CPE Catalog & Events

Please join us for an introductory course on the fundamentals of preparing and filing an individual federal income tax return. We will cover topics such as what the federal income tax is and how it is computed. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

When asked the question, "What would you like to improve about your leadership and communication style?". More than 65% of leaders say they want to be more confident and assertive in their communication. Confidence and clarity communicate leadership. If you are responsible for growing a profitable company or a productive team, you want team members who have the ability to reach goals, make sales, finish projects, and serve customers. Being a confident, compelling leader helps to inspire better relationships, promotes trust, and reduces stress in the workplace. Confident communication cultivates cooperation, goal achievement, and a more respectful work environment. Clear and compelling leaders are better equipped to move projects forward and make things happen while improving cooperation and respect from partners and subordinates.

This course is a continuation of discussion over Step One in the revenue recognition process of Identify the Contract. Specifically, this session delves further into the considerations surrounding contract modifications, change orders, unpriced change orders, cancelations, non-finalized changes and accounting treatment when a contract does not exist.

Why do for profit organizations exist" To make money!!!!! What a great concept. But if the organization does not have the proper collections and credit procedures in place, they may not be able to access that money. Hence the importance of the credit and collection process. Credit and collections are critical areas for the financial statement controllers. Customer credit is a form of payment that allows small business customers to purchase a product or service before paying for it in full. The process works similarly to the way a credit card does - you procure something and pay it back later. Collections is a term used by a business when referring to money owed to that business by a customer. When a customer does not pay within the terms specified, the amount of the bill becomes past due and is sometimes submitted to a collection agency. The sales and collection process includes business activities related to selling products and services, maintaining customer records, billing customers, and recording payments from customers. It also includes activities necessary to manage accounts receivable, such as aging accounts and authorizing credit.  This course delves into the topics that impact the sales, credit and collections process for management. We discuss strategic steps management can take to ensure their processes are efficient and that they are able to actually collect their revenue.  

It would be amiss to not recognize that the passage of time has changed our world. Think of various events such as economic change, technological evolution, the pandemic etc. These are just a few of the changes that may have impacted the manner in which we execute some of the processes outlined in the SOX legislation. In this segment we will focus on sourcing of emerging risks by utilizing to COSO principles.   

If a great leader is someone we are willing to sacrifice for – what do those leaders do that makes us want to do more? Many of us work in dysfunctional organizations that want followers, but have no leaders that lead. What makes a leader effective? True leaders sacrifice, they are trustworthy and they empathize. We discuss the steps to take so you can become a true leader: including, integrity, humility, communication, self-control and self-awareness. With diligence, you can become a better leader and we will discuss how.  

This session takes a unique review of the fundamental budget issues faced by all and walks through a detailed modeling process intended to generate discussion and best practices to improve your organization’s financial modeling.  From the beginning of the accounting process – ‘the chart of accounts’ to the end of the process – ‘the valuation of the company’, the budgeting cycle via a live case model to learn best practices common to successful companies.   This course stands on its own but is part two of a four part budget mastery series.

Collaboration remains one of today's hottest topics. Technology has fueled today's collaboration options, and work-from anywhere environments virtually demand collaboration platforms. In this session, you will learn today's best tools and practices to facilitate more effective collaboration in your organization. In this session, you will learn about today's mainstream collaboration platforms & Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Zoho - and how these options are similar and differ. You will also learn about other collaboration options, including Slack, Zoom, and Webex, and you can incorporate these tools into your collaboration environments. Further, you will learn about some of the best practices and procedures that must be in place to optimize your collaborative environments and experiences.

This course covers a broad range of topics involving uncertainty in accounting and auditing. It addresses accounting standards related to going concern, contingencies, guarantees, and credit losses, along with auditing standards applicable to auditing accounting estimates and evaluating going concern. The course provides a practical overview of how these areas are addressed under current standards and how they impact financial reporting and audit procedures. Jeff presents the material in an engaging manner to reinforce key concepts and maintain focus.

Many accountants desire to have a quick overview of only the most current issues in accounting and financial reporting. This course will provide an executive summary of the most important changes in U.S. GAAP. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Yellow Book and Single Audit engagements are routinely selected for peer review and continue to be areas of heightened scrutiny by peer reviewers and federal oversight agencies. This course examines common deficiencies identified in governmental and Single Audit engagements, with a focus on understanding why these issues arise and how they can be avoided. Participants will review frequent deficiencies related to Yellow Book requirements issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, including independence, CPE, and reporting considerations. The course also addresses common Single Audit deficiencies, including internal controls over compliance, compliance testing, and major program determination. Designed for auditors performing governmental and Single Audit engagements, this course helps participants recognize recurring problem areas and better understand the requirements that continue to drive peer review findings.  

In today's digital landscape, security is non-negotiable. Yesterday's techniques cannot keep up with today's threats. It's time to elevate your knowledge and protect your sensitive data with our comprehensive security program. Join us to discover the latest tools and techniques for securing your data, including encryption, virus protection, safe communications, electronic signatures, secure authentication, and more. You'll also learn how to implement a practical, five-step approach to securing your PC and the critical questions to ask your staff to ensure server-based information remains protected. Security failures, such as client or customer data breaches, can be devastating and even drive your company out of business. So, what security tools do you need, and how should you use them to safeguard your sensitive data and systems? Can you afford to manage today's threats with outdated techniques? Participate in this valuable session to learn how to identify viable and practical solutions to mitigate today's security threats. Don't miss this opportunity to fortify your defenses and ensure your business's success. Sign up now and take the first step towards a more secure future!

This comprehensive course provides a timely update on key accounting and auditing developments affecting governmental entities, bringing together recent standard-setting, auditing, and compliance changes into a single, cohesive learning experience. Participants will begin with an update on major pronouncements issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, including GASB Statements No. 103, 104, and 105, along with a high-level overview of active GASB exposure drafts and ongoing projects. Emphasis is placed on understanding how these changes affect governmental financial reporting, disclosures, and communication with stakeholders. The course then shifts to auditing developments, covering significant updates to the Yellow Book issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, including changes related to quality management, effective dates, and recent updates to the Green Book. Participants will also gain insight into the GAO's implementation delay and its implications for audit planning. Finally, the course addresses recent changes affecting Single Audits, including the 2024 Uniform Guidance overhaul, updates to Appendix B of the AICPA GAS/Single Audit Guide, recent Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memoranda, and reporting changes related to SAM.gov. Designed for auditors, preparers, and financial leaders working with governmental entities, this course helps participants understand how recent accounting and auditing changes intersect-and what to watch for as 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.

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 course provides a comprehensive introduction to preparing individual income tax returns using Form 1040. Designed as a basic-level program, it walks participants through the core components of the individual return in a clear and practical manner. Participants will learn filing requirements, filing statuses, and how to determine dependents. The course covers common types of income, including wages and basic investment income, along with adjustments to income, standard versus itemized deductions, and commonly used tax credits. In addition, the course introduces basic reporting for self-employment and rental activity, focusing on how these items flow to the individual return. Preparer responsibilities, due diligence requirements, and taxpayer rights under IRS rules are also covered to provide a strong foundational understanding of individual tax preparation. *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  

Stay current on key developments affecting governmental audits with this focused update on the 2024 revision of the Yellow Book. This course highlights significant changes related to quality management and updates affecting key audit roles, with an emphasis on how these revisions impact audit planning and execution. The course also addresses the GAO's implementation delay and its implications for 2026 audit planning. Participants will gain context around recent leadership changes at the U.S. Government Accountability Office and what those transitions may signal for future guidance and oversight priorities. In addition, the course includes an overview of recent updates to the Green Book, helping auditors understand changes to internal control guidance that may affect governmental entities and Single Audit engagements. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Managerial accounting provides economic and financial information for managers and other internal users. Managerial and Financial Accounting have similarities and differences. Each field of accounting deals with the economic events of a business. Both managerial and financial accounting require that a company’s economic events be quantified and communicated to interested parties. This another course in our series on the controller’s role. The controller’s role encompasses many traditional functions. Within this segment of our controllership series, we discuss the area of managerial accounting and the basic concepts that surround this discipline as it primarily relates to cost accounting issues.  

Section 199A compliance has evolved after OBBA — and so have the risks of getting it wrong. From revised definitions of qualified business income to updated reporting obligations, practitioners must navigate nuanced guidance affecting partnerships, S corporations, and sole proprietorships. Walk away with practical tools, compliance checklists, and calculation frameworks you can apply immediately.

A detailed analysis of the calculations related to determining a shareholder's tax basis for S corporation shares and loans. How to use the Form 1120S, Schedule K-1 information for basis determination. An illustrative example demonstrates how the process works, as well as the many potential pitfalls. 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 comprehensive analysis of the SECURE 2.0 Act (Act) that includes key provisions of the Act available for implementation in 2025. The principal focus of the Act was to expand retirement coverage and increase retirement savings. As such, the Act included many important changes relating to IRAs and qualified plans. This legislation alters the landscape of retirement planning for taxpayers of all ages. Make sure you are up to date with the latest information relating to these changes in order to effectively advise your clients on these important provisions.