CPE Catalog & Events

In today's fast-paced world, automation is like having a time machine at your fingertips. By implementing strategic automation solutions, you can transform an eight-hour workday into twelve hours of productivity without working longer hours. This course explores how automation can save time, improve accuracy, promote effectiveness, and maximize the value of your workday. When you invest time in automating routine tasks, you create permanent time savings that compound over time, reducing daily stress and providing better mental clarity for more important activities. This hands-on course will equip you with practical knowledge of various automation tools, methods, apps, and technologies that can revolutionize both your personal and professional life. From home automation systems to iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) tools and the Elgato Streamdeck, you'll discover how to create a seamlessly automated environment. Join us to learn how to reclaim hours or even weeks of time through smart automation strategies that will transform your daily routine.

Your client database is more than a record of past engagements-it's a goldmine of untapped opportunity. In this practical and forward-thinking session, accounting professionals will learn how to strategically analyze and segment their existing client data to uncover new service opportunities, deepen relationships, and drive sustainable revenue growth. From identifying cross-selling potential to leveraging automation tools for proactive outreach, this webinar will equip firm leaders and client managers with actionable strategies to turn dormant data into dynamic business development. Whether you're a solo practitioner or part of a larger firm, you'll walk away with a roadmap for transforming your client list into a revenue-generating engine. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Building on Part 1, this course will review the application of sampling in financial statement audits with a focus on sampling for tests of controls. We'll also review the requirements for sampling in Single Audits with a focus on tests of controls and tests of compliance. 

Technology has given us many new writing tools, but they may just allow an inexperienced novice to turn out poor communications more quickly.  Whatever your expertise level, this webinar will help you take your writing skills to another level, saving your time and making it far more likely your reader will read and understand your message.  

A detailed analysis of the calculations related to determining a shareholder's tax basis for S corporation shares and loans. How to use the Form 1120S, Schedule K-1 information for basis determination. An illustrative example demonstrates how the process works, as well as the many potential pitfalls. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Many people that use Microsoft Excel know a great deal about the functionality of the application. There are, however, a tremendous number of hidden tools that a high percentage of users overlook. Additionally, there are newer features that some have not had the opportunity to explore. This session shows some of the numerous time-saving tools and features that often go unused by spreadsheet creators. People that wish to become more efficient when using Excel should take this session! This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

This advanced course focuses on executing IT audits in real-world environments. Participants will learn how to perform walkthroughs, design testing procedures, evaluate control effectiveness, and prepare audit-ready documentation.

One of the most intimidating aspects of going into business for yourself is compliance. Tax, employment, and regulatory laws are difficult to navigate, so it often falls on the CPA to know the basics in these areas to help their clients avoid costly litigation. In this course, we will cover basic compliance areas for small business owners. We will look at the main elements of a contract, taxation of entity types, worker classification, property law, and many of the other areas that are often overwhelming for small business owners. By being able to speak to these issues, practitioners will be able to add value and help their small business owner clients grow and thrive.

Targets can be a powerful catalyst for remarkable achievements - from landing humans on the moon to eradicating smallpox and repairing the ozone layer. However, poorly designed targets can have severe consequences, potentially leading to executive imprisonment, corporate collapse, or even loss of life. This course uses real-world examples and case studies to guide you through a practical, step-by-step process for crafting robust, effective, and credible targets for your organization. You'll learn how to harness the positive potential of targets whilst avoiding the pitfalls that can derail even the most well-intentioned performance initiatives.

With over 50% of marriages ending in divorce, forensic accountants are frequently used in uncovering hidden income and assets. It is not uncommon for one spouse to hide money from another, sometimes for nefarious reasons. As a CPA, your services are valued by high-net-worth individuals who hire attorneys in their divorce proceedings. In this course, you will learn the art of financial investigations and how to uncover the truth in divorce cases, whether from offshore accounts to lifestyle analysis. Step by step, the course will teach you the valuable skills necessary in finding, analyzing, evaluating, and presenting your findings to your client and if needed, ultimately in divorce court. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

This case-driven training is designed to get the inexperienced accountant up to speed quickly in the most common areas of S-corporation taxation. The cornerstone of this course is the preparation of the Form 1120S using a fairly complex trial balance common to most S corporation income tax returns.   *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  

Many Excel users have received little or no formal training to help them use the ubiquitous productivity application. This session can help users that wish to improve their Excel skills to increase their productivity. The material starts by covering basic topics such as time saving tips and keyboard shortcuts and then moves to more advanced areas like conditional formatting and complex formula building. Users that find themselves looking at the spreadsheets that others design and wishing they could do as much with Excel will benefit greatly by taking this course. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

U.S. Department of Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) imposed a new reporting requirement that went into effect on January 1, 2024. Millions of businesses may have to file a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Report. In a surprise turn of events, the Federal District Court from the Northern District of Alabama ruled on March 1, 2024 in National Small Business United v. Yellen ("NSB") that the CTA is unconstitutional. This course will discuss the CTA's provisions and the court's decision in NSB. Also covered will be future implications for business entities and steps to consider given the recent ruling. We will also discuss recent proposed rulemaking by FinCen with respect to nonfinanced purchases of residential real estate and gratuitous transfers so that businesses can prepare for any additional reporting burdens that might arise. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

We are bombarded with information continually. So how do we determine what is valid and what isn't? This course points out common pitfalls inherent in data interpretation and gives practical tips to overcome those pitfalls by using real life examples. The course incorporates information from key thought leaders including Adam Grant, Alex Edmans, and Hans Rosling. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape and its emerging risks. Understand fundamental AI technologies including large language models, computer vision, and robotic process automation. Learn to identify AI-related security vulnerabilities, privacy concerns, and operational risks in emerging tech implementations. Explore basic AI risk mitigation strategies, technology assessment frameworks, and vendor evaluation criteria. Gain confidence in discussing AI capabilities, limitations, and risk implications with technical teams and stakeholders to make informed technology adoption decisions.

All entities are subject to the new expected credit loss model established by recent GAAP.  This course will provide highlights of the latest requirements for measurement, presentation, and disclosure.  

Bears are intelligent and motivated to find food. When I left some fried chicken in my Jeep while in Gatlinburg, a bear tore a hole in the top and ate the chicken and part of my Jeep. He was just a bear being a bear. I'm responsible because I left the chicken in the Jeep and gave him the opportunity. Similarly, people are intelligent and motivated to survive. If we give them opportunity by not implementing good internal controls, they will take our assets. This session reviews the investigation and prosecution of the former director of a conference center who took advantage of lax internal controls of a joint-venture and stole thousands. She was just a fraudster being a fraudster.

This course is designed for financial professionals looking to understand Form 1120S. It covers the essential aspects of S corporation taxation, including the preparation of Form 1120S, determining taxable income, and accurately reporting and allocating income, deductions, and credits. Participants will also learn how to calculate shareholder basis and understand the strategic advantages and limitations of an S corporation. *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

THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL IS NOW THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL ACT!!! (Signed into law on July 4, 2025!) This program provides a summary of the major business provisions of the OBBA of 2025 (H.R. 1), focusing on provisions that have been extended and/or made permanent without changes and those provisions which had major changes or are new for 2025 and beyond. *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  

In this cutting-edge course, participants will gain a deep understanding of how to leverage ChatGPT, OpenAI's powerful language model, to innovate and enhance business advisory services in the accounting sector. The course integrates theory and practice, demonstrating how various enterprise evaluation methodologies can be applied in conjunction with ChatGPT for increased business analysis efficiency, profitability, and growth. It also provides hands-on training for implementing these techniques in real-world scenarios. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.