Professional Development and Event Catalog

Conduct risk assessment the right way Regardless of the size of your client or audit budget, there are specific requirements in accounting standards and generally accepted auditing principles (GAAP) related to auditing internal control for risk assessment purposes. Take a deep dive into understanding your audit client's system of internal control to perform a more effective and efficient audit.

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This session is the beginning in a series on the new revenue recognition standard. The standard outlines five steps for proper compliance. At the surface, these steps seem simplistic. However, there are many considerations that should be considered within each step based on your process and industry. This course is designed to provide an overview of the technical guidance and outline the five steps involved in the revenue recognition model. We also explore some concepts to consider within each step and then evaluate some challenges that specific industry's may have when complying with the standard. Future courses will further delve into each step and provide example and scenarios that should be considered to properly apply the step.

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Stay informed-and ahead of the curve-with this VBOA-approved ethics course tailored to meet Virginia's annual ethics requirement while bringing you the latest updates from the AICPA's Professional Ethics Executive Committee (PEEC). The pace of change in ethics regulation has accelerated, and PEEC has been especially active with new interpretations, revised guidance, and key modernization projects. In this interactive session, we'll unpack the most significant developments shaping the profession today, including new standards on recruiting, CPE programs, and tax advisory services. You'll gain practical clarity on how these changes affect both public practitioners and industry professionals. We'll also take a forward look at projects on PEEC's horizon, giving you early insights into wha's coming next-and how to position yourself for compliance success in a rapidly evolving ethical landscape.  

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Perhaps the most important element of the budget process is its communication.  If management does not understand the budget – there is an issue. Knowing the right ways to communicate at all levels is essential to stakeholders laying an ownership claim to successful budgets.  This session reveals several key guidelines in successful budget presentations and will identify key problems in how people often communicate financial plans. Presenting your budget and reporting is the final part of a four part series, but can easily stand on its own course that is intended to be fun, enjoyable and educational.

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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.

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Leaders were once chosen for their character, but today we live in an age where loudmouthed extroverts seem to take center stage in everything, including business, politics and entertainment.  While the talkative, charismatic leader makes the front page of business magazines, recent research shows that successful business leaders tend to be more reserved, pensive and sometimes outright shy.  Learn why your desire to spend significant time inside your own head may be your greatest asset. Whether you are introverted or not, you likely work with, manage or are a related to an introvert.  We will discuss proven methods to better understand introverts, how to manage them, and how to get the most out of their amazing talents.  If you want to enhance your leadership skills, this seminar is for you. 

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The cash flow statement is one of the most confusing financial reports—yet it has the potential to deliver the essential keys to understand business performance. After all, cash is still both king and queen! This session explores how to present, interpret, and communicate cash flows effectively to help CEOs, boards, and decision makers drive smarter results. By using the Sources and Uses format, professionals can make the statement more intuitive and actionable. Learn how to simplify cash flow information and focus discussions on what matters most: how cash is generated and deployed? We will demonstrate how to confidently present this powerful financial statement to non-financial leaders. The cash flow statement is misunderstood, and we will show you how to fix that, and include some amusing videos to drive the points home. We will use the Apple Corporation as an example company in presenting.

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The IRS believes, perhaps with some justification, that many workers classified as independent contractors are actually employees and should be treated as such for tax purposes. The result is that worker classification audits are frequent and often costly for business clients, both in terms of time as well as money expended. This program prepares accounting and finance professionals to assist their clients with worker classification audits, and to avoid them if possible, by discussing and explaining the circumstances under which workers will most likely be characterized as employees or as independent contractors. The program also deals with the first line of defense against the IRS in worker classification audits — Section 530, as well as the common law factors distinguishing an employee from an independent contractor. This program also explores the IRS Voluntary Classification Settlement Program and discusses whether a practitioner should advise a client to request admission into this program.

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Budget methods are the key to allowing department managers to efficiently prepare their budget in Excel. For example, a budget method may be to spread prior year actuals or match prior year actuals, or match prior year actuals less 10%. In this webinar, we will explore how to allow users to pick a budget method from a drop-down list for each account and then have Excel perform different calculations depending on the budget method selected. We use several features and functions at the same time to pull this off. Even if you are not involved in the budgeting process, the underlying features and functions discussed have a wide range of uses.

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Transform your Excel skills with our comprehensive training program, designed for users at all levels seeking to master the full suite of Excel capabilities. From powerful data analysis tools like PivotTables and advanced functions such as XLOOKUP, to the nuances of Data Validations and Conditional Formatting, this course offers a deep dive into Excel's most impactful features. Whether you're streamlining complex data sets, enhancing your reporting skills, or just looking to boost your productivity, this session provides the insights and techniques you need to leverage Excel to its fullest potential, making it an indispensable tool in your professional or personal toolkit. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

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The role of the financial professional has shifted from reporting on the past to predicting the future, yet many practitioners still rely on manual, static workflows that fail to capture the full story within their data. This course bridges the gap between traditional accounting and modern data science by utilizing Excel's most powerful analytical engines to turn raw numbers into defensible business intelligence. We will move beyond simple averages, exploring how to use the Analysis ToolPak for deep statistical dives and leveraging Dynamic Arrays to build fluid, auto-updating models that respond to changing business conditions in real time. Participants will explore a modern analytics workflow that balances classic statistical rigor with cutting-edge efficiency. We will examine how to implement regression analysis for more accurate budgeting, utilize advanced forecasting functions to anticipate market shifts, and even leverage AI-assisted insights to find hidden patterns in sprawling datasets. By the end of this session, you will be able to distinguish between mere "data entry" and "data discovery," providing your firm or organization with the high-level analysis required to navigate an increasingly complex economic landscape.

This course provides an overview of the Quality Management standards and the requirements under SQMS 1. The AICPA requires CPA firms with accounting and auditing practices to implement a system of quality management, including firms performing preparation and compilation engagements. While the objective is to improve quality within the profession, implementation may seem overwhelming. To assist, the AICPA has developed practice aids to guide firms through the development and documentation process. In this webcast, Jeff walks through where to find the practice aids, how to use them, required documentation, use of the risk assessment template, and development of final documentation. Practical guidance is provided throughout to simplify implementation.

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Valuation techniques and cash management activities are two other tool categories that can round out your analytical toolbox. In this course we will initially discuss how to turn your financial plan into a powerful valuation engine.  We then will discuss the formation of an efficient cash management program based on solid banker relationships.  Finally, we will review Ten Steps for keeping your financial toolbox full.

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This update is essential and designed to assist you in the application of Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services (SSARSs) issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Learn about recently issued SSARS Nos. 26 and 27, identify common accounting and reporting issues, and hear about other recent developments. 

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This comprehensive fall tax update provides an in-depth review of the latest federal tax changes and IRS guidance following the enactment of OBBBA 2025, highlighting new legislation and provisions, regulatory shifts, and planning opportunities that will affect individual and tax compliance in the current filing season and beyond.

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This course reviews the legal, fiduciary, and federal tax responsibilities of an executor or personal representative during the administration of a decedent’s estate. Participants will examine the executor’s duties from initial appointment through final distribution, including identifying and managing estate assets, settling creditor claims, and administering distributions to beneficiaries. The course also reviews filing requirements for the decedent’s final Form 1040, the estate’s Form 1041, and the federal estate tax return, Form 706, along with the treatment of income in respect of a decedent (IRD) and basis adjustments. Participants will also examine IRS procedural requirements, including obtaining an EIN for the estate, responding to IRS notices, and recognizing potential audit risks. Emphasis is placed on practical estate administration procedures, executor liability considerations, and maintaining proper estate accounting records and documentation to support compliance with federal tax requirements. *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 terri.storer@acpen.com    

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Almost every business and individual has to file tax returns, which can be a great treasure trove of information for forensic accountants. Whether in a divorce, partnership dispute, recreating books and records, or bankruptcy proceeding, analyzing tax return information should be an initial step in uncovering income and assets. The IRS retains a large amount of information, both from taxpayers and 3rd parties who report financial transactions. This course will be your guide in gathering, analyzing, and evaluating tax return information, so that you have a full picture of the financial investigation. Your presenter is a 20 year veteran with IRS-Criminal Investigation, who used this information as a basis for his federal criminal investigations. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

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The QuickBooks Online (QBO) ecosystem is rapidly expanding, with millions of small businesses now relying on it for their accounting and business management needs. However, many QBO implementations lack adequate internal control infrastructures, which can lead to potential risks and inefficiencies. This is often due to a lack of understanding of the internal control options available in the cloud-based version of QuickBooks and how to implement them effectively. Join our session to learn about the four common types of internal controls and how to assess the internal control structure of a small business. We'll guide you through the opportunities to enhance internal controls in QBO environments using features found within the application. Additionally, you'll discover additional internal control procedures for situations where adequate controls cannot be established in QBO. Contrary to popular belief, QBO-based organizations can indeed benefit from strong internal controls, and this session will show you how. Don't miss this opportunity to strengthen your QuickBooks Online implementation and ensure your business is safeguarded against risks. Sign up now and take the first step towards a more secure and efficient QBO environment!

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Gear up for tax season with Steve Dilley's annual update! This program provides an update to the latest tax developments, rules and regulations affecting both business and individual taxpayers, including a review and integration of 2025-26 legislation and substantial update of OBBBA provisions.   *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 terri.storer@acpen.com  

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This course provides a comprehensive introduction to preparing individual income tax returns using Form 1040. Designed as a basic-level program, it walks participants through the core components of the individual return in a clear and practical manner. Participants will learn filing requirements, filing statuses, and how to determine dependents. The course covers common types of income, including wages and basic investment income, along with adjustments to income, standard versus itemized deductions, and commonly used tax credits. In addition, the course introduces basic reporting for self-employment and rental activity, focusing on how these items flow to the individual return. Preparer responsibilities, due diligence requirements, and taxpayer rights under IRS rules are also covered to provide a strong foundational understanding of individual tax preparation. *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 terri.storer@acpen.com  

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