CPE Catalog & Events

Existing and potential CFF candidates are directed to our news brief and on-demand webinar links to learn more about product replacements as the CFF Credential emerges anew with a Global Makeover in 2022! What awaits? Distinction. Pride. Opportunity. Because each forensic accounting engagement is unique with its facts and objectives, the forensic accountant needs to use appropriate specialized forensic knowledge, tools and procedures during the engagement. A basic knowledge of each area is helpful. However, no one practitioner would be expected to know them all, but rather would seek expert assistance where necessary. Through narration by industry subject matter experts and application exercises, this certificate program covers unique areas of a forensic engagement including bankruptcy, business/individual/intellectual property damages, mergers and acquisitions, family law, divorce and more. This certificate program was developed to assist you in customizing your professional development goals in one of the following ways: Acquiring new skills and earning a certificate in a growing practice area Learn new skills, enhance your existing competency or take a deep dive into this growing practice area. You'll gain new comprehension that will allow you to demonstrate your proficiency and stand out among your peers. Earn the certificate by completing the required learning and passing the Specialized Forensics Knowledge exam. Once you complete the Specialized Forensic Accounting Certificate, if you haven't already done so, consider earning the Core Forensic Accounting Certificate. Beginning the pathway to completing the CFF Credential Use the certificate program as a more flexible way to earn your CFF Credential. The Specialized Forensic Accounting Certificate program covers topics found in the Content Specification Outline (CSO) for the CFF Credential exam. Successful completion of the Specialized and the Core Forensic Accounting Certificate program will fulfill the education requirements needed to earn the CFF credential*. The flexibility in earning both of these certificates saves you approximately 20 CPE hours versus having to earn 75 CPE credits if you opt to not utilize these programs. *Earning both the Core & Specialized Forensic Accounting Certificates does not indicate you are certified in financial forensics. You must still pass the separate CFF exam, and meet the 1,000-hour experience and other credential requirements to earn your CFF credential. To learn more about CFF Credential including the requirements, the application process, and how to maintain the credential visit aicpa.org/cff. Earning CPE credits to maintain your existing CFF Credential Existing CFF Credential holders can use the education to earn CPE credits needed to maintain the credential. You can customize your learning experience using any of the individual course modules listed below. The online education will be available in your account for one year from the date you purchase it. Upon successfully completing the learning, your certificate will be awarded in the form of a digital badge to be proudly displayed anywhere on the web-a personal blog, a social network like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or Mozilla Open Badges, a biographical page on a company website, or an online resume. Courses included: Bankruptcy - Part 1 and Part 2 Electronic Data Analysis Business Damages Concepts and Calculations Individual Damages Concepts and Calculations - Part 1 and Part 2 Intellectual Property Damages Concepts and Calculations - Part 1 and Part 2 Mergers & Acquisitions Family Law and Divorce Engagements - Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 Financial Statement Fraud, Corruption, and Asset Misappropriation - Part 1 and Part 2 Fraud Provisions and Engagements - Part 1 and Part 2 Valuation Practices in Forensic Engagements - Part 1 and Part 2

This video-based CPE course is included in the Not-for-Profit Certificate II Program. It can be purchased individually or as a part of the Not-for-Profit Certificate II - Financial Reporting track. How does your not-for-profit (NFP) evaluate financial performance? Of all the financial statements, the statement of activities is among the most useful to an NFP's managers and constituents. The statement of activities reports revenues, gains, expenses, and losses for the period. It is a useful tool in assessing an NFP's service efforts and its ability to continue to provide services to sustainably carry out its mission. There are numerous ways in which an NFP's statement of activities differs from the income statement of a for-profit business. For example, to properly present revenues and gains, one will need to understand how donorimposed stipulations affect classification. This CPE course offers you detail-rich interpretations and case studies that will help you learn to prepare an NFP's statement of activities. Included as a course resource is a sample statement of activities. Note: As of August 1, 2018, the content of this course has been significantly updated to reflect implementation of FASB Accounting Standards Updates (ASUs) effective for most not-for-profit entities for their next financial reporting period, including those related to financial statement presentation (ASU 2016-14) and revenue recognition (ASU 2014-09 and ASU 2018-08). If you started but did not complete Not-for-Profit Certificate II prior to July 31, click here to find out how this and related course updates affect you. If you completed the program prior to July 31 and would like to retake only those courses with significant updates for new standards, click here to learn about the Certificate II Update Pack.

This video-based CPE course is included in the Not-for-Profit Certificate II Program. It can be purchased individually or as a part of the Not-for-Profit Certificate II - Financial Reporting track. A statement of cash flows is necessary to comply with GAAP, which is required of for-profit and not-for-profit (NFP) businesses alike. However, NFPs are required to comply with unique industry-specific guidance that applies only to them. For example, when an NFP receives cash with a donor-imposed restriction or holds cash for the purposes of a long-term endowment, debt-service reserve, quasi endowment, or future acquisition of property, those activities will require special reporting consideration. This CPE course offers you detail-rich examples and case studies. Learn the nuances of NFP financial reporting and get the information you need to successfully prepare a statement of cash flows. You will have an opportunity to download a sample NFP statement of cash flows, which is included in your course materials. Note: As of August 1, 2018, course content has been updated to reflect implementation of FASB Accounting Standards Updates (ASUs) effective for most not-for-profit entities for their next financial reporting period, including those related to financial statement presentation (ASU 2016-14) and revenue recognition (ASU 2014-09 and ASU 2018-08).

This video-based CPE course is included in the Not-for-Profit Certificate II Program. It can be purchased individually or as a part of the Not-for-Profit Certificate II - Financial Reporting track. A not-for-profit (NFP) organization's statement of financial position (SFP) is a vital tool to communicate information about an organization's liquidity, financial flexibility and ongoing sustainability. NFPs have unique reporting requirements that differ from other businesses. Identifying how to properly group and classify assets and liabilities will ensure your organization is meeting GAAP requirements. This CPE course offers you detail-rich examples and case studies that will help you account for common transactions and successfully prepare an NFP's statement of financial position. Included as a course resource is a sample NFP statement of financial position. Note: As of August 1, 2018, the content of this course has been significantly updated to reflect implementation of FASB Accounting Standards Updates (ASUs) effective for most not-for-profit entities for their next financial reporting period, including those related to financial statement presentation (ASU 2016-14) and revenue recognition (ASU 2014-09 and ASU 2018-08). If you started but did not complete Not-for-Profit Certificate II prior to July 31, click here to find out how this and related course updates affect you. If you completed the program prior to July 31 and would like to retake only those courses with significant updates for new standards, click here to learn about the Certificate II Update Pack.

This video-based CPE course is included in the Not-for-Profit Certificate II Program. It can be purchased individually or as a part of the Not-for-Profit Certificate II - Financial Reporting track. Like many other businesses, not-for-profits (NFPs) incur costs such as salaries, rent, and utilities. Unique to NFPs is the requirement that those expenses be classified in the financial statements according to the purpose, or function, for which they were used. The statement of functional expenses assists readers of the NFP's financial statements in associating expenses with the service efforts and accomplishments of the organization. Users of this information include donors, volunteers, rating agencies, creditors, and constituents of the NFP. A well-designed expense allocation system and corresponding statement of functional expenses is of utmost importance for successful reporting in the NFP environment. This CPE course offers you detail-rich examples and case studies that will help you allocate costs and accurately prepare the statement of functional expenses. Included in the course resources are various financial statement examples and common ratios used in analyzing NFP financial statements. Note: As of August 1, 2018, course content has been updated to reflect implementation of FASB Accounting Standards Updates (ASUs) effective for most not-for-profit entities for their next financial reporting period, including those related to financial statement presentation (ASU 2016-14) and revenue recognition (ASU 2014-09 and ASU 2018-08).

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.

Both businesses and individual clients face major changes as a result of tax reform, and tax professionals face the considerable challenge of delivering effective planning advice and services to address this myriad of recent developments. This course addresses this challenge and also encompasses the latest tax legislation applicable to individual and business clients. Continually updated to reflect enacted legislation.

This course is designed to assist practitioners in preparing Offers in Compromise (OIC). After this course, you should have an understanding of how proper planning can make a significant difference in the amount eventually paid to the IRS and the resulting financial well-being of your client. This program covers the basics, from choosing the proper forms to utilize through the filing of an appeal if necessary. We will also explain how to increase your chances of having your OIC approved by the IRS by going over the complexities involved.

If you work with governments and not-for-profits, a thorough understanding of the Yellow Book is essential. This course will equip you with a comprehensive knowledge of the Yellow Book requirements and increase your confidence and proficiency in performing Yellow Book audits. The course materials utilize a highly illustrative and innovative format including over 20 focused exercises on key practice issues.

If you work with governments and not-for-profits, a thorough understanding of the Yellow Book is essential. This course will equip you with a comprehensive knowledge of the Yellow Book requirements and increase your confidence and proficiency in performing Yellow Book audits. The course materials utilize a highly illustrative and innovative format including over 20 focused exercises on key practice issues.

When exit planning, it is important to weigh various issues, including tax implications, to achieve an effective management and/or ownership change. Many envision tax-free reorganizations being the most preferable structure to avoid capital gains tax, but the opportunities come at a cost to the seller. This course will provide a well-rounded discussion of the various strategies to consider when advising on exiting a business.

Many small- and mid-size entities hold fewer complex investments including alternative investments. This module will provide an overview for evaluating the proper recognition, measurement, and disclosure of common investment types as well as how to audit them. Derivatives and other more complex investments will be discussed in another module. (Please Note: This module is part of Surgent's Audit Skills Training: Level 2.)

Cash and cash equivalents tend to be one of the first areas assigned to new auditors since it tends to be straightforward with less complexity and risk as other areas. In addition, there is little subjectivity involved and persuasive audit evidence from a third-party is generally available. Interestingly enough, this is an area that can have a significant risk of misappropriation of assets if the appropriate level of segregation of duties and other internal controls is not present. New auditors should approach cash with the same professional skepticism as other areas since there is always the risk of material misstatement. (Please Note: This module is part of Surgent's Audit Skills Training: Level 1.)

Designed for accounting and auditing practitioners at all levels in both public accounting and business and industry, this course provides an overview of recently issued AICPA auditing and attest standards that will be effective for December 31, 2022 audits and beyond. Next, the course will review ethics interpretations recently issued by the Professional Ethics Executive Committee and review the current status of the AICPA's proposed Statements on Quality Control Standards.

This course provides an overview of the accounting requirements with respect to accounting changes and error corrections and the reporting implications within an entity's financial statements. The scope of accounting changes includes a discussion of changes in accounting principles, changes in accounting estimates, as well as changes of a reporting entity. The course also provides an overview of the accounting requirements of correcting errors in previously issued financial statements as well as restatement considerations. A majority of the information included within this course is sourced from the requirements found within FASB ASC Topic No 250, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections.

In addition to being experts on the nuts and bolts of accounting and auditing, experienced auditors must also be aware of the emerging trends in our industry, as well as those complex topics with which we don't need to deal on an everyday basis. In this session, we'll cover some of those emerging and challenging topics. First, we'll review technology hot trends and how they will likely impact your clients and how you will need to address them in your audit risk assessments and procedures. Next, as the FASB continues to implement more opportunities to value assets and liabilities at their fair value, we'll review the accounting definition of fair value and how it's determined. Lastly, we'll review two areas that use fair value concepts pervasively, accounting for business combinations and asset impairment. With a sound understanding of the basic accounting concepts related to these complex topics, auditors will be able to significantly enhance the level of services that they can provide to their clients. (Please Note: This module is part of Surgent's Audit Skills Training: Level 4.)

This course provides an overview of the accounting requirements with respect to accounting principle changes. The scope of accounting changes includes a discussion of changes in accounting principles, changes in accounting estimates, as well as changes of a reporting entity. A majority of the information included within this course is sourced from the requirements found within FASB ASC Topic No. 250, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections.

ASC 326 significantly changes the accounting for credit losses. Given its pervasive scope, virtually every company will need to at least assess the impact of the new ASC 326 guidance and potentially record a material adjustment to implement the new accounting guidance. In this module, we will review the scope of ASC 326, the key provisions of the accounting model and how entities can estimate credit losses for a variety of in-scope financial assets. As the CECL and other credit loss methodologies under ASC 326 represent accounting estimates, the module will also review both the current and soon to be effective auditing guidance related to this often complex area. (Please Note: This module is part of Surgent's Audit Skills Training: Level 5.)

Revenue is often one of the largest and most significant line items in a company's financial statements. It is also the line item that is most susceptible to fraud. Further, all companies reporting under U.S. GAAP have either recently completed or are completing their transition to a complex new accounting standard for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers, ASC 606. Clearly it is imperative that all auditors have a detailed understanding of both ASC 606 and how to effectively audit revenue transactions. In this session of the Surgent Audit Skills Series, we'll review the key elements of ASC 606, including the new disclosure requirements for private companies under the new standard. Then, we'll focus on how to audit revenue, including the elements of an effective risk assessment related to revenue, key controls over the revenue process and substantive procedures. This information with both provides you with the information to audit revenue effectively and efficiently and comply with relevant auditing standards related to revenue. (Please Note: This module is part of Surgent's Audit Skills Training: Level 3.)