CPE Catalog & Events

Internal Control is designed to provide reasonable assurance to achieve the entity's objectives related to financial reporting, effectiveness and efficiency of operations and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. It safeguards assets against unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition and may include controls relating to financial reporting and operating objectives. Auditors should understand internal control relevant to the audit and the application of professional judgment. Most audit-related controls relate to financial reporting. However, not all controls related to financial reporting are appropriate for audits. Therefore, the auditor should evaluate the design of controls and determine whether they have been implemented by performing procedures and the inquiry of the entity's personnel.

With recent high-profile cybersecurity breaches and increased practitioner and regulatory attention, organizations are under pressure to consider the accounting implications of these attacks and develop appropriate responses. Specifically, cybersecurity events may affect organizations; operations, financial and non-financial performance, and ultimately its stakeholders. To address how cybersecurity issues may affect accounting, this paper presents an Event, Impact, Response Framework to discuss current research and consider implications for both practitioners and researchers. The Framework highlights how practitioners may rely on research findings to better assess cybersecurity threats, understand their impact, and develop response strategies. Results encourage additional research examining how (1) organizations identify cybersecurity threats, incidents, and breaches, (2) cybersecurity affects different risks, and (3) management responses to cybersecurity risks and events. The Framework also suggests the need for cybersecurity research to extend beyond the Accounting Information Systems (AIS) community to areas such as financial accounting, managerial accounting, and auditing.

The offshoring of external audit work to so-called low-cost countries is prevalent among the Big 4 professional services firms. Despite this, our understanding of how this form of offshoring influences audit practitioners and the audit process is limited. This course examines how and why offshoring emerged as an organizational matter that changed the way audit work is organized in a Big 4 firm context. Study findings demonstrate how changes in the design of offshoring processes influence interactions between onshore and offshore auditors.We'll: Uncover how individual "boundary spanners" struggle to coordinate audit work across the multiple boundaries that separate onshore and offshore auditors. Show how the institutionalization of "boundary spanning" functions in organizational structures and processes can have the unintended consequence of widening the boundaries between onshore and offshore auditors. Offer evidence of the effect of offshoring on the learning process of onshore and offshore auditors.

Most accounting studies use only public enforcement actions (SEC cases) to measure accounting fraud. However, private cases (securities class actions) also play an important enforcement role. We discuss the legal standards and processes for both public and private enforcement regimes, emphasize the importance of screening cases for credible fraud allegations, and show both yield credible fraud measures.We'll also demonstrate these research design choices affect inferences from prior research and a hypothetical research setting. Finally, we show common measures of accounting irregularities using Audit Analytics to proxy for fraud result in significant false positives and negatives and develop a fraud prediction model for use in future research. We recommend using both public and private enforcement with appropriate screening when examining accounting fraud to reduce Type I and II errors, or reporting the sensitivity of findings across regimes. This is particularly important given the reduction in accounting-related enforcement after 2005.

The construction industry faces unique challenges when adapting to changes in tax laws. This session will explore recent federal and California tax developments, including the Inflation Reduction Act'sgreen construction incentives, bonus depreciation updates, and key changes affecting the Qualified Business Income Deduction (Section 199A).We'll also examine strategies for tax credit maximization and proactive tax planning tailored to the commercial construction sector. This session was recorded on March 25, 2025 for CalCPA'sConstruction Management Conference.

First, in a four-part series, take a deeper dive into the keys to becoming an effective leader. Understand the components of self-awareness - understanding who you are, how others perceive you, and how to course-correct when necessary. Cover the ability to effectively communicate and influence others. To drive achievement and results. Learn about the willingness and the ability to develop others. Recognize the impact of your leadership on those around you. Create the shift from 'Me' to 'We' and utilize a growth mindset. Identify what kind of leader you want to be. Set Intentions and Goals for your development through the series.

This practical course demystifies revenue recognition for nonprofits. You'll learn how to confidently distinguish between exchange transactions and contributions, master the five-step process for recognizing exchange transactions, and get clear guidance on accounting for contributions. Real-world examples will help you apply these principles with ease and accuracy. This session was recorded on May 29, 2025, for CalCPA'sNot-for-Profit Organizations Conference.

This course equips you with practical strategies to boost your organization'sresilience by pinpointing, assessing, and minimizing operational risks. You'll dive into six critical risk areas - from processes and people to technology and compliance - and explore real-world case studies, proven internal controls, and tools to build a strong risk-aware culture. This session was recorded on May 29, 2025, for CalCPA'sNot-for-Profit Organizations Conference.

Get up to speed on the sweeping tax changes introduced by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, aimed at making the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent. This course highlights key provisions like expanded child tax credits, tax relief on tips and overtime, bigger deductions for seniors and small businesses, and renewed 100% expensing for factories and equipment.We'll also explore the bill'scontroversial side?cuts to SNAP and Medicaid, reduced clean energy incentives, and increased non-military defense spending. You'll gain a practical overview of the most impactful changes to selected individual, education, business, retirement, insurance, international, and estate tax provisions enacted or indexed for inflation ?helping tax professionals and preparers navigate the new landscape with confidence.

This course addresses the practical aspects of 469 and the needed skills to handle pragmatic issues. Fundamentals are reviewed, planning opportunities identified, and creative strategies discussed and evaluated along with remaining traditional approaches. The goal of this instructive program is to understand and solve problems under 469, with an emphasis on tax savings ideas. Readers will overview the proper administration of this complex and often cumbersome provision.

Exit planning isn't just a service; it'sa strategy. This session gives financial advisers a clear framework for helping business owners prepare for what's next, from assessing readiness to building the right advisory team. You'll learn how to start meaningful conversations with clients, identify risks that can derail a deal, and collaborate effectively with other professionals for a smooth exit. Whether you're adding exit planning to your practice or refining your approach, this course will help you deliver real value during one of the most critical phases of a client'sbusiness journey. You'll learn how to: Spot the signs of owner and business readiness Address key risks like the "5 D?s" (death, disability, divorce, disagreement, distress) Build and lead a trusted team of exit planning advisors Follow a structured process that supports both the client and your practice For advisers ready to lead clients confidently through the exit planning process - and stand out doing it. This session was recorded on April 17, 2025 for CalCPA'sPractice Management Bootcamp conference.

Power BI - Bringing It All Together for Data Analysis is an advanced course for professionals ready to integrate and optimize their use of Power Pivot and Power BI. Building on foundational skills, this session guides you beyond creating models and measures to fully harness these tools for uncovering insights and building impactful visualizations. You'll learn to streamline workflows, optimize model performance, and leverage advanced Power BI Service features to create solutions that go beyond basic reporting. By the end, You'll be equipped to synthesize your Power BI skills into powerful, audience-ready analytics. From presenting to stakeholders and sharing insights across teams to managing enterprise-level reporting, this course helps you bring every piece together into a comprehensive, efficient workflow tailored to real-world business needs.

This downloadable PDF course offers more than 100 practical, insightful, and sometimes unconventional tips for accountants in financial leadership roles. Designed for controllers and CFOs, the content goes beyond technical rules and dives into the real-world challenges professionals face every day - from boardroom dynamics and ethical gray areas to team leadership and reporting strategy. Whether you're navigating organizational politics, benchmarking your finance team, defending a close process, or preparing for a career transition, this course offers both wisdom and practicality. You'll also find opportunities to benchmark your own practices against industry norms and peer organizations, helping you lead with greater confidence and clarity.

Learn how to navigate tax regulations and reporting requirements for private foundations. Gain knowledge about excise taxes, income distribution calculations, and how to complete Form 990-PF. Identify transactions subject to excise tax, distinguish between grantmaking and operating foundations, and calculate the average fair market value of assets. Discover reporting requirements for both foreign and domestic grants, and explore topics like excess business holdings, self-dealing, and program-related investments. Understand the basics of Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT) and recent regulatory changes affecting net operating losses and alternative investments. Equip yourself with the knowledge to effectively manage private foundation tax compliance.

Tax preparer regulation is a controversial topic among policymakers, the Internal Revenue Service, and certification providers. Proponents claim that regulation protects taxpayers from incompetent preparers, while opponents assert that regulation increases costs and discourages preparers from attaining higher qualifications. Following longstanding regulations in Oregon and California, the IRS implemented the Registered Tax Return Preparer program in 2012, which was unexpectedly invalidated in just its second year. Using this quasi-experimental setting and a unique dataset of all U.S. tax preparers obtained from the IRS, we test the effect of regulation on tax preparer qualifications. We find that tax preparer regulation is positively associated with the proportion of highly qualified tax preparers. We also find that regulation increases (decreases) the likelihood that a market entrant (exiter) is highly qualified. In additional analysis, we find some evidence that tax preparer regulations are associated with increased fees and better tax return quality.

1099s are getting messier; are you'ready? With multiple 1099 forms now merged into one mega-report for clients and the IRS, it'sno wonder fixed income reporting feels more confusing than ever. This course breaks it all down - how the information provided to IRS differs from the backup material in the form, and how to report it all correctly - to help you make sense of the chaos and keep your filings clean.

Big changes are here for retirement plan distributions. On July 19, 2024, t he IRS dropped new Final and Proposed Regulations - and they're a major shift from what we saw in 2022. Join Michael Gray, CPA, as he breaks down what'snew, what'schanged under SECURE 2.0, and how it all impacts estate planning and post-death retirement account management?especially for surviving spouses and other beneficiaries.

We are all (including tax practitioners) getting older, and the need for effective retirement planning has never been greater. This course is essential for participants who wish to attain a comfortable retirement for themselves and their clients by maximizing tax-saving strategies. Designed to improve the quality of services to clients and the profitability of engagements, this presentation integrates federal taxation with retirement planning. The emphasis is on practical simplicity in dealing with the self-employed and highly compensated individual. Distribution options from IRAs and other retirement plans are explored.

Revenue recognition continues to be a top compliance and advisory issue for CPAs in the construction industry. This session will dive into the complexities of ASC 606, including common pitfalls in contract modifications, variable consideration, and performance obligations. Real-world case studies will illustrate best practices for implementation and ongoing management. This session was recorded on March 25, 2025 for CalCPA'sConstruction Management Conference.

Revenue involves significant risks that warrant special consideration during audits. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has issued a new standard: "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" that replaces most industry-specific revenue recognition requirements in US GAAP. A new principles-based, five-step revenue recognition model now applies. Recent disclosures of qualitative and quantitative information, significant judgments, and changes in judgments are also required. New systems, processes, and controls may be needed. Poor design or implementation may pose heightened risks of material misstatement, including those due to fraud.