Professional Development and Event Catalog

Fraud continues to make headlines, underscoring the importance of understanding how fraud occurs, how it can be prevented, and how auditors are expected to respond. This course begins with an overview of common fraud schemes identified in the 2026 Report to the Nations issued by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, along with key characteristics commonly observed among fraud perpetrators. The course then explores practical approaches organizations use to prevent and deter fraud, highlighting controls, policies, and cultural factors that can reduce fraud risk. Participants will also review recent fraud cases reported in the news to reinforce how these schemes manifest in real-world settings. The course concludes with a discussion of the auditor's responsibilities related to fraud under AU-C 240, including an overview of proposed changes to the fraud standards and what they may mean for future audit engagements. 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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Practitioners that provide non-audit services must strike the right balance between complying with relevant professional and regulatory standards, providing value-added client service, and mitigating litigation and other practice management risks. This course contains many case studies to reinforce best practices for managing the accounting, reporting, and performance issues associated with the attest services of compilations and reviews where reports are issued, as well as the SSARS  preparation of financial statements service and other nonattest engagements.

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With the rapid pace of change, change now happens daily in business and our personal lives. It can be difficult to navigate change when right and wrong get a bit fuzzy. New processes, new technology, new circumstances and new impacts to people must be measured and decisions made as the change evolves. Change always becomes something different than what was originally planned or imagined. In this session, learn how to measure your ethics through change. You will learn how to filter everything you do during change through a simple litmus test. Through the power of story, you will learn from the lessons of other organizations and their ethical mistakes. Lastly, you will take away what is required to manage yourself so that when ethical decisions arise, you have the mental capacity to manage through it well. 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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Specifically designed for preparation, compilation, and review practitioners, this course provides a comprehensive review and hands-on application for performing financial statement preparation, compilation, and review engagements. You will learn the ins and outs of applying SSARS No. 21, Clarification and Recodification, as well as additional guidance related to SSARS engagements through the issuance of SSARS Nos. 22-27 by the AICPA's Accounting and Review Services Committee (ARSC). The course also reviews recent peer review feedback on SSARS engagements, providing insights on how to successfully apply this guidance. Not only will this course bring you up to date on SSARSs requirements and guidance, but more importantly, it will provide you with practical examples and illustrations to help you effectively and efficiently perform compilation, preparation, and review engagements.

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Clients think that estate planning only applies to the very rich. In truth, there are many issues of critical concern for which the middle-income client needs to plan. This course is a must-attend for all Accounting and Financial Professionals who work with middle-income clients and are looking for ways to provide additional quality services. Updated for developments relative to estate tax changes.

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Over 80% of all employment-related lawsuits relate to termination. Every termination should be treated as a potential lawsuit. The facts supporting a leader's recommendation of discharge must be fully investigated. The discharge of an employee requires prior review and approval. Narrow self-interest, spite, or personal animosity must not play a part in making termination decisions. This course provides practical knowledge and scripts for handling discharges with good judgment such that personal and employer liability is avoided.

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By now you've heard of AI, and a lot about Generative AI (ChatGPT, Co-Pilot, etc.). And in experimenting with these tools, you've likely had some success and some disappointment. That's all part of the process! And it's also why we're bringing you this session, so that you can avoid the failures and accelerate the efficiencies. In this session you'll take a journey. From learning an effective method for prompting generative AI tools, to understanding the importance of data organization, to leveraging automations for strategic points in your customer experience, and to the ever-expanding area of building your own AI agents, this session will provide you with frameworks and processes to better understand AI and craft a strategy for your business.

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Sales of partnership interests can trigger unexpected ordinary income when “hot assets” under IRC §751 are involved. Many practitioners focus on capital gain treatment under IRC §741, only to discover that unrealized receivables and inventory items require recharacterization of a portion of the gain as ordinary income. This focused 2-hour program provides a practical and technical review of IRC §751 and its application to partnership interest sales and certain distributions. Participants will examine the definition of hot assets, the mechanics of ordinary income recharacterization, and the calculation of a partner’s share of unrealized receivables and inventory. The course also addresses common pitfalls, planning considerations, and documentation strategies to avoid costly surprises for clients. Through examples and case-based discussion, attendees will gain clarity on how to identify §751 property, compute the ordinary income component of a sale, and properly report partnership interest transactions.

Internal Controls (IC) are in place for a reason. They help maintain the control environment and establish efficient and effective processes. They also serve as a mitigation technique for identifying when processes have changed and when procedures need to be adjusted. In today’s business world, all personnel must understand the concept of internal control, how they should be utilized and their benefits.   The purpose and value of internal controls are often misunderstood and misapplied by management. Internal controls should be viewed as a value-oriented activity that assists the organization in the effective execution of its objectives. Properly designed and executed controls are the key to ensuring this view.   A previous course “The Manager’s Responsibility for Internal Control," addressed these concepts at a higher level. This course further explores the types of ICs, how they can be properly utilized and the cost benefit considerations for implementation.   Internal control is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of objectives in the following areas: Effectiveness and efficiency of operations Reliability of financial reporting Compliance with applicable laws and regulations Safeguarding assets

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Debt is typically a critical component of the financial statements, impacting the economic decisions of financial statement users. This course will address common issues that may impact the proper presentation and disclosure of debt, including debt covenant compliance and other issues that impact classification of the liability between current vs. noncurrent. 

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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

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This course will provide an update of Government Auditing Standards as a result of the GAO's issuance of the 2024 Revision to Government Auditing Standards. The course will focus on the Revisions impact on financial statement audits. The course will also focus on the impact of Quality Management Standards as well as clarify as to when the concept of reporting key audit matters might apply for financial audits. 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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Microsoft 365 is one of the most widely used business applications software suites used in business today. Microsoft Copilot is the generative AI application that is integrated directly into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. If your firm or business is a Microsoft 365 user, this course will teach you how to use Copilot AI to optimize the use of your Microsoft 365 apps. This course will provide a comprehensive review and demonstration of how to put Microsoft Copilot AI to work for you and your clients. It is designed as a "hands-on" course that facilitates following along with the presenter to apply the features of Microsoft Copilot on your computer. Practice files will be provided so that you don't have to expose your confidential data. 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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Whether you are responsible for managing 1 employee or 20, your leadership can make or break your team. Learn practical leadership strategies that you can implement when you return to your office. In today’s competitive market, it’s more imperative than ever that as leaders we are inspiring and motivating our teams to success.  

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What can we learn from one of the largest municipal frauds in U.S. history? Rita Crundwell stole nearly $54 million from the citizens of Dixon, Illinois over the course of two decades. This course examines circumstances that allowed this landmark fraud to occur. We will explore internal control deficiencies and other circumstances that hindered prevention or timely detection of Rita's scheme.

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This course provides an overview of the key aspects and tax implications of S Corporations. Participants will learn the mechanics of electing Subchapter S status, compare S Corporations to other entity structures, and explore compliance requirements such as corporate formalities. Highlights include a detailed discussion of Form 1120S, accountable plans, taxable fringe benefits, officer reasonable compensation, and IRS audit strategies. The course also covers Schedules K-1, K-2, and K-3, as well as the concept of effectively connected income. Practitioners will gain practical insights into advisory services and strategies for representing clients before the IRS. *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

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In today's fast-evolving landscape, CPA firms face a flood of new tools promising efficiency and innovation. This course helps practitioners assess the real return on investment (ROI) from their technology stack, &-comparing suite-based solutions with best-in-breed applications and examining the latest Agentic AI and Generative AI offerings. Attendees will learn how to evaluate productivity, integration, and strategic alignment to maximize firm performance. Whether upgrading your stack or validating your current tools, this session offers practical insights for tech-savvy decision-making and smarter technology investments tailored to the unique needs of accounting professionals.

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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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Advanced Excel for Staff - Build Reports and Analyze Data is a comprehensive, 2-hour course tailored for professionals looking to enhance their Microsoft Excel skills in creating reports and performing data analysis. This course bridges the gap between basic Excel functionality and the advanced techniques required for effective data-driven reports. Participants will learn to efficiently gather, organize, and structure data, apply calculations to derive key metrics, and create professional-grade reports that are both visually appealing and actionable. The course emphasizes practical application, providing participants with guidance on Excel's advanced tools and functions. By mastering workflows and best practices, learners will gain the confidence to tackle complex data challenges and streamline reporting processes. Additionally, participants will explore methods to validate and share their work, ensuring that reports are accurate, insightful, and easily communicated across teams. Whether you are tasked with preparing financial summaries, tracking performance metrics, or generating operational insights, this course will equip you with the tools to maximize Excel's potential, saving time and improving the quality of your outputs. 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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Good judgment works well in handling most employee relations matters. However, there are special situations where legal requirements dictate specific handling to avoid significant personal and employer liability. This course provides practical knowledge and scripts for responding to requests for accommodation regarding religious practices or disabilities, confronting employees in substance-abuse situations, and handling disclosures of contagious infections so that individual is properly helped, and the health of your workforce is protected.

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