CPE Catalog
Note
AICPA On-Demand & Self-Study courses take up to 24 hours to process.
An Exceptional Leader C.A.R.E.S.
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Online
1.00 Credits
This session will teach leadership principles to transform a workplace into a healthy & supportive environment. By improving organizational culture, mental health conditions will improve, & burnout potential is minimized. An unhealthy workplace results in failure to attract and retain top talent. Leaders can be instruments of change. The C.A.R.E.S. approach offers leadership principles that will improve your workplace. Symptoms are hidden at work. Your employees are hurting, and you can help. If you care for your people from the bottom of your heart, you will be amazed at what it does to your bottom line.
The Ethics Hour: Ethics is the Engine to Better Leadership: Taking Action, featuring Bob Mims and Don Minges
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Online
1.00 Credits
Ethics is grounded in leadership and the finest leaders are always ethical. Every effective leader is ethical, in words and actions. The best leaders communicate effectively. Being trustworthy is more than being honest and fair. In today’s turbulent environment, leadership matters more than ever as the talented staff will readily move to ethical leaders. We must enhance our leadership skills to remain valuable. Simple stated - we all want to work for, and with, an ethical leader.
Are Those Independent Contractors Really Independent Contractors?
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Online
1.00 Credits
Various legal tests are used to evaluate whether a worker should be classified as an employee or an independent contractor. There is no uniform standard or bright-line rule for determining whether an individual is properly classified as an independent contractor. Instead, the inquiry is always fact-intensive, and the analysis can vary based what body is performing it, i.e. the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), Department of Labor (“DOL”), various state agencies, or the courts. This presentation will review the various tests and highlight some of the common, most important factors for consideration.
Ethical Standards in Tax Practice: Circular 230 and Compliance
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Online
2.00 Credits
This instructor-led course offers an in-depth analysis of ethical challenges that tax professionals face, focusing on the provisions of Circular 230 and how they apply to real- world scenarios. Through the discussion of key issues such as conflicts of interest, confidentiality, diligence, contingent fees, and the handling of amended returns, participants will learn how to apply ethical principles in their practice while maintaining professional standards. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of how to handle ethical dilemmas, manage client pressures, and ensure compliance with regulatory expectations, all while safeguarding their professional integrity. *Please Note: If you need credit reported to the IRS for this IRS approved program, please download the IRS CE request form on the Handouts Tab and submit to kori.herrera@acpen.com
K2's Formatting Excel Spreadsheets The Right Way
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Online
2.00 Credits
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.
The Seven High Quality Questions that Lead to Success & Solutions
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Online
2.50 Credits
“How will I EVER get this all done?" It’s a question I often hear from clients and on a particularly stressful day, I can hear myself saying these words! Instead of helping us focus, it's a question that leads to stress, anxiety and overwhelm! Regardless of where we are in business and in life, we will run into challenges and problems as we navigate business growth, leadership, work life balance and our quest for success and happiness. This workshop will explore the 7 HIGH QUALITY questions that lead to relief, enthusiasm and success. It will be an interactive exploration that will leave you with a game plan to use right away, as well as an opportunity to practice the mindset that the most successful and happiest people use daily. This program is for both the entrepreneur who wants to be more effective in their day as well as team leaders who want to stand out in their organization. For the business owner or staff member you can expect a new way to work with your day so that it's profitable, productive and happier. For leaders, you will learn new up- leveled skills to increase your efficiency, communication and productivity. You and your team will shine. Your staff will feel appreciated and connected to their value as well as the company's goals. Albert Einstein said 'we can't solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them'. The quality of your question will impact the quality of your solution. Learn the 7 questions that take you from confused and frustrated to creative and focused.
Let's Meet at the Intersection of Fraud and Ethics
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Online
4.00 Credits
This course explores actual fraud circumstances through the lens of potential prevention. We will examine how selected frauds were accomplished and consider what internal controls may have prevented fraudsters from achieving their nefarious acts. Then we will switch gears to an interactive, case-based discussion that asks participants to reach their own conclusions by analyzing facts in concert with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and other sources of ethical guidance. This course provides practical, action-oriented insight that can be implemented by accounting professionals in both public practice and industry.
Are You Up For the Challenge? Test Your Skills as a Quality Control Reviewer
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Online
4.00 Credits
Have you ever wanted to reduce the number of financial statement review points you receive? Are you curious about a reviewer's thought process? This hands-on session will answer these questions by helping you understand the role of an engagement quality control reviewer. Not only will you develop an appreciation for the role of an engagement quality control reviewer, but this interactive session will allow you to step into the reviewer's shoes by performing a quality control review during the class session. You will leave with an understanding of best practices for minimizing your exposure to critique by reviewers.
Microsoft Teams - Everything You Need to Know from A to Z
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Online
4.00 Credits
Microsoft Teams is one of the most popular tools for communication, collaboration, and knowledge sharing. If you use Microsoft Teams in your practice or business, this is a "must attend" course. You will learn everything you need to know to optimize the features of Teams and maximize your productivity. We will cover everything from how to effectively design your teams and channels configuration. How to utilize all the Teams features for posting conversations and working with your Office documents, PDF files and more. You will leave this course with the skills to master all the features of Teams! This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
S Corporation Essentials: Review & Update
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Online
4.00 Credits
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 kori.herrera@acpen.com.
2025 Annual Update for Accountants & Auditors
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Online
6.00 Credits
While the pace of FASB's standard-setting has slowed in recent years, the standards that have been issued will be impactful for many organizations. This course will begin with a review of standards effective in 2025 for public, private, and nonprofit organizations. From there, we'll explore upcoming standards, FASB exposure drafts, and ongoing projects to ensure you're prepared for what's next in financial reporting. The second half of the course will shift focus to developments at the AICPA. From quality management to ethics standards and the talent pipeline, there's no shortage of activity. We'll start with a detailed look at the quality management standards effective this year and their impact on firms, including changes to the Peer Review Program. Next, we'll cover essential ethics standards and the latest SSARS updates. We'll also examine common deficiencies in employee benefit plan (EBP) audits and discuss the initiatives of the National Pipeline Advisory Group.
The Art of Engaging in Difficult Conversations
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Online
2.00 Credits
Difficult conversations tend to be avoided because professionals shy away from the uncomfortable, and the fear of polarizing their relationships. Participants will learn strategies and tactics to engage in productive conversations which address challenges and deepen relationships. They will understand where and why they are avoiding having difficult conversations. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
The Controllership Series - The Future Role of the Controller Part 2
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Online
1.50 Credits
This is a two-part series that discuss new trends and concepts the financial controller should begin to execute in order to truly become a valued member of the senior leadership team. The rapid pace of the evolving technological landscape has promoted changes in how accountants and financial professionals focus attention on strategy and modernize their roles to leverage digital technology. There is increased demand for enhancing flexibility into finance cycles and initiating real-time reporting and insights. These are the core attributes that will assist in transforming the work that controllership function performs. Is the financial controllership prepared to meet future business demands? The IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants) and Deloitte’s Center for Controllership aimed to better understand the current state of controllership and expectations of future demands for controllers and accounting professionals. They conducted a survey in late 2022 and identified several trends. The survey takes a look at how prepared controllership is to meet future business demands. It also highlights some insights for leaders to consider that may increase their preparedness. It also identified areas of additional insight and questions to answer on the controllership transformation journey. In this segment, we will go through numerous concepts in detail.
Preparing to be a Forensic Accountant - Focus on Document Review and Handwriting Analysis
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Online
2.00 Credits
Forensic accounting, forensic accountancy or financial forensics is the specialty practice area of accounting that investigates whether firms engage in financial reporting misconduct. Forensic accountants apply a range of skills and methods to determine whether there has been financial reporting misconduct. Financial forensic engagements may fall into several categories. Economic damages calculations, whether suffered through tort or breach of contract. Post-acquisition disputes such as earnouts or breaches of warranties Bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization Securities and tax fraud Money laundering Business valuation Computer forensics/e-discovery This session is designed to delve a bit deeper into the world of forensic accounting and identify some of the specific areas of expertise required to become a forensic accountant. We will then first delve deeper into the art of document analysis and handwriting analysis.
New Client Ethical Challenges: The CPAs Guide
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Online
2.00 Credits
This course explores the multitude of issues that taking on a new client can bring with it, and then interprets them using three sets of ethical rules. A group of "players" reveal real-life challenges faced by the CPA firm in bringing the new client into compliance, as well as proper financial and tax compliance issues. *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
Mastering the Excel Lookup Functions
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Online
2.00 Credits
In today's data-driven world, Microsoft Excel has become an essential tool for professionals in any organization. To harness the full potential of Excel, it is crucial to understand and master its lookup functions. This course is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively utilize Excel's lookup functions and enhance their data analysis capabilities. Throughout this comprehensive course, participants will dive deep into the world of lookup functions and gain experience through practical exercises and real-world scenarios. Whether you're a seasoned Excel user looking to fine-tune your skills or a beginner eager to unlock Excel's full potential, this course is tailored to meet your learning needs. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
SAS No. 122, AU 240, Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit
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Online
3.00 Credits
When performing a financial statement audit, auditors have always been responsible for the detection of anything that would cause a material misstatement of the financial statements whether caused by error of fraud. However, in the past the audit profession focused on material misstatements due to errors and more or less ignored the possibility of misstatements due to fraud. Now, SAS No. 122, AU 240 requires significant documentation as to what the auditor did in order to determine if there any material risk of a misstatement of the financial statements. This presentation is an overview of what the auditor is to document in there working papers on every financial audit as to the procedures they performed in order to determine the risk of a material misstatement. If a material risk is discovered, they are then required to document what they did in order to determine if the financial statements were misstated.
Not Just Your Everyday FASB Update
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Online
4.00 Credits
This course highlights significant updates that affect financial reporting and related attestation services. We will explore novel FASB pronouncements while examining the enduring impact of lease accounting and revenue recognition standards. This course will provide reminders regarding both GAAP and non-GAAP financial reporting alternatives for closely held entities. We will also explore selected guidance regarding audit, review, and compilation engagements.
Common Financial Statement Disclosures
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Online
2.00 Credits
Financial statement disclosures are important to provide the information necessary for financial statement users to make economic decisions. Disclosures further explain and clarify information provided in the basic financial statements, but also provide critical information about subsequent events, litigation risk, and other concerns. This course focuses on the most common financial statement disclosures for small- or medium-sized nonpublic entities. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
The Ethics Hour: Accounting Scandals: What Happened and Why? Can We Prevent Them?, featuring Tracy Cooper and
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Online
1.00 Credits
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.