CPE Catalog
Note
AICPA On-Demand & Self-Study courses take up to 24 hours to process.
ACPEN: Benford’s Law and Other Digital Analysis Techniques
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Online
1.80 Credits
Numbers and especially the digits within those numbers can conceal a lot of information. Benford's Law and other digital analysis techniques can be the keys to unlocking that information. This session will explain what Benford's Law is, how it works, and how it can be used to reveal bogus information and made-up data. Accountants and auditors should understand how to use this valuable audit tool as well as other digital analysis techniques. But, if you attend this session, you must promise not to reveal the secret behind these techniques to any fraud perpetrators. Presented by: David CottonType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: Supervised AI Agents as Public CPA Audit Team Members
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Online
1.00 Credits
Should CPAs in public practice use Agentic AI? How? What should I not do? Join us to review how to use AI to assist in Assurance engagements, including testing internal controls. Agentic AI (‘Artificial Intelligence’) is rapidly being deployed by leading audit, compliance, and finance teams. While AI agents are not yet replacing all of today’s knowledge workers like auditors, accountants, and IT security professionals, the knowledge workers that effectively use Agentic AI may soon be replacing those knowledge workers who do not use these tools to drive high quality business growth and scale. AI is moving beyond automation to become a true teammate, especially in the governance, risk, and compliance processes. This session will show how supervised AI agents can work alongside accountants, auditors and IT security professionals to enhance efficiency, consistency, and assurance quality. Of critical importance is training and supervision so that the AI agents accomplish their testing to the intended quality standards. Attendees will leave with a practical view of how AI-powered testing can be applied to both internal and external assurance. Presented by: Joe OringelType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: The Controllership Series - The Controllers Role in Strategic Thinking and Advising - Part 1
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Online
1.80 Credits
The strategic controller helps leadership decide what should happen, not just explain what has already been done. The controller often acts as the enterprise translator between strategy, operations, and financial outcomes. This can sometimes appear to be accuracy-focused and not necessarily decision useful insight. Controllers must move away from just variance explanation and include performance interpretation. To do this, the controller must understand business models and value drivers, be able to translate strategy into financial growth and align KPIs with strategic priorities. Part of this process includes understanding concepts of root-cause analysis vs. surface-level variance analysis. It also includes understanding correlation vs. causation in financial data. Within this segment we will review all of these concepts and controllers will come away with insightful ideas regarding how to elevate their roles. Presented by: Lynn FountainType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: Ethics in Artificial Intelligence
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Online
1.60 Credits
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries, decision-making, and everyday life at an unprecedented pace. While its potential for innovation is immense, AI also raises profound ethical challenges around fairness, accountability, transparency, and human rights. Bias in algorithms, misuse of personal data, opaque decision-making, and the displacement of human judgment underscore the urgent need for ethical frameworks to guide AI development and use. Presented by: Lynn FountainType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: Audit Risk Assessment in Plain English
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Online
2.00 Credits
Audit Risk Assessment in Plain English, is a 2 hour webcast highlighting the AICPA’s clarified risk assessment standards, along with a new Statement on Auditing Standard (SAS 145) related to understanding the entity, the entity’s environment, the entity’s internal controls, and assessing the risks of material misstatement. This session will attempt to simplify the requirements using common sense examples and language. Presented by: Frank Crawford, Christopher PembrookType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: How to Audit Prepaid Expenses
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Online
2.00 Credits
Understanding how to effectively audit prepaid expenses is a key skill for audit staff. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals, including the applicable audit assertions and common risks and threats associated with the prepaid expense balance. Participants will learn how to perform substantive auditing procedures to ensure accuracy and reliability, with guidance on applying these techniques to real-world scenarios. Designed to enhance practical knowledge, this session equips auditors with the tools and confidence needed to navigate prepaid expense audits with proficiency. Presented by: Jaclyn VenoType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: Common Deficiencies in Employee Benefit Plans
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Online
2.00 Credits
Discover critical insights from the latest Department of Labor studies on employee benefit plan audits and tackle the pressing issue of audit deficiencies head-on. This course dives deep into the most common errors undermining audit quality and explores the underlying causes of these issues. Through practical strategies, engaging case studies, and regulatory guidance, participants will learn how to close gaps in compliance, enhance audit execution, and protect plan participants and beneficiaries. Whether you're an experienced auditor or new to benefit plan audits, this course will equip you with the tools needed to elevate audit quality and ensure regulatory compliance. Presented by: Peter ZenderType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: Prevention & Detection of Fraud in Small Businesses
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Online
5.00 Credits
As a small business owner, would you be interested if I could tell you how to increase your profit each year by an average of 5%? If you were a practicing CPA, do you think your small business clients would be interested if you could tell them how to increase their profits by an average of 5% each year? That is the amount of revenue lost to fraud as reported by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ (ACFE) in their 2024 Report to the Nations on Occupational Fraud. It is no secret as to how to prevent fraud from occurring. But we must first convince the small business owner that fraud is occurring in their organization. During this presentation we will discuss the many ways fraud can occur; how fraud occurs; who commits fraud; how to recognize the indicators of fraud; what to do if you suspect fraud; and lastly, how to prevent fraud from occurring in the first place. Most small businesses owners are very reluctant to admit that fraud might occur in their business because they know and trust their employees. Know this: Under the right circumstances (which we will discuss) most individuals will steal, and I will prove it. If you view this program, chances are as a small business owner, you will never look at your operation the same way. As an auditor, chances are you will never conduct an audit of a small business the same way. Presented by: Dennis DycusType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: Ethics for CPAs: The Practical and the Possible
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Online
2.00 Credits
Award winning discussion leader, former AICPA Council Member, and former state accountancy board member Mark Hugh will review the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and its interpretations; discuss new developments in regulation at the national and state level; and discuss examples of best practices, case studies, and disciplinary actions. Presented by: Mark HughType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: Practical Excel Topics for Today’s Accountant
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Online
2.00 Credits
This course introduces practical ways that public accountants can use Excel to enhance both the efficiency and effectiveness of client engagements. We will reinforce core concepts by illustrating ways that Excel is a tool for analysis and reporting. We will introduce numerous analytical methods and techniques by using practical examples to illustrate how to unleash the power of Excel when obtaining, analyzing, and reporting information. Presented by: Dr. Chris HarperType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: Effective Manager - Traits and Skills
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Online
2.00 Credits
Many courses deal with leadership and manager skills. Whether you have held a management position for several years or are just transitioning to a manager role, you will find that becoming/remaining a good manager can often be an art rather than just a technical skill. It can be (and should be) a learning and an ever- evolving process. Presented by: Lynn FountainType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: The Controllership Series - The Controllers Role in Strategic Thinking and Advising - Part 2
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Online
1.20 Credits
The strategic controller helps leadership decide what should happen, not just explain what has already been done. The controller often acts as the enterprise translator between strategy, operations, and financial outcomes. This can sometimes appear to be accuracy-focused and not necessarily decision useful insight. Controllers must move away from just variance explanation and include performance interpretation. To do this, the controller must understand business models and value drivers, be able to translate strategy into financial growth and align KPIs with strategic priorities. Part of this process includes understanding concepts of root-cause analysis vs. surface-level variance analysis. It also includes understanding correlation vs. causation in financial data. Within this segment we will review all of these concepts and controllers will come away with insightful ideas regarding how to elevate their roles. Presented by: Lynn FountainType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: Accounting for Leases
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Online
2.60 Credits
In February 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which provides new guidelines that change the accounting for leasing arrangements. To be able to properly account for leases, financial professionals must understand ASU 2016-02 (also referred to as Topic 842). This guidance covers information on how leases should be accounted for. The previous leasing standard (ASC 840) had been in existence for almost 40 years. Under ASC Topic 842, lessors continue to classify leases as operating, direct financing, or sales-type. While lessees now classify leases as operating or financing leases. Previous guidance only required capital leases to be reflected on the BS. The new guidance requires all leases to be reflected on the BS. This is a major change for organizations and will cause their balance sheets to swell as leases must now be disclosed on the balance sheet. The standards original effective dates were prior to 2019. In April 2020, due to COVID-19, FASB voted to defer the effective date for ASC 842 for private companies and certain not-for-profit's for one year. For private companies and private not-for-profits, the leasing standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. For public companies the leasing standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The course covers elements of lease classification for both lessees and lessors. Also, numerous examples are incorporated as reference. Presented by: Lynn FountainType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: Professional Skepticism for the Public Accountant
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Online
1.00 Credits
Accountants are expected to demonstrate a questioning mindset. While such professional skepticism is an obvious requirement for assurance engagements, it is applicable elsewhere in the practice of public accounting. In fact, a skeptical mindset offers benefits to both public accountants and those who work in industry. This course provides specific examples of professional skepticism while suggesting best practices. Presented by: Dr. Chris HarperType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: Managing Generational and Cultural Variances
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Online
1.60 Credits
Whether you have held a management position for several years, or are just transitioning to a role which requires you to manage other individuals, you will find that becoming and remaining a good manager is often an art rather than just a technical skill! This segment flows nicely with the segment on Managing Traits and Skills. This segment will focus on the dynamics of managing in a world full of several generations in the workforce as well as cultures. Presented by: Lynn FountainType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: White-Collar Crime: What Every CPA Should Know
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Online
2.00 Credits
According to the FBI, “white-collar crime is … synonymous with the full range of frauds committed by business and government professionals … characterized by deceit, concealment, or violation of trust …. The motivation behind these crimes is financial—to obtain or avoid losing money, property, or services or to secure a personal or business advantage.” CPAs can and should play a crucial role in preventing and detecting white-collar crime, as well as in prosecuting the perpetrators. This session will explore whether we are up to this challenge, heighten awareness regarding the CPA’s role as a front-line defender of the public interest, and assess whether we are deserving of the public trust we enjoy. Presented by: David CottonType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: Internal Audit in The Future
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Online
2.00 Credits
As organizations face accelerating change—AI adoption, cyber threats, regulatory expansion,ESG scrutiny, geopolitical instability—the role of internal audit is evolving rapidly. The future of internal audit is not about doing more audits. It’s about delivering forward-looking insight, strategic alignment, and intelligent risk coverage. Organizations, their environments and ways of working have evolved rapidly and in ways that had not been previously envision. IA must look within to determine how to stay relevant and add value in this changing and emerging environment. Presented by: Lynn FountainType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: Inventory Accounting GAAP, Software and Recognizing Variances
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Online
2.00 Credits
Many organizations struggle to keep budgets current in an ever-changing business climate. Twenty-first century performance metrics focus on determining what budgets should be rather than what they were in the past. Using performance metrics effectively reduces work, reduces politics, provides flexibility and substantially improves the performance management process. This session will show you powerful techniques to drive your organization’s performance. Presented by: John DalyType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: Profitability Pricing: Boost your Bottom Line
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Online
2.00 Credits
Two seemingly similar products can have very different costs, yet many companies are completely oblivious to these differences causing them to lose money or competitive bids. When companies compete, those with good information win the “gravy” contracts and those with bad information lose money on “dog” jobs. Attend this session to gain insights on how to win bids for the best opportunities and give the money-losers to your competitors. Achieve your target profitability in the process. Presented by: John DalyType: Live Webcast Replay
ACPEN: Resolve Ethical Conflicts: Do the Right Thing and Keep Your Job
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Online
2.00 Credits
At some point in their career, every financial manager will face the choice of doing the right thing or taking the easy way out. Skillful handling of an ethical conflict can make a big difference in your career’s trajectory. Learn how to correct your boss’s bad behavior and actually strengthen the relationship. Presented by: John DalyType: Live Webcast Replay