CPE Catalog & Events

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:All courses in this Pack are presented by Robert Nordlander, CPA.Course 1: Forensic Accounting: Court Approved Methods of ProofCPE: 4Description: How does a forensic accountant calculate financial losses? Federal courts have approved various ways to calculate losses ranging from net worth method of proof to the expenditures method. Each method of proof depends on the available facts to the forensic accountant. This presentation will focus on the various court approved methods of proof, when to use them, and how to calculate the total loss.Course 2: Forensic Accounting: When The Office Is A Crime SceneCPE: 4Description: Embezzlement happens often to many small businesses. Unfortunately, the lack of internal controls allow the embezzlement to remain undetected for years. But when it is discovered, the small business owner will most likely contact their CPA for advice. What should you do when your client contacts you about their employee embezzling money from their business? What options should you present to your client? How can your client protect themselves, while investigating the embezzlement? What steps need to be taken about preserving any documents, emails, texts, or phone calls? This course teaches how to engage the client, properly identify the evidence needed to prove the crime, how to write the report for civil and criminal trial, and best practices in preserving electronic and paper evidence.Course 3: Forensic Accounting: Crafting Expert ReportsCPE: 4Description: When forensic accountants are hired to conduct an analysis and investigations, they are commonly expected to write a report. This report can be short or long, depending on the circumstances. This presentation is how to write an effective expert report that will withstand scrutiny of both parties of litigation and the court. The presentation will also include best practices, ethics, and components of an effective report.

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Course 1: Basic Individual Taxation Course CPE: 2 Description: Please join us for an introductory course on the fundamentals of preparing and filing an individual federal income tax return. We will cover topics such as what the federal income tax is and how it is computed.Discussion Leader: Allison M. McLeod, LL.M., CPACourse 2: Income Tax Analysis: Exploring In-Depth ConceptsCPE: 2Description: Financial statements prepared for stockholders and external users follow Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), while tax returns adhere to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). These frameworks differ in recognizing profitability, influencing reported income significantly. Companies often aim to minimize taxable income within legal bounds, while maintaining compliance with both financial reporting and tax regulations. - Timing Differences: Variations in income recognition and deductible expenses between GAAP and IRC create timing differences, impacting reported profitability and tax liabilities. - Deferred Tax Assets: Companies accrue deferred tax assets from overpaid taxes or carried-forward credits, which can offset future taxable income, reducing tax liabilities. - Deferred Tax Liabilities: When taxable income is less than reported income, deferred tax liabilities arise, necessitating future tax payments when temporary differences reverse. Join us to delve into these concepts, exploring how financial reporting choices and tax strategies shape a company's financial performance and compliance obligations.Discussion Leader: Eric KnightCourse 3: Behind the Curtain: Exploring IRS Audit Technique GuidesCPE: 2Description: Have you ever considered a tax audit from the perspective of an IRS examiner? This session explains how you can use IRS Audit Technique Guides (ATGs) to enhance tax compliance. You will obtain a glimpse of the audit process from the viewpoint of an IRS agent as we explore insights that the IRS provides to its own examiners.Discussion Leader: Dr. Christopher J. Harper, CPA, MBACourse 4: Learning to Teach "Tax" as a Second LanguageCPE: 2Description: Sometimes the vernacular of accounting seems more challenging than technical aspects. This session offers suggestions for translating the foreign language of taxation into tangible terms for non-accountants. We explore techniques for simplifying the complexity of taxation terminology. This course will equip you with tools for demystifying tax technicalities so you can help clients and other non-tax professionals grasp fundamental concepts.Discussion Leader: Dr. Christopher J. Harper, CPA, MBACourse 5: 1040 Tax Prep Automation with AI ToolsCPE: 2Description: There has never been a greater opportunity to leverage technology tools to automate various aspects of 1040 tax preparation. This course will provide specific examples of how you can use AI (artificial intelligence) based tools to complement your core 1040 tax prep software. You will learn how to leverage AI to automate the collection and organization of client source documents, enhance the engagement management process and add value to your 1040 service through AI enhanced 1040 advisory services. This course will separate the hype from reality about AI and how it can be used in 1040 tax preparation.Discussion Leader: John HigginsCourse 6: Tax Implications of Retirement Plan Distributions: What You Need to KnowCPE: 2Description: This session will address the complex rules of retirement distributions, review key provisions of the SECURE Act 2.0, and provide practical strategies of maximizing tax benefits for your client.Discussion Leader: Steve DilleyCourse 7: Schedule C of Form 1040CPE: 2Description: Many self-employed or sole proprietors find themselves having to navigate Schedule C in reporting business income. While this attachment to Form 1040 seems straightforward on the surface, there are many traps for the unwary.Discussion Leader: Allison M. McLeod, LL.M., CPA

Yellowbook Accounting and Auditing Nonprofit

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:The average revenue of most accounting firms.The number of advisory clients you'll need to double your firm's revenue.How much you should be charging for advisory services.How we define CFO and advisory services.What business owners really want from their advisor.The three types of CFO/Advisory firms.How to get clients to pay you approximately $2,500 per month for advisory services.The three systems you'll need to add a CFO/Advisory service to your firm.

Accounting Finance Auditing

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Understanding Common Excel Errors: Gain insights into the most common types of errors encountered in Excel, including formula errors, reference errors, and logic errors.Advanced Formulas and Functions: Learn to use advanced Excel functions and formulas that are crucial for error detection and data analysis.Data Validation Techniques: Master the art of data validation to prevent errors before they occur. This includes setting up data validation rules and using conditional formatting to highlight potential inaccuracies.Error Tracing and Auditing Tools: Delve into Excel's auditing tools to trace and fix errors. Learn to use Trace Precedents, Trace Dependents, and the Error Checking tool effectively.

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:How Inspirational leadership is the foundation that ethically drives results.Simplify the complex: Walk through the Results Model and discover practical how-to examples of execution.Hacks for getting great results with specific examples you can leverage in your business:The How: Empower your people to feel like an owner, managing difficult conversations well, leading with empathy and what that looks like, how it should feel, motivational coaching techniques to get your employee relationships back on track, and unleashing the power of appreciation and gratitude.The What: Powerful score-carding, transformational goal-setting conversations, and positive accountable follow- up.

"All courses in this Pack are presented by Melissa GalassoThe major topics that will be covered in this course include:Course 1: How to Audit CashCPE: 2Description: Cash is essential to every business, and is often one of the first accounts audit staff are exposed to. This course will cover the basics of auditing cash, including the related audit assertions, risks, & threats to the cash balance. During this course, we will also highlight the various substantive auditing procedures that staff should perform, and also walk through some real-world examples. Course 2: How to Audit InventoryCPE: 2Description: Inventory observations are often a right of passage for audit staff. This course will cover the basics of auditing inventory, including the related audit assertions, risks, & threats to inventory. During this course, we will also highlight the various substantive auditing procedures that staff should perform, and also walk through how to conduct a physical inventory observation.Course 3: How to Audit Expenses & PayablesCPE: 2Description: It is imperative that audit staff understand the fundamentals of expenses & payables. This course will cover the basics of auditing expenses, accrued liabilities, and other payables, including the related audit assertions, risks, & threats to the expenses & payables balances. During this course, we will also highlight the various substantive auditing procedures that staff should perform, and also walk through some real-world examples.

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Course 1: Fraud Busters: Controls to Prevent & Detect FraudCPE: 2Field of Study: Auditing, AccountingDiscussion Leader: Keely GohlDescription: This course investigates actual real-world fraud schemes and discusses what controls could have prevented the fraud from occurring, and what controls could detect and curtail the fraud scheme. The instructor speaks from experience, finding multiple frauds very early in her career leading to a career-long focus on fraud prevention and detection. Course 2: Steps to Stop External FraudCPE: 2Field of Study: AccountingDiscussion Leader: Karl EgnatoffDescription: Until recently, a percentage of organizations discounted the risk related to external fraud attempts. Most were only concerned with protecting physical assets such as inventory or fixed assets. However, because of the many highly publicized corporate hacking events, such as the ones that affected the Colonial Pipeline and JBS Meats, more attention is being paid to external fraud risk of all types. In this session, we look at what is included in a definition of external fraud and then delve into specific control issues that can give rise to increased risk. We then discuss measures that organizations can employ to help reduce exposure to external attacks.  Course 3: Money Laundering 101 for CPAs CPE: 4Field of Study: Specialized KnowledgeDiscussion Leader: Robert NordlanderDescription: CPAs spend most of their working lives reviewing bank statements and books and records of businesses. They are experts in understanding how to prepare financial statements according to GAAP. But would a CPA know a possible money laundering transaction if they saw it? Would they know about a money laundering business? Money laundering is a subject of many action and thriller movies, but rarely understood. This presentation will educate the CPA in understanding the basics of money laundering and how to identify money laundering. This presentation will help the CPA know the truth about money laundering, how to identify it, the statutes that define it, and the court cases that interpret it.  

All courses in this Pack are presented by Mary Jane Hourani.The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Course 1: Navigating IRS Authorizations: Understanding Power of Attorney (Form 2848) and Tax Information Authorization (Form 8821)CPE: 2Description: Providing a practical overview of the IRS Power of Attorney, Form 2848, and IRS Tax Information Authorization, Form 8821. Participants will explore the differences between these forms, understand when each is required, and how to comply with IRS requirements for representing clients and accessing their tax information. The course will cover practical issues, ethical considerations, and best practices for managing client authorizations through the IRS Centralized Authorization File (CAF) system. Course 2: Navigating IRS Collections: Overview of Form 433 & Offer in CompromiseCPE: 2Description: This course highlights when to use Form 433-A or 433-B, along with documents needed to effectively submit an Offer in Compromise (OIC) or Installments Agreement. Settling tax debts is an important part of the IRS collection process, this course helps guide taxpayer representatives through the process so they may efficiently complete these necessary forms. Course 3: Navigating IRS Collections: The Collection ProcessCPE: 2Description: This course is designed for tax professionals seeking to understand and navigate the IRS collection process effectively. Participants will gain in-depth knowledge of the various collection methods employed by the IRS, including liens, levies and wage garnishments. Addition all, participants will learn strategies to avoid or halt collection actions and the implications of the statute of limitations on tax collection. Course 4: Navigating IRS Correspondence: Effectively Responding to IRS LettersCPE: 2Description: Participants will learn how to interpret the most common IRS correspondence, adhere to response deadlines, and effectively communicate with the IRS to resolve issues and minimize risks. It provides professionals with knowledge and strategies needed to handle the most common notices including audit requests, collections & return inquiries as well as error notices. Focusing on best practices to ensure compliance and avoiding penalties or escalation.

The fraud landscape in the United States Fraud risk procedures as updated by recently issued standards Most likely fraud types found in small to mid-sized entities Internal controls to prevent and detect fraud What to do when fraud is identified or suspected Case studies based on recent frauds Cyber fraud schemes and how to prevent and detect them Analytics that can be used as fraud risk procedures Assessing the risk of grant fraud in a Single Audit

SSARS No. 21, Clarification and Recodification, and updates to SSARS No. 21 due to the issuance of SSARS No. 23, Omnibus Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services SSARS No. 22, Compilation of Pro Forma Financial Information SSARS No. 24, Omnibus Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services -- 2018 SSARS No. 25, Materiality in a Review of Financial Statements and Adverse Conclusions  SSARS No. 26, Quality Management for an Engagement Conducted in Accordance With Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services Sample comprehensive engagement work programs for preparation, compilation and review engagements Reporting and disclosure illustrations for each level of service, including attesting on personal financial statements, prescribed form, special purpose framework and other engagement variations Other communication requirements, such as sample engagement letters and management representation letters

Trends in ransomware attacks Best practices for minimizing ransomware risk

Major provisions of security and privacy policies Key risks associated with using commercial AI tools Steps to take to mitigate AI security and privacy risks

Exploring AI applications in accounting and finance Understanding AI features in everyday tools Embracing the future: AI's impact on finance and accounting

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Key changes to audit report elements intended to improve the understandability of the nature and results of financial statement auditsEnhanced required by-product communications with management and those charged with governance to promote more reliable financial statementsClarifications related to obtaining sufficient and appropriate audit evidence, including significant unusual transactions, related parties, going concern uncertainty, and accounting estimatesNew definitions and requirements related to identifying and evaluating risks of material misstatementOther important matters contained in SAS Nos. 134-145

Ethical business behavior Ethical business decisions Ethical management decisions Ethical decisions in human resource management

Employee Listening Communication Employee Experience Employee Engagement

Overview of small business accounting solutions Strengths and shortfalls of various accounting and add-on solutions

GAAP vs economic value of employees The changing landscape of work The need to change management tactics Different generations and demographics Understanding the differences What issues do they present? How do we improve our understanding? Employee engagement/assessment surveys and what they should tell us Successful tactics for today's workforce