CPE Catalog & Events

Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) passed in 2025, 100% bonus depreciation is now permanently available for new and used assets. OBBBA has restored 100% bonus depreciation and increased the depreciation that can be taken under Section 179. OBBBA also provided a new, important depreciation topic — qualified production property. These topics, covered extensively in the program, are vital for tax practitioners advising business taxpayers.

The life cycle of the small business can be summed up in three segments: 1) starting the business; 2) operating the business; and 3) getting out of the business. This course focuses on getting out of the business. The most elusive element of owning a small business can be finding the proper exit strategy. This course is designed to provide the business consulting practitioner with tools and concepts to advise the small business owner and assist them in developing the right exit strategy. The course covers exit strategies related to third-party sales and succession planning within a family.

Are you using Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint to their full potential? Many professionals rely on these essential tools but often overlook their best features. If you find yourself using "brute force" methods and spending too much time on tasks, it's time to upgrade your skills. Join our four-hour session designed to transform how you work with Microsoft Office. You'll learn how to harness the power of Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint to achieve better results in less time. Our expert instructors will guide you through the most efficient techniques, ensuring you gain practical skills that you can apply immediately. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your productivity and streamline your workflow. Sign up now and take the first step towards mastering Microsoft Office!

Preparation, compilation, and review engagements continue to receive heightened attention in peer review, even years after the issuance of SSARS No. 21. This course examines the most common deficiencies identified in peer reviews of SSARS engagements, with an emphasis on practical compliance and engagement quality. Participants will explore frequent problem areas in preparation, compilation, and review engagements and discuss why these deficiencies occur. The course focuses on understanding the root causes of noncompliance, rather than simply listing technical errors, and highlights practical approaches firms can use to improve consistency, documentation, and overall engagement performance. Designed for practitioners performing SSARS engagements, this course helps participants strengthen compliance while maintaining an efficient and practical approach to engagement execution. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Just about every company, no matter its size or the types of activities it undertakes, is at greater risk because of all the types of fraud that can be be carried out electronically. Potential perpetrators can be operating internally or externally and the scope of the damage that occurs is almost never limited to cyber-assets. While threat awareness is improving, there are still too many owners or top level executives that underestimate the scale of the issue. In this session, we delve into the types and the nature of many electronic defalcation schemes. The material then explores measures that organizations can implement to help stop these activities and add additional layers of security. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Young doctors sometimes arrive at an exotic medical diagnosis (You've got Kuru!), when a more common place explanation is likely (You've got a cold). These diagnoses are known as Zebras and doctors are taught, "When you hear hoofbeats, think of horses not zebras". Sometimes, the patient really has a rare disease and suffers from misdiagnosis and subsequent improper treatment. Similarly, managers, auditors, and investigators often see indicators of fraud, but dismiss them because they've been taught or assume based upon experience that it is just a mistake that looks like fraud. This session uses case studies to explore some of the more common symptoms of fraud that are often misdiagnosed.

Master the essential skills to build a high-performing team with our online course on interviewing, onboarding, and training. This comprehensive program dives into proven best practices for identifying top talent, creating a seamless onboarding experience, and fostering a culture of continuous development. Whether you’re a seasoned manager or new to hiring, this course equips you with the tools to make confident decisions, engage new hires effectively, and set your team up for success from day one.

While many financial services professionals advise their clients on tax, investment, and life insurance issues, far fewer venture to help in the area of property and casualty insurance. Auto and homeowners policies are mandatory products that everyone generally needs - yet they are also complex products. This complexity raises questions in clients' minds: Are all my belongings covered under my policy? Do I have to adjust my policy if I want to let my neighbor borrow my car? Do I need an additional policy if I want to work as a rideshare driver? And will my premium go up when I move? In this course, we will cover the fundamentals of auto and homeowners' policies. We will touch on these questions, explore basic coverages, and offer some guidance on what practitioners should cover with their clients in this area, so you can offer guidance and give them the peace of mind they need. 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.

According to the FBI, “white-collar crime is … synonymous with the full range of frauds committed by business and government professionals … characterized by deceit, concealment, or violation of trust …. The motivation behind these crimes is financial—to obtain or avoid losing money, property, or services or to secure a personal or business advantage.”  CPAs can and should play a crucial role in preventing and detecting white-collar crime, as well as in prosecuting the perpetrators.  This session will explore whether we are up to this challenge, heighten awareness regarding the CPA’s role as a front-line defender of the public interest, and assess whether we are deserving of the public trust we enjoy.

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. An OBBBA of 2025 update, cases and rulings will also be addressed.   *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 course introduces practical ways that public accountants can use Excel to enhance both the efficiency and effectiveness of client engagements. We will reinforce core concepts by illustrating ways that Excel is a tool for analysis and reporting. We will introduce numerous analytical methods and techniques by using practical examples to illustrate how to unleash the power of Excel when obtaining, analyzing, and reporting information.

This course covers authoritative GAAP for construction contractors as addressed in FASB ASC 910 and the AICPA Guide for Construction Contractors. Jeff explains the unique aspects of accounting within the construction industry and how the applicable standards and guidance address those issues. The course includes practical examples to support understanding of key concepts, including revenue recognition and contract-related issues. Jeff presents the material in an engaging manner to help reinforce learning and maintain focus.

Single Audits are a critical area of focus within the profession and require a thorough understanding of the Uniform Guidance and its unique requirements for auditing federal awards. This course provides a clear, practical introduction to the performance and reporting standards that distinguish Single Audits from other types of engagements. Participants will explore foundational concepts, including internal controls over compliance, the structure and use of the Compliance Supplement, and the compliance requirements applicable to federal programs. The course also covers reporting considerations and the elements of a finding in a Single Audit. Designed for professionals new to Single Audits-or those seeking a structured refresher-this course equips participants with the essential knowledge needed to understand and navigate Single Audit engagements. The course has been updated to reflect the 2024 Uniform Guidance.  

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.

This course provides a practical understanding of IT controls and SOC reporting within financial audits. Participants will learn how to interpret SOC reports, evaluate control effectiveness, and determine reliance strategies. Real-world examples will demonstrate how IT controls tie directly to relevant financial statement areas and alignment with Complementary User Entity Controls (CUECs).

People skills are the most significant skills that professionals need to develop and yet are often the last skills perfected. This course will help participants understand personality types and the successful interactions with clients, peers and family. In addition, participants will learn Neuro-linguistic programming and develop the ability to better understand nonverbal language, which is key to communication. Participants will also learn techniques to enhance memory and to improve the ability to recall key facts.

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.

Many CPAs are becoming full-time or fractional CFOs for small businesses. In that position, they are the resident expert in finances, cash flow planning, and budgeting. But what about dealing with the IRS? The IRS has broad powers to administer the assessment and collection of taxes. From removing penalties to criminal prosecutions, this presentation focuses on how CFOs can prevent problems with the IRS and how to develop winning strategies if the IRS knocks on the door. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

If you use Outlook on a daily basis to process your email, chances are pretty good that you are missing out on a lot of opportunities to improve your efficiency in composing, processing and organizing your messages. There are many different features in Outlook that often get overlooked, even though we are working in the app all day, every day. John Higgins, a strategic advisor to the profession on Microsoft 365 deployment, will review numerous tips and features to improve your productivity in Outlook. You will learn many time-saving, practical ways to improve the quality of your email message. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.