CPE Catalog & Events

This program reviews and analyzes the important changes made by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) to qualified small business stock (QSBS) covered under Section 1202. Effective for stock issued after July 4, 2025, there are important changes that make Section 1202 much more appealing to clients willing to run the risks associated with doing business as a C corporation. These enhanced provisions could potentially lead to exclusion of capital gains if very strict compliance rules are followed. Section 1202 application is particularly attractive for start-ups and entrepreneurial endeavors. For taxpayers willing to confront the technical challenges of this provision, Section 1202 may produce impressive tax advantages.

In order not to perform an excessive number of audit procedures (over audit) auditors must perform procedures in order to determine in what areas are there weak internal controls that could result in a risk that the financial statements would be materially misstated and not be detected.  SAS No. 122, AU 300 – 499, Measuring Audit Risk provides guidance as well as required procedures that must be performed in every audit in order to determine the risk of material misstatement.  No longer can the auditor state that they assess the risk of material misstatement at maximum without having a basis for making such assessment.  As a result, the standards now require that the auditor make such an assessment of a material misstatement of the financial statement on every audit in order to have a basis for such assessment.  This program is an overview of the statement documentation requirements in assessing such a risk.

Looking to improve the quality of your 401(k) benefit plan audits? This is the course for you. Based on recent data from the U.S. Department of Labor and peer reviews on employee benefit plan audits, we know auditors need to up their game to meet stakeholder demands and provide the best possible audit services. In this advanced course, we will discuss the audit and reporting requirements in accordance with auditing standards. We will also discuss laws and regulations (such as ERISA) that are unique to employee benefit plans and provide practical guidance on their application. Course topics will focus on the most common compliance issues identified in 401(k) audits by the Department of Labor and peer reviews, as well as recommended corrections. Auditors will identify best practices for auditing areas such as payroll and compensation, participant loans, hardship distributions, investments, and plan mergers and acquisitions.

Description: Divorce brings emotional and financial challenges and navigating the tax implications can be one of the most complex aspects. This in-depth, 8-credit webinar, Untying the Knot: Taxes and Divorce, is designed to equip tax professionals with the knowledge and strategies needed to guide clients through the intricate tax issues that arise during and after divorce. What You'll Learn: This comprehensive session will cover critical topics, including: - Filing Status: Determining the correct filing status during and after divorce. - Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs): Tax implications of dividing retirement accounts. - Back Taxes: Strategies for addressing unpaid tax liabilities during and after divorce. - Offers-in-Compromise & Installment Agreements: Resolving tax debts with the IRS. - Currently-Not-Collectible Status: Understanding when and how to use this option. - Innocent Spouse & Injured Spouse Relief: Protecting clients from unfair tax liabilities. - Lien Discharges & Subordinations: Managing IRS liens on property during divorce. - Reasonable Compensation: Evaluating fair compensation in divorce-related business valuations. - Case Studies: Explore unusual and complex tax issues in divorce through real-world examples. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Even if managers have incomplete information or constraints, they still must make choices. This session provides advice for navigating rocky decision-making terrain encountered by managers who must make choices despite imperfect information and/or constrained resources. We explore ways to leverage available information to make effective decisions when seemingly critical details cannot be obtained. We also illustrate managerial accounting techniques for optimizing profitability when inputs or resources are constrained by supply chain disruptions or other limitations. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Finance technology decisions (ERP, FP&A, AP/expense automation, close/consolidation, bank integrations, and AI-enabled tools) can dramatically improve close speed, forecasting, and control execution-but vendor demos and "AI" marketing often hide integration complexity, data readiness gaps, governance risk, and long-term total cost. This course provides a practical, vendor-neutral approach for CPAs and finance leaders to evaluate and implement corporate finance technology with an audit-ready mindset. Participants learn how to cut through AI claims using an AI capability framework, apply a weighted vendor evaluation scorecard focused on controls and assurance, build a five-year total cost model that captures hidden and ongoing costs, and follow an implementation roadmap with checkpoints and red flags to reduce failure risk and improve ROI realization. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

The ACFE/COSO Fraud Risk Management Guide (FRMG) was published in 2016 (and updated in 2023).  It has quickly gained acceptance as the set of best practices for preventing, detecting, and thus deterring fraud. The fraud landscape is constantly changing and evolving. The FRMG sets out a rigorous set of principles and leading practices for managing fraud risk for forward-thinking organizations to follow.  It covers: How to establish fraud risk management governance. How to conduct rigorous fraud risk assessments. How to design and implement fraud control activities. How to establish reporting mechanisms and investigative procedures. How to monitor the overall fraud risk management program. Fraud risk can be managed.  All anti-fraud and accountability professionals will benefit from this session's focus on effective fraud risk management.

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

Balancing the demands of a career and family life is a challenge faced by many working parents. The pressure to excel at work while being fully present at home can leave little room for self-care, often leading to burnout and mental fatigue. This course is designed to address these challenges head-on by providing actionable strategies to prioritize your mental health and overall well-being. The course emphasizes practical, easy-to-implement techniques tailored for busy working parents. From setting boundaries to prioritizing sleep and physical activity, you'll learn how to create sustainable habits that enhance your well-being. You'll also explore how to recognize the signs that additional support -whether from friends, family, therapy, or other resources- is necessary, and how to seek help without guilt or hesitation. Ultimately, this course will help you regain a sense of balance and control in your life by equipping you with tools to manage stress, build resilience, and rediscover joy in both your professional and personal roles. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Data analytics is among the most widely discussed topics in business circles today. In this session, you will learn about the four types of data analytics, tools for generating data analytics measures, and how to interpret and use data analytics results.

SSARS 21 significantly changed the way CPA services are being offered. There is still confusion about CPA responsibilities and procedures. The course will discuss differences between bookkeeping, preparation and compilation engagements and how they differ. It will also discuss financial statement frameworks and how they influence the engagement as well as analytical procedures in review engagements.

Build on the foundation from Part 1 and deepen your expertise by mastering the treatment of manufacturing overhead. Using the cost system of a real company, you'll learn to distinguish overhead costs that can be directly traced versus directly assigned, and how to structure inventory cost pools for accurate product costing. Explore methods for handling deviations from normal manufacturing processes and see how all overhead costs can be systematically integrated into a comprehensive cost system. Completing Part 1 is highly recommended, as its principles carry forward into this advanced application. World Class Cost Accounting: A Practical Application - Part 1

Estate planning continues to evolve, and staying informed about the latest trends and strategies is crucial for professionals in the field. This forward-looking course delves into the intricacies of estate planning, with a specific focus on current issues. Participants will explore cutting-edge techniques, emerging legal considerations, and industry developments to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to create effective estate plans that withstand the test of time and safeguard their clients' legacies. *Please Note:  If you need credit reported to the IRS for this IRS approved program, please download the IRS CE request form on the Handouts Tab and submit to kori.herrera@acpen.com  

Discover the communication edge that will take your CPA career to the next level. This comprehensive course empowers CPAs with the tools to enhance clarity, build trust, and drive decisions. Learn to transform complex jargon into actionable insights and develop powerful persuasion techniques that resonate with clients and stakeholders. Join me to sharpen your communication skills and elevate your professional impact. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

In this continually revised course, tax advisors will be fully updated on the most recent enacted legislation and IRS guidance, as well as major trends on the horizon with a view toward planning considerations. This update course is designed for all practitioners, both those working in public accounting as well as those in private industry, who need the latest information on tax changes. Please Note: Due to content overlap, it is recommended that this course NOT be taken together with BITU.

As financial leaders, CPAs are often tasked with managing organizational risk. In this respect, the supplier relationship can be a tricky one. It is often one of the more familiar and comfortable business relationships we have, yet it may also be the one that presents the most significant risk to our company. In this course, we will explore how to manage the supplier relationship from onboarding to termination. Through case studies and best practices, we will discuss how to continue being a good partner to our suppliers while also understanding where potential risks exist. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

You often can perform an audit in accordance with all of the standards, and still have a substandard audit IF you did not get out among the clients employees (let them know you are there and where you located), talk to as many people as you can regardless as to whether you may think that they may have any helpful information; constantly observe your surrounding where ever you are at (you never now what you might see) and lastly, listen to not only what people are saying to you but are also saying around you. This presentation is designed to illustrate the importance of making yourself available to your client’s employees, let them know that you are there and where you can be found. Talk with them because if there is a problem, somebody knows and they will often tell you all about it IF you just ask them.  Look at your surrounding everywhere you go.  What are you looking for?  I don’t know but I’ll know it when I see it. Lastly, listen to what they have to say.  Every word is important because they may say something that you had not asked about.  Remember, you never want to discover something and go to an individual who you determined knew about it and ask, why didn’t you tell me about this and their response was, you never asked me!

A discussion of the latest tax developments impacting business taxpayers, with a focus on important provisions, rules and concepts. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

By far, the biggest contributing factor that leads to a profitable, yet high quality, financial statement audit is the proper identification, evaluation, and response to assessed risk of material misstatement. When designing your detailed audit plan, how and where you decide to spend your time is largely a matter of professional judgment. The proven tips and techniques for critically rethinking how you plan and design your audit taught in this course will help auditors enhance audit quality and manage profitability in all engagements.

Risk-based factors are becoming exponentially important considerations for accountants in both public practice and industry. We examine the nature of risks for today's enterprises while exploring the role of internal controls for mitigating business risks. We also explore SAS 145 and other guidance aimed at risk considerations for professional engagements. Public and private accountants will enhance their capabilities for assessing and addressing risks faced by today's organizations. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.