CPE Catalog & Events

This session explores managerial accounting techniques with an emphasis on internal decision-making tools. You will appreciate a reminder regarding concepts you may not have considered since your college days. We will revisit managerial accounting concepts by illustrating practical examples that you can immediately bring back to the office!

Please join us for an introductory course in international cross border transactions.    We will discuss typical situations in which a cross-border transaction arises, and how a taxpayer can utilize the rules to potentially decrease an entities effective tax rate.  Other issues, such as documentation and IRS audit risk will also be covered.  These rules will be illustrated by a hypothetical US- Canada transaction.    **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 leighanne.conroy@acpen.com.  

This course will provide an update of Government Auditing Standards as a result of the GAO's issuance of the 2024 Revision to Government Auditing Standards. The course will focus on the Revisions impact on financial statement audits. The course will also focus on the impact of Quality Management Standards as well as clarify as to when the concept of reporting key audit matters might apply for financial audits. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Debt is a real problem for many clients, business owners, and the general public.  It can be ever increasing and causes financial, emotional and physical challenges that seem to spiral out of control. What if you could help your clients “do debt differently”? This strategy turns the game upside down and presents solutions from the inside out.  As a CPA, you are already a trusted advisor for your clients.  What if you could help your clients be free of this burden?  This is a tremendous resource you can offer to your clients, expanding the value of what you offer them by adding these processes to your packages.  Clients will be happy to pay for this kind of relief as you support them in doing debt differently.   If you are one of the many people who are personally burdened by this situation, these strategies, tools, mindsets and actions will personally help you get better results…so you can go back to the task of expanding and growing your business, sleeping better at night and gaining access to the creativity that will take you to your next level of financial fulfillment.  Paying off debt is an inside/outside job.  Successful strategies include the internal shifts to mindset and enhancing the inner qualities that are most helpful in paying off debt, and practical tools to help make the transition from thinking about paying off debt to actually doing it. This program combines both -- emotional support and dozens of tools and action steps to Do Debt Differently, including: An inventory process to objectively assess the situation and face it head on Guided mind/body processes to alleviate anxiety about the situation Creative exploration (writing and drawing) to gain clarity and specificity Stories and discussion to strengthen your access to the qualities that will be most helpful to your success Using a menu of options to create a personal action plan and an ongoing support team The techniques in this program are creative and easy, but immensely practical.   We will combine practical, nuts-and-bolts action steps with powerful tools for mindset-shifting. There is no reason to continue to suffer the burden and overwhelm of debt. Relief is here! Through discussion, interactive exercises, skill building, mindset shifting and powerful actions, you and your clients could be on your way to a debt free life. Please join me for this empowering approach to changing your financial situation.

Quality management is important.  Every CPA firm that provides audit and other attest services must undergo a third-party quality control review.  This session will provide you with the tips on how to avoid common quality control deficiencies in all services that are subject to peer review.

Selecting the right technology and ensuring it’s effectively adopted are two of the most critical challenges facing firms today. This session explores practical, structured methods for evaluating software and systems to align with business needs-followed by proven change management strategies that drive adoption, learning, and long-term success. Participants will learn how to assess organizational readiness, evaluate vendors, structure pilot programs, and use modern tools to facilitate user engagement and continuous improvement. Whether your firm is implementing new accounting, workflow, or collaboration technology, this course provides the framework for successful selection and implementation.

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.

Please join us for a discussion on like-kind exchanges (LKE), known as one of the last great tax legal “shelters” available to those buying and selling real property.  We will be covering the basic structure of a LKE, and ways a taxpayer can utilize qualified third party intermediaries (QI), tenancy-in-common structures including Delaware Statutory Trusts (DST).   We will also explore creative solutions to sticky situations a taxpayer may find itself in obtaining replacement property. **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 kori.herrera@acpen.com  

Every business needs capital, and capital has a cost. Providers of debt and equity demand a return and the combination is the cost of capital for the business. This session discusses how to calculate the cost of capital, how to use it to make superior business decisions every day and some common ways organizations misuse this number. Who should understand your organization's cost of capital? Even if you are not yet the CFO, you need to thoroughly understand the cost of capital and its use. The cost of capital allows managers to, Get the biggest bang for the buck. If you want to enhance your corporate finance skills, this session is for you.

Root cause analysis is a powerful tool for understanding why quality issues arise, and for preventing them from recurring. This webcast examines the principles and objectives of a root cause analysis and how it aligns with SQMS No. 1's focus on continual improvement. Learn practical approaches for: Identifying underlying causes of findings and deficiencies Evaluating contributing factors Implementing meaningful corrective actions We'll also explore how this process can help firms of all sizes to: Enhance audit quality Strengthen remediation activities Foster a culture of proactive problem-solving

According to a 2020 AICPA survey, advisory and consulting services were considered the greatest unmet needs of clients. The recent growth in Client Advisory Services (CAS) has led many to ask what is included in this broad category as well as how to develop the services for clients. With so much focus on the recent success of CAS offerings, now is the time to learn how the services differ from what you currently offer, which of your clients would benefit most, and what you need in place to add a quality CAS program to your firm's menu of services.

The key to building a long-lasting relationship with your clients is to become more than just their accountant.  Your clients already trust you with their tax and compliance work, but why not take it to the next level.  By learning how to play the 90-day money game, you can help your clients elevate their income and take their earning power to the next level.  Once you master the philosophy and practical tools for yourself, they can be easily shared with your own clients.  Many clients silently suffer financially and are afraid to ask for help.  By helping them play their own 90 day money game, you can support their financial wellbeing and turn good clients into GREAT ones! Here’s how it works: Take your money challenges and turn them into money confidences by playing the 90-day money game.  We will address three areas:    INCOME – creating and working toward a Bold Money Goal IMPACT – expanding your reach in the world with clients and contacts  INNER PEACE – turning the stress around income creation into a fun, peaceful experience.  Reclaim your personal power around this important topic! Don’t stay stuck in your story, waiting for the outside world to change before you claim your financial success. Action that is fueled by stress is inefficient and exhausting. Learn how to take action from inspiration. Discover a new way to think about money creation and nourish yourself in the process. Remember…You are you OWN economy. Learn how to create this reality now! The next 90 days will pass by one way or the other – let’s decide to use that time in a clear and direct way to create a Money Breakthrough! Learn this winning philosophy for yourself and then use these principles and tools in your work with clients.   

This course will explore the use of ChatGPT and artificial intelligence chatbot technologies in the accounting profession. Participants will learn how to utilize ChatGPT to automate tasks, improve efficiency and accuracy, and provide real-time support to clients. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

It is the role of a leader to build and maintain a great culture in the organization. The culture is the driving force that shapes the attitudes and behaviors of everyone in the organization. A relationship driven organization is built on trust and is the most effective way to improve productivity, engagement, and the bottom line. Understand the components that enable trust to be created and maintained throughout teams and organizations.

This program provides a comprehensive overview of the latest rules and regulations governing tips, overtime pay, and related tax obligations. Participants will learn how to calculate, report, and withhold taxes on tips; apply new overtime rules; and ensure compliance with the new federal law. **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.

Required Peer Reviews are an important element for ensuring high quality audit and attest services are being offered by CPAs. This course will explore the most common deficiencies identified through the Peer Review program, so that CPAs know what potential problems to avoid.

Starting with tax year 2021, Form 7203, S Corporation Shareholder Stock and Debt Basis Limitation, may be required to accompany shareholders’ Individual Income Tax Returns (Form 1040). This form is essential for reporting a shareholder's outside basis and debt basis to properly apply loss limitations under I.R.C. §461 and at-risk limitations. This course will provide a detailed overview of Form 7203, including its mechanics and strategies for completing it accurately. Additionally, strategies for reconstructing shareholder basis when it has not been maintained in the past will be discussed, helping practitioners handle these scenarios effectively. *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 kori.herrera@acpen.com

Between 2010 and 2020 a parade of Court Cases, IRS Factsheets, Job Aids and Internal Memos, plus Heightened IRS scrutiny and Preparer Penalties has brought the issue of 'Reasonable Compensation for S Corp's out of the shadows and placed it forefront as a priority issue for CPA's, EA's, Tax and Financial advisors to cover with their clients. We will explore key court cases, IRS guidelines, preparer penalties and some of the obscure tools the IRS has put in place. We debunk common myths and fiction on how reasonable compensation should be calculated and replace it with facts and methodologies that the IRS relies on. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

The audit profession stands at a critical inflection point, facing unprecedented challenges from technological disruption, evolving regulatory landscapes, and workforce transformation. This comprehensive course, based on the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs' groundbreaking research report "The Future of the Audit: Building Relevance and Sustaining Quality," provides auditors with essential insights and actionable strategies to navigate these seismic shifts. Through expert perspectives from industry leaders including PCAOB board members, Big Four executives, and audit committee chairs, participants will explore how artificial intelligence, blockchain, and data analytics are fundamentally reshaping audit practices while creating new opportunities for value creation and risk assessment. Beyond technology adoption, this course addresses the pressing talent crisis facing the profession and offers practical solutions for building a future-ready workforce. Participants will learn how to leverage emerging technologies to enhance audit quality, understand the implications of regulatory modernization including the concept of "regulatory sandboxes," and develop strategies for attracting and retaining top talent in an increasingly competitive market. Whether you're a partner in a small firm, a manager in a large organization, or an audit professional seeking to future-proof your career, this course provides the roadmap for maintaining relevance, ensuring quality, and thriving in the evolving audit landscape. You'll leave with concrete action steps for immediate implementation and a clear vision for transforming your audit practice to meet the demands of tomorrow's financial ecosystem. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Anytime someone says "I want," "I need," or "Will you," you are in a negotiation.  For decades, the negotiation techniques described in Getting to Yes by Fisher and Ury of the Harvard Negotiations Project were the world's standard negotiation methods.  These techniques involved collaborative methods for discovering how to make the "pie" bigger and then split it.  More recent research on human psychology has revealed new methods that will allow you to do even better.  Sometimes, you can't settle for getting half of what you want.  Sometimes you have to have it all.  This session explores negotiating's human side, to give you powerful people skills that will help you get more.