CPE Catalog & Events

With over 50% of marriages ending in divorce, forensic accountants are frequently used in uncovering hidden income and assets. It is not uncommon for one spouse to hide money from another, sometimes for nefarious reasons. As a CPA, your services are valued by high-net-worth individuals who hire attorneys in their divorce proceedings. In this course, you will learn the art of financial investigations and how to uncover the truth in divorce cases, whether from offshore accounts to lifestyle analysis. Step by step, the course will teach you the valuable skills necessary in finding, analyzing, evaluating, and presenting your findings to your client and if needed, ultimately in divorce court. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

In today's fast-paced business world, staying ahead of the competition means leveraging every advantage. Business Intelligence (BI) is the game-changer that can transform your organization. Imagine uncovering hidden insights and gaining a competitive edge with data that was once out of reach. With tools ranging from Excel add-ins to the revolutionary Power BI, you can now harness your existing skills to create dynamic, interactive dashboards and analyses that were unimaginable just a few years ago. This program will empower you with the skills to implement "yourself business intelligence" using a variety of techniques and tools. You'll start by mastering advanced Excel data query and summarization features to create stunning Excel-based dashboards. Then, you'll take your knowledge to the next level by building even more powerful BI objects using Microsoft's Power BI tools. If you're passionate about gaining better insights into your data to make smarter decisions, this fast-paced program is for you.

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.

Trusts are not cookie-cutter documents. In fact, they can be rather unwieldy, especially in explaining the functions to a client and then having the client comply with the trust terms. This course delves into best practices. Given common scenarios, what are the best trusts to use? And how can the client be best protected?

In April 2016, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Auditing Standards Board (ASB) issued the Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAE) No. 18, Attestation Standards: Clarification and Recodification, to supersede the former standard SSAE 16 This course will help you if your organization has the need to obtain or provide a SOC (Systems Organization Control) report or if you wonder what changes the new SSAE 18 standard will bring to the process. SSAE 18 is effective for SOC report opinions dated on or after May 1, 2017, and early adoption was permitted. This course focuses on the specific requirements of SSAE18 and highlights changes from SSAE16 In today’s economic environment, many companies utilize outsourced services to perform varied functions. These functions can span from payroll and accounts payable to information technology processes or even call center functions. The list can be endless however these services are often a critical component to the internal control environment of the organization A service organization should implement a robust third-party vendor management policy if one is not already in place. Often, initial vetting occurs of the subservice organization however that same diligence is not maintained as the service continues. It is just as important to ensure that subservice organizations are monitored on an ongoing basis using the methods outlined in SSAE 18.

As financial and tax professionals well know, information overload is a constant struggle we face because things change quickly, and the sheer number of changes being made on a daily basis is enormous. Of great importance to small and medium tax and advisory firms is differentiating between changes that are relevant to our practice and our clients and changes that are new but totally irrelevant. Distinguishing between the two is difficult and time-consuming. Mike Tucker and a team of experts are pleased to present a weekly series designed to eliminate the clutter and get you what you need to stay up-to-date and perform for your clients. Mike and his co-presenters will dispense news on current events impacting taxes, finance, and industry. The subject matter will differ each week and intermittently include topics such as Social Security and Medicare. The panelists will discuss personal and corporate tax matters as well as other late-breaking news related to practitioners' personal finances and those of their clients. Every financial professional will benefit from this series. This is a cost-effective way for accountants to fulfill their compulsory continuing education because this weekly series will include almost 40 one-hour presentations. Sign up today — your clients and your bottom line will thank you.

This program reviews the statutory and regulatory guidance as they relate to fringe benefits. There will be an emphasis on entertainment, meals and business transportation expenses, including qualified employer-provided parking, with a focus on planning opportunities. An OBBBA of 2025 update, cases and rulings 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  

This course provides a focused and practical overview of the Generation Skipping Transfer (GST) Tax, designed specifically for professionals involved in estate and gift tax planning. As Part 4 of the Form 706 and 709 series, this session zeroes in on the rules, definitions, and application of GST tax, including the mechanics of calculating the inclusion ratio and how the GST exemption operates in real-world planning scenarios. Participants will gain clarity on how to identify skip persons, the types of transfers subject to the GST tax, and the proper treatment of direct skips, taxable terminations, and taxable distributions. Through clear examples and practical instruction, this course walks participants through voluntary, timely, late, and retroactive GST exemption allocations. With increasing regulatory complexity and heightened exemption limits, understanding the GST tax is critical for practitioners assisting clients in multigenerational wealth transfers. This course supports more accurate return preparation and strategic allocation of exemptions to minimize tax exposure. *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

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 course introduces practical ways that public accountants can use Excel to enhance both the efficiency and effectiveness of client engagements. We will reinforce core concepts by illustrating ways that Excel is a tool for analysis and reporting. We will introduce numerous analytical methods and techniques by using practical examples to illustrate how to unleash the power of Excel when obtaining, analyzing, and reporting information.

This two-hour course covers the IRS collection process, detailing each step from the initial notice to enforced collection actions and payment options. You'll gain a thorough understanding of how the IRS initiates collections, what taxpayers should expect as the process unfolds, and the various options for settling debts. We will review when Form 433-A or 433-B is required, and discuss the specific criteria for submitting an Offer in Compromise (OIC) to settle tax debt for less than the full amount owed. This session is designed to provide tax professionals with the tools to guide their clients through the IRS collection process, ensuring compliance and presenting the best possible payment solutions. We’ll also review key scenarios where Forms 433 and OIC are necessary, providing practical insight for resolving tax liabilities.   *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  

Organizations are challenged with identifying, evaluating, and responding to a wide variety of risks. This course will discuss tips and best practices for enterprise-wide risk management for accounting and finance professionals. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

This course provides a focused analysis of the individual and small business provisions in Pub. L. 119-21 (H.R.1), "One Big Beautiful Bill." Tailored for tax professionals working with Form 1040 filers, the course explores impactful updates, from the no-tax-on-tips provision to enhanced bonus depreciation. Designed to inform planning strategies and compliance for the 2025 tax year and beyond. Participants will gain actionable insight into newly proposed deductions and expanded credits. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

The AICPA Town Hall Series delivers: Timely & Critical Information Interpretation & Analysis Firm and Business Strategies Practitioner Capabilities **Free for AICPA members Not an AICPA or CIMA member? Become one today.

GAAP is changing at an increasing rate. Every successful organization has a sound strategy. Financial leaders are faced with the dual challenge of navigating evolving accounting standards while strategically guiding their organizations toward sustainable growth and profitability. What are the newer accounting changes that will impact professional accounting? This seminar will equip finance professionals with the critical skills and practical insights needed to effectively manage the complexities of ever-changing accounting standards and upgrade your essential strategic planning skills. Strategic skills are mandatory today. Strategies that do not keep pace with the market are doomed to fail. If we do not keep up, our successor will.

Understand and master the various methods of medical claim reimbursements. This foundation is critical to understand health plan networks and how they function as the baseline for cost in fully insured and self-funded plans. This unit will expand on the previous unit's analysis of point solutions and how to build those into your plan design not only for the benefit if rate structures, but employees as well. The instructor will show you how to structure your medical plans to save the plan money by incentivizing the member through cost reduction programs.

Although Power BI has been available for ten years, most business professionals don't fully appreciate all it can do and its easy use. Further, many are intimidated by the platform and continue to use less efficient and effective reporting practices. If this describes you, invest some time in this session to learn how to work with Power BI almost immediately. In this session, you will learn how to use Power BI to create compelling dashboard reports. You will also learn how to optimize these reports to enhance their effectiveness. If you want to improve financial and operational reporting processes, this session is for you!

If you are efficient and want to learn lessons from the best in a short time, this seminar is for you.  Popular speaker Don Minges will review the key lessons from five fantastic business books that will help you become more effective.  The topics are; leadership, how to create a valuable business, how to turnaround a business, how to make terrific presentations and how do humans think?  These lessons are valuable for every business leader. 

This course explores the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in accounting and auditing, highlighting its vast potential while addressing the associated risks and ethical considerations. Participants will discover how to harness AI tools to enhance efficiency and innovation, while mitigating challenges such as overreliance, data security vulnerabilities, and ethical dilemmas. Through case studies and interactive discussions, you'll gain practical skills to navigate AI complexities, ensure trustworthy outputs, and uphold ethical standards in today's fast-paced digital environment. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Accounting and finance practitioners are still grappling with the many changes OBBBA has made to the tax laws, many of which will impact tax filings. This program is an introduction to and review of some of these critical changes and their impact on taxpayers. Accounting and finance practitioners will gain a better understanding of this very complex set of new tax rules. Practitioners will grasp what is new and what is a continuance of prior rules to develop deeper insights into the many changes that the OBBBA made to the law. If you still feel you need to learn more about how OBBBA works, this program is for you. We have assembled a two-hour review and analysis of what we consider the most important changes from OBBBA that impact client transactions. To the extent that Treasury has provided guidance relating to these new OBBBA changes, we will discuss that guidance. Where guidance is lacking, we will point out areas that require future attention from Treasury.