CPE Catalog & Events

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.  

The Enhancing Audit Quality Initiative has identified inadequate or nonexistent audit documentation as one of the most significant issues facing the profession today. Over half of the engagements reviewed by the AICPA failed to meet the requirements of AU-C 230, highlighting a critical need for improvement. This course addresses common misconceptions about audit documentation and provides actionable strategies to overcome these deficiencies. Attendees will learn best practices to ensure compliance with professional standards, enhance audit quality, and mitigate risks associated with poor documentation. Whether you are an experienced professional or new to auditing, this course will help you strengthen your documentation practices and uphold the highest standards of the profession.  

Do you ever get blank looks when you present your company's financial statements?  Does your board nod knowingly, during your presentation, but never seem to have any meaningful questions?  It could be that they have no idea what you are talking about and are just pretending to understand!  Learn how to connect with your CEO, board, fellow managers, and ordinary employees so they understand your message.

Unlock the full potential of data analytics with our specialized course, "Leverage PowerBI.com to Create Data Analysis for Others". This two-hour, intensive training is specifically designed to empower professionals in harnessing the powerful features of Microsoft PowerBI.com. Whether you're a data analyst, business intelligence professional, or someone keen on mastering data visualization and report creation, this course is your gateway to becoming a proficient Power BI user. Dive into the dynamic world of data analytics and learn to transform raw data into visually compelling stories that drive decision-making. Our expertly crafted program offers a deep dive into the essentials of PowerBI.com, starting with a comprehensive tour of its interface and core concepts. You'll gain experience in connecting to diverse data sources, creating stunning visualizations, and building interactive dashboards that communicate insights effectively. The course also covers the innovative Q&A feature of PowerBI.com, allowing you to explore data with natural language queries. By mastering the art of sharing datasets, reports, and dashboards, and creating comprehensive apps, you'll be equipped to deliver top-tier data analysis solutions to colleagues and clients alike. Through this course, attendees will gain a deep understanding of how to leverage the PowerBI.com platform to disseminate datasets, reports, and dashboards, catering to the specific needs of their audience. Our course is tailored for those who aspire to lead in the data-driven landscape, offering not just theoretical knowledge but real-world applications. Upon completion, participants will not only have a thorough understanding of PowerBI.com but also the confidence to apply this tool in creating impactful data analysis for diverse audiences. Join us to elevate your professional skillset, make data-driven decisions with ease, and add a valuable credential to your portfolio. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Surveys show that the average North American company completes its monthly financial statement closing in six days. However, some companies can close their books in one day or less. You don't have to sacrifice accuracy for speed. This session will show you how to close month-end faster, better and cheaper.

Does your firm have an interest in expanding its services beyond traditional CPA services?  Do you have staff with the expertise to compete against non-CPA firms? Welcome to a course that will lead you through the maze of creating a successful Consulting Business Practice for your CPA firm. The course will help you understand where consulting business opportunities exist, what are the firm’s professional responsibilities, how to recognize the needs of the client and how the practice can be leveraged using AI.

Freelance work and other non-permanent employment arrangements are becoming increasingly popular ways for people to earn a living. Although these non-traditional activities offer novel, flexible ways to earn income from diverse sources, they also introduce nuanced recordkeeping, reporting, and attestation issues. We investigate characteristics of the gig economy, employee-versus-contractor considerations, bookkeeping, regulatory compliance, and external reporting considerations. We also explore best practices for CPAs who fulfill the role of trusted advisor for gig economy clients. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Gear up for tax season with Steve Dilley's annual update! This program provides an update to the latest tax developments, rules and regulations affecting both business and individual taxpayers, including a review and integration of 2025-26 legislation and substantial update of OBBBA provisions.   *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  

Professional credibility is communicated, not assumed. In this 1-CPE session (Professional Development), participants examine structured approaches to articulating their professional identity. Drawing directly from the course framework, the session covers development of an elevator pitch, a professional value proposition, and a concise executive biography. Participants will analyze how credibility is established through clarity, relevance, and alignment with audience needs. The course emphasizes service-centered communication rather than self-promotion and provides structured guidance for refining professional messaging in leadership and client-facing contexts. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Poorly handled conflicts can lead to break downs in communication, reduced morale, and higher turnover. However, when managed well, conflict has the potential to bring value to the organization and the team. Conflict is a costly and often mishandled occurrence in the workplace. Successful conflict resolution occurs by listening to and providing opportunities to meet each side needs, and adequately addressing their interests so that they are each satisfied with the outcome. In this you will learn the different conflict modes, how to choose the appropriate strategy for your situation, and how relationships impact your ability to promote the positive outcomes and minimize the negative outcomes of conflict.

Financial forecasting is an important part of any successful business. It enables businesses to plan for the future and anticipate scenarios based on strategy. The controller helps forecast financials by calculating future revenue and income streams. In recent years, corporate finance has undergone many dramatic changes due to the growth of a number of high-tech tools. The responsibilities/competencies of the Financial Controller position (FC) has changed in recent years To maximize performance, Controllers must be aware of how the FC position is changing, and how they must adjust to these changes. There are many types and methods of financial forecasting. This course will review the most prevalent forecasts and relative methods being used.

External auditors understand concepts like materiality, reasonableness, and risk of material misstatement.  This course will explain how to think like an auditor when preparing and fairly presenting your financial statements and related disclosures.

When auditing management's accounting estimates, increased professional skepticism is necessary as there is always the potential for bias in areas of increased subjectivity & complexity. This course will demonstrate procedures to test the process used by management to develop estimates, as well as walk through common examples of accounting estimates that are included in the financial statements. It includes the updated requirements in SAS 143. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

As tax policies and economic conditions continue to evolve, staying ahead in fringe benefit planning is more essential than ever. This course provides financial professionals with a comprehensive update on fringe benefit strategies, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations while maximizing tax efficiency for businesses and individuals. Participants will explore the latest legislative and regulatory updates impacting employer-sponsored benefits, IRC §132 fringe benefits, cafeteria plans, and retirement healthcare strategies. This course also examines ERISA reporting requirements, tax-efficient compensation planning, and healthcare benefits, offering practical applications to help practitioners navigate compliance and optimize benefits for their clients. *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

A detailed analysis of the calculations related to determining a shareholder's tax basis for S corporation shares and loans. How to use the Form 1120S, Schedule K-1 information for basis determination. An illustrative example demonstrates how the process works, as well as the many potential pitfalls. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

With over 7 million businesses relying on QuickBooks Online, one thing is clear: excellent financial reporting isn't optional - it's essential. Yet many users struggle to access the insights they need, often limited by subscription tiers or simply unaware of the powerful tools at their fingertips-that's where this session comes in. This session is your fast track to mastering QuickBooks Online's reporting capabilities. Whether you're a small business owner, accountant, or financial manager, you'll discover how to: Build and customize Standard, Custom, and Management Reports Leverage the new Spreadsheet Sync tool to create dynamic, multi-company reports in Excel Uncover hidden features that help you make smarter, faster decisions If you're ready to transform your data into actionable insights and finally get the reports you need, this session is your game-changer. Join us and take control of your QuickBooks Online reporting like never before!

Business leaders often struggle to engage meaningfully with their IT teams about critical technology decisions that impact organizational success. This structured program presents ten essential questions every executive should discuss with their technology professionals to ensure proper oversight of cybersecurity, infrastructure, and strategic technology initiatives. Participants will gain confidence in addressing complex topics including network security protocols, backup procedures, cloud governance, and remote work policies through targeted questioning frameworks that drive actionable outcomes. The course systematically addresses ten critical areas where executive oversight proves essential for business continuity and growth. Attendees will develop practical communication strategies to bridge the gap between business objectives and technology capabilities, ensuring their organizations maintain competitive advantage while managing digital risks effectively. Each question framework provides executives with the tools needed to evaluate current technology practices, identify vulnerabilities, and guide strategic technology investments that support organizational goals in today's rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Do you use Microsoft (Office) 365? Are you satisfied that you are getting the most that you can from it? If you answered yes then no, this course will provide a really high return on your investment of time and money in this application suite. John Higgins, one of the profession's leading experts on the integration of Microsoft 365 into business, will explain and demonstrate the depth and breadth of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. The course is designed to raise your awareness of all that you can do with Microsoft 365 and substantially increase your monthly subscription ROI. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

This course is one of the courses dedicated to our Controllership series. This series of courses 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 will discuss the area of inventory. This specific segment in the first part of a two-part series on inventory. We explore how the controller can move these responsibilities into more of a strategic role. This course takes a look at some of the typical concepts and duties involved in the inventory function that is sometimes viewed as operational roles. We explore how these areas are strongly tied to the importance of the controllership role and how the controller can add value in each area.    

Sampling is often identified as a common audit deficiency in peer review. This course will review when is sampling applicable and basics of planning a sample. We'll then focus on the application of sampling in financial statement audits with a look at sampling for substantive procedures. We'll look at the use of monetary unit sampling and tools that can be leveraged to reduce bias in sampling.