CPE Catalog
Note
AICPA On-Demand & Self-Study courses take up to 24 hours to process.
ACPEN Signature 2025: The Risk of Fraud in State & Local Government
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Online
8.00 Credits
This comprehensive 8-hour course explores the pervasive issue of fraud in State and Local governments. Our panel of experts from inside and outside government will provide participants with the tools and knowledge necessary to identify, prevent, and respond to fraudulent activities in State and local governments. The course begins by examining the types of fraud commonly encountered in governmental settings, including financial fraud, procurement fraud, and abuse of power. With our experienced panelists, participants will delve into real-world case studies to understand the tactics used by fraudsters and the impact on public trust, resources, and governance. Special emphasis will be placed on understanding regulatory frameworks and compliance measures designed to mitigate fraud risks.
Taking Advantage of Array Formulas in Excel
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Online
2.00 Credits
This intensive 2-hour course is designed to unlock the potential of array formulas in Microsoft Excel. Array formulas are a vital tool in Excel for their unique ability to perform multiple calculations on one or more items within an array, making them indispensable for complex data analysis and calculations. They enable users to write fewer, more powerful formulas, leading to cleaner and more efficient spreadsheets. This course is tailored to enhance your data analysis and spreadsheet management skills by delving into the advanced aspects of array functions. Through a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical exercises, you will learn to streamline your work and improve efficiency in Excel. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Controller Series: Insightful Financial Analysis
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Online
1.00 Credits
Anyone can "crunch numbers" but it takes special skills to make them meaningful to the user. Financial statements and ratios need to be interpreted correctly using a process that sets the context, identifies the right analysis tools, and makes recommendations in an understandable format. This course will help you present your insights in a way that is insightful and impactful to your client.
Resistance to Resiliency: Striving for Technology Change Acceptance
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Online
1.00 Credits
Technology adoption often comes with resistance, but it's possible to transform this challenge into an opportunity for growth. This course explores the journey from resistance to resilience in embracing new technologies, focusing on overcoming barriers and ensuring successful implementation. Participants will examine cutting-edge audit technologies, including AI, data analytics, and automation, and learn how to align these innovations with both organizational and personal goals. Through case studies, insights into the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and practical discussions, participants will gain the tools and strategies to foster acceptance, driving seamless integration of new technology into both individual tasks and team workflows.
The Controllership Series - The Controllers Role in Financial Forecasting
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Online
1.50 Credits
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.
Preparing to be a Forensic Accountant - Focus on Computer Forensics - Part 3 (Steganography)
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Online
1.60 Credits
This course is a complement to our series on Becoming a Forensic Accountant and the focus of the course is on steganography techniques. Steganography is the art and science of embedding secret messages in a cover message in such a way that no one, apart from the sender and intended recipient, suspects the existence of the message. The first use of steganography can be traced to 440 BC when ancient Greece, people wrote messages on wood and covered it with wax, that acted as a covering medium Romans used forms of Invisible Inks, to decipher those hidden messages light or heat were used. During World War II the Germans introduced microdots, which were complete documents, pictures, and plans reduced in size to the size of a dot and were attached to normal paperwork. Null Ciphers were also used to hide unencrypted secret messages in an innocent looking message. Given the amount of data being generated and transmitted electronically, it’s no surprise that numerous methods of protecting that data have evolved. There are various types of steganography: Text Steganography - Hiding information inside the text files. This involves changing format of existing text, changing words in a text, generating random character sequences or using context-free grammars to generate readable texts. Image Steganography - Process of hiding text in an image without distorting the picture. Video Steganography - Technique to hide any kind of files into a cover video file. Audio Steganography - The secret message is embedded into an audio signal which alters the binary sequence of the corresponding audio file. Network Steganography - The process of utilizing active network protocols as carriers to transmit a covert message, undetectable by an uninformed party, from a host to its destination. This session will review these methods and also discuss relevant software.
Contract Accounting, Lease Accounting, and their Impact on Construction Contractors
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Online
1.50 Credits
Construction accounting is not just about revenue, but it is a lot about revenue. Leases too. Diving deep into the five-step approach for revenue recognition in the construction industry, this course has all of the rules and interpretations that you might need. Further, practical examples help to drive home the learning. Additionally, leases are critical for contractors. From equipment to warehouse space, leases appear prominently on many contractors' book. Review the current guidance and begin to understand the new guidance under ASC 842. Program features: Detailed discussion of the guidance under FASB ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Examples and exercises to understand the five-step recognition process. Detailed discussion of the guidance under FASB ASC 842, Leases. Reasons why leases are so important to contractors. A walkthrough of both current and future lease guidance.
Fraud Unmasked: Understanding and Preventing White-Collar Crime with Dr. Richard G. Brody
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Online
2.00 Credits
Fraud poses a significant risk to businesses, organizations, and individuals, leading to financial losses, reputational damage, and legal consequences. This comprehensive course, led by Dr. Richard G. Brody, an esteemed expert in forensic accounting and fraud prevention, explores the underlying mechanisms, motivations, and methods of fraudulent behavior. Through real-world case studies, expert analysis, and interactive discussions, participants will gain critical insights into the psychology of fraud, organizational vulnerabilities, and ethical breakdowns that enable misconduct. The course equips attendees with the latest fraud detection techniques, risk assessment strategies, and internal control best practices to proactively identify and mitigate fraud risks while fostering a culture of integrity and accountability.
Partnerships: How to Calculate Partner Basis
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Online
2.00 Credits
This program provides a detailed analysis of the calculations related to determining tax basis for a partnership interest. Illustrated examples with filled in forms will demonstrate how the processes works and their many potential pitfalls. *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
Preparation, Compilation and Review Engagements
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Online
2.00 Credits
This course is an introduction to preparation, compilation, & review engagements. During this course, we will compare and contrast these different engagements by reviewing the procedures that should be performed, different reports, as well as the level of assurance specific to each type of engagement.
Fiduciary Accounting: Fundamentals & Rules
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Online
2.00 Credits
This course will dive into the fundamentals of fiduciary accounting and provide a reporting guide for determining whether receipts and expenditures are assigned to income or principal/corpus.
Fraud Busters: Controls to Prevent & Detect Fraud
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Online
2.00 Credits
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. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
K2'S Tech Update
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Online
2.00 Credits
Staying up to date with advances in today's technology has never been more vital, and K2's Tech Update equips you with the knowledge to stay ahead of the rapid pace of innovation. This comprehensive session is designed for accountants who want to understand the evolving technological landscape and its implications for the accounting profession. Which technology trends are worth monitoring? What are the proper hardware and software products for your strategic and tactical plans? How do Artificial Intelligence, quantum computing, Software-as-a-Service, and productivity suites like Microsoft 365 influence practice, especially since this year marks the 40th anniversary of the release of Excel? Separate vendor hype from reality and discover how to achieve a 2X or more return on investment from your technology expenditures. Attendees will leave with actionable insights, including ideas they may not have previously considered.
K2's Backups Done Right
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Online
2.00 Credits
Where is your data? Do you have it controlled and backed up? If all your data is in the Cloud, how do you verify that the backup recovery is rapid? If your data is in various silos from your application providers, how do you ensure you have the protection and disposal approaches needed? This session will help you understand and guide your IT team and providers to take the right actions to protect your business. Backup considerations, including Cloud, backup appliance, disaster recovery, and business continuity approaches, are included. If you are from the "trust but verify" school of thought, this session will help you ask the right questions.
Schedule C of Form 1040
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Online
2.00 Credits
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. This course is ideal for CPAs, EAs, or other tax professionals. **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.
Surgent's Strategies for Maximizing Social Security Benefits
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Online
2.00 Credits
As the population of the United States ages, tax practitioners will be asked to advise their individual clients with respect to when they should begin to take Social Security benefits. This program will provide you with the background to knowledgeably discuss the benefit options available to Social Security beneficiaries and the alternative payment options available to married couples, dependents, a surviving spouse, and a divorced individual.
The Role of Internal Control in the Risk-Based Audit
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Online
4.00 Credits
This program explores the role of client internal controls for balancing efficiency and effectiveness in a risk-based audit. We offer practical insights regarding an auditor's assessment of the risk of material misstatement when auditing financial statements of non-issuers, with particular emphasis on internal controls of small-to-medium clients.
What's Going on at the FASB (2025)
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Online
2.00 Credits
The course will start with the Accounting Standard Updates effective in 2024 for public entities, private entities, and nonprofits. We will also review year 2 implications of the leases standard including modification accounting. We will then switch our attention to the items coming down the pike, including a look at the projects identified by the FASB's Invitation to Comment: Agenda Consultation. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
ProActive Response Group De-Escalation Training
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Online
1.20 Credits
In today's workplace, employees are faced almost daily with customers or teammates that may have needs or concerns that we are forced to handle. Though many of these situations are easily dealt with through simple communication skills, others may become heated and, in some instances, violent. Today we will discuss healthy ways to de-escalate a wide variety of potential issues.
Mental Illness & Depression: Understanding & Supporting Employees Under the ADA
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Online
1.00 Credits
This webinar aims to provide HR professionals with a comprehensive understanding of mental illness and depression under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It will cover key aspects of the law, provide practical advice, and address common challenges.