Professional Development and Event Catalog
PowerPoint for Accountants
11:30am - 1:30pm
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
PowerPoint is a widely available resource that is potentially underutilized by accountants because many accountants do not stray beyond Excel and Word in the Microsoft Office suite. You will learn how to create and edit a professional PowerPoint slide deck. This session places particular emphasis on efficiency tips and tricks that will allow you to develop creative, professional visual aids while minimizing time and effort. The course's author will share personal insights he has cultivated throughout more than two decades of public speaking. Although the session will focus on creating and editing slides, we will illustrate best practices for presentation delivery. We also will explain how PowerPoint can be used for purposes other than delivering presentations. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
2024 Reference Rate Reform
12:00pm - 12:56pm
Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $39
At its height, LIBOR was the benchmark for over US $350 trillion in financial contracts worldwide. Yet, due to concerns over the manipulation of the rate, standard setters determined that LIBOR should be discontinued. The global response to reference rate reform required financial reporting standard setters to provide practical expedients and exceptions to current modification guidance. This course will provide an overview of the standards issued (including amendments) from both the FASB and GASB to address the transition away from LIBOR.
AI and You
12:00pm - 12:59pm
Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $39
Every organization today is facing an onslaught of pressure to master Artificial Intelligence “AI” strategies across their enterprises. Never before have we witnessed such a steep expectation for how a “technology” can transform a business, and never before have we been expected to leverage a technology so quickly and so completely. There is no denying AI presents perhaps the opportunity of a lifetime to transform and improve operations, but to date few plans or roadmaps on how to unlock the promise of AI exist. In this class, Steve Cadigan, a globally renowned future of work expert, will present a practical plan for how you can build your own AI strategy, and how you can thrive in the AI revolution. Steve will show present a roadmap of how to build your confidence with AI to address this massive change management challenge.
The Controllership Series - The Controllers Role in Financial Forecasting
12:00pm - 1:23pm
Online
1.50 Credits
Member Price: $59
Financial forecasting is an important part of any successful business. It enables businesses to plan for the future and anticipate scenarios based on strategy. The controller helps forecast financials by calculating future revenue and income streams. In recent years, corporate finance has undergone many dramatic changes due to the growth of a number of high-tech tools. The responsibilities/competencies of the Financial Controller position (FC) has changed in recent years To maximize performance, Controllers must be aware of how the FC position is changing, and how they must adjust to these changes. There are many types and methods of financial forecasting. This course will review the most prevalent forecasts and relative methods being used.
2024 White-Collar Crime: What Every CPA Should Know
12:00pm - 1:45pm
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $79
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.
K2's 2024 Automation for Increasing Personal Efficiency and Effectiveness
12:00pm - 2:00pm
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $79
Automation options abound, and in this session, you will learn how to take advantage of many personal automation tools and services. You will learn about various automation platforms, creating automation workflows, and automation tools to become more efficient.
K2's 2024 CPA Firm Technology and Management Update
12:00pm - 2:00pm
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $79
With many technologies now ready for “prime time,” it’s exciting to see some of the options for improved productivity in CPA firms. Learn more about these new tools in this session.
Like-kind Exchanges in Real Estate Transactions
12:00pm - 2:00pm
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Please join us for a discussion on like-kind exchanges (LKE), known as one of the last great tax legal "shelters" available to those buying and selling real property. We cover the basic structure of a LKE, and ways a taxpayer can utilize qualified third-party intermediaries (QI), and tenancy-in-common structures including Delaware Statutory Trusts (DST). We also explore creative solutions to sticky situations a taxpayer may find itself in obtaining replacement property. This course is ideal for CPAs, EAs, lawyers, real estate professionals, accountants or other tax professionals. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
2024 The Preparation of Form 706 and 709 - Line-by-Line
12:00pm - 3:37pm
Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $129
Navigating the challenges of estate and gift taxation can be overwhelming for practitioners, especially those lacking extensive experience in this field. In this comprehensive course, participants will undergo a practical exploration through the preparation of the Federal Forms 706 and 709 - line by line. Through hands-on instruction, attendees will gain invaluable insights into the complexities of tax compliance, equipping them with the skills and confidence needed to seamlessly integrate estate and gift tax preparation into their practice. With a focus on practical application, this course offers participants a unique opportunity to master the preparation of crucial tax returns, enhancing their professional expertise and strengthening client service offerings. From a detailed overview of the Federal Forms 706 and 709 to insights on complying with "Portability" and navigating postmortem estate planning issues, attendees will emerge with a newfound proficiency in estate and gift tax preparation, ready to excel in their practice. **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.
2024 Accounting and Auditing Update
12:00pm - 4:00pm
Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $129
The course will start off with a look at the Accounting Standard Updates (ASUs) issued by the FASB that will be effective in 2024 as well as those that may be great for early adoption. The course will also review year 2 issues in lease accounting including how to handle lease modifications. We'll then turn our attention from accounting to auditing where we will cover the audit standards coming down the pike including group audit and quality management.
Allison McLeod's 2024 Federal Tax Updates for Individuals - 8 Hour
12:00pm - 8:00pm
Online
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $225
Tax developments have been in the forefront of the news, and tax practitioner can find it challenging to remain up-to-date with these changes. This 8 hour program will cover tax issues relating to individuals, including new court decisions, recent IRS publications, and the latest tax legislation. The remaining time will be spent on IRS procedure and other issues. This course will provide a concise look at the hottest topics affecting every tax practitioner. **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.
The Controllership Series - The Future Role of the Controller Part 1
1:00pm - 2:21pm
Online
1.50 Credits
Member Price: $59
This is a two-part series that discuss new trends and concepts the financial controller should begin to execute in order to truly become a valued member of the senior leadership team. The rapid pace of the evolving technological landscape has promoted changes in how accountants and financial professionals focus attention on strategy and modernize their roles to leverage digital technology. There is increased demand for enhancing flexibility into finance cycles and initiating real-time reporting and insights. These are the core attributes that will assist in transforming the work that controllership function performs. Is the financial controllership prepared to meet future business demands? The IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants) and Deloitte’s Center for Controllership aimed to better understand the current state of controllership and expectations of future demands for controllers and accounting professionals. They conducted a survey in late 2022 and identified several trends. The survey takes a look at how prepared controllership is to meet future business demands. It also highlights some insights for leaders to consider that may increase their preparedness. It also identified areas of additional insight and questions to answer on the controllership transformation journey. In this segment one, we go through numerous concepts in detail and the remaining concepts will be covered in segment two.
K2's 2023 Ten Must Know Features In Excel
1:00pm - 2:47pm
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $79
Most business professionals have used Excel for years, often without the benefit of any formal training. Thus, they don't know about key features in the application and, therefore, don't use them. Of course, this leads to inefficiencies and errors. Isn't it time to stop this madness? This session is for you if you're ready to become more efficient and effective with Excel! You will learn ten critical features that can help you get more work done in less time and improve your accuracy. We encourage you to make plans to join us for this session to learn the best ways of working with Excel!
Why Auditors Fail to Detect Fraud
1:00pm - 2:50pm
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $79
Prior to the original SAS No. 82 on Consideration of Fraud In A Financial Statement Audit (now codified as SAS No. 122, AU 240), the word fraud never appeared in a single SAS, nor was it described anywhere. SAS No. 82 stated that auditors failed to detect fraud for two reasons: 1) They did not know what it looked like and 2) They had not been trained to look for it. Although the SASs did not provide any guidance, auditors have always been responsible for the detection of anything that would cause a material misstatement of the financial statements whether caused by error or irregularities. (They would not even say the word fraud until it appeared in SAS No. 82) The standards were replete with guidance on the detection of an error but silent on how to detect irregularities. Now auditors are required to document in every financial statement audit their process of determining the risk of financial misstatement due to fraud. This presentation is designed to focus on frauds that were missed by the auditors and, in some cases, why it was missed. There will also be discussion as to what the auditor must do in order to improve their track record on detecting fraud. As reported on the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Occupational Fraud 2022: A Report to the Nations, only 4% of frauds were initially discovered by the external auditor. It was reported that more frauds were discovered by accident, (5%) then was discovered by the external auditor.
2024 Year-End Payroll Update
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
In this 2024 Year-End Payroll Update, we will provide a robust overview of the critical year-end payroll topics affecting employers and payroll professionals, such as reconciling your payroll returns to your W-2s, annual updates and law changes that impact payroll, as well as some tips and tricks you can implement immediately that will help you improve the quality of your year-end payroll process. The most consistent thing about payroll is that it changes EVERY YEAR. And those changes go into effect on January 1. So don't delay. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Let's End Business Ethics
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $79
Most ethics courses focus on unethical individuals and their terrible misdeeds. We don’t need another course on lessons from Enron or individuals committing fraud. Most unethical failures result from unethical individuals. Instead, this session will focus on how good people can do better, why there is no such thing as business ethics and why we only need one rule to lead ethical lives.
Surgent's Top 20 Questions Advisors Ask About the SECURE Acts and Other IRA Rules
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $99
It takes a while for advisors to gain an in-depth understanding of all the changes made to the tax laws that govern IRAs. This course focuses on the top 20 advisor questions about SECURE Act 1.0, SECURE Act 2.0, and other hot topics. The objective is to help the advisor ask the right probing questions when interacting with clients and to provide clients with responses based on their IRA profiles.
The Art of Marketing for CPAs
1:00pm - 4:40pm
Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $129
To make more money in less time, all accountants need to learn to market themselves effectively to their clients or their firm. For better or worse, promotions and more money go to those who are the best marketers, rather than the most competent accountants. In this fascinating and fun workshop, participants will learn seven key ways to get more clients and/or promotions through the art of marketing.
Shortcuts to Personal and Professional Success
1:00pm - 8:44pm
Online
6.00 Credits
Member Price: $225
We all want to be successful and deeply fulfilled, but most of us have not learned what really leads to a life of abundance, happiness, purpose, and great relationships. In this seminar, you will learn the most effective methods for creating the life you really want. In his interviews with such people as Oprah, the Dalai Lama, Deepak Chopra, Tony Robbins, Ted Turner, and dozens of others, Jonathan has learned what really works and what does not. In this seminar you’ll learn the best personal and professional growth techniques he’s acquired over his career. Once you know these great ideas and methods, you'll be able to take your life and career to a whole new level.
Audit 308: Audit Reporting and General Audit Procedures
1:30pm - 3:30pm
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Audit Reporting Advanced Concepts - Understanding the Impact of General Audit Procedures on Disclosures and Audit Report Modifications will provide guidance for properly altering financial statements and audit reports for certain complex transactions and events that are often uncovered through general audit procedures, such as subsequent testing, reviewing minutes, and more. Each set of financial statements and auditor's report thereon must properly address the unique circumstances of the specific reporting entity's circumstances. Note: This course is recommended as a part of a 16-hour audit skills curriculum for in-charge or supervisor auditors, while it is also appropriate for anyone who has responsibilities for audit reporting and general audit procedures. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.