CPE + Events Catalog

Your company is only as good as your written communication (bold) During this webcast, you'll learn the art and science of writing, and how to write more effectively with increased clarity and stronger effect.

This course explores the latest tax provisions impacting non-profit entities, including charities, hospitals, and universities, with a focus on common issues CPAs may face when completing their clients Form 990. **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.  

This course will explore significant elements of the FASB's technical agenda, focusing on recent updates to revenue recognition and lease accounting standards. A Special Purpose Framework overview will be provided, which may reveal salient alternatives to U.S. GAAP for certain entities. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Personal financial planning issues evolve in an increasingly challenging environment where it's harder to keep up with important and timely changes. And since changes seem to be occurring quicker than anticipated, with several recent twists, CPAs must be prepared for the unexpected and be in tune with new approaches. As a result, CPAs must challenge clients to stay focused on their goals while managing expectations and striving for realism in order to achieve objectives. We'll focus on the newest personal financial planning changes and prepare for new opportunities related to income tax, retirement and estate planning issues. You'll learn what you need to know in identifying critical exposures and providing appropriate solutions when working with your client in these rapidly changing and life-altering disciplines. Companion Course: PFP Update: Investment Planning and Follow-up in an Election Era 2024

More and more employers rely on non-compete agreements to protect company assets. Although state laws vary, non-competes are often used to protect the creation and development of corporate goodwill, customer relationships and specialized training, among others. Today, employees are more likely to be asked to sign non-compete agreements as a condition to employment. Non-compete agreements are also a common component of a business sale agreement. This program surveys non-compete agreements from all angles. Whether you advise individual clients or work for an employer, the presentation provides an understanding of common issues that arise in the negotiation and enforcement of non-competes.

This is a survey course on the intergenerational transfer of property -- focusing on what the CPA should know about trust instruments. It will cover a broad number of topics ranging from the fundamental legal principals necessary for the trust and estate practitioner to understand, to the ability of language in the trust instrument to accomplish a certain tax result.

In this session, participants will delve into a comprehensive exploration of what Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) truly entails. Often met with resistance due to its perceived condemnatory nature, this session aims to provide a more nuanced definition of DEI, fostering a better understanding among attendees. By demystifying the language surrounding DEI, participants will be equipped with straightforward approaches to seamlessly integrate these principles into their perspectives. This session will spotlight the distinctive features of our DEI model in comparison to other systems. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the model, understanding its unique perspective on achieving DEI success. At its core, our approach is grounded in the simple premise that we are all human beings sharing the common human experience. The goal is to convey to participants the importance of embracing DEI through this paradigm, effectively humanizing the DEI experience. One of the most remarkable DEI experiences unfolded during my son's 18th birthday celebration in our backyard. The event brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds, spanning various walks of life and races, who interacted in a profoundly humanistic manner— an encounter unlike any I had witnessed before. In this session, we will deconstruct this experience and draw parallels to its relevance in workplace dynamics.

Audit Documentation - Creating Workpapers That Pass Review is an important foundational course. Proper documentation is essential to a high-quality audit and other assurance services, as auditors are required to prepare and maintain documentation to demonstrate that sufficient and appropriate audit evidence was obtained to support the auditor's opinion. It is critical for workpapers to provide a clear understanding of the nature, timing and extent of procedures applied, the results of those procedures, source of evidence obtained, and conclusions reached. Both audit effectiveness and efficiency are directly impacted by the nature and extent of audit documentation. Note: This course is a part of a recommended 16-hour audit skills curriculum for beginning staff. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

CPAs in public practice are required to maintain independence. In this course, we will discuss concepts associated with independence and review the rules from the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct with a focus on their practical application.  We will also review the recently issued ethics interpretations from the Professional Ethics Executive Committee (PEEC), which impact independence, and discuss practical methods of implementation. 

The globalization of business, ongoing changes in technology, increased attention of shareholders and stakeholders and the continuing demands of the Audit Committee and senior management require a dynamic framework for managing today's internal audit department. This session, designed by a past Chief Audit Executive with significant exposure to a multitude of industries and internal audit frameworks, explores the key competencies and responsibilities of today's internal audit management and methods for meeting the requirements of the internal audit profession. We will also discuss some of the greatest challenges of the role and how to address those challenges.

This 2-hour mini course is from our Level V course, which highlights leadership skills and situations that are common for managers and senior managers in CPA firms. Participants will be encouraged to examine and challenge their beliefs and approaches to managing and leading people.Leading Others - Coaching & Developing Staff - prioritizing the coaching and development of staff in a post-pandemic work environment, including delegation for development, effective feedback, and managing virtual employees.Building Leadership Communication Skills - strategies to influence and lead others through effective communication in both individual and group settings.Helping the Firm Grow - the three levels of helping the firm grow and how to involve the entire team in expanding services to existing clients and generating referrals to new clients.All of AHI's courses rely heavily on participant interaction and these virtual programs have co-opted many of Zoom's features to preserve the same strengths of the in-person training: visual interaction between the instructor and all participants (plan to be "on screen" throughout the program) breakout rooms to ensure small group engagement and instructor interaction screen share for small group presentations easy delivery of video presentations fillable PDF for online note-taking in the course material.

Accountants with good writing skills are more likely to get promoted. What makes good writing good? Short, concise sentences with powerful, energetic verbs and lean word choices. This fast-paced, interactive course teaches you five principles for writing strong sentences. The principles include writing with verbs, using an active voice, simplifying sentences, and focusing on the reader. You will also explore three essential editing principles that provide quick and accurate correction. By taking this course, you will upgrade your capabilities in writing clearly and concisely.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) contains many changes to auto and energy-related credits. Many if not most of these credits reduce the cost of individual- and business-related expenses. As a result of the changes brought about by the IRA, tax advisors have new and reformed credits to understand and explain to their clients. The IRS has issued extensive guidance regarding these credits in the form of Frequently Asked Questions that elaborate on and explain these new credits. This program covers the new and revised energy-related credits clients will be asking about, such as credits related to personal autos, energy-efficient commercial vehicles, and household-related utilities and improvements. This program will cover the IRA changes related to electric car credits in detail so that those attending can properly advise their individual and business clients regarding them.

Manage distractions, decrease stress and improve productivity. This training is designed to help business professionals improve their productivity and work performance by learning how to prioritize time, decrease distractions and lower stress. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Security is not optional, and yesterday’s security techniques do not minimize today’s security threats. Therefore, now is the time for you to tune up what you know about protecting sensitive data. This program will teach you the latest tools and techniques for securing your data, including encryption, virus protection, safe communications, electronic signatures, secure authentication, and more. You will also learn how to implement a practical, five-step approach to securing your PC and the questions you should ask your staff to ensure server-based information remains protected. Security failures, such as a breach of client or customer data, are costly – they can even drive your company out of business. So, what security tools do you need, and how should you use them to secure your sensitive data and systems? Can you afford to risk attempting to manage today’s threats using yesterday’s techniques? Participate in this program to learn how to identify viable and practical solutions to mitigating today’s security threats.  

Have you ever wanted to reduce the number of financial statement review points you receive? Are you curious about a reviewer’s thought process? This hands-on session will answer these questions by helping you understand the role of an engagement quality control reviewer. Not only will you develop an appreciation for the role of an engagement quality control reviewer, but this interactive session will allow you to step into the reviewer’s shoes by performing a quality control review during the class session. You will leave with an understanding of best practices for minimizing your exposure to critique by reviewers.

This program addresses the critical issues and special opportunities facing S-corporations, with a focus on reporting shareholder basis and distributions. **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 tax laws keep changing and nonprofit entities must continue to adjust to new rules.  As part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, passed in August 2022, hundreds of billions of dollars in government funding and costs were allocated to energy and climate initiatives. As part of the legislation, for the first-time, tax-exempt organizations (including not-for-profits and government agencies) can claim certain energy credits on their federal income tax returns and receive a refund from the federal government even if they have zero federal income tax liability. Donor advised funds continue to be an area of focus within the IRS and Treasury, with proposed regulations recently issued (with more expected on the way). This year’s tax update will include s summary of these regulations already issued, as well as what’s on the table prospectively. This year’s Annual Not-for-Profit Update will include a tax update and review of key issues in completing IRS Form 990, and related Schedules. It is more important than ever for non-profits to understand and complete this annual tax form to ensure that the organization and its donors are also protected so they can accomplish their corporate intentions and goals. On the accounting standards front, some nonprofits will still be implementing the FASB’s new Credit Losses standard (Accounting Standards Codification [ASC] Topic 326), the last of the FASB’s recent wave of major standards. This standard primarily affects two groups of nonprofits: (1) those making loans or financial guarantees (e.g., foundations, community development financial institutions, universities) and (2) those with accounts receivable arising from service (or goods) delivery rather than grants and contributions (e.g., hospitals, universities). Meanwhile, the FASB has been progressing through its next generation of projects, informed by a public agenda consultation in 2021, as well as preparing for a follow-on public agenda consultation to be conducted beginning later this year. Although many of these projects are focused on business enterprises and the needs of their investors, there are several recent standards (Accounting Standards Updates [ASUs]) and current projects that have or could have significant applicability to some or many nonprofits. These include recent ASUs on Crypto Assets (2023-08) and on Income Tax Disclosures (2023-09) and current projects on Software Development Costs and on two specific Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues with potential financial statement impact, Financial Instruments with ESG-linked Features (part of a project on Derivatives Scope Refinements) and Environmental Credit Programs. This year’s FASB Update will include helpful implementation reminders for Credit Losses, and for Leases between Entities under Common Control (ASU 2023-01), which was important follow-on guidance for another of the FASB’s major recent standards, Leases (ASC Topic 842). The Update will also provide background information and discuss key provisions of the ASUs on Crypto Assets and Income Tax Disclosures, and a summary of efforts to-date on the Software Development Costs and ESG-related projects, as well as provide a brief preview of upcoming 2024 agenda consultation. Auditing Update - a review of Statements on Auditing Standards 142 (Audit Evidence), 143 (Accounting Estimates), 144 (Amendments to AU-C 501, 540 and 620); 145 (Understanding the Entity and Assessing Risk), 146 (Quality Management),148 (Amendments to AU-C 935), that will impact audits conducted in 2023 and beyond, with emphasis on practical application to NFP organizations. This session will also discuss the Statements on Quality Management Standards and their impact on smaller firms. Ethics Update – Our course will provide a review of recently enacted Ethics Interpretations, including NOLAR, Unpaid Fees, Accounting Standards Implementation, Loans, Information system services, Officer and directors, and Compliance Audits, as well as consideration of exposure drafts currently outstanding. Qualifies as one hour of ethics CPE.   This program will also provide an overview of other recent standards issued and projects in progress that impact Not-for-Profit entities. **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 session, we will underscore the significance of adopting a growth mindset, as conceptualized by Dr. Carol Dweck, as a cornerstone for achieving success in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. A common stumbling block in DEI efforts is the resistance to altering mindsets concerning the goals and objectives of DEI. Through interactive discussions, we will concentrate on dispelling fixed mindsets and cultivating an outlook of continuous growth in the realm of DEI. Achieving success in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) requires a blend of motivation, synergy, and energy. This session aims to dissect the often-overlooked role of motivation in the DEI landscape, demonstrating how it serves as a catalyst for individuals and leaders to surmount obstacles and attain success. Our model disrupts the conventional discourse by placing motivation at the forefront of DEI considerations, emphasizing the importance of understanding the underlying purpose as the true north. The ultimate aim of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is cultural integration. In the context of our 3M framework, the final "Memorization" component is strategically designed to imprint the necessity of prioritizing DEI and seamlessly weaving it into the organizational culture. This element is pivotal in fortifying our DEI endeavors.

Discover the real-world power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and equip yourself with the skills to conquer modern challenges in accounting and finance. In this engaging course, we demystify AI and unveil its practical applications, transforming it from theory into a hands-on tool. Learn the essential AI fundamentals and unlock its remarkable potential to boost your productivity and effectiveness alongside your team. Explore the specific problem-solving capabilities of AI, tailored to address the unique challenges faced by accounting and financial professionals. Gain expertise in leveraging AI features integrated into everyday applications, including the ubiquitous Excel. Uncover how these features enable you to effortlessly detect fraud, identify potential transaction errors, and elevate your financial operations to new heights. Witness firsthand how AI is reshaping the present and future of your profession, positioning you at the forefront of this revolutionary wave.