CPE + Events Catalog

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. **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.

Each year, more states legalize cannabis (i.e., marijuana) for medical or recreational purposes. As legalization grows, so too does the cannabis industry. While some financial professionals have stayed away from this growing sector of the economy, others have embraced the opportunities the cannabis industry has to offer. The legalization of cannabis brings with it a complex regulatory landscape, which includes strict compliance with federal and state regulations. However, the complexity of this emerging market provides opportunities for accountants and other financial professionals. Behind the cannabis dispensaries are scores of related business sectors including food production, retail, farming, and chemical production, as well as facilities, design, and construction. Simply stated, the commercialization of marijuana offers financial professionals an opportunity to participate in an industry expected to reach $73 billion worldwide within six years.

Many business owner clients wish to minimize their Social Security and self-employment tax liabilities. This course provides tax practitioners with the background to understand what kinds of income constitute self-employment income and earned income. It covers strategies that can be used to reduce clients' exposure to the self-employment tax and Social Security tax.

Even though they have been around for several years, the tax laws pertaining to S corporations remain some of the more difficult areas of the Internal Revenue Code. In this course, we will examine how S corporations break away from the normal tax rules for flow-through entities. We will explore which employee benefits are disallowed for S corporation shareholders, as well as which taxes are assessed at the entity level. Finally, we will discuss how state level taxation may have changed permanently with the addition of PTE elections.

There is always too much to do and too little time to do it all.  Fortunately, if you know the right ways to manage people, projects and your time, you can get on top of everything by working smarter.  In this seminar you'll learn the best ways to get more done in less time, how to stay sane with all you have to do, and how to get other people to do some of "your" work by building great relationships.

This comprehensive training is designed to get the accountant up to speed quickly with the different types of individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The cornerstone of the course is an in-depth coverage of the contribution and distribution rules to the Traditional, Roth, Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) and Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) IRAs. The course will also discuss the basics of the health savings account (HSA) as well as any newly enacted tax legislation related to IRAs. **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 course provides a concise overview of more than 200 data visualization tools which can be used by accountants to enhance the visual appeal of their financial work. All resources are easy-to-use web-based applications that require virtually no artistic or design skill - simply drag and drop, point and click, cut and paste, and/or edit text. You'll discover how to create new image content in a snap to better inform, persuade, and inspire action. Participants will walk away with a whole new creative toolkit and skillset that cuts through data clutter, improves analysis and sharpens decision-making. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

"Transforming Strategic & Financial Management with ChatGPT: Insights for CPAs, CFOs, and Controllers" is a comprehensive 2-hour CPE course designed by Jim Lindell of Thorsten Consulting Group, Inc. This course delves into the revolutionary impact of ChatGPT on financial and strategic management, offering a blend of theoretical insights and practical applications tailored for financial professionals. Through an exploration of ChatGPT's capabilities in research, communication enhancement, benchmarking, risk analysis, and more, participants will learn how to leverage this advanced AI technology to streamline operations, enhance decision-making, and foster innovation in their practices. The course not only highlights the current applications but also provides a glimpse into the future of AI in financial management, encouraging professionals to embrace technology for competitive advantage.

Substantive Analytic Procedures - Strengthening Evidence to Satisfy Audit Objectives will provide the tips and best practice techniques for strengthening substantive analytic procedures in order to reduce over-reliance on tests of details. One of the ways to perform a more effective and efficient audit is to maximize the use of substantive analytic procedures in the detailed audit plan. Note: This course is recommended as a part of a 16-hour audit skills curriculum for in-charge or supervisor auditors, while it is also appropriate for anyone who has responsibilities for analytical procedures. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Advisors who represent fiduciaries must understand the tax laws and the accounting rules that apply when a fiduciary accepts title to fiduciary assets. Because a trustee or personal representative exercises authority over the management and investments of fiduciary assets for the benefit of the named beneficiaries, the fiduciary is held to a very high standard of "fiduciary duty." In this webinar series, we'll review the concept and requirements of fiduciary duty and the duty to account to the beneficiaries. We'll also cover crucial fiduciary accounting concepts that differ from financial accounting or tax law, including the distinction between principal and income and state statutory accounting rules. Finally, we'll analyze the differences and similarities to fiduciary taxation.

Most business ethics courses focus on concepts like “tone at the top”, “integrity”, “code of conduct”, “values”, and “ethical culture." These are extremely important concepts and must be understood But often, when a professional finds they are in a potential “ethical” situation, they question “What should I do?” It is not as easy as flipping a coin. Ethics aren’t always black and white and there are many variables that can impact both the issue and the outcome This course presents real-life ethical scenarios then challenges you to put yourself in the place of the professional to truly think about “What would I do?” The scenarios are all true…. the names have been changed to protect the innocent You will come away from this training with a new view of putting ethics into practice

Not-for-profit organizations always need volunteers as treasurers or members of the financial oversight committee! CPAs are often asked to fulfill these roles. This course highlights the accounting needs of such organizations. QuickBooks 2023 Desktop will be used to demonstrate how its tools provide more efficient and effective financial management for your not-for-profit entity. This course is geared toward hands-on, or future hands-on, treasurers of service clubs and similar organizations.

Join us for an insightful presentation featuring John Higgins, a renowned technology advisor to the CPA profession, who has assisted many firms with Microsoft 365 (M365) deployment. Discover how to leverage the M365 suite of apps to unlock new efficiencies and opportunities within your firm. Don't miss this chance to supercharge your practice with cutting-edge tools! Whether you are a solo practitioner or larger firm, this "bootcamp" will provide you with an ROI many times greater than your investment to attend. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Gain the knowledge to read and understand the differences between IFRS and US GAAP financial reports. A recent IFRS Foundation survey found that 167 jurisdictions now require the use of IFRS Accounting Standards for all or most publicly listed companies, while 12 jurisdictions permit its use. With this global acceptance, and as more than 1,000 foreign companies are reporting to the SEC using IFRS, learn how to read and understand the differences between US GAAP and IFRS financial reports. Attendees will examine an IFRS financial report and a US GAAP financial report, outlining essential distinctions between the US GAAP and IFRS reports.

After more than 10 years in the marketplace, Bitcoin has been firmly planted in the global financial system as the de facto leader in the cryptocurrency market. Bitcoin is no longer looked at as a mystical concept of money made of pixie dust. Bitcoin has evolved to be a major force in the financial technology (FinTech) industry. With the collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange, among others, it is important to understand how Bitcoin separates itself from all the other alternative cryptocurrencies, aka alt coins, as well as how you can protect your Bitcoin investment from these exchange collapses. As a CPA advising your clients on financial matters, it is imperative that you have a fundamental understanding of Bitcoin and how it all works and what distinguishes it from all the other cryptocurrencies. This course provides you with a solid base of Bitcoin knowledge so that you will be confident in having those client conversations, as well as participating in the Bitcoin ecosystem, including current tax implications. 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 explores the FASB codification provisions and AICPA financial reporting framework for transaction with related parties, including business owners and special purpose entities. Real-life examples are used to illustrate the various authoritative standards and discuss the consequences of failing to comply. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Clients are living longer. Not only does that present challenges to the work we do with them to make sure that their money lasts, but it also brings into play additional issues and challenges that we may not have had to tackle in the past. How do we plan for where clients will live (possibly as solo agers)? How do we deal with issues of diminished capacity? How do we plan for long term care and end of life issues? How do we have complicated family conversations? How do we make sure that our clients have their best long lives possible both financially and otherwise?  Find out in this session where we will present tools you can use with clients to engage them in the planning process.

The AICPA issued new Quality Management Standards that require all accounting firms that perform audit, review, compilation, attestation, and agreed-upon procedures engagements to comply with the enhanced Quality Management Standards by December 15, 2025. The most significant change in the new Quality Management Standards is the requirement that firms identify and assess quality risks specific to their practices and then design and implement responses to each identified quality risk. This program will help you understand the new Quality Management Standards, provide practical guidance for adoption, and respond to the requirements of the new Quality Management Standards.

The world of work today has never before faced so many simultaneous changes. From rising turnover and rising employee disengagement to the changing psychology of the workforce, the world of work is changing fast. In order to understand how to thrive in this complex landscape - we must begin by understanding the key drivers of change. What is changing in the world of work, why are these changes happening, and what can we expect will continue to change and what may not change. These are the elements we will explore in this class. 

Financial forecasting is an important part of any successful business. It enables businesses to plan for the future and anticipate scenarios based on strategy. The controller helps forecast financials by calculating future revenue and income streams. In recent years, corporate finance has undergone many dramatic changes due to the growth of a number of high-tech tools. The responsibilities/competencies of the Financial Controller position (FC) has changed in recent years To maximize performance, Controllers must be aware of how the FC position is changing, and how they must adjust to these changes. There are many types and methods of financial forecasting. This course will review the most prevalent forecasts and relative methods being used.