CPE Catalog & Events

This course provides tax and accounting professionals with a framework for serving as the lead advisor in a multidisciplinary planning environment. Participants will explore how to coordinate with attorneys, financial planners, insurance professionals, and bankers to deliver integrated planning strategies. The course emphasizes identifying opportunities across estate, financial, retirement, and tax planning while managing collaboration and delivering cohesive client solutions.

Mastering business transformation with key skills and strategies relevant to modern businesses You'll learn tools that will help you manage day-to-day business operations as well as manage changes, including: Budgeting and forecasting approaches Strategic planning and risk management frameworks Technologies that can improve productivity. Optimizing your business model and identify value drivers You'll also understand how to identify and innovate your business model and how to incorporate intangible value drivers into your capital asset strategy by Using hands-on strategies to define your business model and capital structure Learning techniques and models that will guide business model innovation Understanding the role of technology in innovation Leading your team effectively and ethically Additionally, you'll evaluate how to build a successful team and maintain an ethical tone at the top by discovering how to: Attract and retain top talent Adapt leadership styles to different situations Formulate strategies that promote an ethical culture

As the new administration proposes changes to tax policies, estate planning strategies must adapt to evolving laws and regulations. This course equips financial professionals with advanced tools and techniques to address complex estate planning issues, including the latest legislative and regulatory updates. Participants will gain insights into tax-efficient wealth transfer strategies, charitable giving techniques, and the impact of recent tax law changes on estate and gift taxation. With a focus on real-world application, this course provides practical strategies for leveraging closely held stock, split-interest trusts, and life insurance in estate planning. Attendees will explore how to maximize tax benefits while ensuring compliance with changing regulations, ultimately helping clients achieve their financial and legacy goals. *Please Note:  If you need credit reported to the IRS for this IRS approved program, please download the IRS CE request form on the Handouts Tab and submit to kori.herrera@acpen.com

Strategic CFO is a four-part series that answers the “why” and “direction” our companies take and our role in thinking about this big picture to infuse into our everyday lives. Strategic CFO – Strategic Financial Communications Financial professionals are expected to do more than report numbers-they must explain them in ways others understand and trust. This session focuses on improving financial communication by addressing financial literacy gaps, simplifying complex accounting concepts, and building compelling narratives around data. Participants will learn how to use stories, visuals, and language effectively to communicate strategy, performance, and risk. Through examples and interactive discussion, this session helps CPAs and CFOs become clearer, more confident communicators in both live and virtual environments. Also, some video clips will be used to add to the learning materials and research. Don't worry, they are pretty entertaining. Strategic CFO – Strategic Cash Management Cash is the lifeblood of every organization, yet many leaders struggle to explain, manage, and plan for it effectively. This session focuses on strategic cash management, capital structure decisions, and financing options available to organizations at different stages of growth. Participants will explore how CFOs balance today's cash needs with long-term strategy, evaluate debt and equity decisions, and communicate cash flow concepts to non-financial stakeholders. The session emphasizes practical frameworks, real-world examples, and modeling approaches that support better cash decisions. A few negotiation videos will be displayed to bring humor and effectiveness to the key points. Strategic CFO – Strategic Risk Management 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. Strategic CFO – Developing Strategy and the Why Effective CFOs and CPAs play a critical role in shaping and executing organizational strategy. This session focuses on how strategy is developed, why many strategic plans fail, and how finance leaders can help organizations create focus in an increasingly complex and fast-changing environment. Participants will explore competitive advantage, the use of financial and non-financial metrics, and the importance of aligning strategy with mission, culture, and resources. Through discussion and real-world case examples, attendees will gain practical tools to evaluate, measure, and support successful strategies across for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Use of some video reels will add levity to some of the key points.

This course is designed for accountants in public practice and industry who focus on nonprofit and governmental entities. We will cover the basics needed to understand what makes nonprofit and governmental accounting & auditing unique. The course starts with the key financial reporting differences for governmental and nonprofit entities and then switches focus to review the fundamentals of Yellow Book and Uniform Guidance audits. This foundational course is perfect for those getting started in the nonprofit and governmental arena and those looking for a refresher. 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 and competitive business landscape, the ability to foster creativity is more crucial than ever. Unleashing Creativity in the Workplace is a CEU course designed for HR professionals who are eager to cultivate an environment where creativity drives productivity, innovation, and engagement. Through this course, you will learn how to leverage creativity to enhance individual, team, and organizational performance-ultimately achieving your company’s goals faster and more efficiently. Christine Wilson, a counselor turned coach and the creator of the Think Time planner, will guide you through a comprehensive approach to fostering creativity and innovation in your organization. Whether you're looking to inspire new ideas, improve employee engagement, or create a culture of innovation, this course offers actionable strategies and insights to help you unlock the full potential of your workforce.

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.

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.

Organizations often fail not because strategy is flawed, but because performance is measured poorly. This session focuses on the critical link between strategy, measurement, and execution. Participants will explore why there is no "perfect" metric, how strategy fails due to weak measurement, and how financial and non-financial metrics work together to drive performance. The session emphasizes aligning metrics with mission, strategy, and organizational priorities using practical frameworks such as the Balanced Scorecard. Humorous videos will be incorporated to drive home some key points and keep things entertaining.

Transforming how you use Excel with engaging and expert-led instruction Designed for you to work alongside an expert and complete the same exercises, you'll dig deeper into topics, including: Benefits of using named references for faster navigation Increased versatility and efficiency withing your Excel workbooks Excel Tables special properties and Error reduction for greater productivity. Mastering Excel functions Excel mastery involves understanding how to create functional and efficient workbooks. The instructor will guide you through Tables, named references, and more as you build on basic Excel skills and use critical functions, such as: Excel conventions Critical shortcuts Efficient navigation techniques Automatic formula updating *Session 1 is one of eight sessions that is available as an individual session. Each session builds on the prior sessions, so you'll want to consider watching [Session 2: Data Validation and Conditional Formatting] (https:// https://www.aicpa-cima.com/cpe-learning/webcast/excel-for-accounting-professionals-session-2--data-validation-and-conditional-formatting) to further prepare to tackle real-world issues and build powerful workbooks.*

Participants will learn how to interpret the most common IRS correspondence, adhere to response deadlines, and effectively communicate with the IRS to resolve issues and minimize risks. It provides professionals with knowledge and strategies needed to handle the most common notices including audit requests, collections & return inquiries as well as error notices. Focusing on best practices to ensure compliance and avoiding penalties or escalation. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

The FASB has released Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2024-03, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income "Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses. This Update entails much more detail than the current requirements for public business entities. This Update enhances the disclosures regarding a public business entity's expenses and addresses investors' requests for more detailed information about the types of expenses, including inventory purchases, employee compensation, depreciation, amortization, and depletion. These details are provided within commonly presented expense captions such as cost of sales, SG&A, and research and development.

From simple applications, such as spam filtering, to more advanced issues like fraud detection, AI continues to move into the mainstream. In this session, you will learn about different forms of AI and practical business applications of this emerging tool.

In this dynamic course, we'll delve into essential updates and equip you with the practical knowledge to navigate the latest changes in the field. Need insights on how the shift from the Statements on Quality Control Standards (SQCSs) to the Statement on Quality Management Standards (SQMSs) will affect your practice" We have you covered. Questions about cybersecurity requirements for CPAs" Arm yourself with practical strategies to protect your clients and firm in an increasingly digital world. From the newest accounting rules to mastering new audit standards, we'll explore the newest developments to help you navigate the changes.

Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of alternatives to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) financial statement presentations is vital to making proper client choices. For example, practitioners may seek to use the Other Comprehensive Basis of Accounting (OCBOA) financial statement presentations, as GAAP will increase complexity and the cost of compliance. Here, we'll explore compliance with the preparation, presentation, disclosure and reporting nuances of cash- and tax-basis financial statements. We'll also discuss the AICPA's Financial Reporting Framework for Small- and Medium-Sized Entities (FRF for SMEs). This course meets the specific OCBOA requirements that CPAs must meet for the re-issuance of their license.

Accountants are expected to demonstrate a questioning mindset. While such professional skepticism is an obvious requirement for assurance engagements, it is applicable elsewhere in the practice of public accounting. In fact, a skeptical mindset offers benefits to both public accountants and those who work in industry. This course provides specific examples of professional skepticism while suggesting best practices.

The accounting profession stands at a critical inflection point where artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are reshaping how firms operate, serve clients, and compete in the marketplace. This course, based on the 2025 CPA Firm Tech Report, provides expert guidance on overcoming the five key challenges that prevent firms from successfully adopting transformative technologies: decision paralysis from overwhelming choices, leadership resistance to change, difficulty proving ROI, growing cybersecurity risks, and critical skills gaps. Through real-world case studies and insights from industry leaders, participants will learn practical strategies for evaluating AI solutions, implementing change management frameworks, and building a technology-forward culture that enhances both efficiency and client value. Participants will explore the CPA Firm Digital Maturity Model to assess their firm's readiness for transformation, examine the evolving AI ecosystem specifically designed for accounting applications, and discover how leading firms are leveraging AI to move beyond traditional compliance work toward high-value advisory services. The course addresses critical considerations for firms of all sizes, from solo practitioners to large regional firms, providing actionable frameworks for prioritizing technology investments, measuring success beyond traditional ROI metrics, and developing the hybrid talent needed to thrive in an AI-enhanced future. Whether you're a firm leader hesitant about technology adoption or a forward-thinking professional ready to champion change, this course equips you with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the technology revolution transforming the accounting profession. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Many employees with ADHD struggle with productivity. It’s heart-breaking to feel you have to let a team member go due to lack of performance. This course is for HR Professionals and Team Leaders who want more tools in their tool belt to help improve retention with ADHD team members. You will learn whole brain strategies to help your team members with ADHD improve performance, so they can not only survive but thrive. This innovative science-based approach is designed to help people with ADHD get more done in less time with a process designed with their creative brain in mind.

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.

Literally thousands of individual taxpayers may have increased deductions or exclusions from gross income as a result of the Disaster Relief Act of 2023 and OBBBA of 2025. Casualty provisions are retroactive to December 19, 2019 through late 2025. Both low and high-income taxpayers may benefit from RETROACTIVE AND CURRENT deductions. There are also exclusions of payments received as compensation for wildfire damages — retroactive to 2014! This course will review these provisions which can bring substantial tax savings to clients.   *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