Professional Development and Event Catalog

Session Overview: If you’re leading a small or mid-size company preparing for rapid growth — or you’ve just hit that thrilling, chaotic stretch where success creates new challenges — this session is for you. Everyone wants growth. Few are ready for what it really takes. In Scaling at the Speed of Trust, Steve Cadigan — LinkedIn’s first CHRO and architect of its legendary hyper-growth culture — shares the inside story of how the company scaled from 400 to 4,000 employees in just four years, and the lessons every growing business can apply today. Steve speaks to his experience scaling one of the most successful scaling ventures in business in the past two decades: LinkedIn. Cadigan was at the table building what many consider to be the gold standard of a high performing culture while going through rapid growth - through stories and real world examples, Cadigan provides an invaluable a unique insight into this critical phase of an organizations growth. This isn’t a talk about hiring faster — it’s about scaling smarter. Steve reveals how trust, transparency, and culture became LinkedIn’s greatest competitive advantage — and how small and mid-size firms can use the same principles to grow without losing what makes them great.  Who This Session Is For: Founders and CEOs navigating early-stage or mid-stage scale HR and People leaders building culture through rapid change Executives and managers preparing their teams for the next growth phase Anyone facing the tension between speed and sustainability

More Dates

Due to advances in technology, use of outside resources, and more, PCAOB released a new integrated, risk-based standard focused on accountability and continuous improvement for all PCAOB-registered firms. This course will provide an overview of the significant elements and foundational principles of this new standard.

More Dates

Practitioners need to exercise caution to ensure they maintain independence as they assist their clients with reviews, audits, and compilation engagements. This course provides a roadmap to best practices and guidance provided by the AICPA's Code of Professional Conduct and analyzes and applies it to actual scenario-based case studies, providing accounting professionals with ethical standards to integrate into their practices.

More Dates

For an accounting practice or career to thrive, it must grow and develop. But what about the "Catch-22" of practice development: expertise at anything new requires experience, and experience cannot be attained while you are a non-expert! Or can it? This workshop looks at some of the more popular pathways to practice development (e.g., cybersecurity, client advisory services and cannabis) and considers the drawbacks of reaching too far, too fast.

More Dates

The SSTS are tax standards that apply to all members who provide tax services and provide the framework for the AICPA ethical guidance for tax practitioners.  This program explores the revised AICPA Statements on Standards for Tax Services, effective January 1, 2024.   This program is not approved for IRS credit.

More Dates

A discussion of recent law changes that impact capitalization, depreciation, and disposition of assets. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

More Dates

This program addresses the critical issues and special opportunities facing S-corporations, with a focus on reporting shareholder basis and distributions.   *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    

More Dates

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, accounting professionals are expected to be more than just number crunchers, they are expected to be insightful interpreters of data. In an era where data is king, this course is your gateway to becoming a savvy data analyst, giving you a competitive edge in your field. We will guide you through the intricacies of making complex data analysis approachable and engaging. You will learn the all important Data Analysis Process Flow that will take you from collecting data all the way to making insightful decisions based upon your data. We will explore the basics of data modeling that will allow you to access data from multiple sources and use sophisticated calculations to create our data metrics. You will learn how to create interactive dashboards, perform sophisticated reporting, and uncover deep insights from your data. Whether you're looking to streamline your reporting process, enhance your data visualization skills, or make more data-driven decisions, this course is tailored to meet those needs. It's not just about learning a tool; it's about enhancing your professional identity as a forward-thinking accounting professional. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

More Dates

This course equips participants with the tools and strategies needed to create sustainable, long-term budgets that align with policy goals and ensure fiscal responsibility. Participants will explore key budgeting frameworks, learn techniques for forecasting revenue and expenditures, and analyze scenarios to mitigate financial risks. The course incorporates practical exercises and case studies to provide hands-on experience with scenario planning, enhancing budget transparency and resilience. By the end of the session, attendees will have the knowledge and confidence to design and implement budgets that support long-term governmental priorities and strengthen financial stability.

More Dates

The staggering volume of accounting scandals is a scandal. What has happened and what were the root causes? Why do many financial professionals choose to do the wrong thing? What has been the cumulative impact on the profession? What can we do to enhance our professional reputation? We will discuss the many "fixes" imposed to address previous accounting scandals, including COSO; were they effective? We must understand that accounting fraud is prevalent and what should we look out for? Be aware. We do not want history to repeat itself.

More Dates

As ever more jurisdictions move toward mandatory disclosure of ESG metrics, (ex: the European Union’s new Corporate Sustainability Reporting directive and impending U.S. SEC requirements) the urgency to get those disclosures right has gone up. This course to as an introduction to the concept of requirements for Controllers and financial personnel to understand ESG disclosures .Whether the role related to ESG disclosures and information falls into the job responsibility of the controller or not is yet to be seen. However, it is clear the Controller must maintain some level of knowledge and expertise around the types and timing of such disclosures.

More Dates

With the latest updates in Microsoft 365 and Office 2024, Excel is more powerful than ever. Packed with cutting-edge features, more innovative functions, and seamless collaboration tools, the newest version is designed to take your productivity to the next level. Whether you're crunching numbers, building dashboards, or collaborating across teams, these enhancements unlock faster workflows, deeper insights, and more thoughtful decision-making. Don't miss your chance to stay ahead of the curve-discover Excel's most exciting new features and learn how to put them to work for you. Your spreadsheet game is about to change-let's make it extraordinary!

More Dates

This course explores the increasingly complex features of Excel that facilitate efficient data analysis.  We will introduce numerous analytical methods and techniques by using practical examples to illustrate how to unleash the power of Excel when manipulating, analyzing and reporting information.

More Dates

Have you ever thought about stealing? If the answer is NO, then you need to find another profession because you will never be a successful fraud examiner/investigator or a financial auditor. To find fraud, you must first determine, given the opportunity through weak internal controls, how a person would steal. You have to say to yourself, given the opportunity that exists, how many ways could I take advantage of it? In other words, you must be able to think how you could steal and not be caught. So yes, to find fraud, you must first think about stealing. For a fraudster to be successful, they must make you think fraud is a legitimate transaction. They must make you think it is something that it is not. There are so many places where fraud can be hidden. It is up to you to evaluate where the risks of fraud are in an organization, then design effective investigative procedures to determine if someone took advantage of the opportunity. If they did not, how else may they have taken advantage of the opportunity? One must remember that one weakness in internal control may create several ways to take advantage of it and you must examine every such one. During this session, the many ways fraud can be hidden in asset misappropriations will be discussed. Remember, the number of ways is only limited by one’s imagination.   

More Dates

In a data-driven world, financial professionals are expected to not only analyze numbers but also translate them into compelling stories that drive decisions. This course is tailored for those who want to elevate their data presentation skills using Excel and other popular tools. Participants will dive into the art of charting, learning how to choose the right graph for their data and audience. Whether it's a pie chart that reveals a budget's composition or a line chart that shows financial trends over time, attendees will leave with a thorough understanding of each chart's purpose and application. Beyond the basics, this course offers a deep dive into the Microsoft Office suite's charting capabilities, ensuring that participants can seamlessly integrate their visuals into Word, PowerPoint, and beyond. With hands-on exercises, they'll transform raw figures into clear, informative charts that make an impact. By the end of the sessions, financial professionals will be adept at mapping data in a way that tells a story, engages stakeholders, and influences strategy. Don't miss the opportunity to enhance your presentations and reports—secure your spot today and start turning your data into persuasive narratives that resonate with your audience.

For the ambitious female finance professional, working hard and going above and beyond are necessary for success. Sadly, taking time to care for themselves can be seen as counter-productive to meeting their career goals. Over ninety percent of women executives are feeling significantly higher levels of stress that they attribute to increased responsibilities and priorities outside the workplace compared to life before the pandemic. Burnout is a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that causes exhaustion, negativity toward one's job and reduced professional efficacy. It has become so pervasive that it's now recognized as an occupational phenomenon by the World Health Organization. To reignite your enthusiasm at work, you don't necessarily need to find a new job or time for a spa day or bubble bath. You need concrete strategies to invest in your mental health without compromising your ability to rise to the next level in your career. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

More Dates

Federal procurement requirements under the Uniform Guidance were significantly revised effective October 1, 2024, introducing new expectations for procurement methods, internal controls, contractor oversight, and domestic sourcing preferences. This session will provide grant recipients and subrecipients with practical guidance on implementing compliant procurement procedures under 2 CFR SS200.317-200.327 and aligning procurement policies with updated federal standards, and thresholds from the FAR. Attendees will learn how to strengthen procurement documentation, apply revised competition requirements, and prepare for federal agency or Single Audit procurement system reviews. This session provides the regulatory application to develop your own SOP.

More Dates

This course provides tax and accounting professionals with a focused overview of Trump Accounts and their practical application in client planning. Participants will examine eligibility requirements, contribution rules, tax treatment, and reporting considerations. Through practical examples, the course emphasizes evaluating suitability, identifying planning opportunities, and avoiding common compliance pitfalls when incorporating Trump Accounts into client strategies. *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  

More Dates

Unlock the secrets to understanding a company's financial health and management performance through comprehensive financial analysis. This seminar will guide you through essential tools such as vertical analysis, horizontal analysis, and ratio analysis to gain deep insights into business performance. - Vertical Analysis: Learn how to express each line item of financial statements as a percentage, making it easier to compare companies of different sizes and identify key trends. - Horizontal Analysis: Discover how to compare financial information over multiple periods to spot significant changes and trends, providing a clearer picture of a company's growth and performance. - Ratio Analysis: Dive into calculating and interpreting financial ratios to assess profitability, liquidity, and solvency. Understand how these ratios reveal the effectiveness of management and the potential of the business. This seminar goes beyond just teaching terms and formulas. We will apply these analytical tools to real-world financial data, demonstrating how to derive meaningful insights and make informed decisions. Join us to enhance your financial analysis skills and gain a competitive edge in evaluating business performance. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

More Dates

Financial statement audits often involve audits of components of a larger entity. This course will focus on the responsibilities for both the group auditor and component auditor, including implementation of SAS No. 149 relate to group audits.

More Dates