CPE Catalog & Events

Understanding your own and the people style of others whom you are dealing with which can establish rapport more easily, help you become more persuasive, and avoid miscommunication with the possibility of rubbing someone the wrong way.  In our session, you will gain insights into your people style, ways to improve communication connectivity and how to understand your team's functionality (or more likely dysfunctionality).  

This session focuses on the power of pivot tables within Microsoft Excel. We initially discuss the creation of pivot tables and various ways to summarize information. Then we explore ways to utilize summarized pivot table data. The course uses several practical examples that should inspire participants to find their own creative uses for pivot tables.

Many for-profit entities receive government assistance or are required to have financial statement or compliance audits due to law or regulation. This course will discuss the requirements under Generally Accepted Auditing Standards relevant to for-profit entity audits.

The IRS defines the "gig economy" as people earning income providing on-demand work, services, or goods on either a part-time or full-time basis. The economic times we live in are changing, and accounting and finance professionals must learn how the rules apply in this new gig economy. The tax rules that apply to gig workers challenge traditional ideas of who is an employee and who is an independent contractor, and accounting and finance professionals must have the knowledge to make this determination. This program addresses federal and state tax issues accounting and finance professionals must address with clients and their own workers.

Years of growth in a retirement account can be wiped out by one mistake. As such, retirement account owners and their advisors should take care to ensure that IRAs are operated in compliance with the governing regulations. This includes ensuring that distributions are handled properly, and that movement of retirement assets, including between IRAs and employer plans, does not violate the limitations that apply.

Even though they have been around for several years, the tax laws pertaining to S corporations remain some of the more difficult areas of the Internal Revenue Code. In this course, we will examine how S corporations break away from the normal tax rules for flow-through entities. We will explore which employee benefits are disallowed for S corporation shareholders, as well as which taxes are assessed at the entity level. Finally, we will discuss how state level taxation may have changed permanently with the addition of PTE elections.

This course addresses frequently encountered disclosures associated with the preparation of private company financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), or a "Special Purpose Framework"; (SPF), such as cash or tax basis. Learn to research presentation and disclosure requirements and examples using the FASB Codification and other resources. Understand frequent disclosure requirements such as contingencies, risks and uncertainties, accounting policies, revenue recognition, leases, credit losses, impairment, fair value, and much more. Know the additional disclosure requirements needed when preparing private company financial statements using a special purpose framework, such as cash or tax basis. 

This comprehensive fall tax update is designed to prepare the practitioner for the upcoming filing season by providing an in-depth analysis and update of the business tax provisions enacted under OBBBA. Participants will examine statutory changes affecting corporate, pass-through, and individual business taxation, including modifications to depreciation, credits, deductions, compliance requirements, and planning strategies.   *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  

Almost every business and individual has to file tax returns, which can be a great treasure trove of information for forensic accountants. Whether in a divorce, partnership dispute, recreating books and records, or bankruptcy proceeding, analyzing tax return information should be an initial step in uncovering income and assets. The IRS retains a large amount of information, both from taxpayers and 3rd parties who report financial transactions. This course will be your guide in gathering, analyzing, and evaluating tax return information, so that you have a full picture of the financial investigation. Your presenter is a 20 year veteran with IRS-Criminal Investigation, who used this information as a basis for his federal criminal investigations. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

New to AI? Start here. This beginner-friendly course explains how generative AI works, what terms like "LLM" and "agentic AI" really mean, and how CPAs can safely put these tools to use. You'll leave with a solid understanding of AI fundamentals and how they apply to accounting, tax, and finance. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Award winning discussion leader Mark Hugh discusses how to create and capture value with consulting services. Whether you want to consult a little or full time, this valuable course reviews identifying a specialty, growing a practice, capturing value, creating deliverables, and effective marketplace marketing strategies.  

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the business valuation process, beginning with key terminology, professional standards, and the rules that guide the appraisal profession. Participants will explore the three primary approaches to value—Asset, Income, and Market—before focusing in depth on the Asset Approach. The course examines when and why this method is used, its advantages and limitations, and how to apply it effectively in real-world scenarios. Through practical examples and clear explanations of each of the three methods within the Asset Approach, learners will gain both the confidence and competence to apply valuation principles in their professional practice.

In 2020, Congress passed the Trademark Modernization Act ("TMA"), the first major overhaul of Federal Trademark Law since 1946. The TMA enacted some new USPTO proceedings while updating existing proceedings. This seminar seeks to provide CPAs & their clients with an overview of the changes brought about by the TMA while also providing attendees with helpful takeaways that could be applied with their existing trademarks and for action against competitors.

Have you ever met an accountant who exhibits solid technical prowess but possesses lackluster communication skills? It is not unusual to meet a savvy accountant who is a technical expert, but could enhance the delivery of written and spoken words. This course is designed to help CPAs improve their written and verbal communication skills. Participants will learn how to tailor communication to their audience, with particular emphasis on techniques for crafting a message that effectively conveys technical information in an engaging manner. The course's author will share personal success tips gleaned from more than two decades of experience communicating myriad topics to a variety of audiences.

This course provides a comprehensive analysis of the taxation issues affecting the cannabis industry. It covers the historical context of U.S. taxation, the distinctions between industrial hemp and marijuana, and the specific tax codes and regulations that apply to the cannabis business. Participants will gain insights into state marijuana laws, the unique challenges of a cash-intensive industry, and pertinent federal court cases. *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

Performing engagements in accordance with Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS), commonly referred to as the "Yellow Book," involves additional reporting, ethics, and performance requirements that go beyond those outlined in AICPA Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS). This course provides an overview of the guidance found in the Yellow Book and explores its relationship with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct. Participants will gain an understanding of the unique CPE requirements for GAGAS engagements and review the Yellow Book standards for financial statement audits, with a focus on ethical principles and independence. This course is designed to equip professionals with the foundational knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of Yellow Book engagements effectively.  

This practical program provides accounting professionals with actionable strategies for evaluating and implementing technology solutions that drive firm growth and efficiency. Participants will examine case studies showcasing different organizational approaches to hardware, software, cloud, and on-premises solutions while addressing the unique needs of remote workers and in-office teams. The program focuses on immediate implementation techniques rather than theoretical frameworks, ensuring attendees can apply concepts directly within their practice environments. Through examination of diverse organizational examples, participants will identify practical technology assessment methods and implementation approaches suited to various firm sizes and client service models. The program addresses common technology adoption challenges while providing concrete strategies for managing organizational change and measuring technology investment outcomes. Attendees will gain ready-to-use tools for building technology roadmaps that enhance both operational efficiency and client service delivery capabilities.

This course introduces the new OBBA standards that redefine how research and experimentation are reported. Participants will learn key regulatory updates, compliance expectations, and best practices for aligning research activities with OBBA's principles of transparency, accountability, and innovation. **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.

This program reviews the statutory and regulatory guidance as they relate to fringe benefits. There will be an emphasis on entertainment, meals and business transportation expenses, including qualified employer-provided parking, with a focus on planning opportunities. An OBBBA of 2025 update, cases and rulings will also be addressed.   *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  

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.