issuing AI prompts.
In this session, you will learn the best ways to ask questions of your AI platforms so that you get the information you seek quickly and easily. Stop wasting time with inefficient and ineffective prompts! Learn the best ways to get the information you seek!
Major Topics
• Components of effective AI prompts
• The pros and cons of a single large prompt versus multiple small prompts
• Using prompts to format AI-generated output
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you should be able to:
• List the four key components of AI prompts
• Identify examples of prompts used for tasks, context, expectations, and output
• Name at least four types of tasks generative AI tools can do when prompted correctly
Who should attend: AI adopters desiring to improve their efficiency and effectiveness with AI tools
Credits: 1 - Information Technology
This session is available to registrants only.
- K2’s Next Level Home Networking
Brian Tankersley, Director of Strategic Relationships, K2 Enterprises, LLCBrian Tankersley
Brian Tankersley is a consultant who advises US firms and companies on accounting technology issues. Mr. Tankersley is a frequent speaker at continuing education courses for K2 Enterprises, writes for multiple accounting media outlets, and publishes a nationally recognized blog on accounting and technology (www.cpatechblog.com). Mr. Tankersley has over 30 years of professional experience, including accounting, auditing, technology, and education, has been with K2 Enterprises since 2005.
Tankersley has been recognized eight times as one of the “Top 25 Thought Leaders in Public Accounting Technology” by Cygnus Business Media. Brian has made presentations in 48 of the 50 US states and has served as a guest speaker for many professional accounting organizations across Canada. He has received numerous awards for his writing and speaking from state CPA societies. Brian has presented sessions at most major national accounting technology conferences, including AICPA TECH+/Practitioners Conference, The Sleeter Group’s Solutions Conference, Sage Summit, CCH Connections, and Thomson Reuters Synergy User Conference.
Brian is a certified public accountant (Tennessee), a certified information technology professional (CITP), and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). He holds bachelor’s degrees in both Accounting and Finance, cum laude, from the University of Tennessee. Tankersley also maintains numerous vendor software certifications, and is a member of the Tennessee Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs.
Brian and his family make their home in Farragut, Tennessee.
In this course, accounting professionals and technology enthusiasts will explore advanced home networking concepts to support remote work and modern digital needs. Learn to select prosumer-grade hardware, configure multi-SSID networks, and integrate functionalities like VPNs, media servers, and remote file access to boost productivity and security. Discover cutting-edge technologies, including SPF+ (10G networking), to future-proof your setup for data-intensive workflows. With practical demonstrations and relevant use cases, this session equips you with the tools to optimize your home network for efficiency, security, and scalability.
Major Topics
• Explanation of common network services such as file sharing, VPN’s, media servers, and network isolation using multiple SSIDs
• Hardware options and examples of solutions for every budget
• Tips and tricks for rebuilding your home network to meet your needs today and into the future
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you should be able to:
• List at least one prosumer-grade networking hardware brand for enhancing home office performance and security
• Identify how isolating your work, personal, and guest networks can enhance information security
• Define at least three advanced networking functionalities, including VPNs, remote file access, media servers, VLANs, and SFP+
• List at least to high-speed networking technologies that can help to future-proof home networks
Who should attend: Business professionals seeking to optimize their home network solution
Credits: 1 - Information Technology
This session is available to registrants only.
- K2’s What’s New With QuickBooks
Thomas Stephens Jr., Shareholder, K2 Enterprises, LLCThomas Stephens Jr.
Tommy Stephens received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree (Major in Accounting) from Auburn University in 1985. In 1992, he earned a Master of Science degree (Major in Finance) from Georgia State University in Atlanta. Presently, Tommy is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Information Technology Professional, and a Chartered Global Management Accountant.
During his professional career, Tommy has gained valuable experience in a variety of positions, including:
• Working as an auditor and technology consultant for an Atlanta-based public accounting firm; • Leading an Internal Audit staff and managing a Cost Accounting team for a Fortune 500 company; • Serving as a Chief Financial Officer for an international engineering organization; and • Founding and managing his public accounting firm that provides accounting, tax, and consulting services to individuals and a variety of small and emerging businesses.
In 1995, Tommy began authoring and presenting continuing professional education courses to accounting and finance professionals. In 2003, he affiliated with K2 Enterprises, and in 2007, he joined the firm as a partner. Over the past twenty-seven years, Tommy has presented over 2,900 educational sessions to over 73,000 participants throughout the United States and Canada.
Tommy maintains professional memberships with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants. Additionally, he is a past member of the Institute of Internal Auditors.
QuickBooks Desktop, Online, and Enterprise Solutions remain three of the most widely used accounting applications in use today. However, each platform continues to experience major changes across several fronts. Feature sets, licensing requirements, and price changes all impact users at unprecedented levels. Further, competition continues to emerge in the small business accounting battleground, adding confusion to the options existing QuickBooks and QuickBooks Online users may have. In this session, you will learn about many of the changes impacting QuickBooks Desktop, Online, and Enterprise users, and you can manage these changes for the benefit of your company or your clients.
Major Topics
• Licensing issues
• Pricing updates
• New and improved features
• Transitioning from QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you should be able to:
• List examples of key new features in QuickBooks Desktop, Online, and Enterprise Solutions
• Identify changes in the licensing agreements across the QuickBooks platform
• Cite examples of similarities and differences in features and functions across the QuickBooks platform
Who should attend: Business professionals seeking to stay abreast of key developments associated with QuickBooks Desktop, Online, and Enterprise Solutions
Credits: 1 - Computer Software & Applications
This session is available to registrants only.
Breakout Session
- K2’s AI – Security And Privacy Issues
Randolph Johnston, Executive Vice President, Shareholder, K2 Enterprises, LLCRandolph Johnston
Randy Johnston is a nationally recognized educator, consultant, and writer with over 40 years of experience in Strategic Technology Planning, Accounting Software Selection, Paperless, Systems, and Network Integration, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning, Business Development and Management, Process Engineering, and outsourced managed services.
Security and privacy issues must be top-of-mind concerns for business professionals using AI. Yet, for far too many of these professionals, no concern is given for the potential security and privacy risks associated with AI, setting the stage for potentially disastrous results!
In this session, you will learn about AI security and privacy risks and how to manage them. This session includes discussions of the major AI companies’ security and privacy policies, how AI platforms might use your data, and how you can stay in control. Given how quickly AI is spreading, this is one session you simply cannot afford to miss.
Major Topics
• Major provisions of security and privacy policies
• Key risks associated with using commercial AI tools
• Steps to take to mitigate AI security and privacy risks
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you should be able to:
• Differentiate between AI security and privacy risks
• List examples of key security and privacy risks associated with many of today’s AI platforms
• Identify best practices for mitigating the security and privacy risks associated with AI
Who should attend: Business professionals seeking to mitigate the risks associated with generative AI tools
Credits: 1 - Information Technology
This session is available to registrants only.
- K2’s After QuickBooks, What’s Next?
Brian Tankersley, Director of Strategic Relationships, K2 Enterprises, LLCBrian Tankersley
Brian Tankersley is a consultant who advises US firms and companies on accounting technology issues. Mr. Tankersley is a frequent speaker at continuing education courses for K2 Enterprises, writes for multiple accounting media outlets, and publishes a nationally recognized blog on accounting and technology (www.cpatechblog.com). Mr. Tankersley has over 30 years of professional experience, including accounting, auditing, technology, and education, has been with K2 Enterprises since 2005.
Tankersley has been recognized eight times as one of the “Top 25 Thought Leaders in Public Accounting Technology” by Cygnus Business Media. Brian has made presentations in 48 of the 50 US states and has served as a guest speaker for many professional accounting organizations across Canada. He has received numerous awards for his writing and speaking from state CPA societies. Brian has presented sessions at most major national accounting technology conferences, including AICPA TECH+/Practitioners Conference, The Sleeter Group’s Solutions Conference, Sage Summit, CCH Connections, and Thomson Reuters Synergy User Conference.
Brian is a certified public accountant (Tennessee), a certified information technology professional (CITP), and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). He holds bachelor’s degrees in both Accounting and Finance, cum laude, from the University of Tennessee. Tankersley also maintains numerous vendor software certifications, and is a member of the Tennessee Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs.
Brian and his family make their home in Farragut, Tennessee.
Accounting professionals face a critical technological shift with the discontinuation of QuickBooks Pro and Premier sales in 2024. This course explores the transition to modern platforms, including QuickBooks Online, Xero, Zoho Books, FreshBooks, and more. Participants will gain insights into key features, integration capabilities, add-on solutions, and payroll and reporting functionalities. Learn strategies for seamless implementation and discover how to guide clients effectively through this change. Comparative tables and expert insights will equip you to make informed recommendations for your practice or small business. Attend this session and learn more about platforms available for small businesses.
Major Topics
• Transitioning from QuickBooks Pro and Premier – challenges and opportunities
• Overview and comparison of leading accounting software solutions
• Implementation strategies and best practices for modern accounting platforms
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you should be able to:
• Identify key differences between QuickBooks Pro and Premier and their potential replacements
• Evaluate and compare the features, integrations, and add-on solutions offered by platforms such as Xero, Zoho Books, and FreshBooks
• Identify key steps in the transition process from legacy QuickBooks systems to newer, Cloud-based accounting tools
• Create a roadmap for advising clients on selecting and implementing the most suitable accounting platform for their needs
Who should attend: Business professionals seeking to transition from QuickBooks desktop accounting platforms
Credits: 1 - Computer Software & Applications
This session is available to registrants only.
- K2’s Ten PDF Tips You Need To Know
Thomas Stephens Jr., Shareholder, K2 Enterprises, LLCThomas Stephens Jr.
Tommy Stephens received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree (Major in Accounting) from Auburn University in 1985. In 1992, he earned a Master of Science degree (Major in Finance) from Georgia State University in Atlanta. Presently, Tommy is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Information Technology Professional, and a Chartered Global Management Accountant.
During his professional career, Tommy has gained valuable experience in a variety of positions, including:
• Working as an auditor and technology consultant for an Atlanta-based public accounting firm; • Leading an Internal Audit staff and managing a Cost Accounting team for a Fortune 500 company; • Serving as a Chief Financial Officer for an international engineering organization; and • Founding and managing his public accounting firm that provides accounting, tax, and consulting services to individuals and a variety of small and emerging businesses.
In 1995, Tommy began authoring and presenting continuing professional education courses to accounting and finance professionals. In 2003, he affiliated with K2 Enterprises, and in 2007, he joined the firm as a partner. Over the past twenty-seven years, Tommy has presented over 2,900 educational sessions to over 73,000 participants throughout the United States and Canada.
Tommy maintains professional memberships with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants. Additionally, he is a past member of the Institute of Internal Auditors.
Portable Document Format (PDF) documents are everywhere! Yet few know how to work effectively with these documents. If you are interested in working more effectively and efficiently with PDFs, this session is for you.
In this session, you will learn valuable tips you can use to assist you with creating, editing, and securing PDFs. You will also learn how to convert PDFs to fillable forms and secure PDFs, among other features. Don’t miss this chance to learn ten PDF tips you need to know to increase your ROI on PDFs.
Major Topics
• Converting documents to the PDF format
• Editing PDF documents
• Securing PDF documents
• Extracting data from PDFs
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you should be able to:
• Identifying multiple options for generating PDFs
• Differentiating between Adobe software options
• Listing the steps necessary to convert PDF documents to fillable forms
• Specifying options for securing PDFs
• Identifying options for collaborating on PDFs
Who should attend: Business professionals seeking to work with PDF documents more efficiently and effectively
Credits: 1 - Computer Software & Applications
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- K2’s Ripped From The Headlines: Lesson From Interesting Tech Crimes
Brian Tankersley, Director of Strategic Relationships, K2 Enterprises, LLCBrian Tankersley
Brian Tankersley is a consultant who advises US firms and companies on accounting technology issues. Mr. Tankersley is a frequent speaker at continuing education courses for K2 Enterprises, writes for multiple accounting media outlets, and publishes a nationally recognized blog on accounting and technology (www.cpatechblog.com). Mr. Tankersley has over 30 years of professional experience, including accounting, auditing, technology, and education, has been with K2 Enterprises since 2005.
Tankersley has been recognized eight times as one of the “Top 25 Thought Leaders in Public Accounting Technology” by Cygnus Business Media. Brian has made presentations in 48 of the 50 US states and has served as a guest speaker for many professional accounting organizations across Canada. He has received numerous awards for his writing and speaking from state CPA societies. Brian has presented sessions at most major national accounting technology conferences, including AICPA TECH+/Practitioners Conference, The Sleeter Group’s Solutions Conference, Sage Summit, CCH Connections, and Thomson Reuters Synergy User Conference.
Brian is a certified public accountant (Tennessee), a certified information technology professional (CITP), and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). He holds bachelor’s degrees in both Accounting and Finance, cum laude, from the University of Tennessee. Tankersley also maintains numerous vendor software certifications, and is a member of the Tennessee Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs.
Brian and his family make their home in Farragut, Tennessee.
Generative AI and “ransomware for hire” have helped cybercriminals thrive in the post-pandemic period – but how do they do it? This all-new session is a series of case studies that examine actual criminal filings and news accounts and use them to highlight some of the actions you can take to limit your exposure to similar schemes. Attend this session and learn more about how high-profile control failures occurred so you can be more effective at preventing crimes such as theft, malware, ransomware, phishing, and hacking.
Major Topics
• Common security weaknesses that occur with hardware and software at home and in the office
• Malware, ransomware, data breach, and incident response tips
• Internal control failures which result in the theft of assets or unauthorized manipulation of data
Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, you should be able to:
• List at least three major security incidents reported in the headlines in the last year, and explain at least one major internal control design or operation flaw that allowed the hack to occur
• Select the correct definitions for common security terms such as attack surface, vulnerability, exploit, social engineering, phishing, malware, heuristics, biometrics, and multi-factor authentication (MFA)
• List at least three best practices learned by reviewing the control failures cited in the case studies
Who should attend: Business professionals seeking to optimize their home network solution
Credits: 2 - Information Technology
This session is available to registrants only.
Non-Member Price $614.00
Member Price $489.00