CPE Catalog & Events

This session teaches professionals how to move beyond theory and start using AI to work smarter, faster, and more accurately. This hands-on session explores how public accounting and industry finance teams can use AI tools for tasks like reporting, forecasting, audit analytics, and client service. Participants will see real-world examples of automation, gain practical implementation tips, and learn how to balance innovation with professional responsibility. Discover how to measure your AI ROI, enhance productivity, and position your firm or department for success in the AI-driven accounting era.

Technology issues rarely come from major failures-they come from small inefficiencies that compound over time. This practical session focuses on high-impact, low-effort technology tuneups that accounting professionals can apply immediately. Participants will learn proven tips for improving workstation performance, tightening security, streamlining workflows, reducing digital friction, and extending the life and value of existing technology investments. The emphasis is on practical configuration changes, overlooked features, and operational habits that deliver measurable productivity gains without requiring major system replacements.

Risk management is no longer a compliance exercise-it is a core strategic responsibility of today's CFO and CPA. This session demystifies Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) by walking through the COSO framework in clear, practical terms. Participants will learn how risk integrates with strategy and performance, how organizations identify and assess risk, and how leaders respond to uncertainty in a disciplined way. Using examples, polling, and case discussions, this session equips financial professionals to communicate risk effectively and help organizations protect and create value. Some funny video clips will be used to focus on the learning material.

Recently issued GASB standards deep dive If you are an accountant or finance professional working in the state and local government space or an auditor with state and local government clients, you're aware that to succeed at your job and to uphold the public trust, you need a solid understanding of governmental accounting and reporting. This course will walk you through GASB standards and look to the future by exploring current GASB projects. Implementing your new knowledge Realistic case studies help you apply the knowledge you gain so you are better prepared to implement these standards. Standards covered in these case studies include the following: GASB Statement No. 103, *Financial Reporting Model Improvements* GASB Statement No. 104, *Disclosure of Certain Capital Assets*

If you perform Yellow Book audits and/or single audits, it is a given that a peer reviewer will be looking at your work on those engagements! Why fret and sweat about what peer reviewers are going to be looking for? In this course, we will explore the key audit requirements that peer reviewers focus on, how the auditor complies with those requirements, and common pitfalls seen in Yellow Book and single audits. This course will help you proceed and succeed in your Yellow Book and single audits.

This program examines the critical issues, rules, and special opportunities when preparing your clients' Form 1041 US Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts. Learn what is considered taxable income; filing requirements and deadlines; impact of the 3.8 percent Medicare surtax on net investment income; and the 10 principles of tax accounting for trust income.   *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  

Training your reviewer's eye The complexity of S corporation tax law presents a formidable challenge to tax practitioners for accurate compliance and reporting of S corporation activities. The course identifies the common errors practitioners make on S corporation tax returns that review staff should spot. Four returns for you to review Learners can fine-tune their reviewing skills by examining case studies of sample tax returns that may warrant additional information from the client and areas of tax law where proper treatment requires additional analysis and information. Issues discussed include: Income and deductions Schedule K-1 reporting requirements Schedule K-2 and K-3 reporting requirements and the domestic filing exception The tax return in each case study contains errors or inaccuracies, giving learners the opportunity to apply their reviewing skills. Developed with H.R. 1, commonly referred to as OBBBA, in mind, these case studies reflect the realities of reviewing S corporation returns today.

This course will help you master individual income tax return preparation! It will improve your understanding of the basics, focusing on the law and compliance associated with Form 1040. It is an excellent overview of the process for new preparers and a refresher for the more seasoned professional.

Financial statements are the key to most business decisions. Often, the statements are presented as a key piece of information, and often they are misunderstood. This program is an overview of financial statements, how data is presented, and how to extract needed information that is relevant to business decisions. It will cover the format of the balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements. 

Retirement accounts may be the largest financial asset your client has. Learn to provide valuable retirement planning input rather than mere RMD calculations. Congress has been changing things: witness Secure and Secure 2.0. Beneficiary rules changed in 2019 but final regulations became effective in 2025. Retirement benefits will be paid to beneficiaries much earlier than was required for pre-2020 deaths. Improper choices and faulty distribution calculations can result in penalties or unnecessary taxes. Retirement plans may be overhauled based on recent legislative changes and IRS interpretations; this effects self-employeds and employees. Course materials contain regulations governing plan distributions and copies of appropriate IRS forms and rulings, updated with the latest cases, rulings, regulations and legislation.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was a major overhaul of our tax system that lowered the income tax rates for individual and corporate taxpayers and introduced the new 20% qualified business income (QBI) deduction for sole proprietors and pass-through entities. The cornerstone of this course is the comprehensive discussion of the 20% QBI deduction final regulations under IRC §199A.      *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 focuses on the most common aspects and tax implications of Limited Liability Companies and S Corporations. It will further compare forms of entities, along with corporate formalities compliance issues of each entity type. Electing Subchapter S status as well as reviewing the mechanics of electing Subchapter S status will be discussed. Highlights of entity specific tax forms will be discussed, as well as accountable plans, taxable fringe benefits, officer reasonable compensation, estate planning, business continuation planning and audit strategies. Schedules K-1, K-2, K-3, and effectively connected income will be reviewed in this course as well. 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 difficult concepts to master when dealing with flow-through business entities are the basis and distribution concepts. Major error and malpractice issues occur if the CPA does not fully understand the impact of these rules. This course is designed to focus on the practical applications of these rules.

This course introduces professionals to the fundamentals of individual tax preparation. Participants will learn the essentials of Form 1040, including filing requirements, income reporting, and deductions. The session will also cover preparer responsibilities, due diligence, and taxpayer rights under Circular 230. By the end, attendees will have a solid understanding of the foundation of personal tax returns. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Here's a more detailed look at the controller's role in AI: 1. Data Integrity and Quality: •    Controllers are responsible for ensuring the quality and integrity of data used to train and inform AI models.  •    They work to establish data governance frameworks, implement data quality initiatives, and ensure data lineage (tracking data from source to downstream systems).  2. Risk Management: •    Controllers assess potential risks associated with AI implementation, including inaccuracies, vulnerabilities, and ethical considerations.  •    They help define and implement risk management frameworks for AI, ensuring that AI systems are used responsibly and ethically.  3. Compliance:  •    Controllers stay informed about relevant regulations and ensure AI systems are compliant with those regulations. •    They monitor AI systems to ensure they are not violating any laws or policies. 4. Transparency and Auditability:  •    Controllers work to ensure that AI decisions are transparent and auditable. •    They establish processes to review AI decisions and identify potential biases or errors. 5. Collaboration and Training:  •    Controllers work with IT and business teams to understand AI's capabilities and limitations. •    They provide training to teams on how to use and manage AI tools effectively. 6. Value Creation: •    Controllers can leverage AI to identify areas for automation, improve efficiency, and gain real-time insights into financial operations.  •    They can use AI to make more informed decisions and create more strategic recommendations for action.  7. Emerging Role: •    The role of the controller is evolving with the rise of AI, with controllers becoming more hands-on throughout the implementation process.  •    They are increasingly seen as catalysts for AI-enabled transformation, helping to identify potential use cases and build confidence in the technology This course will explore many of these topics.

This course corresponds to our Controllership series. This course is dedicated to exploring the traditional controller role and stepping out of the box to identify areas where the controller can continue to add strategic value to their organizations. Within this segment of our controllership series, we discuss the area of cash and investments and explore how the controller can move these responsibilities into more of a strategic role. In today’s world, the role of cash management is often a pivotal role in the organization. In economically difficult times, controllers may find that they spend a great deal of their time on understanding and managing the organizations' cash position. This is certainly important and, in some areas, can be seen as a staple of the lifeblood of the organization’s ongoing viability. This course takes a look at some of the typical objectives involved in cash management and then evaluates how those objectives can be further stretched into strategic pillars of the organization.  

Debt is typically a critical component of the financial statements, impacting the economic decisions of financial statement users. This course will address common issues that may impact the proper presentation and disclosure of debt, including debt covenant compliance and other issues that impact classification of the liability between current vs. noncurrent. 

How well do you understand your organization’s cash flow? Good cash management techniques can provide a competitive advantage! This session shows you how to effectively measure and manage your cash conversion cycle. With a more complete understanding of how cash flows through your organization, you can eliminate impediments. Better cash management lowers your borrowing costs, reduces financing needs, and creates financial flexibility in your organization.

Quality management represents a significant shift in how CPA firms design, implement, and evaluate audit and attestation quality. This course provides a focused, practical deep dive into the quality management standards and related engagement-level requirements that firms are now operating under. The course covers SQMS 1 and SQMS 2, along with related engagement-level standards, including SAS 146, SAS 145, SSARS 26, and SSAE 23. Emphasis is placed on post-implementation responsibilities, including evaluating the effectiveness of quality management systems and addressing monitoring and remediation requirements. Participants will also examine engagement-level quality management responsibilities, including the auditor’s responsibilities under SAS 146 and the engagement partner's responsibilities in SSARS engagements. The course is designed to help firms navigate the second phase of implementation, moving beyond design and rollout to ongoing evaluation, monitoring, and continuous improvement.

CPAs can be requested to assist attorneys in litigation support in criminal proceedings. For criminal tax cases, the IRS has recommended prosecution. However, the rules and stakes are different than a simple civil audit. This presentation will focus on how to assist defense attorneys in calculating tax loss, asking the right questions, and probe possible weaknesses in criminal tax investigations. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.