CPE Catalog
Note
AICPA On-Demand & Self-Study courses take up to 24 hours to process.
Predictive Accounting: Driver-Based Budgeting & Rolling Financial Forecasts
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Online
2.00 Credits
The annual budgeting process is often criticized as an accounting exercise that is obsolete soon after it is published, prone to gamesmanship, cumbersome, not volume sensitive, and disconnected from the organization's strategy and risk management processes. You can resolve these deficiencies using capacity-sensitive driver-based projections. Driver-based budgeting allows for quick scenario planning and far easier analysis of a growing organization whose future may look nothing like today. The driver-based budgets can be periodically refreshed to create rolling financial forecasts extending well beyond the fiscal year end. Learn how managerial accounting can become managerial economics.
Avoiding Budget People Issues: Managing Budgeting's Soft Side
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Online
2.00 Credits
The budgeting process can be a time consuming and frustrating process for accountants. The constraints and pressures can lead to poor decisions in both the technical and human components. This session will cover: Avoiding Budget People Issues: Managing Budgeting’s Soft Side • Financial plans have a technical component and human component. We can resolve some of our budget issues by exploring the process’ human aspect. This session includes a case study that measures an individual’s personality type and then explores how to use our strengths and weaknesses to create to a better plan.
Audit 307: Client and Profitable Engagement Management
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Online
2.00 Credits
Client and Engagement Management - Managing the Black Holes That Erode Profitability will provide guidance on how to maximize return on time spent with critical areas, such as budgeting, scheduling, client assistance, and delegation. Sound client and engagement management can influence both the effectiveness and efficiency of an audit engagement. 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 client and audit engagement management. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Profitability Pricing: Boost your Bottom Line
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Online
2.00 Credits
Two seemingly similar products can have very different costs, yet many companies are completely oblivious to these differences causing them to lose money or competitive bids. When companies compete, those with good information win the “gravy” contracts and those with bad information lose money on “dog” jobs. Attend this session to gain insights on how to win bids for the best opportunities and give the money-losers to your competitors. Achieve your target profitability in the process.
Building a Better Budget in a Time of Uncertainty
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Online
4.00 Credits
Most financial leaders would agree that budgeting is easy when business and the economy are stable. When revenues and expenses are expected to remain the same, the process becomes merely an exercise in carrying over what was done before to the current year. However, what happens when we are not sure about how the market will react to our product? What happens when the competitive landscape changes? In this course, we will discuss budgeting techniques and considerations when business lacks stability. Through a combination of theory and real-world examples, we will explore how to build flexibility into our budget - so that it can inform and drive decision-making when we don't quite know what is ahead. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Allison McLeod's 2024 Federal Tax Updates for Individuals - 8 Hour
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Online
8.00 Credits
Tax developments have been in the forefront of the news, and tax practitioner can find it challenging to remain up-to-date with these changes. This 8 hour program will cover tax issues relating to individuals, including new court decisions, recent IRS publications, and the latest tax legislation. The remaining time will be spent on IRS procedure and other issues. This course will provide a concise look at the hottest topics affecting every tax practitioner. **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.
Steps to Stop External Fraud
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Online
2.00 Credits
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. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Forensic and Fraud Interviewing Techniques and Skills
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Online
2.20 Credits
In forensic accounting, interviewing is used to obtain important information from witnesses and suspects. An important aspect is the ability of investigators to obtain accurate and reliable information from victims, witnesses and the suspects or any interviewee. The interview process is an essential part of information gathering for any investigation. The importance of improving the quality of the interviewing with the potential for visual recording of all interviews should be placed high on the agenda of all organizations across the globe. A properly conducted forensic interview can result in an extreme benefit regarding collection of information. The interviewer’s role is to develop a full understanding of the facts. There is a distinct difference between a forensic interview and a criminal interrogation. Typically, forensic auditors will not be involved in interrogations. The Canadian or U.S. forensic accounting profession does not have a standardized interview model to truly equip its professionals with the interview tools required to elicit confessions ethically. Majority of their skills are developed through experience, and not through a standardized model of training. This session focuses on various interview concepts and methods.
2024 Corporate Transparency Act Developments and Proposed FinCen Reporting Requirements for Real Estate Sellers
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Online
2.00 Credits
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.
ChatGPT and the ELI5 Approach for Accounting Professionals
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Online
2.00 Credits
This course provides a comprehensive overview of the ELI5 (Explain Like I'm 5) approach and its application in the accounting profession using ChatGPT, an advanced language model. Discover how to simplify complex financial information and tax regulations using this innovative approach. Explore how practitioners can effectively communicate intricate topics to their clients to add value and build trust. You'll walk away with a foundational understanding of the ELI5 approach and how to use ChatGPT to improve your communication strategies. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
2024 Retirement Planning Issues: Where We Stand Now
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Online
4.00 Credits
This course is designed to equip CPAs, EAs, attorneys, and tax professionals with the essential knowledge and strategies needed to navigate the latest developments. Explore innovative approaches to maximize retirement savings, discuss tax- efficient retirement plan options, and align estate planning techniques with current trends. Gain a thorough understanding of altered rules for Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) and discover how to optimize estate plans in response to changing regulations. This update is tailored for professionals seeking practical insights in the realm of contemporary retirement planning. **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.
360 Budgeting: A Holistic Approach to Process and Solutions
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Online
8.00 Credits
The budgeting process can be a time consuming and frustrating process for accountants. The constraints and pressures can lead to poor decisions in both the technical and human components. This series will offer solutions to the budgeting woes from both the big picture and in the details. Understanding and Preventing Budget Calamities 2 Hours - Accounting • Most of us lead or participate in the budget process at least annually. Inherent flaws exist in the standard budget building process that you can solved by recognizing them and committing to solutions. Building Flexible Budgeting Models: Walking Through and Crunching The Numbers 2 Hours - Accounting • We can all learn from others and improve our budgeting process by listening to our colleagues’ wisdom and experience. This session takes a unique review of the fundamental budget issues faced by all and walks through a detailed modeling process intended to generate discussion and best practices to improve your organization’s financial planning. Avoiding Budget People Issues: Managing Budgeting’s Soft Side 2 Hours - Accounting • Financial plans have a technical component and human component. We can resolve some of our budget issues by exploring the process’ human aspect. This session includes a case study that measures an individual’s personality type and then explores how to use our strengths and weaknesses to create to a better plan. Budgeting: Presenting and Communicating your Numbers 2 Hours - Accounting • Now that the budget is complete, how we communicate our plan is critical. this session reveals some key guidelines in budget presentation and will identify key problems in how people often communicate financial plans.
Coaching Leaders to Handle Sensitive Employee Relations Situations
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Online
1.20 Credits
This session provides HR Professionals with scripts for and tactics for coaching leaders in handling an array of employee relations situations with sensitivity, good judgment, and high confidence. Topics include employee complaints, personality & attitude problems, performance counseling, personal hygiene problems, disability-related performance issues, misconduct due to mental conditions. You will learn how to use a unique process, “Reset the Clock,” that prevents attorneys from taking something leaders did wrong or did not do in the past and using it to support legal challenges in the future. Liability is replaced with credibility. Lawsuits are then avoided rather than won. Financial assets are protected, morale stays high, and bad publicity is averted. HR Professionals avoid hearing from senior leaders: “You should have anticipated this” after an avoidable legal claim.
Indirect Rate Recovery for Non-Profits & Pass-Through Entities
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Online
1.00 Credits
Our session will include a discussion regarding indirect rate strategies for cost recovery. We will cover negotiating indirect rates with pass-through entities and alternative indirect cost recovery methods. A look at applying the PPP Loan Forgiveness credit. Understanding the definition of sub-awards and the MTDC allocation base, and where best to allocate bonus expense. Included in this session will be a selected review of the Uniform Guidance FAQs regarding indirect rates for States and Municipalities, as well as recently issued FAQs that impact indirect rates and cost recovery.
Progressive Management Accounting
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Online
2.00 Credits
Critics have claimed that traditional managerial accounting is at best useless and at worst dysfunctional and misleading. Most line managers do not trust their management accounting data. 21st Century management accounting develops cost/unit metrics that are useful for budgeting, cost analysis and control. Activity-based costing (ABC) brings truly accurate fact-based costing visibility. ABC does not broadly allocate overhead, but traces costs by identifying cause-and-effect relationships. Such information can provide the ability to reveal true profit margins for products, service-lines, specific sales channels and customers. The same information also helps reduce costs and improve productivity by reporting unit costs that you can use to monitor cost trends and benchmark against your competition. Removing the barriers caused by your current management accounting techniques can provide huge rewards.
Business Intelligence (BI) and Business Analytics (BA)
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Online
2.00 Credits
Volatility and complexity are the new normal. Most organizations are drowning in data, but starving for information. The finance and accounting function has the opportunity to leverage Big Data and the continuum of analytics – descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive. All are useful for better decision making. Collecting, validating, and reporting data is not the same thing as analyzing information where we can glean valuable, actionable insights. In some ways the finance function is many years behind other disciplines such as marketing, sales, and supply chain managers, in applying analytics. How can the CFO’s function catch up?
Budgeting: Presenting and Communicating your Numbers
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Online
2.00 Credits
The budgeting process can be a time consuming and frustrating process for accountants. The constraints and pressures can lead to poor decisions in both the technical and human components. This session will cover: Budgeting: Presenting and Communicating your Numbers • Now that the budget is complete, how we communicate our plan is critical. this session reveals some key guidelines in budget presentation and will identify key problems in how people often communicate financial plans.
Analytical Procedures: Practical Applications and Standards
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Online
2.00 Credits
This session explores the nature of analytical procedures, with significant emphasis placed upon professional standards involving the use of analytical procedures in audit and review engagements. Practical examples to illustrate the application process will also be given. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Construction Contractors: Auditing Considerations
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Online
4.00 Credits
Challenges and solutions of auditing contracts With construction comprising a large and growing portion of the economy, it's important to stay on top of the very latest in accounting and auditing changes for the construction industry. In this webcast, you will gain insight about: Audit planning and substantive auditing procedures The core knowledge necessary to succeed Key issues affecting construction auditing, including auditing under the new revenue recognition and leases guidance Audit risks and risk assessment
Audit 308: Audit Reporting and General Audit Procedures
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Online
2.00 Credits
Audit Reporting Advanced Concepts - Understanding the Impact of General Audit Procedures on Disclosures and Audit Report Modifications will provide guidance for properly altering financial statements and audit reports for certain complex transactions and events that are often uncovered through general audit procedures, such as subsequent testing, reviewing minutes, and more. Each set of financial statements and auditor's report thereon must properly address the unique circumstances of the specific reporting entity's circumstances. 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 audit reporting and general audit procedures. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.