CPE Catalog
Note
AICPA On-Demand & Self-Study courses take up to 24 hours to process.
The CFO Who Went to Prison
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Online
2.00 Credits
Joshua, a CFO from Chicago, did not go to prison for stealing the $2 million in liquid cash he had access to on a daily basis. Instead, Joshua ended up in prison by rationalizing that he was entitled to a few small perks of the profession. This course explores Joshua's story and covers how and why executives with high annual incomes make short-sighted decisions that can cost them their job and freedom. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Surgent's Yellow Book and Single Audits: How to Stay in Good Graces and Out of Bad Places with Your Peer Reviewer
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Online
4.00 Credits
If you perform Yellow Book audits and/or single audits, it is a given that a peer reviewer will be looking at your work on those engagements! Why fret and sweat about what peer reviewers are going to be looking for? In this course, we will explore the key audit requirements that peer reviewers focus on, how the auditor complies with those requirements, and common pitfalls seen in Yellow Book and single audits. This course will help you proceed and succeed in your Yellow Book and single audits.
ACPEN: Guide to Preparing Form 1041 for Estates and Trusts
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Online
4.00 Credits
This program examines the critical issues, rules, and special opportunities when preparing your clients' Form 1041 US Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts. Learn what is considered taxable income; filing requirements and deadlines; impact of the 3.8 percent Medicare surtax on net investment income; and the 10 principles of tax accounting for trust income. *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 Presented by: Doug Van Der AaType: Live Webcast Replay
Independence for Auditors - AICPA, PCAOB, GAO & DOL
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Online
4.00 Credits
Independence requirements are foundational to audit quality, yet they vary depending on the applicable regulatory and professional framework. This course provides a practical overview of auditor independence rules and highlights key similarities and differences across major standard setters and oversight bodies. Participants will review independence requirements issued by the AICPA, Government Accountability Office (GAO), Department of Labor (DOL), and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board / SEC. The course emphasizes common areas of confusion, nuanced differences among the frameworks, and considerations auditors should keep in mind when performing attest services for different types of clients. This overview course is designed to help auditors recognize which independence rules apply in various engagement scenarios and better position themselves to meet applicable independence requirements. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Reviewing S Corporation Tax Returns: What Are You Missing?
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Online
4.00 Credits
Training your reviewer's eye The complexity of S corporation tax law presents a formidable challenge to tax practitioners for accurate compliance and reporting of S corporation activities. The course identifies the common errors practitioners make on S corporation tax returns that review staff should spot. Four returns for you to review Learners can fine-tune their reviewing skills by examining case studies of sample tax returns that may warrant additional information from the client and areas of tax law where proper treatment requires additional analysis and information. Issues discussed include: Income and deductions Schedule K-1 reporting requirements Schedule K-2 and K-3 reporting requirements and the domestic filing exception The tax return in each case study contains errors or inaccuracies, giving learners the opportunity to apply their reviewing skills. Developed with H.R. 1, commonly referred to as OBBBA, in mind, these case studies reflect the realities of reviewing S corporation returns today.
ACPEN: Qualified Business Income (QBI) Deduction (§199A) – The Ins & Outs
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Online
8.00 Credits
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was a major overhaul of our tax system that lowered the income tax rates for individual and corporate taxpayers and introduced the new 20% qualified business income (QBI) deduction for sole proprietors and pass-through entities. The cornerstone of this course is the comprehensive discussion of the 20% QBI deduction final regulations under IRC §199A. *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 Presented by: J. Patrick GarverickType: Live Webcast Replay
LLC's & S Corporations: a Comparative Analysis
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Online
8.00 Credits
This course focuses on the most common aspects and tax implications of Limited Liability Companies and S Corporations. It will further compare forms of entities, along with corporate formalities compliance issues of each entity type. Electing Subchapter S status as well as reviewing the mechanics of electing Subchapter S status will be discussed. Highlights of entity specific tax forms will be discussed, as well as accountable plans, taxable fringe benefits, officer reasonable compensation, estate planning, business continuation planning and audit strategies. Schedules K-1, K-2, K-3, and effectively connected income will be reviewed in this course as well. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Surgent's Assessing the Risk of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit
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Online
8.00 Credits
From Enron and WorldCom in the early 2000s to Wirecard and FTX in recent years, the risk of fraud in an audit remains high, and the potential loss to the public has only increased. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) annual reports find that fraud is potentially lurking in all businesses, including not-for-profit organizations. It often goes undetected for years, and, when uncovered, management and the board may question why an auditor did not identify it - even though most corporate frauds are identified by internal personnel. Still, the auditor's responsibility in a financial statement audit is to assess risk and perform sufficient procedures to obtain reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement due to fraud (or error). However, failure to perform an adequate fraud risk assessment and report deficiencies in internal control, such as a lack of segregation of duties, can leave a firm vulnerable. This course will discuss the audit procedures that should be performed in accordance with AU-C §240, Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit, as recently amended; best practices in performing fraud risk assessment procedures; when and how to report control deficiencies noted in an audit; and the most frequent types of fraud found in small to mid-sized entities along with internal controls that could be implemented to help prevent and detect them. We will also look at various cyber fraud schemes and how they might be prevented or detected, the use of analytics as fraud risk procedures, and assessments of fraud risk in a Single Audit. Fraud is now more complicated than ever. From deepfakes to complex denial-of-service attacks, auditors have more to consider in their risk assessment than they did even five years ago. This course features case studies and detailed illustrations to help auditors know what to look for and how to respond to potential fraud in their audits.
Surgent's Handbook for Mastering Basis, Distributions, and Loss Limitation Issues for S Corporations, LLCs, and Partnerships
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Online
8.00 Credits
The most difficult concepts to master when dealing with flow-through business entities are the basis and distribution concepts. Major error and malpractice issues occur if the CPA does not fully understand the impact of these rules. This course is designed to focus on the practical applications of these rules.
Current Cybersecurity Risk Management Trends
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Online
2.00 Credits
One of the top concerns of any organization's leadership is how to mitigate the risk of cybersecurity threats, along with the prevention and detection of fraud. This course will focus on the most common cybersecurity vulnerabilities and fraud trends, and best practices for managing them. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Fundamentals of Form 1040 -- Individual
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Online
4.00 Credits
This course introduces professionals to the fundamentals of individual tax preparation. Participants will learn the essentials of Form 1040, including filing requirements, income reporting, and deductions. The session will also cover preparer responsibilities, due diligence, and taxpayer rights under Circular 230. By the end, attendees will have a solid understanding of the foundation of personal tax returns. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
ACPEN: Ethics - Keeping the Good from Breaking Bad
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Online
1.00 Credits
Ethics are how groups define right from wrong. Codes of Ethics define good behavior from bad behavior for professionals. When we break those codes, we "break bad." For five seasons, the popular television show "Breaking Bad" explored the transformation of one good man breaking bad. This session provides an overview of ethics and why people break bad, while using examples from the TV show as well as case studies of good people who broke bad. Presented by: Daniel PorterType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: The Controllership Series: The Controller's Role in Artificial Intelligence
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Online
1.40 Credits
Here's a more detailed look at the controller's role in AI: 1. Data Integrity and Quality: • Controllers are responsible for ensuring the quality and integrity of data used to train and inform AI models. • They work to establish data governance frameworks, implement data quality initiatives, and ensure data lineage (tracking data from source to downstream systems). 2. Risk Management: • Controllers assess potential risks associated with AI implementation, including inaccuracies, vulnerabilities, and ethical considerations. • They help define and implement risk management frameworks for AI, ensuring that AI systems are used responsibly and ethically. 3. Compliance: • Controllers stay informed about relevant regulations and ensure AI systems are compliant with those regulations. • They monitor AI systems to ensure they are not violating any laws or policies. 4. Transparency and Auditability: • Controllers work to ensure that AI decisions are transparent and auditable. • They establish processes to review AI decisions and identify potential biases or errors. 5. Collaboration and Training: • Controllers work with IT and business teams to understand AI's capabilities and limitations. • They provide training to teams on how to use and manage AI tools effectively. 6. Value Creation: • Controllers can leverage AI to identify areas for automation, improve efficiency, and gain real-time insights into financial operations. • They can use AI to make more informed decisions and create more strategic recommendations for action. 7. Emerging Role: • The role of the controller is evolving with the rise of AI, with controllers becoming more hands-on throughout the implementation process. • They are increasingly seen as catalysts for AI-enabled transformation, helping to identify potential use cases and build confidence in the technology This course will explore many of these topics. Presented by: Lynn FountainType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: The Controller Function - Cash and Investments
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Online
1.40 Credits
This course corresponds to our Controllership series. This course is dedicated to exploring the traditional controller role and stepping out of the box to identify areas where the controller can continue to add strategic value to their organizations. Within this segment of our controllership series, we discuss the area of cash and investments and explore how the controller can move these responsibilities into more of a strategic role. In today’s world, the role of cash management is often a pivotal role in the organization. In economically difficult times, controllers may find that they spend a great deal of their time on understanding and managing the organizations' cash position. This is certainly important and, in some areas, can be seen as a staple of the lifeblood of the organization’s ongoing viability. This course takes a look at some of the typical objectives involved in cash management and then evaluates how those objectives can be further stretched into strategic pillars of the organization. Presented by: Lynn FountainType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: Accounting and Reporting Long-Term Debt
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Online
2.00 Credits
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. Presented by: Jennifer LouisType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: Cash Conversion Cycle: Tool and Techniques
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Online
2.00 Credits
How well do you understand your organization’s cash flow? Good cash management techniques can provide a competitive advantage! This session shows you how to effectively measure and manage your cash conversion cycle. With a more complete understanding of how cash flows through your organization, you can eliminate impediments. Better cash management lowers your borrowing costs, reduces financing needs, and creates financial flexibility in your organization. Presented by: Richard KarwicType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: Deep Dive into Quality Management
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Online
2.00 Credits
Quality management represents a significant shift in how CPA firms design, implement, and evaluate audit and attestation quality. This course provides a focused, practical deep dive into the quality management standards and related engagement-level requirements that firms are now operating under. The course covers SQMS 1 and SQMS 2, along with related engagement-level standards, including SAS 146, SAS 145, SSARS 26, and SSAE 23. Emphasis is placed on post-implementation responsibilities, including evaluating the effectiveness of quality management systems and addressing monitoring and remediation requirements. Participants will also examine engagement-level quality management responsibilities, including the auditor’s responsibilities under SAS 146 and the engagement partner's responsibilities in SSARS engagements. The course is designed to help firms navigate the second phase of implementation, moving beyond design and rollout to ongoing evaluation, monitoring, and continuous improvement. Presented by: Melisa GalassoType: Live Webcast Replay
Criminal Tax: How CPAs Bring Value to Defense Attorneys
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Online
2.00 Credits
CPAs can be requested to assist attorneys in litigation support in criminal proceedings. For criminal tax cases, the IRS has recommended prosecution. However, the rules and stakes are different than a simple civil audit. This presentation will focus on how to assist defense attorneys in calculating tax loss, asking the right questions, and probe possible weaknesses in criminal tax investigations. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Surgent's Data Analytics for Accountants and Financial Managers
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Online
2.00 Credits
Data analytics and mining are the fastest growing disciplines in accounting and general management. Many organizations are either planning programs or have them already underway. Unfortunately, a number of these attempts fail due to poor planning/preparation and a lack of commitment, training, and clear vision of the program's goals. Today there is no shortage of data, but relatively few organizations have established an environment and ongoing process to isolate, capture, analyze, and convert data into actionable information. At times, even organizations that are employing leading-edge analytics are doing it with traditional, limited sets of data. This session explores how an organization can successfully become data driven. The discussion includes numerous examples demonstrating how accounting and financial professionals can build upon their current analytical skills to better perform traditional tasks and assume a role as a business partner with others in their organization. The program is aimed to assist those just beginning the journey, as well as those who want to test their current efforts or are considering the need for a restart. In addition to discussing a number of analytical tools, including available software, lists of reference books and next-level software are provided. This program continues to build upon the Controllership Update Series.
Surgent's Foundations of Cybersecurity for Financial Professionals
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Online
2.00 Credits
This course introduces key cybersecurity concepts tailored for financial professionals. It emphasizes the CPA's role in cyber risk management, key terminology, and practical steps to foster a security mindset, integrating cybersecurity with financial reporting.