CPE Catalog & Events

Specifically designed for preparation, compilation, and review practitioners, this course will provide you with a comprehensive review and hands-on application for performing financial statement preparation, compilation, and review engagements. You will learn the ins and outs of applying SSARS No. 21, Clarification and Recodification, as well as the additional guidance related to SSARS engagements through the issuance of SSARS Nos. 22-26 by the ARSC. In addition to SSARS 26, the entire suite of quality management standards is discussed. However, knowing the standards is not enough. You need to be able to effectively apply them. To support this, the course will review recent peer review feedback on SSARS engagements, providing insights on how to successfully apply this guidance. Not only will this course bring you up to date on SSARS requirements and guidance, but more importantly, it will provide you with practical examples and illustrations to help you effectively and efficiently perform these types of engagements. This course is intended to be your go-to reference for training your staff and managing your SSARS No. 21-26 services in compliance with professional, ethical, and technical requirements.

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.

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.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the hottest topic in technology circles today. And for good reason! AI can help all business professionals – including HR professionals – work more efficiently and effectively. AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot are proving themselves daily as valuable assets. These tools can help you automate research, draft documents, summarize emails, analyze Excel data, and even create PowerPoint presentations for you. If you haven't yet explored what today's AI tools can do, you'll want to participate in this session to become more productive and efficient with this very practical technology.

This course will address recent tax legislation, rules, and developments related to capitalization and depreciation; Section 179 and 168(k) 100 % bonus deduction; Depreciation of automobiles, including new luxury auto limits; ADS depreciation for electing farm and real estate business.   *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    

As the managers' role continue to evolve, it is crucial for us to understand the strategic aspects of managing a diverse workforce, beginning with understanding the big trends in employee demographics. We begin with a rhetorical question - asking if employees are assets? GAAP tells us they are not, so discussion will revolve around whether this treatment delivers an unhealthy bias on our view of the people in our organization. What do the most successful organizations believe and why? If you have an opinion as to whether employees are an asset or not, this is a fun session intended to be interactive with participation either live, virtual or both.

Indirect costs are an important aspect of obtaining full cost recovery on grants and cooperative agreements. An indirect rate is a mechanism for recovering allocable indirect costs. Have you struggled to understand how indirect rates work? We will show you Uniform Guidance theory and the mechanical aspects of how indirect rates are constructed. This session will cover the two of the most widely used indirect cost rate proposal templates to obtain Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreements (NICRA) for both the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and U.S. Department of Interior (DOI). We will address: • Fringe and indirect rate examples, • The power of an indirect rate multiplier, • What is an ideal indirect rate, • Mandatory requirements for constructing an indirect rate, • The importance of the Statement of Functional Expense, and • Understanding the HHS and DOI model templates.

This course empowers accountants with the knowledge and skills needed to strategically implement generative AI within their firms, positioning them at the forefront of innovation and operational efficiency. As generative AI platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini transform business practices, accountants will learn to harness these tools to drive value, streamline processes, and enhance decision-making. Through examination of the current AI landscape, practical frameworks, and real-world applications, participants will learn how to leverage AI technologies to enhance accounting operations while maintaining professional standards and ethical considerations. The course emphasizes a balanced approach to AI adoption that focuses on augmenting human capabilities rather than replacement. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Deceptive practices in financial statements continue to be a problem. This program discusses historical cases where fraudulent financial statements were not identified by an auditor and how to avoid these problems in the future.

Unlock the incredible potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation tools to revolutionize your business operations. Imagine boosting productivity and accuracy effortlessly with cutting-edge technologies. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini are your new best friends for conducting research, drafting reports, and crafting correspondence. Meanwhile, Microsof's Power Automate platform and tools, such as Zapier, can elevate your efficiency to levels you never thought possible. Join our session to modernize your workflows and harness these powerful tools. You'll dive into practical applications of today's AI and automation technologies, moving beyond the basics to streamline workflows, enhance internal controls, maximize productivity, and even boost team morale. Additionally, we'll guide you through potential pitfalls and help you avoid common mistakes when using these tools. This session is a must-attend for anyone looking to stay ahead in the fast-paced business world. Don't miss out on this opportunity to transform your operations and achieve unparalleled efficiency. Sign up today and take the first step towards a smarter, more productive future!

The audit landscape for 401(k) plans is shifting'fast. Recent reviews by the U.S. Department of Labor, combined with the introduction of Statement on Auditing Standards No. 136 (SAS 136), are changing how audits are conducted and what's expected of both auditors and plan sponsors. This course gives CPAs the insights and guidance they need to confidently navigate these changes. We'll explore the impact of SAS 136 and other recent updates, with a clear look at the responsibilities involved in an ERISA Section 103(a)(3)(C) audit'the new standard that has replaced the old limited scope audit. You'll also learn about the most common compliance issues flagged in 401(k) audits, based on findings from the Department of Labor and peer reviewers, and walk away with practical strategies and corrections to strengthen your audit approach.

When contemplating a divorce, financial, retirement and tax issues are critical. Many clients need to think through the problems that are about to unfold. As a result, they need more time to be ready. Therefore, understanding, assessing, and deciding how to proceed is essential before completing the marital separation agreement. Discover how to re-design your client's financial plan with these unforeseen issues now part of the mainstream. During this course, you'll learn business valuation; discuss property, retirement and other assets; gain insights on the tax and financial ramifications of divorce; and navigate the assessment and division of financial assets before, during and after the divorce.

Successful companies implement strategies that use their resources efficiently. By focusing on doing one thing well, organizations can create a competitive advantage that provides superior performance. Learn to create a roadmap to successful performance by tying the organization's metrics to its strategy and driving results.

With the increasing complexity and ever-changing nature of tax laws and issues, today’s accountant needs a one-day update course focusing on business income tax issues with an emphasis of newly enacted income tax legislation. This comprehensive class will not only review the current Federal business income tax laws but will also update tax return preparers of new tax forms, changes to existing tax forms, as well as tax planning opportunities and pitfalls. This is a “must-attend” course for all tax practitioners who want to be up to speed quickly and have a successful Federal business income tax filing season.   *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    

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.

Developments in the Management Commentary and MD&A Narrative reporting is entering a new era-one that moves beyond compliance checklists to focus on cohesive, decision-useful communication. This seminar examines the evolution of corporate narrative reporting through the revised 2025 IFRS Practice Statement 1: Management Commentary and the U.S. GAAP-based MD&A under SEC Regulation S-K, with key comparisons to help practitioners understand how each framework supports investor-focused disclosure. Using real-world examples and excerpts from the actual annual report of an IFRS reporting company, this seminar highlights how the revised Management Commentary guidance aims to improve the quality, relevance, and connectivity of narrative insights. Participants will explore its emphasis on strategy, risks, sustainability factors (ESG), key performance indicators (KPIs), and the integration of financial and non-financial information. The session also analyzes the modernization efforts in U.S. MD&A, including principles-based guidance, reduction of boilerplate disclosures, and expanded expectations for entity-specific analysis and trend-based insights. Through a comparative approach, participants learn how both frameworks are converging around common principles: enhanced connectivity, balanced presentation, entity-specific content, and alignment of strategy, performance, risk, and value creation. This practical seminar provides accounting, finance, and business professionals with the knowledge needed for better understanding the management commentary and MD&A. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

The new revenue recognition standard outlines five steps for proper compliance. At the surface, these steps seem simplistic. However, there are many considerations that should be considered within each step based on your process and industry. Previous courses in this series have covered the standard at a high level and evaluated step one and two of the standard. They are: Understanding the Revenue Recognition Standard Revenue Recognition: Identify the Contract - Part One Revenue Recognition: Identify the Contract - Part Two Revenue Recognition: Identify Performance Obligations – Part One Revenue Recognition: Identify Performance Obligations – Part Two Revenue Recognition: Determine Transaction Price - Part 1 Revenue Recognition: Determine Transaction Price - Part 2 Revenue Recognition: Allocate the Transaction Price Revenue Recognition: Recognize Revenue      This segment is designed to evaluate Step Three of the new model dealing with Determining the Transaction Price.

We all know that Fraud Happens. But, why? Why do people we think we can trust let us down? This session will explore the minds of white-collar criminals and examine some recent high-profile fraud cases. Why did they do it? How did they do it? What were the warning signs? If you think that fraud cannot happen to your organization, this session might give you pause.

This comprehensive course provides a focused update on key auditing developments affecting governmental and Single Audit engagements. The course integrates recent changes to the Yellow Book issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office with major updates to Uniform Guidance and related Single Audit requirements. Participants will begin with an overview of significant revisions to the 2024 Yellow Book, including changes related to quality management, key audit roles, and effective dates. The course also addresses the GAO's implementation delay and its implications for audit planning, along with recent updates to the Green Book that may affect internal control considerations for governmental entities and Single Audits. The course then shifts to recent developments affecting Single Audits, including the 2024 Uniform Guidance overhaul, updates to Appendix B of the AICPA GAS/Single Audit Guide, and guidance issued through the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Reporting-related changes, including the transition to SAM.gov-based reporting, are also discussed. Designed for auditors working with governmental entities and federal awards, this course helps participants understand how recent auditing and compliance changes intersect-and what to monitor as expectations continue to evolve.  

The accounting for credit losses has changed significantly as a result of ASU 2016 13. While some practitioners believe this update applies only to financial institutions, it also impacts many other entities with financial assets such as loans and trade receivables. In this course, Jeff explains the concept of CECL and how it is used to account for credit losses. The course focuses primarily on the accounting, while incorporating enough finance concepts to provide context and understanding of the standard. In addition, the course provides practical insight on coordinating the efforts of the accounting staff with those of the finance department. As in all his courses, Jeff incorporates a light and engaging approach to help maintain focus.