CPE Catalog & Events

This course provides a focused update on major recent pronouncements issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). Coverage includes GASB Statement No. 103 (financial reporting model), GASB Statement No. 104 (disclosures for capital assets), and GASB Statement No. 105 (subsequent events). Participants will also receive a high-level overview of active GASB exposure drafts and ongoing projects. The course is designed to help auditors, preparers, and financial leaders understand how these developments affect audits, financial statement preparation, and board reporting. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

One of the most intimidating aspects of going into business for yourself is compliance. Tax, employment, and regulatory laws are difficult to navigate, so it often falls on the CPA to know the basics in these areas to help their clients avoid costly litigation. In this course, we will cover basic compliance areas for small business owners. We will look at the main elements of a contract, taxation of entity types, worker classification, property law, and many of the other areas that are often overwhelming for small business owners. By being able to speak to these issues, practitioners will be able to add value and help their small business owner clients grow and thrive.

The statement of cash flows is a critical component of a company's set of financial statements. Cover the proper preparation of the statement, including analysis techniques. Learn how financial statements enable CPAs and financial professionals to see a business's cash inflows and outflows relating to operating, investing and financing activities and evaluation of liquidity and quality of earnings. Case studies and sample documentation reinforce significant concepts and help participants apply the analysis techniques discussed.

One of the most favored employee benefit plans, the 401(k) plan, provides unique challenges for auditors. Through this course, auditors will obtain an understanding of the rules and regulations unique to employee benefit plans and obtain practical guidance on applying them. Auditors will enhance their knowledge of the performance and reporting requirements through real-world examples, best practices, and efficient audit techniques that can be utilized in various audit engagements. Make sure your audits don't trigger a DOL inspection by conforming to all applicable rules and regulations.

Are you a new advisor handling S Corp clients, or perhaps a seasoned professional facing this common scenario: "My S Corp client didn't take reasonable compensation last year. Now what?" Knowing that reasonable compensation isn't just a tax obligation, but a strategic financial decision, you need to be armed with expert knowledge to help your client navigate this situation. Join us to discuss IRS regulations, understand preventive measures, and address challenges within the year. 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 concise overview of advanced, real-world applications of Claude Cowork, focusing on how accountants can operationalize agentic AI within complex financial workflows. Moving beyond foundational concepts, this session explores how AI plugins, structured workflows, and integrated data environments elevate Cowork from a capable assistant into a specialized accounting partner. Participants will examine high-impact use cases such as variance analysis, invoice automation, and board-level reporting, while learning how to embed domain intelligence through the Finance Plugin and firm-specific customization. A central theme of the course is the application of the Sparring Partner Protocol, enabling accountants to rigorously validate, challenge, and enhance AI-generated outputs. The session emphasizes that while AI can execute 70-80% of the work, professional judgment, verification, and strategic interpretation remain essential. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

The most recent recession and its fallout, weather (look at 2017), process and product failures, and unethical behavior have again highlighted failures by numerous organizations in identifying and managing risk. The size and reputation of organizations proved not to be the key to success. Again, we saw that failures can result in areas/industries thought to be "under control" through their policies, practices and/or regulations. A core activity of financial management is to effectively protect the assets of their organizations, without significantly reducing new ideas and growth. This brief program provides insights and approaches to identify risk and manage the above noted trade-off. The course is designed for financial managers looking to quickly build upon their existing knowledge and experience, as well as to help to start the less experienced individual. It offers ideas that can be used immediately, as well as longer term approaches. Updated to include new information particularly in the areas of disaster planning, business continuity, and ethics, as well as a sample group exercise to test your current risk management systems.

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.

The statement of cash flows is a critical component of a company's set of financial statements. Cover the proper preparation of the statement, including analysis techniques. Learn how financial statements enable CPAs and financial professionals to see a business's cash inflows and outflows relating to operating, investing and financing activities and evaluation of liquidity and quality of earnings. Case studies and sample documentation reinforce significant concepts and help participants apply the analysis techniques discussed.

This course explores recurring PCAOB inspection themes related to Information Technology General Controls and explains why certain ITGC audit approaches consistently raise concerns. Rather than focusing on individual deficiencies, the course examines inspection patterns tied to evidence quality, professional skepticism, control clarity, scoping decisions, SOC reliance, and reviewer judgment. Participants will gain insight into how inspectors evaluate ITGC workpapers and how recurring signals of weak documentation or unsupported assumptions increase inspection risk. Understanding these themes strengthens audit defensibility and improves overall ITGC execution. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

This comprehensive fall tax update provides an in-depth review of the latest federal tax changes and IRS guidance following the enactment of OBBBA 2025 for individual taxpayers, highlighting new legislation and provisions, regulatory shifts, and planning opportunities that will affect individual and tax compliance in the current filing season and beyond. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

In the ever-evolving world of data analytics and business intelligence, Microsoft Excel continues to be an indispensable tool for professionals across industries. With the introduction of Copilot, Microsoft has integrated the power of artificial intelligence directly into Excel, revolutionizing how users work with data. This 2-hour interactive course, Unlock the Power of AI with Copilot in Excel, provides a comprehensive overview of how Copilot transforms traditional Excel workflows into dynamic, AI-driven processes, enabling users to accomplish tasks faster, more accurately, and with less manual effort. During this course, you'll discover how Copilot leverages AI to enhance productivity and streamline operations. Whether you're a seasoned Excel user or just beginning your journey, this course will guide you through practical applications and best practices to make the most of Copilot's capabilities. Through hands-on demonstrations and real-world examples, you'll see how Copilot can save time, improve decision-making, and elevate your analytical skills to new heights. This course not only focuses on the technical aspects of Copilot but also highlights its potential to transform your day-to-day work, from automating repetitive tasks to uncovering trends and insights you might otherwise overlook. By the end of the session, you'll be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to integrate Copilot into your workflows and unlock its full potential in Microsoft Excel. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Budgets are the vehicle for allocating resources, measuring activities, and identifying needed changes and improvements. An organization's strategy is the primary driver of costs. To be effective, the budget must be linked to strategy and long-term plans. Numerous organizations have achieved a series of short-term targets (budgets) but failed longer term, demonstrating the lack of this necessary linkage. Forecasting, a critical part of any successful budgeting process, can be flawed by technical errors, organizational structure, or emotional forces. The establishment of a system to collect, process, and analyze big data can provide significant insights into the budgeting and forecasting process. An efficient system of incorporating big data and analytics into normal activities will improve management's decision-making. This brief program offers specific actions to improve your forecasting and budgeting activities. In addition, more advanced techniques are identified for the participant's further review, which can be applied throughout an organization. Good budgets effectively allocate resources, provide information for decision-making and serve as an early warning system for unforeseen events. A poor budgeting process fosters a false sense of security, provides inappropriate or inaccurate data, and reinforces the status quo. Budgets are about the organization's story, not just the raw numbers!

Good managers know how to delegate, but it can be a challenge to manage employees who are more interested in passing the buck than being responsible. Lack of ownership and responsibility can bog down processes and shut down projects. This workshop will help you create a game plan for building a culture of accountability with your team.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the accounting and finance profession at an unprecedented pace. What began as automation of repetitive tasks has evolved into systems capable of complex data analysis, natural language processing, and predictive modeling. Modern AI tools — such as generative AI, machine learning, and intelligent automation — are reshaping how professionals audit, forecast, analyze risk, and deliver client insights. This course provides accounting and finance professionals with a comprehensive understanding of how AI is reshaping workflows, client services, and decision-making. Participants will explore current applications of AI within firms and corporate finance, assess risks and governance considerations, and learn strategies for adapting professional roles in an increasingly automated landscape. The program also examines the emerging ethical, regulatory, and data privacy challenges associated with AI adoption.

Since 2017, employees have not been eligible to take an itemized deduction for a home office. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act suspended all miscellaneous itemized deductions for tax years 2018 through 2025. That deduction is scheduled to go into effect in 2026. Self-employed individuals can deduct office expenses on Schedule C, Form 1040. The home office deduction includes typical office-connected expenditures such as supplies, postage, computers, printers, and all the other ordinary and necessary expenses a person would have in connection with running a home office. The home office tax deduction for the self-employed would cover expenses for the business use of a home, which includes mortgage interest, rent, insurance, utilities, repairs, and depreciation. This program discusses many of the most important issues relating to the deductibility of home office-related expenses.

This course provides a technical overview of IRC 1031 like-kind exchanges, focusing on the application of current law and regulations following the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Presented by a former IRS subject matter expert, the course is designed for practitioners who advise on, prepare, or review transactions involving real property exchanges. Participants will examine qualification requirements, definitions of real property, and the determination of like-kind versus non-like-kind property under Treasury Regulations. The course covers key concepts including relinquished and replacement property, boot, realized and recognized gain, and basis calculations. Additional topics include the interaction of 1031 with cost segregation studies, depreciation treatment under 1245 and 1250, replacement property basis allocation, depreciation of carryover and excess basis, and multi-property exchange rules. Practical compliance considerations relevant to tax return preparation and review are emphasized throughout. 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 introduces accounting, auditing, and finance professionals to the emerging field of agentic AI: autonomous, goal-driven systems capable of planning, acting, and learning with minimal human intervention. Participants will explore how agentic AI differs from traditional automation (RPA) and generative AI, and how these agents are being deployed in finance and accounting. The course emphasizes foundational concepts such as the Perceive-Reason-Act-Learn (PRAL) loop and ethical decision-making frameworks. To ground abstract ideas in practice, participants will experience a brief agent simulation using basic ChatGPT, showcasing how natural language prompts can emulate agentic behavior, such as goal setting, clarification loops, and structured task execution. The course also highlights real-world agent platforms (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, IBM watsonx, and UiPath) to provide context on enterprise adoption trends and discusses emerging global regulations such as the EU AI Act and the U.S. Executive Order on Safe AI.

This course provides a concise overview of agentic artificial intelligence and its emerging role in audit and assurance. Participants will examine how AI agents differ from traditional generative AI by planning tasks, using software tools, taking actions, and completing multi-step workflows with limited human intervention. The course explores current audit applications, including substantive procedures, confirmations, risk assessment, disclosure testing, and continuous monitoring, while addressing new risks involving autonomy, permissions, prompt injection, multi-agent systems, and accountability. Participants will also examine regulatory developments, professional standards, controls, evidence requirements, ethics, liability, and the strategic implications of agentic AI for audit firms. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Use QuickBooks Online more effectively! You'll learn how to avoid (and fix) common mistakes in QBO bank feeds, how to properly classify transactions, and best practices for recordkeeping. After working with hundreds of business owners and bookkeeping professionals, Alicia has seen all kinds of crazy bookkeeping. She's managed to distill those bad habits down into the top 10 mistakes people make in QuickBooks Online. She wants to make sure you don't make them, too! This hour and a half long course highlights the Top 10 best practices that you'll want to get right, saving yourself wasted time and money. We'll start with words of wisdom about setting up your account, and dialing in your chart of accounts and products & services. Then we'll look at recordkeeping, from receipts to understanding what qualifies as a tax-deductible expense. We'll finish up by taking a look at some of QBO's "quirks" so you know proper use of the software. It's important to implement these best practices right at the beginning of your QuickBooks file. It's a lot more expensive and time consuming to fix a file than it is to get trained to do it right in the first place! This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.