CPE Catalog & Events

This course provides a focused update on major recent pronouncements issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. Coverage includes GASB Statement No. 103 (financial reporting model improvements), GASB Statement No. 104 (enhanced disclosures for capital assets), and GASB Statement No. 105 (subsequent events). Participants will also receive a high-level overview of active GASB exposure drafts and ongoing projects. The course is designed to help auditors, preparers, and financial leaders understand how these developments affect audits, financial statement preparation, and board reporting.

Imagine you have one hundred boxes that are all supposed to be full of manufactured inventory. How do you obtain reasonable assurance—now defined as a high level of assurance—that each box is full without opening every one? You begin by assessing risk. If the client has strong internal controls over manufacturing, packing, and transport to the warehouse, there is reasonable assurance the boxes are properly filled. Next, evaluate warehouse security and controls over access, as well as procedures for removing inventory. Once satisfied that controls are both adequate and operating effectively, you can observe and count the boxes and selectively test a sample—ensuring you do not only choose the most accessible ones, as fraud is often concealed within the middle of the inventory. Based on this risk assessment and targeted testing, you can conclude with reasonable assurance that the inventory is properly stated without inspecting every box. This same approach applies to expenses and payroll: evaluate internal controls, observe processes, and perform independent test procedures. Weak internal controls in inventory, expenses, and payroll create opportunities for fraud that may lead to material misstatements. In this session, we will explore how these vulnerabilities arise and how to recognize and address them through effective audit procedures.

This program reviews the statutory and regulatory guidance as they relate to fringe benefits. There will be an emphasis on entertainment, meals and business transportation expenses, including qualified employer-provided parking, with a focus on planning opportunities. Recent federal tax legislation, cases and rulings will also be addressed. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

One of the important roles of any member of the financial team. Including the controller, may be involvement in the preparation of the company’s financial statements. Even if that responsibility falls within the office of the CFO, the controller and other finance personnel must understand how their transitions recorded impact the financial statements. Financial statements (or financial reports) are formal records of the financial activities and position of a business, person, or other entity. Relevant financial information is presented in a structured manner and in a form which is easy to understand. They typically include four basic financial statements accompanied by a management discussion and analysis: A balance sheet or statement of financial position reports on a company's assets, liabilities and owners’ equity at a given point in time. An income statement may have varying names including profit and loss report (P&L report), statement of comprehensive income, or statement of revenue & expenses. These report on a company's income, expenses, and profits over a stated period. A profit and loss statement provides information on the operation of the enterprise. These include sales and the various expenses incurred during the stated period. A statement of changes in equity or “statement of equity” also called “statement of retained earnings” reports on the changes in equity of the company over a stated period. A cash flow statement reports on a company's cash flow, particularly its operating, investing and financing activities over a stated period. A balance sheet represents a single point in time, where the income statement, the statement of changes in equity, and the cash flow statement each represent activities over a stated period. For large corporations, these statements may be complex and may include an extensive set of footnotes to the financial statements, management discussion and analysis and supplementary information. The notes typically describe each item on the balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement in further detail. Notes to financial statements are considered an integral part of the financial statements.  

With the increasing complexity and ever-changing nature of tax laws and issues, today’s accountant needs a one-day update course focusing on individual income tax issues with an emphasis of newly enacted income tax legislation. This comprehensive class will not only review the current Federal individual 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 individual 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  

Estate planning continues to evolve, and staying informed about the latest trends and strategies is crucial for professionals in the field. This forward-looking course delves into the intricacies of estate planning, with a specific focus on current issues. Participants will explore cutting-edge techniques, emerging legal considerations, and industry developments to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to create effective estate plans that withstand the test of time and safeguard their clients' legacies. *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  

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.

In today's fast-paced world, maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for mental wellness. This course is designed to provide practical tools and strategies to help you create a balanced, fulfilling life. You'll learn actionable techniques for improving sleep hygiene, incorporating proper nutrition, fostering open communication, and managing stress. Whether you're struggling with burnout, seeking better work-life harmony, or simply looking to improve your overall well-being, this course offers valuable insights and tools to help you thrive. Designed to fit into your busy schedule, it delivers the guidance you need to make practical, sustainable changes in your life, starting today. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

*** Save 15% on this event when you use the code SAVE15 at checkout *** Theory meets practice in this immersive, hands-on lab designed for immediate implementation. Participants will move through a series of practical exercises simulating the setup and usage of AI-driven research and production tools in a professional environment. We will cover the mechanics of secure document analysis, the proper documentation of AI-assisted workpapers to meet supervision standards, and the deployment of firm-specific AI assistants. This session focuses on the "how-to" of AI integration, providing attendees with a tangible library of prompts and a step-by-step action plan to initiate or scale AI usage within their practice the very next day.

Stay current on the latest accounting developments affecting not-for-profit organizations with this timely GAAP update. This course reviews recently issued Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Updates (ASUs) impacting NFP financial reporting, along with standard-setting projects currently in the FASB pipeline. The course also introduces the International Non-Profit Accounting Standard (INPAS)-the first comprehensive global accounting framework designed specifically for non-profit organizations, launched in October 2025. Participants will gain perspective on the purpose and structure of INPAS and how it compares conceptually to U.S. GAAP requirements for NFPs. This course is designed to help practitioners, financial leaders, and auditors of not-for-profit organizations understand both current GAAP requirements and emerging global developments shaping the future of nonprofit financial reporting. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes deeply integrated into business operations and decision-making, organizations must recognize that effective oversight extends beyond technical safeguards.The governance, risk and control (GRC) responsibilities of AI also carry a cultural dimension requiring alignment with corporate ethical values ethical principles and accountability structures.Cultural governance emphasizes leadership commitment, employee engagement and cross-function ownership of AI practices to ensure trust and transparency.  AI-related risks – ranging from bias and ethical concerns to regulatory compliance, reputational exposure and operational vulnerabilities necessitate robust control frameworks and proactive mitigation strategies.   These include governance structures, policies, risk assessments, transparency measures, and continuous monitoring.  By embedding cultural governance and mitigation responsibilities into enterprise AI initiatives, organizations can responsibly harness innovation while safeguarding stakeholders, protecting reputation and ensuring sustainable long-term value. Note:  This is Part 2 in a two-part series on the risks of AI

Are you ready to unlock Excel's full potential? In today's fast-paced world, mastering Excel isn't just a nice-to-have-it';s a must for anyone who wants to work smarter, faster, and with greater accuracy. Make plans to participate in this dynamic, Excel-centric session designed for professionals like you. Discover how you can leverage features like templates, Precision as Displayed, and PivotTables along with new tools such as Dynamic Arrays, advanced data cleaning, PIVOTBY and GROUPBY functions, and seamless Copilot integration. These features will transform the how you and your team analyze data, automate reporting, and deliver actionable insights from Excel.

This program provides in-depth coverage of SAS 145, a major standard that helps auditors enhance risk assessment procedures through improved techniques for identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement. This session is essential for CPAs that perform audits. The discussion will also be insightful for auditees and other professionals who want to maintain awareness of current auditing guidance.

It is important for accounting and finance practitioners to help their clients understand and apply the many new provisions of OBBBA. Many of these changes are effective for the 2025 tax year and beyond. This program is an introduction to and review of some of these critical changes and their impact on taxpayers. This program is a two-hour review and analysis of what we consider some of the most current and important changes from the OBBBA. If you want the latest OBBBA information to relay to your clients, this course is for you.

Accounting and financial reporting for construction contractors may be the most difficult area to comply with the various standards. Construction engagements are, in many instances, more complicated than most lines of business due to the many users of the financial statements. In this course, we will discuss why construction accounting and financial reporting is so complex and examine the relationship between the contractor and the surety, both from an underwriting and a claims perspective. We will also explore what the surety looks for to maximize potential bond credit.

Peer review deficiencies and professional liability claims result from both audit and nonaudit services. This course will provide best practices for avoiding legal liability and quality control concerns for a wide variety of professional services offered by public accountants.

This course will review the fundamentals of fiduciary accounting and provide a reporting guide for determining whether receipts and expenditures are assigned to income or principal/corpus. Critical issues, rules, and special opportunities when preparing your clients' Form 1041 U.S. Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts will be examined, including what is considered taxable income and allowable deductions. Planning and potential pitfalls will also be explored.  This course only qualifies for 2 IRS credits. *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

Fraud continues to make headlines, underscoring the importance of understanding how fraud occurs, how it can be prevented, and how auditors are expected to respond. This course begins with an overview of common fraud schemes identified in the 2026 Report to the Nations issued by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, along with key characteristics commonly observed among fraud perpetrators. The course then explores practical approaches organizations use to prevent and deter fraud, highlighting controls, policies, and cultural factors that can reduce fraud risk. Participants will also review recent fraud cases reported in the news to reinforce how these schemes manifest in real-world settings. The course concludes with a discussion of the auditor's responsibilities related to fraud under AU-C 240, including an overview of proposed changes to the fraud standards and what they may mean for future 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.

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 is not a Florida-approved Ethics course***The course provides general information on how to identify money laundering activities during the conduct of normal tax audits. Discover key resources and tools available for effective detection and deterrence. Explore the impact of money laundering on ethical decision-making, and how examiners and auditors can assist criminal investigators in countering money laundering. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.