CPE Catalog
Note
AICPA On-Demand & Self-Study courses take up to 24 hours to process.
Risk Assessment Under SAS No. 145
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Online
2.00 Credits
Get familiar with SAS No. 145 (bold) In October 2021, the AICPA Auditing Standards Board issued Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 145, Understanding the Entity and Its Environment and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement. SAS No. 145 does not fundamentally change the key concepts underpinning audit risk. Rather, it clarifies and enhances certain aspects of the identification and assessment of the risks of material misstatement to drive better risk assessments and, therefore, enhance your audit quality. Hear from members of the Auditing Standards Board's risk assessment task force as they help you learn to navigate SAS No. 145 and examine new and updated concepts including: A new definition of significant risk New guidance on maintaining professional skepticism Revised requirements to evaluate the design of certain controls Separately assessing inherent risk and control risk Revised requirements regarding audit documentation New guidance on scalability
Surgent's Social Security: Dispelling Common Myths with Essential Truths
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Online
2.00 Credits
For roughly 90% of American retirees, Social Security income will be the foundation of their retirement income. Yet, many are ill-prepared and lack understanding of the critical aspects of making an informed claiming decision. Further challenged to separate fact from fiction, consumers crave accurate information from knowledgeable professionals to make the most out of these coveted monthly benefits. This course dispels common myths about Social Security that lead to confusion and replaces them with the truth to an empowered retirement. Help your clients navigate their claiming age decisions with greater confidence, equipped with the essential truths they should consider before pushing the Social Security "on" button.
Allison McLeod's Federal Tax Updates for Business Entities - 4 Hour
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Online
4.00 Credits
Seismic changes in tax legislation is currently taking place, and the well-informed tax practitioner will want to attend this four hour program in order to stay abreast of these developments. This program will cover new court decisions, recent IRS publications, and the latest tax legislation that will impact businesses and individuals. The remaining time will be spent on IRS procedure and other issues. This course will provide a concise look at the hottest topics affecting every tax practitioner. **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.
Financial Decisions that Led Two Businessmen to Prison
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Online
2.00 Credits
Two college graduates built impressive careers: One worked in sales, the other in technology and investing. Both of those people made decisions in the course of their business that led to government investigations. They had to hire attorneys, go through judicial processes, face charges, and plead guilty. Each of those people are on their way to prison. Learn from the lessons they offer. We interview both financial professionals, and they tell us more about how their decisions influenced the consequences that followed. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Tax Depreciation: Review and Update
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Online
2.00 Credits
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.
Cryptocurrency Transactions: Navigating Federal Tax Rules
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Online
1.00 Credits
As cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and others become more popular, tax authorities around the world are working to create regulations for their use and transactions. This session will address cryptocurrency tax issues and their complexities and challenges that individuals and businesses face when dealing with the taxation of digital currencies. *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
FAQ Related to the Most Recent Audit Standards SAS Nos. 142-149
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Online
2.00 Credits
Recently issued generally accepted auditing standards were designed to enhance audit quality. This course will address the most commonly misapplied concepts and FAQ in properly implementing the new requirements in the way intended to achieve that goal.
Donating Cryptocurrency and Avoiding Traps for the Unwary
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Online
2.00 Credits
As the digital asset market continues to mature, more taxpayers may be contemplating blessing their favorite charitable organizations with gifts of cryptocurrency. Beneficiaries unfamiliar with digital assets may find it challenging to properly report any of these types of donations. Likewise, taxpayers will need to ensure that they properly value and substantiate any contributions or potentially risk their charitable deductions being denied. This course will provide a brief overview of digital assets. This will be followed by a discussion of the rules regarding the documentation required when claiming a charitable contribution of digital assets. This course will also cover recent IRS publications and cases discussing taxpayers whose deductions of digital assets charitable gifts was scrutinized. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Mergers & Acquisitions: Tips and Speed Bumps to Avoid
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Online
2.00 Credits
Mergers, acquisitions and alliances have been and continue to be major avenues to organizational growth and increased competitive advantage. Despite the great initial promise of many mergers and alliances, few seem to yield the anticipated results. Numerous studies indicate that between 55% and 77% of mergers fail to accomplish their intended purpose. This course helps financial professionals, and their advisors identify, execute, and consummate mergers and acquisitions that create shareholder value while avoiding the many traps that can cause post-acquisition failure.
K2'S Artificial Intelligence For Accounting And Financial Professionals
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Online
4.50 Credits
Discover the real-world power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and equip yourself with the skills to conquer modern challenges in accounting and finance. In this engaging course, we demystify AI and unveil its practical applications, transforming it from theory into a hands-on tool. Learn the essential AI fundamentals and unlock its remarkable potential to boost your productivity and effectiveness alongside your team. Explore the specific problem-solving capabilities of AI, tailored to address the unique challenges faced by accounting and financial professionals. Gain expertise in leveraging AI features integrated into everyday applications, including the ubiquitous Excel. Uncover how these features enable you to effortlessly detect fraud, identify potential transaction errors, and elevate your financial operations to new heights. Witness firsthand how AI is reshaping the present and future of your profession, positioning you at the forefront of this revolutionary wave.
Tax Power Ethics for Tax Professionals
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Online
2.00 Credits
Award winning discussion leader, former state accountancy board chair, and lifelong tax practitioner Mark Hugh will review ethics for tax professionals: the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and interpretations; the Statements on Standards for Tax Services; tax preparer standards in the Internal Revenue Code; the rules for practice with and before the IRS, including IRS Circular 230; new developments; and discuss examples of best practices and case studies.
How Much Are Your Ethics Worth?
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Online
2.00 Credits
Ethics are of central importance to the CPA profession. But what do we mean by ethics? Is it just appropriate behavior, compliance with laws, or is it more than that? In this course, we'll discover what sets ethics apart and, therefore, sets the profession apart as well. We'll explore the tools available, the role of bias, and dive into real life case studies. We'll apply the AICPA's ethical framework and detect where bias was involved in the case studies. We'll even discover that one person set the price tag on their ethics at $53.7 million, only to lose it all in the end. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Powerful Public Speaking
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Online
1.50 Credits
How you say what you say is more important than what you say. According to a UCLA study, 93% of a communicators effectiveness is based on non-verbal cues. This foundational program include a focus on the verbal, vocal and visual delivery techniques appropriate for the business environment, which can improve a speakers credibility, influence and impact. Depending on the course length other topics include; managing fear, organizing your presentation, increasing attention and interaction, handling questions, infusing humor, creating impactful visuals, and more.
Partnerships: How to Calculate Partner Basis
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Online
2.00 Credits
This program provides a detailed analysis of the calculations related to determining tax basis for a partnership interest. Illustrated examples with filled in forms will demonstrate how the processes works and their many potential pitfalls. *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
Income Tax Analysis: Exploring In-Depth Concepts
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Online
2.00 Credits
Financial statements prepared for stockholders and external users follow Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), while tax returns adhere to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). These frameworks differ in recognizing profitability, influencing reported income significantly. Companies often aim to minimize taxable income within legal bounds, while maintaining compliance with both financial reporting and tax regulations. - Timing Differences: Variations in income recognition and deductible expenses between GAAP and IRC create timing differences, impacting reported profitability and tax liabilities. - Deferred Tax Assets: Companies accrue deferred tax assets from overpaid taxes or carried-forward credits, which can offset future taxable income, reducing tax liabilities. - Deferred Tax Liabilities: When taxable income is less than reported income, deferred tax liabilities arise, necessitating future tax payments when temporary differences reverse. Join us to delve into these concepts, exploring how financial reporting choices and tax strategies shape a company's financial performance and compliance obligations. 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 Controllership Skills Update: Mergers, Acquisitions, and Alliances
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Online
2.00 Credits
Mergers, acquisitions, and partnering have long been strategic vehicles to grow or change an existing organization. Corporate America has extensive experience in merging with or acquiring firms. However, its track record of being able to unify an acquired firm with the acquirer and provide a single organization with increased growth potential has been somewhat shaky. This session provides a roadmap including specific actions for financial professionals focused on improving the results of an acquisition, sale, formation of an alliance, and/or outsourced activities. This program continues to be updated based upon trends and recent events. In addition to traditional topics, it includes discussions on the impact of taxes, corporate structures to manage M&A and internal venture capital, strategic spin-offs/splits, issues concerning goodwill, and managing outsourced activities. The program expands the topics covered in the Controllership Skills Update Series. As with the other programs, this brief session is aimed at renewing and expanding participants' existing skills, by providing specific actions to improve an organization's results. Real-world examples are used throughout the session.
Use of technology in an audit of financial statements - Risk Assessment
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Online
2.00 Credits
How technology can help auditors improve efficiency, effectiveness and quality [bold] Auditors are perpetually in pursuit of enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of their audits while upholding consistently high standards of quality. The integration of technology into the audit process can seamlessly accomplish these objectives. Join us as we delve into the insights of two distinguished members of the AICPA Auditing Standards Board's Technology Working Group, including its chairperson. You'll learn how technology can empower auditors to navigate the escalating demands of modern audits, particularly in the face of overwhelming data volumes, by harnessing available tools. Our presenters discuss common reasons auditors may resist using technology and why those reasons, even more commonly, are not always valid. Once you have an understanding that overcoming barriers to entry is possible, the Technology Working Group experts will guide you through the audit process. You'll explore key junctures where automated tools, techniques and commercial software solutions can revolutionize your audit methodology for the better. Our presenters then return to examine, in detail, how technology can help auditors during one of the most important steps in the process, the risk assessment. Highlighting benefits to efficiency and effectiveness, the new AICPA practice aid "Use of technology in an audit of financial statements" is the focus. Part I of this evolving practice aid takes a deep dive into risk assessment procedures. Walking through examples allows you to see how the guidance in the practice aid can assist in your daily work.
Fraud, Controls & Ethics: Best Practices & Case Studies
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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 ultimately provides practical, action-oriented insight that can be implemented by accounting professionals in both public practice and industry. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available for questions during the event.
Steps to Stop External Fraud
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Online
2.00 Credits
Until recently, a percentage of organizations discounted the risk related to external fraud attempts. Most were only concerned with protecting physical assets such as inventory or fixed assets. However, because of the many highly publicized corporate hacking events, such as the ones that affected the Colonial Pipeline and JBS Meats, more attention is being paid to external fraud risk of all types. In this session, we look at what is included in a definition of external fraud and then delve into specific control issues that can give rise to increased risk. We then discuss measures that organizations can employ to help reduce exposure to external attacks. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
AI for CPAs - How it Works and How to Apply it
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Online
4.00 Credits
Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini and many others are transforming the digital landscape of virtually every business, including CPA firms. We will demystify the complex world of generative AI in this informative session designed specifically for CPAs. We will break down the nuts and bolts of how generative AI works, making the technical aspects accessible and relevant. Equip yourself with the foundational knowledge to leverage AI in your practice or business. You will learn multiple examples of how you can apply generative AI tools in accounting, finance and tax to boost your team's productivity and improve the quality of your work product. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.