Professional Development and Event Catalog

Tax Security Essentials: Implementing a WISP for Tax Professionals Tax practices face a critical responsibility: safeguarding client data against cyber threats. This course is tailored for professionals in the tax industry, offering a deep dive into the essentials of creating and maintaining a Written Information Security Plan (WISP) as mandated by IRS regulations and the FTC Safeguards Rule. With a focus on IRS Publications 4557, 5293, and 5708, along with insights from NISTIR 7621, participants will learn not just the theory but the practical steps needed to enhance their practice's security posture. The course content is designed to be direct and engaging, ensuring that attendees can easily translate knowledge into action. The curriculum covers a broad spectrum of critical topics, from developing a compliant WISP to recognizing and responding to cyber threats, and from implementing strong access controls to effective data protection measures. Special emphasis is placed on real-world strategies for preventing data breaches, including the use of encryption, backup procedures, and secure data disposal methods. Participants will also explore the importance of employee training and the continuous monitoring and improvement of security practices to address new cyber threats and business changes. For tax professionals committed to upholding the highest standards of data security and building a trust-based relationship with their clients, this course is a vital resource. Attendees will not only gain the knowledge to protect their clients' data but also the confidence to implement best practices within their organization.

Join us for our monthly Town Hall Meetings – a must-attend event for anyone looking to stay ahead of the latest hot topics impacting the profession. This is your chance to hear directly from Executive Director & CEO Bonnie Stewart and engage with leading voices in the finance and accounting industry. Gain insights, ask questions, and connect with experts who are shaping the future of our field. Don’t miss this opportunity to be informed and involved! You must register to attend and receive CPE credit.

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Join us as we return to The Farms Country Club for a great day of golf, camaraderie, food & beverages, and an afternoon reception supporting scholarships for the profession’s next generation. Tournament Format: Choice of scramble or best two of four, best ball. Team Low Gross, Team Low Net, Closest to the Pin, and Long Drive. You can also try your luck at the Frank Frago 50/50 and a high-end teacup raffle.Schedule  8:30 a.m. – Registration, driving range/putting green open, breakfast on the patio (pancakes, eggs, home fries, sausage, bacon, fruit, and toast station) 10:00 a.m. – Shotgun Start 2:30 p.m. – Cocktail hour with open bar and hors d’ouevres3:30 p.m. – Buffet dinner (beef medallions, New England cod, chicken florentine, penne marinara, roasted potatoes, and vegetable medley), and awards & raffles$2,500 and $1,800 Major SponsorshipsBEST DEAL!  $1,400 Gold Sponsorships (Foursome Plus Tee/Green Sponsor Recognition)$300 Tee/Green Sponsorships$300 Individual Player RegistrationPlease consider donating a raffle prize if you cannot sponsor, or do both for maximum recognition and maximum impact for the Scholarship Foundation! Click the "Register Offsite" button to download a fillable PDF form to secure your sponsorship or player registration. Once you submit your registration via email to membership@ctcpas.org you'll receive an invoice by email. 

In today's data-driven environment, financial professionals are expected not only to analyze numbers but to transform them into actionable insights. This course offers a deep dive into the practical applications of Power Query in both Excel and Power BI, tailored for those who already have a foothold in financial data analysis. Participants will learn how to streamline their data preparation process, saving time and reducing errors by automating the tedious tasks of connecting to various data sources, combining datasets, and cleaning up data for more efficient analysis. As the backbone of any insightful report or dashboard, clean and well-structured data is a must. This course goes beyond the basics, equipping attendees with the skills to create custom columns and perform advanced data transformations that lead to more meaningful financial reports. By the end of the sessions, participants will not only have sharpened their analytical capabilities but will also carry the confidence to tackle complex data challenges with ease. Don't miss the opportunity to refine your data skills and bring new levels of proficiency to your financial analysis.

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Premier Members have exclusive access to inside scoop from CTCPA Executive Director Bonnie Stewart! Pour yourself a cup of coffee and fire up your computer to connect with Bonnie and hear what's happening in the profession and at the CTCPA. These meetings are exclusively for CTCPA Premier Members. Become a Premier Member today!

Some estimates indicate that business professionals spend almost half their time in Excel applying formats. If you want better formatting results in less time, participate in this session to learn the best practices for formatting your Excel spreadsheets. In this session, you will learn best practices for applying formats in your workbooks. More specifically, you will learn about features such as Custom Format Codes, Templates, Styles, the Accounting Format, Precision as Displayed, date formats, and many others, all of which can save you substantial time when working in Excel.

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Presently, over seven million businesses use QuickBooks Online. However, these businesses often struggle to get the reports they need. In some cases, they are limited because of their chosen subscription. However, necessary reports are available in other cases, yet users do not know how to access them. Join us in this session to learn about better reporting options in QuickBooks Online. In this session, you will learn how to create and customize your reports in QuickBooks Online. You will learn about Standard, Custom, and Management reports. You will also learn about the new Spreadsheet Sync tool that allows you to create customized reports, including multi-company reports in Excel. If you use QuickBooks Online and want to improve reporting, this session is for you!

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Business Intelligence (BI) is perhaps the hottest topic in most professional circles in today's business climate. Increasingly, organizations of all sizes are seeking to take advantage of the data available to them to identify previously undiscovered insights and gain competitive advantages thought to be out of reach just a few short years ago. A growing array of tools - from Excel add-ins to dedicated solutions such as Power BI - now allow you to leverage your existing knowledge and skills to create powerful, interactive dashboards and analyses unthinkable until recently. This program will teach you to implement "do-it-yourself business intelligence" using a variety of techniques and tools. First, you will learn to use advanced Excel data query and summarization features to create Excel-based dashboards. You will then learn how to leverage that knowledge to build even more powerful BI objects using Microsoft's Power BI tools. If gaining better insights into your data to make better decisions interests you, then join us for a fast-paced look at how you can take advantage of these fantastic tools.

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Excel is ubiquitous in the accounting and financial professionals' workplace, but some of the best functions and features for accounting and financial professionals are unknown or underutilized. Leverage Tables, shortcuts, and best practices to increase efficiency. Master the functions such as VLOOKUP, INDEX & MATCH, Dynamic Array Formulas. As well as Formulas and uses such as Depreciation, Amortization, Interest, Payment, and more. In this course, we will even take you deeper into statistical analysis with formulas for everything from median, most, and standard deviation and regression analysis.

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This course is designed for firm partners and managers to explore ways to incorporate data analytics and related technologies in their audit practices. Participants explore how small and mid-size firms are using these tools to improve engagement efficiency and quality while providing opportunities for value-added services to clients. All of AHI's multi-day courses rely on live participant engagement. For this 2-hr. course, we encourage you to have a working webcam and microphone to take advantage of a live discussion leader and participant interaction.

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Elevate your Excel expertise with K2's Advanced Excel program! This laptop-friendly course is designed for experienced Excel users who are ready to take their skills to the next level. In this session, you will master critical advanced Excel skills in six key areas: 1. Collaborating seamlessly with other users and securing your workbooks 2. Utilizing tables to analyze and report data efficiently 3. Integrating and manipulating data from external sources with ease 4. Creating and auditing complex formulas 5. Harnessing advanced data analysis tools for deeper insights 6. Employing visualization techniques to communicate information effectively Drawing from over thirty years of experience in delivering Excel training to accountants and business professionals, this program is packed with relevant, real-world examples that reinforce the topics presented. Don't miss this opportunity to become more efficient and proficient in Microsoft Excel, the go-to tool for accounting and financial professionals. This course covers advanced Excel topics that are essential for business success. Participate in this session to elevate and transform your Excel skills!

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Staff accountants often face unique challenges when working with Excel, and their existing knowledge might not always meet their needs. This comprehensive eight-hour session is designed to bridge that gap and empower you with the essential skills to maximize efficiency and accuracy. Participate in this dynamic and engaging session, and you will learn how to: • Summarize data quickly and accurately • Generate stunning, professional reports • Create essential accounting calculations for depreciation, amortization, and interest We start with a quick overview of Excel best practices and dive into advanced topics like PivotTables, sophisticated formulas, Tables, formatting, and working with dates. Our course is packed with accounting-centric examples to reinforce key learning points. Plus, you'll enjoy a "laptop-friendly" environment with access to all demonstration files. This seminar is a must for all staff accountants eager to enhance their Excel skills and transform their workflow. Don't miss out on this opportunity to elevate your Excel expertise and take the first step towards mastering Excel today!

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This comprehensive course empowers professionals to revolutionize their organization's communication and collaboration strategies using Microsoft 365's powerhouse tools: Outlook and Teams. Participants will dive deep into the major features and functions of Microsoft Teams, including chat, meetings, webinars, and seamless integration with SharePoint for storage and real-time collaboration. They'll discover how to leverage Teams effectively for in-office, hybrid, and remote work environments, maximizing productivity and streamlining communication across their organization. Beyond Teams, the course delves into Outlook's advanced capabilities, offering practical tips and tricks to enhance email management, calendar organization, and contact sharing. Attendees will also explore other essential Microsoft 365 applications, such as SharePoint, Planner, To Do, Whiteboard, and OneDrive, to create a unified and efficient digital workspace. These tools will help professionals organize tasks, visualize ideas, and securely store and share files. By the end of this course, participants will be equipped with the skills to transform their organization's collaboration efforts, boost productivity, and harness the full potential of Microsoft 365's communication and productivity tools.

This course provides financial professionals with practical guidance on creating clear, persuasive, and visually strong business presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint. Participants examine how structured storytelling, purposeful slide design, and message alignment improve communication in both internal and client-facing scenarios. The session highlights the realities of today's business communication landscape, where data-heavy content, hybrid audiences, and expectations for visual clarity demand more thoughtful presentation development. Attendees also review updated Microsoft 365 capabilities that streamline presentation creation, including AI-supported design tools and new productivity features that help professionals research, refine, and organize content more efficiently. By combining foundational PowerPoint functions with current best practices in narrative development, the course equips learners to produce presentations that enhance understanding, support decision-making, and elevate organizational communication.

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Are you tired of struggling to create compelling charts and graphs? Join our session and transform your data into stunning visualizations that captivate and inform your audience. This isn't just another seminar on basic charts; it's a comprehensive guide to mastering advanced, interactive, and dynamic visualizations in Excel. In this session, you'll learn how to create visually appealing charts that are not only informative but also engaging. Discover the secrets to making your data come alive with interactive elements that ensure your audience understands and retains the information you present. Whether you're looking to enhance your communication skills or impress your stakeholders, this seminar is a must-attend. Don't miss out on the opportunity to take your Excel skills to the next level. Sign up now and start creating visualizations that make a lasting impact!

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Excel is the accountant's tool of choice for analyzing and reporting financial data, yet many use time-consuming and error-prone processes to complete everyday tasks. Regardless of your experience level, if you use Excel, you need this course to learn more efficient and effective ways to work with Excel. In this course, you will discover countless tips, tricks, and techniques to improve your general level of productivity, reduce the amount of time you spend on mundane tasks, such as formatting, and customize Excel for greater accuracy and efficiency. You will also learn valuable formula-building skills and best practices for linking Excel data from other sources and streamlining report generation and printing processes. Your K2 instructor will reinforce key learning points throughout the program with practical, real-world examples to improve your understanding and comprehension of the topics presented. This highly acclaimed course draws on over twenty-five years of experience delivering spreadsheet training to accounting and financial professionals, assuring you of the relevance and usefulness of the information and guidance provided during the program.

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Protecting your organization from cyber threats is paramount in today's business environment. There are countless ways that your data can be compromised and the industry's best practices are ever-changing to adapt to the latest threats. Increasingly more professionals are working remotely and Cloud technology is what is connecting us all. It is business-critical that our organizations have correct and relevant security settings and procedures. Permissive security and privacy controls for Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, or Google could pose a major security risk to the organization. This course looks at practical approaches to managing the security and privacy settings of today's major Cloud tools. It will give specific and direct advice on best practices for configuration and settings for today's major Cloud platforms to promote better security. Specific attention will be paid to the major Cloud business platforms including, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Zoho. We will review everything from the importance of multi-factor authentication, to user levels/permissions, to methods to quickly identify when a user's account might be compromised. Business professionals will leave the class with specific insight on how they can protect their organization's cloud data.

Are you tired of struggling with PDFs? Unlock the full potential of Adobe Acrobat and other PDF tools to make working with PDF files a breeze. Join our course and discover how to use powerful features such as PDF forms, redaction, converting PDFs to Word and Excel files, and electronic signatures. You'll also learn how to create and apply tick marks, build indices, catalogs, and portfolios, and secure your PDF documents to the fullest. As the popularity and usefulness of PDFs continue to grow, many users still haven't learned how to manipulate these documents effectively. Don't let this be you! Join us for this timely session and learn the top features necessary to optimize your work with PDF documents. Say goodbye to frustration and hello to efficiency!

In today's digital age, databases have become the backbone of every business technology, application, platform, and service. Every system relies on databases to store and organize information, from financial records in Quickbooks and Xero to sales efforts in Salesforce and Hubspot. Popular reporting tools like Power BI and Excel utilize databases to create beautiful, insightful dashboards. Despite the widespread use and importance of databases, many financial professionals lack a basic understanding of how they operate. Traditionally, working with databases has been delegated to an organization's IT department, leaving the accounting team out of scope. However, in today's technology-driven environment, accountants need to have a basic understanding of how databases work and the ability to query data independently. Our database basics course focuses on the knowledge most helpful for financial professionals. Through hands-on learning, participants will develop the skills to query data from a database or cloud provider and use it to create insightful reports in Excel or Power BI. By the end of the course, participants will feel empowered to design their dashboards and work more effectively with cloud data. With our database basics course, gain the knowledge you need to succeed in today's digital age and enhance your value as a financial professional.

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As spreadsheets evolve, so must your creating, editing, and auditing practices. In this program, you will gain an in-depth understanding of the best ways to work with Excel by learning best practices associated with Excel spreadsheets in each of the following areas: creating and editing Excel workbooks, securing Excel workbooks, collaborating with others in Excel, and reporting on data contained in Excel. Today's best practices for Excel differ significantly from those used in the past, and you will learn the best ways to work with Excel spreadsheets in this "must-see" CPE program. Course materials include relevant examples to enhance your learning experience. Join us for this program to help you utilize Excel fully.

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