Professional Development and Event Catalog

This case-driven training is designed to get the inexperienced accountant up to speed quickly in the most common areas of S-corporation taxation. The cornerstone of this course is the preparation of the Form 1120S using a fairly complex trial balance common to most S corporation income tax returns. **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

Stay up-to-date on rapidly changing developments by participating in the 2024 Governmental Accounting and Auditing Update! Take advantage of this opportunity to find out about breaking government issues. This is your opportunity to hear about the latest challenges facing state and local governments and practitioners who work with them and audit them, presented by leading experts on governmental accounting and auditing, both those who work in the trenches and those from the regulatory world. With all of the fiscal, regulatory, and new standards challenges facing governments and their auditors, it is important to keep current on critical issues and developments. In 2024, governments and their auditors continue to operate in a rapidly changing environment as they continue to face the many challenges associated with significant federal funding with complex requirements. From a governmental accounting, auditing, and compliance perspective, 2024 will be a critical year for addressing the complex federal funding challenges as well as focusing on implementing new standards and requirements! Plus, it is imperative that you start planning for the significant changes coming in 2024 and beyond! Exciting new topics this year include focused discussions on addressing the new GASB pronouncement on risk disclosures and the GAO’s 2024 Yellow Book! You’ll receive an update on the most recent accounting and auditing developments affecting governments and government auditors. This includes Single Audit issues, AICPA and Yellow Book issues, new and recently effective GASB pronouncements, audit issues, and a look at what’s on the horizon. Join ACPEN’s panel of experts as they discuss, not only the technical requirements of new standards, but also the key implementation issues that must be addressed by auditors and their governmental clients! Benefit from their experience and insights from many perspectives, as well as their long experience in governmental accounting and auditing. **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.

LLCs and partnerships continue to present some of the greatest challenges for return preparers and advisors.  This program will address the latest developments: New IRS audit initiatives An SE tax update for LLCs and partnerships Disregarded entity rules and transactions Common allocation problems Identifying various types of partnership debt properly for basis purposes The 754 election in the sale of interests and at death Reporting LLC and partnership interests on gift and estate tax returns and valuation of closely held businesses and minority interests **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.

Project Management is not the same as workflow management, and a project manager is more than a task master. Driving change, leading a team and managing client engagements requires a great deal of organization and planning. Successfully launching a new technology, onboarding clients, developing a new service line ... all takes more than a checklist of to-do items. You need to monitor risks and opportunities. You need to gain buy-in to drive adoption. Proper scoping and projections help keep projects on course, and not become a costly experiment that gets shoved to the back burner. Project managers are trained in analyzing the data while also managing people. In this session explore basic project management best practices and mindset to more effectively managing change in your firm.

This session explores tools and techniques that can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of client engagements and business processes using data analysis tools. We will introduce some of today’s popular and software tools and examine the AICPA’s Five-step approach to incorporating data analytics into public accounting engagements.

The topic of fraud continues to be on the radar of investors, shareholders, and regulators. Despite a Kroll Advisors survey showing a decrease of corporate fraud incidents in recent years, new fraud methods are continually being devised and identified thanks in large part to advances in technology and IT infrastructure. Compliance professionals and auditors are not expected to have the expertise of forensic investigators but should have working knowledge of the aspects of fraudulent activities and maintain a skeptical mind when it comes to reviewing potential violations. This course provides a practitioner’s perspective of what your company should include in their internal audit programs and processes to mitigate and avoid fraud. We’ll cover: The psychology of fraud and connection to the fraud triangle and fraud diamond The International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF) for internal auditors Employing the COSO 2013 towards fraud Rightsizing the internal audit team's responsibilities Risk assessment considerations Reporting procedures

Personality Styles - Adapting to Different Types of Personalities for Improved Relationships and Interactions provides guidance for effectively adapting to various personality styles. Every individual has a dominant personality style, which includes relevant strengths and weaknesses. Effective interactions require individuals to adapt behaviors to complement, balance or counteract the traits of others. Note: This course is recommended as a part of a 8-hour audit skills curriculum for managers, while it is also appropriate for anyone who has responsibilities for interacting with others. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Employees drive the written and unwritten culture at your organization. Understanding the key workplace issues and how to solve them in today's environment can maximize the returns that employees provide for an organization. We take a deep dive into the research behind the larger issues with our workforce and discuss multiple practical solutions that will enhance your leadership and growth. How can we realize the most from our staff?

Most professionals routinely use Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint, but many are self-taught and, as a result, have not been exposed to the best features of these three applications. Consequently, they often use “brute force,” inefficient means when working with these three components of Microsoft Office. If that describes you, ensure you carve time out of your schedule to participate in this fourhour session. In it, you will learn how to work much more efficiently when using these tools to get better results in less time.  

Organizations of all sizes often fail to successfully install needed foundational components of an internal control system. Whether large or small, entities must view policies, procedures, and all controls in a wholistic manner in order to develop a system of controls that will keep the entity on its intended course. Moreover, those that design policies and procedures benefit by knowing why control measures are necessary. This session sets forth internal control concepts and explains the importance of strong internal control policies. It provides an understanding of the interrelated nature of all controls created by any organization. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

One of the most important aspect of transforming your practice or business to a digital model is to know how to prioritize the applications and initiatives that you focus on and invest in. There is an abundance of "low hanging fruit" initiatives that can provide useful benefits quickly and economically. Using Microsoft Teams meeting app is a perfect example. Chances are pretty good that you are already investing in Microsoft 365 subscriptions for your office. This course will show you how to use the Microsoft 365 subscription ROI by fully utilizing the meeting app and eliminate the unnecessary cost of a separate third-party meeting app. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

This intensive 2-hour course is designed specifically for those aiming to master data management skills in the modern business environment. As data becomes increasingly central to accounting and financial analysis, the ability to effectively manage, clean, and transform this data is critical. This course delves into Microsoft Power Query, a potent tool within Excel and Power BI Desktop, known for its robust data processing capabilities. This course is designed to take participants from the basics of Power Query to exploring its more sophisticated features. It is an ideal blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application, centered around diverse data scenarios encountered in multiple industries. The aim is to ensure that the skills and techniques learned are universally applicable and beneficial in any professional context. Structured to be participant-focused, the course encourages active learning through a series of practical exercises, live demonstrations, and illustrative case studies. This approach not only deepens the understanding of Power Query's features but also demonstrates how to turn complex data sets into actionable insights. While the course is broad in its application, it remains detailed in its instruction, catering to both the novice and the seasoned professional. It is particularly beneficial for those who regularly interact with data, such as business analysts, project managers, and financial professionals, providing them with the tools to streamline data processes and enhance data analysis capabilities. Additionally, the course underscores best practices in data management. Participants will learn strategic approaches to data challenges, ensuring that their data processes are efficient, scalable, and sustainable. This is not just a course about mastering a tool; it's about empowering professionals with the skills to transform data into a strategic business resource. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped to leverage Power Query in Excel or Power BI desktop to its full potential, turning data into a powerful driver for business success and innovation. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

This course focuses on the key federal tax issues affecting businesses from the internal accountant's point of view, with a focus on recent tax legislation and developments.  Planning alternatives and the potential risks associated with those strategies will also be discussed.  **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.

Whether you are in public practice, a consultant, or in industry – no one wants to lose their clients or their job. But why do so many CPAs treat their clients badly?  Result - the client fires that CPA. What are the four (4) leading reasons why clients fire their CPA or consultant?  Why do these actions alienate clients? Agreed, some of these actions may be unintentional, but the result is the same, the client moves on. Frustrating because it takes a long time to cultivate good clients.    The discussion focuses on over forty (40) recommendations to strengthen the relationship with the client, to hopefully prevent the client from moving on. You may not practice the Big Four Reasons Why CPAS are Fired, but you probably know others who do. What are the lessons learned? We will discuss proven techniques to effectively retain existing clients, keep you employed and help you gain new clients! 

Excel remains a staple tool for virtually all accounting and financial professionals. In this session learn about many of the newer features in Excel, along with some you may have overlooked in the past…truly “must-see CPE!”

People skills are the most significant skills that Professionals need to develop and yet are often the last skills perfected. This course will help participants understand personality types and the successful interactions with clients, peers and family. In addition, participants will learn Neuro-linguistic programming and develop the ability to better understand nonverbal language which is key in communication. Participants will also learn techniques to enhance memory and to improve the ability to recall key facts.

This program will provide a detailed analysis of the real estate professional passive activity rules, including forms reporting examples, and integrates those rules with when real estate is considered a "business" under the Section 199A flow-through entity deduction. A detailed analysis of the self-rental passive activity rules will be given, including forms reporting examples and integrates them with the flow-through entity rules related to self-rental. **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.

Most Staff Accountants learned Excel in college and many others learned Excel on their own, however most users never learned the important productivity tips that help them build spreadsheets more efficiently. This course will teach new and experienced users how to leverage the many productivity tools built within Excel in order to build spreadsheets with maximum effectiveness. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

OneNote is a fantastic application included in your Microsoft 365 subscription. Yet, it is underutilized and misunderstood most of the time. If you genuinely want to change how you work, embrace OneNote. Stop using Outlook as a filing cabinet for essential emails and move them to OneNote instead. If you share a OneNote notebook with others, you can stop emailing altogether within your group and use OneNote as your collaboration and reference platform.

Internal controls (IC) are critical to the effective functioning of all processes. The importance of proper and relevant documentation can be viewed as a burden. Strong, relevant documentation is critical to ensure organizations can adequately monitor, manage, and adjust their processes in line with business objectives. This requirement extends far beyond internal controls over financial reporting.  Management must first establish appropriate responsibilities for IC.   Personnel must have a strong understanding of the types and methods of IC and how they relate to their jobs.  Controls should be well documented. Documentation methods must meet organizational needs and be sufficient for personnel to understand. This course will further evaluate the responsibilities of employees, management, and auditors in understanding their role in internal control as well as evaluating documentation methods.