CPE Catalog & Events

Those charged with governance, with the assistance of internal audit,  are responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of the organization, and ensuring value is delivered to the entity's stakeholders. This course will provide guidance on fulfilling the responsibility for challenging how much risk and uncertainty to accept through the application of COSO's Enterprise Risk Management Framework.

This course is designed to equip CPAs, EAs, attorneys, and tax professionals with the essential knowledge and strategies needed to navigate the latest developments. Explore innovative approaches to maximize retirement savings, discuss tax- efficient retirement plan options, and align estate planning techniques with current trends. Gain a thorough understanding of altered rules for Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) and discover how to optimize estate plans in response to changing regulations. This update is tailored for professionals seeking practical insights in the realm of contemporary retirement planning. **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.

As a small business owner, would you be interested if I could tell you how to increase your profit each year by an average of 5%? If you were a practicing CPA, do you think your small business clients would be interested if you could tell them how to increase their profits by an average of 5% each year? That is the amount of revenue lost to fraud as reported by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ (ACFE) in their 2024 Report to the Nations on Occupational Fraud.  It is no secret as to how to prevent fraud from occurring.  But we must first convince the small business owner that fraud is occurring in their organization. During this presentation we will discuss the many ways fraud can occur; how fraud occurs; who commits fraud; how to recognize the indicators of fraud; what to do if you suspect fraud; and lastly, how to prevent fraud from occurring in the first place. Most small businesses owners are very reluctant to admit that fraud might occur in their business because they know and trust their employees. Know this: Under the right circumstances (which we will discuss) most individuals will steal, and I will prove it. If you view this program, chances are as a small business owner, you will never look at your operation the same way. As an auditor, chances are you will never conduct an audit of a small business the same way.

This case-driven training is designed to get the inexperienced accountant up to speed quickly in the most common areas of S-corporation taxation. The cornerstone of this course is the preparation of the Form 1120S using a fairly complex trial balance common to most S corporation income tax returns.   *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 comprehensive training is designed to get the accountant up to speed quickly with the complex passive activity loss (PAL) rules that apply to certain investments in trades or businesses and rental activities. The cornerstone of the course is the in-depth coverage of the detailed tax law and regulations applicable to passive activities under IRC §469 and how and when the 3.8% net investment income tax under §1411 applies.   *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  

With the increasing complexity and ever-changing nature of tax laws and issues, today’s accountant needs a S corporation course focusing on the birth, growth, maturity, and death of a closely held S corporation. This case driven course will deal with S corporation income tax laws from formation to liquidation.    *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    

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  

One of the top concerns of any organization's leadership is how to mitigate the risk of cybersecurity threats, along with the prevention and detection of fraud. This course will focus on the most common cybersecurity vulnerabilities and fraud trends, and best practices for managing them. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Unlock the full potential of your Microsoft 365 subscription with our exclusive session on Microsoft's Power Tools! Discover the incredible capabilities of Power BI, Power Query, Power Pivot, and Power Automate, and learn how these tools can revolutionize your productivity and efficiency. Many professionals are unaware that they already have access to these powerful tools, leading to missed opportunities and suboptimal performance. Don't let this be you! Participate in this session to explore the practical applications of these tools and elevate your productivity and internal control structure to new heights

It's a whole new world for lessees under ASC topic 842. Soon nearly all leases will need to be disclosed as a liability on the balance sheet - from buildings right down to autos and copiers. Although the greatest impact will be on large entities, this will affect the financial statements of small and mid-size entities as well. This program will dive into the new standard on leases, effective dates, and address what you need to know now.

Cash is the lifeblood of every organization, yet many leaders struggle to explain, manage, and plan for it effectively. This session focuses on strategic cash management, capital structure decisions, and financing options available to organizations at different stages of growth. Participants will explore how CFOs balance today's cash needs with long-term strategy, evaluate debt and equity decisions, and communicate cash flow concepts to non-financial stakeholders. The session emphasizes practical frameworks, real-world examples, and modeling approaches that support better cash decisions. A few negotiation videos will be displayed to bring humor and effectiveness to the key points.

U.S. Department of Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) imposed a new reporting requirement that went into effect on January 1, 2024. Millions of businesses may have to file a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Report. In a surprise turn of events, the Federal District Court from the Northern District of Alabama ruled on March 1, 2024 in National Small Business United v. Yellen ("NSB") that the CTA is unconstitutional. This course will discuss the CTA's provisions and the court's decision in NSB. Also covered will be future implications for business entities and steps to consider given the recent ruling. We will also discuss recent proposed rulemaking by FinCen with respect to nonfinanced purchases of residential real estate and gratuitous transfers so that businesses can prepare for any additional reporting burdens that might arise. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Many of our clients are moving to one of the seven states with no personal income tax, particularly Florida and Texas. Others may maintain multiple homes with an eye toward eventually establishing residency in a state with no income tax. This course will give you practical tips for your clients seeking to establish residency in a new jurisdiction. Cash-strapped states are increasingly attempting to assess taxpayers who have declared domicile and residency elsewhere, for example in Florida, to maintain their diminishing tax base. Arm your clients with the tools needed to save money by successfully establishing domicile and residency. As a practitioner, you can't afford to be unaware of the latest issues affecting so many relocating baby boomers and others. Avoid that state audit with the information provided in this entertaining webinar.

This comprehensive annual update brings together key accounting and auditing developments affecting accountants and auditors across industries. The course combines recent standard-setting activity issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board with major audit and attestation updates from the AICPA, providing a well-rounded view of changes impacting financial reporting and engagement performance. Participants will begin with an overview of recently issued and upcoming Accounting Standards Updates (ASUs), including standards effective for December 31, 2026 year-ends for public companies, private entities, and not-for-profit organizations. The course also highlights issued ASUs with future effective dates and provides high-level insight into recent exposure drafts to support implementation planning. The course then shifts to auditing and attestation developments, including the next phase of quality management with a focus on monitoring and remediation requirements. Participants will also review recent and proposed standards affecting audit, attestation, and consulting engagements, including SSAE No. 24, SSARS No. 26, exposure drafts related to confirmations and fraud, and SAS No. 149 addressing group audits. Designed for preparers, auditors, and firm professionals, this course helps participants understand how recent accounting and auditing changes intersect-and what to watch for as standards and expectations continue to evolve. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

The amount of electronic content that business organizations contend with is growing at incredible rates. Terms like "Big Data" and "Information Overload", are being used by overwhelmed information workers on a daily basis. Additionally, because of the move to a much larger telecommuter footprint, electronic data is now even more prevalently utilized. This session discusses the places that businesses keep digital information and addresses the importance of securing corporate electronic data. The material effectively shows ways to achieve high security standards for content stored in fixed locations, on mobile devices and in the cloud. Participants in this session will gain an understanding of the concepts needed to improve the way they, and their companies secure digital information. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

We all know that Fraud Happens. But, why? Why do people we think we can trust let us down? This session will explore the minds of white-collar criminals and examine some recent high-profile fraud cases. Why did they do it? How did they do it? What were the warning signs? If you think that fraud cannot happen to your organization, this session might give you pause.

The updated revenue recognition standard outlines five steps for proper compliance. At the surface, these steps seem simplistic. However, there are many considerations that should be considered within each step based on your process and industry.  

Companies reporting under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) continue to face a steady flow of new standards and interpretations. The resulting changes range from significant amendments of fundamental principles to some minor changes from the annual improvements process. The changes will affect different areas of accounting, such as recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure.  It can be time-consuming and confusing to keep up-to-date on the resulting impact on financial statements and disclosures. This course will provide an executive summary of recent IFRS updates with current and upcoming effective dates.  

Governmental accounting differs significantly from other forms of accounting and requires a distinct approach to financial reporting. This course introduces the foundational principles of governmental accounting, including fund accounting concepts and the modified accrual basis of accounting. Participants will explore the structure and purpose of governmental fund financial statements and government-wide financial statements, gaining clarity on their objectives, layouts, and key elements. The course also addresses essential topics such as component units, the role and structure of Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A), and the preparation and significance of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). Designed for those new to governmental accounting—or those seeking a refresher-this course provides a solid foundation for understanding and applying governmental financial reporting principles. The course has been updated to reflect recent guidance issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, including GASB Statements 101-105.  

What does fraud look like? It depends. What may appear to be an indicator of fraud in one client’s operation could be normal in another, making it critical to understand your client and the transactions you expect to see. Look for what should be present but isn’t—and for what is present but shouldn’t be. This course emphasizes the importance of professional skepticism, which has no on/off switch—it must be applied continuously. As auditors, our role is to independently verify, yet too often we rely on client representations without sufficient validation, increasing the risk of missing fraud. Many auditors recognize, in hindsight, that they have encountered fraud indicators but failed to identify them at the time. This session will provide you with the tools to recognize those indicators and strengthen your ability to detect fraud—so you are better prepared for what you may find.