CPE Catalog & Events

This program compares and contrasts the financial and tax accounting differences of partnerships, LLCs, and S corporations, as well as discuss the tax accounting for these entities. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

*** CPE SAVINGS CODES DO NOT APPLY TO STAFF TRAININGS ***Improve your planning, review, audit and other engagement skills. Master techniques for effective communication with clients and colleagues in part three of this five-course series. Discover the secrets to planning and efficiently completing engagements, explore methods for assuming higher levels of responsibility, and develop your ability to assess risk and materiality. Learn how AI can be used on engagements to enhance efficiency and quality. Designed to offer audit staff members extensive training in crucial procedural, evaluative and supervisory areas. Per NASBA's rules effective January 1, 2024, participants are required to be on camera and participate in the full and small group discussions to earn CPE credits for this Group Live - Virtual course. As such, please make sure you are set up properly with reliable internet (hard wired is best), a working camera, and a working microphone.

The accounting profession is rapidly shifting from a compliance-centered focus to one that demands insight, foresight, and strategic advisory skills. "From Numbers to Narratives: Mastering Data Analysis for CPAs" explores the "why" behind this transformation and highlights the critical role data analysis plays in helping CPAs remain relevant and competitive. This course provides a high-level overview of the skills and mindset required to move beyond historical reporting and into forward-looking analysis and storytelling. Participants will gain an understanding of how Microsoft 365 applications - such as Excel, Power Query, Power BI, OneDrive, and Teams - can be leveraged to transform raw financial data into meaningful insights. With an emphasis on the advisory role of CPAs, this course empowers professionals at every stage of their career to embrace analytics as a core competency. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Appreciation isn’t a soft skill—it’s a strategic advantage. In today's competitive professional landscape, your ability to express appreciation effectively can be the difference between retaining top talent, building strong client relationships, and creating a thriving team culture—or not. This course introduces a powerful, research-backed framework for understanding how appreciation works—and how to use it to fuel performance, loyalty, and engagement across your firm, practice, or department. Based on the work of Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Paul White, you’ll explore the four core "languages of appreciation" and learn how to recognize and use them in a way that resonates with clients, colleagues, and team members. The truth is, everyone wants to feel valued—but not everyone receives appreciation the same way. In this hands-on session, you’ll discover your own appreciation style, learn to spot others’, and develop practical tools to build a more energized, connected, and committed workplace.  

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.  

Go in-depth to understand the three main components of self-funded plans: Stop Loss, Third Party Administrators (TPA), and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM). This section will review both Specific and Aggregate Stop Loss as a concept while also providing in-depth knowledge of contract terms and risk management. It will discuss the key components of a TPAs/PBMS and show examples of admin agreements. The instructor will also use real world examples to show how to avoid common pitfalls and use cost savings tools to ensure that waste, fraud, and abuse are eliminated from your plan structures. The end of this unit will also introduce point solutions and how they can be used to ensure peak plan performance and claims savings.

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.

Realistic Excel training for skill development Shifting from manual inputs to automated formulas in Excel can help enhance data efficiency. Understanding that Excel can handle date and text values broadens the potential to improve efficiency when managing data in Excel. This webcast will focus on the following essential functions: EOMONTH MONTH and YEAR DATE CONCAT SUMIFS with CONCAT Practical hands-on Excel learning exercises taught by a highly engaging expert In this webcast, you'll develop your skills and implement Excel techniques that will boost the effectiveness of conditional summing functions using comparison operators. Additionally, you'll gain in-depth knowledge of the following: Adding helper columns Distinguishing key function differences Combining values *Session 7 is one of eight sessions that is available as an individual session. Each session builds on the prior sessions, so you'll want to consider watching [Session 8: Dynamic headers, mapping tables and error check] (https://www.aicpa-cima.com/cpe-learning/webcast/excel-for-accounting-professionals-session-8--dynamic-headers-mapping-tables-and-error-check) to further prepare to tackle real-world issues and build powerful workbooks.*

Audits conducted under the Uniform Guidance for Federal Awards continue to be among the most challenging audit engagements as the number of federally funded programs for not-for-profit organizations continues to increase. This course will provide you with what you need to know to prepare for Single Audits conducted during 2026, including performing the compliance audit and auditor reporting responsibilities.

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    

This course provides a concise overview of how artificial intelligence, particularly ChatGPT and other AI tools, is transforming accounting research methodologies and practices. Students will explore the shift from traditional search engine-based research to AI-driven insights, learning how to leverage various AI platforms for enhanced financial analysis, regulatory compliance, and strategic decision-making. The course emphasizes practical applications of AI in accounting contexts while addressing critical considerations such as data verification, ethical usage, and professional judgment. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Young doctors sometimes arrive at an exotic medical diagnosis (You've got Kuru!), when a more common place explanation is likely (You've got a cold). These diagnoses are known as Zebras and doctors are taught, "When you hear hoofbeats, think of horses not zebras". Sometimes, the patient really has a rare disease and suffers from misdiagnosis and subsequent improper treatment. Similarly, managers, auditors, and investigators often see indicators of fraud, but dismiss them because they've been taught or assume based upon experience that it is just a mistake that looks like fraud. This session uses case studies to explore some of the more common symptoms of fraud that are often misdiagnosed.

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.

Unlock the full potential of Excel with our comprehensive training on shortcuts and formulas. This course is designed for CPAs and financial professionals who want to enhance their efficiency and accuracy in Excel. Learn how to navigate and utilize different versions of Excel, discover powerful new functions, and master the art of creating effective tables and automations. With practical examples and hands-on exercises, you'll transform your Excel skills, making your daily tasks quicker and more precise. Plus, benefit from insider tips and tricks drawn from the instructor's extensive real-world experience. Whether it's mastering keyboard shortcuts that save you time or applying formulas that simplify complex calculations, you'll gain practical knowledge that you can immediately apply in your work. This course isn't just about learning Excel; it's about learning to excel at Excel.

If there is a potential error, the IRS will assess a tax and add a hefty penalty, without even knowing the facts. As a tax professional, you will be exposed to the IRS and their methods of penalizing taxpayers for the smallest of violations. This presentation will focus on the rules and regulations that create the penalty, and the reasons that exist that the IRS will consider to remove those penalties. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

This program will explain the new rules for deducting travel, meals and entertainment expenses and the TCJA disallowance of business entertainment expenses.  Documentation requirements and planning opportunities related to travel, entertainment, and automobile expenses 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    

There is simply no denying that a sufficiently designed and effectively operating system of internal controls over reliable financial reporting is more important than ever. The primary objective of this course is to give participants "hands-on" practice in designing, evaluating, and communicating conclusions related to design and operating effectiveness of internal controls over reliable financial reporting and other risks for nonprofit environments. 

The accounting profession faces unprecedented workforce challenges that demand a fundamental rethinking of traditional firm structures. This course examines why the century-old pyramid practice model is becoming obsolete and presents the inverted pentagon framework as a sustainable alternative. Based on comprehensive research showing that 52% of firms expect to shrink by 20% or more in the next five years, participants will learn how to restructure their firms to thrive with fewer entry-level staff while expanding specialized expertise. The course explores the "6 Ps of Business Model Transformation" - Precision Hiring, Proactive Retention, Practical Technology Implementation, Pricing Expertise, Practice Area Expansion/Focus, and People Acceleration. Drawing from success stories in manufacturing, healthcare, and technology industries, attendees will discover proven strategies for accelerating staff development, implementing effective knowledge transfer programs, and building sustainable talent pipelines in an era of technological disruption and demographic shifts. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.