Data Driven Finance Decisions Without Analysis Paralysis

Overview

This 8-part series, offered in partnership with Project Equity, equips CPAs and financial professionals with the expertise to advise clients on employee ownership as a strategic tool for succession, retention, and growth. This program provides a comprehensive understanding of employee ownership structures, including Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), Worker Cooperatives, and Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs). You’ll explore the financial, tax, valuation, and legal dimensions of each model’learning how to assess feasibility, structure transactions, and ensure ongoing compliance. Explicitly designed for CPAs, the program bridges technical accounting and advisory practice, enabling professionals to guide clients through ownership transitions that align financial performance with long-term business goals. You’ll gain practical insights into financing mechanisms, governance frameworks, and implementation strategies that support sustainable, employee-owned enterprises. Whether advising business owners on exit planning or supporting clients exploring alternative ownership models, CPAs completing this program will be prepared to deliver informed, strategic guidance that enhances both client outcomes and community impact.

Highlights

Prerequisites

Work experience in a corporate staff environment, or an introductory course in information technology.

Objectives

Identify the differences between a data-driven and data-heavy approach, and how a decision-first framework improves clarity and defensibility - Recognize common cognitive biases that influence professional judgment and indicate strategies to reduce their impact in finance and audit settings - Distinguish between a good decision and a good outcome, particularly in environments subject to hindsight evaluation and regulatory scrutiny - Select appropriate success measures, early signals, and guardrails to support sound decisions while maintaining internal control and risk management standards

Notice

This is a self-study/on demand course offered by a 3rd party vendor and will NOT be accessible in the My Upcoming CPE section of the ISCPA website. Course access information will be emailed directly to you by CalCPA. The course expires one year from the purchase date. Format = Online Self-Study.