Professional Development and Event Catalog

This session will bring you up-to-speed on important matters related to common errors and documentation on state and federal single audits.

The FASB’s lead staff person for NFPs will guide you through developments in GAAP that affect the NFP sector.  We’ll discuss new ASUs, implementation matters on recent standards, other current financial reporting issues, and noteworthy current FASB projects.

Many small companies have struggled to recognize the applicability of the new Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) standard to their financial statements.  This session will discuss the standard and how it is more encompassing than many entities believe.  The standard was implemented in 2023 and is expected to get careful review by peer reviewers.  The focus of the program will be on held-to-maturity investments, accounts receivable, and net investments in leases.

This presentation will provide practical tips and strategies for nonprofit organizations to improve their cybersecurity defenses and practices. The goal of the presentation is to help nonprofit organizations protect their data and systems from cyberattacks and minimize the risk of data breaches. We will also provide an overview of the current cybersecurity landscape and the risks that nonprofits face. The presentation will be interactive and will include real-world examples and case studies to help participants understand the importance of cybersecurity and how to implement effective cybersecurity strategies.

Small businesses have always gravitated toward preparing financial statements using non-GAAP special purpose frameworks.  This session will focus on the applicability of the frameworks and the need for them to be acceptable under all current standards.  The session will pay particular attention to tax basis, FRF for SMEs, and contractual financial statements.  It will include a discussion on when each method would be preferable and AICPA guidance on the frameworks.

This session will review the CPA’s approach to preparation, compilation, and review engagements under SSARS 21-25.  It will also address the new responsibilities under SSARS 26 and findings in peer reviews.  There will be a special focus on the need to properly classify the engagement, engagement letters, and the applicability of SSARS standards.

For more than 40 years, Don Farmer Tax Education has built a stellar reputation as the go-to national authority on federal, corporate and individual income tax, known for delivering engaging taxation seminars on pressing tax matters. In addition to 8-hour seminars, Don Farmer Tax Education produces a monthly federal tax enewsletter packed with insights, tips and timely reminders delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe today! Subscription information — The annual newsletter subscription is just $180 per year. Click here to see the February 2024 edition for a preview of what you can expect to receive each month. For more information about Don Farmer Tax Education, visit donfarmercpa.com.  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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