CPE Catalog & Events

Participants will go over the changes on preparation, compilation and review engagements using SSARS rules, followed by a general overview of how to perform these services. This interactive workshop is designed for practitioners in small and medium-sized CPA firms and will include a lecture with generous time for questions and case studies.

Unlock the full potential of Excel and transform your operational and financial reports like never before. With cutting-edge tools such as Data Models, Power Query, Data Analysis Expressions, and Power Pivot, you can create powerful summaries and schedules in record time. Combine these with Excel's legacy features, and you have a game-changing opportunity to elevate your reporting environment. Join our fast-paced seminar to discover the magic of Power Query and how it seamlessly links data into Excel data models, enabling more efficient and insightful reporting. Learn to incorporate Key Performance Indicators, Slicers, and Timelines into your reports to enhance data analytics and understandability. Plus, master best practices for quickly and efficiently formatting your spreadsheets, giving them a polished and professional appearance. This course is a must for anyone using Excel for reporting processes. Elevate your skills and stay ahead of the curve with our expert guidance. You will truly learn how you can revolutionize your Excel-based reporting practices by participating in this session.

Discover the power of QuickBooks Online (QBO)! Intuit's cloud-based accounting platform has evolved and thrived over the past decade, now generating approximately five times the revenue of its desktop counterpart. Yet, many accountants and business professionals are still unaware of the extensive features QBO offers. Unlock the advantages of the subscription model and learn how to leverage QBO to manage inventory, enhance internal controls, create presentation-quality financial statements, and seamlessly migrate from QuickBooks Desktop or other accounting platforms. Join our dynamic session to explore the best practices for implementing, using, and excelling with QuickBooks Online.  Don't miss out on the opportunity to elevate your accounting game with this surprisingly robust platform!

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.

Your client database is more than a record of past engagements-it's a goldmine of untapped opportunity. In this practical and forward-thinking session, accounting professionals will learn how to strategically analyze and segment their existing client data to uncover new service opportunities, deepen relationships, and drive sustainable revenue growth. From identifying cross-selling potential to leveraging automation tools for proactive outreach, this webinar will equip firm leaders and client managers with actionable strategies to turn dormant data into dynamic business development. Whether you're a solo practitioner or part of a larger firm, you'll walk away with a roadmap for transforming your client list into a revenue-generating engine. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Literally thousands of individual taxpayers may have increased deductions or exclusions from gross income as a result of the Disaster Relief Act of 2023 and OBBBA of 2025. Casualty provisions are retroactive to December 19, 2019 through late 2025. Both low and high-income taxpayers may benefit from RETROACTIVE AND CURRENT deductions. There are also exclusions of payments received as compensation for wildfire damages — retroactive to 2014! This course will review these provisions which can bring substantial tax savings to 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 terri.storer@acpen.com  

This session provides insights for enhancing the preparation and utilization of budgets. Seasoned accountants will benefit from a refreshed awareness of popular techniques.  Budding financial professionals will obtain novel insight regarding fundamental budgeting concepts. All participants will develop an appreciation for the holistic nature of budgeting as an integral tool for planning and control. 

The new Global Internal Audit Standards were released on January 9, 2024, and will become effective January 9, 2025. The previous version, the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing, released in 2017, remains approved for use during a one-year transition period. The Global Internal Audit Standards guide the worldwide professional practice of internal audit. They serve as a basis for evaluating and elevating the quality of the internal audit function. The Standards use 15 guiding principles with five separate domains that enable effective internal audit implementation and examples of evidence of conformance. The Global Standards are organized into five domains. Domain I: Purpose of Internal Auditing Domain II: Ethics and Professionalism Domain III: Governing the Internal Audit Function Domain IV: Managing the Internal Audit Function Domain V: Performing Internal Audit Service

This program presents a detailed analysis of the self-rental passive activity rules, including forms reporting examples and integrates them with the flow-through entity rules related to self-rental.   *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  

The budget and the forecast are two common tools used by controllers and CFOs across almost every industry. However, are we really getting the most out of these tools? Or are we merely replicating whatever was done last year? In this course, we will use examples and illustrations to demonstrate various budgeting and forecasting techniques. We will discuss traditional approaches, as well as newer approaches such as flexible budgeting, in an effort to show how companies can gain more value. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

This business coaching course is designed to enhance your coaching effectiveness by integrating innovative tools like ChatGPT (Generative AI) to support and elevate your coaching practice. You'll explore the key differences and similarities between coaching and managing, uncover the most important skill every coach should master, and learn how to get to the root cause of any problem. With hands-on coaching strategies, including neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) techniques, you'll enhance your ability to drive results. Additionally, you’ll discover how to use performance gap analysis to identify and bridge gaps, ensuring the success and growth of the individuals you coach.

Navigating the complexities of business transactions requires a deep understanding of tax and estate planning strategies. In this comprehensive course tailored for financial professionals, participants will explore the intricacies of creative approaches to buying, selling, or gifting a business. Through real-world scenarios and practical insights, attendees will gain invaluable expertise in identifying tax risks, minimizing liabilities, and safeguarding assets. From evaluating valuation methods to exploring the details of stock versus asset purchases, this course equips you with the essential tools to provide informed counsel to clients. Discover the potential for strategic success as you master topics including estate transfer and tax implications, gifting strategies, and the utilization of various trusts and partnerships. Whether you're a CPA, EA, attorney, or financial planner, this course offers indispensable knowledge to elevate your practice. With a recommended 8 credit hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE), this intermediate-level course is designed for professionals with a foundational understanding of business tax and estate planning. Join us and immerse yourself in a journey towards mastery in the vibrant landscape of business transactions. **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.

In today's fast-paced business environment, internal controls are more crucial than ever, especially for small organizations. However, many small businesses face significant challenges in implementing effective internal control structures. Our comprehensive program is designed to help you evaluate, develop, and implement a robust internal control system tailored to the unique needs of small businesses. Join us to learn how to assess risks and implement preventive, detective, deterrent, and compensating controls to mitigate these risks, even in the absence of proper segregation of duties. Our program also covers technology-focused techniques for preventing and detecting fraud, securing information systems, and protecting sensitive data. Don't let the complexities of internal controls overwhelm you. Our expert-led sessions will provide you with the insights and tools necessary to design, implement, and monitor effective internal controls, security measures, and anti-fraud strategies. Ensure your small business is safeguarded against risks and positioned for success.

CPAs can be requested to assist attorneys in litigation support in criminal proceedings. For criminal tax cases, the IRS has recommended prosecution. However, the rules and stakes are different than a simple civil audit. This presentation will focus on how to assist defense attorneys in calculating tax loss, asking the right questions, and probe possible weaknesses in criminal tax investigations. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Stay current on significant developments affecting Single Audits with this focused update on recent regulatory and professional guidance. This course reviews the 2024 Uniform Guidance overhaul, including the increase in the Single Audit threshold to $1 million and other changes impacting audit planning and execution. The course also examines Appendix B of the 2025 GAS/Single Audit Guide issued by the AICPA, highlighting updates that affect audit efficiency and compliance considerations. In addition, participants will receive updates on recent guidance issued through Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memoranda, as well as reporting-related changes, including the transition from the Federal Audit Clearinghouse's prior systems to SAM.gov-based reporting. This course is designed to help auditors understand how these developments affect Single Audit requirements and what to watch for as expectations continue to evolve.  

The accounting profession stands at a critical inflection point where artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are reshaping how firms operate, serve clients, and compete in the marketplace. This course, based on the 2025 CPA Firm Tech Report, provides expert guidance on overcoming the five key challenges that prevent firms from successfully adopting transformative technologies: decision paralysis from overwhelming choices, leadership resistance to change, difficulty proving ROI, growing cybersecurity risks, and critical skills gaps. Through real-world case studies and insights from industry leaders, participants will learn practical strategies for evaluating AI solutions, implementing change management frameworks, and building a technology-forward culture that enhances both efficiency and client value. Participants will explore the CPA Firm Digital Maturity Model to assess their firm's readiness for transformation, examine the evolving AI ecosystem specifically designed for accounting applications, and discover how leading firms are leveraging AI to move beyond traditional compliance work toward high-value advisory services. The course addresses critical considerations for firms of all sizes, from solo practitioners to large regional firms, providing actionable frameworks for prioritizing technology investments, measuring success beyond traditional ROI metrics, and developing the hybrid talent needed to thrive in an AI-enhanced future. Whether you're a firm leader hesitant about technology adoption or a forward-thinking professional ready to champion change, this course equips you with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the technology revolution transforming the accounting profession. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

This session explores tools and techniques that can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of client engagements and business processes using data analysis tools. We will introduce some of today's popular and software tools and examine the AICPA's Five-step approach to incorporating data analytics into public accounting engagements.

Every business will be sold eventually. When you have built a great business and decide to move on – you want the most you can get for that terrific organization! What are the steps to take to maximize the value realized? What do buyers really want? What are the three levers to achieve maximum value? If you want top dollar, preparing to sell takes years of planning. This seminar helps CEOs, entrepreneurs, CFOs, Board members, controllers, and their advisors prepare for a successful sale of the organization to maximize shareholder value. We will outline the process to get the most bang for the buck. Proper exit planning demands planning and time.

Internal controls (IC) are critical to the effective functioning of all processes. The importance of proper and relevant documentation can be viewed as a burden. Strong, relevant documentation is critical to ensure organizations can adequately monitor, manage, and adjust their processes in line with business objectives. This requirement extends far beyond internal controls over financial reporting.  Management must first establish appropriate responsibilities for IC.   Personnel must have a strong understanding of the types and methods of IC and how they relate to their jobs.  Controls should be well documented. Documentation methods must meet organizational needs and be sufficient for personnel to understand. This course will further evaluate the responsibilities of employees, management, and auditors in understanding their role in internal control as well as evaluating documentation methods.

Many accounting and finance practitioners have had difficulty understanding and applying the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Accounting and finance practitioners are still confused and challenged by many of the new and extended tax provisions that the OBBBA delivered. Mastering these crucial provisions requires multiple exposures to these challenging tax changes. This program is a four-hour review and analysis of the most important changes from the OBBBA that impact both individual and business taxpayers. This course affords accounting and finance practitioners an opportunity to gain a broader, deeper understanding of this wide-ranging set of new tax rules, to grasp what is new and what is a continuance of prior rules, and to develop deeper planning insights into the many changes that the OBBBA contains. To the extent that the Treasury has provided guidance relating to OBBBA changes, we will discuss that guidance. We will also point out areas where Treasury guidance would be useful and areas where guidance is expected.