WICPA CPE & Special Event Catalog
The Controllership Series: The Financial Close Process
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Online
1.50 Credits
Member Price: $59
A common challenge for the controller role is in closing the month-end and period-end books in preparation to issue financial statements. This duty requires precision, timing and efficiency. In today's digital world, many organizations have access to financial accounting software that will assist with the steps in the financial close. However, even with this aid it is critical the accountant understand the various steps for the close process and how they inter-relate to other accounting processes. This course gives you an insight into the inter-relationships between many processes that impact the financial close. The closing process has traditionally been a slow one with many companies taking two weeks to close its subsidiary's books and another two to three weeks to roll up and consolidated the results. With the introduction of technology much has been done to help accelerate that process with integrated enterprise resource planning systems and general ledger and consolidate software. Within this segment we will discuss the elements of the financial close and also important concepts to assist the controller in accelerating their close timeline. This includes addressing all functional areas of the close including payroll, invoicing, payables, inventory, cash and the general ledger. We will also discuss important concepts of ensuring your financial close is accurate by discussing bank reconciliations, overhead allocations, bad debt reserves, unpaid wages and accruals for vacation time, account reconciliations, deprecation and overall financial statement review. Note: This course does not address utilizing technology in the financial close. Its focus is to understand the varied procedures involved in the financial close whether or not technology is utilized.
Creative Strategies for Buying, Selling, or Gifting a Business
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Online
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $225
Navigating the complexities of business transactions requires a deep understanding of tax and estate planning strategies. In this comprehensive course tailored for financial professionals, participants will explore the intricacies of creative approaches to buying, selling, or gifting a business. Through real-world scenarios and practical insights, attendees will gain invaluable expertise in identifying tax risks, minimizing liabilities and safeguarding assets. From evaluating valuation methods to exploring the details of stock versus asset purchases, this course equips you with the essential tools to provide informed counsel to clients. Discover the potential for strategic success as you master topics including estate transfer and tax implications, gifting strategies and the utilization of various trusts and partnerships. Whether you're a CPA, EA, attorney, or financial planner, this course offers indispensable knowledge to elevate your practice. With a recommended 8 credit hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE), this intermediate-level course is designed for professionals with a foundational understanding of business tax and estate planning. Join us and immerse yourself in a journey towards mastery in the vibrant landscape of business transactions. **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.
Communicate Financial Concepts to Non-Accountants
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $79
Do you ever get blank looks when you present your company's financial statements? Does your board nod knowingly, during your presentation, but never seem to have any meaningful questions? It could be that they have no idea what you are talking about and are just pretending to understand! Learn how to connect with your CEO, board, fellow managers and ordinary employees so they understand your message.
Planning in an Uncertain World
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $79
We all make predictions in our personal and professional lives. We base our decisions to marry, buy a house, launch a new product or hire staff on expectations about the future. In the past few years, research into improving predictions has advanced. We will look at this research and current best practices in forecasting to help us prepare better budgets and projections.
Revenue Recognition: Recognize Revenue
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $39
This segment is designed to evaluate Step Five of the new model dealing with recognizing revenue which is the final step in applying the new revenue recognition standard. For performance obligations that are fulfilled at a point in time, revenue is recognized at the fulfillment of the performance obligation. For performance obligations to be satisfied over time, an entity must decide how to appropriately measure the progress and completion of the performance obligation. A performance obligation is satisfied when or as control of the good or service is transferred to the customer. There are several issues companies should consider in applying step 5 of the standard: • Determining if a Performance Obligation is satisfied over time • Identifying indicators of transfer of control of good/services • Utilizing input and output methods to measure progress of revenue recognition • Understanding stand-ready obligations and how to apply discounts
Common Sense CFO: Crisis Management, Innovation & Other Expectations Put on CFOs
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $79
The role of today's financial leader, including CFO, transcends traditional financial stewardship; it demands agility, innovation, crisis management and strategic foresight. This seminar will discuss the new, multifaceted skills and insights needed to excel in the dynamic role of modern finance. Through a blend of theory, research and practical exercises, participants will explore the diverse roles of a CFO as innovation champions, technology evangelists, crisis managers and change agents: leveraging practical principles to drive organizational success. Financial leaders can adapt or be left behind. Whether you are a seasoned CFO or aspiring to step into a leadership position, this seminar will discuss the essential tools and insights to navigate the newer demands of financial managers with confidence and competence.
Be the Sun, Not the Salt, featuring Harry Cohen & John Daly
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $39
What if being nice, or specifically being a positive best version of yourself, made you a more effective leader? Ethical leadership, is effective leadership. That's what Dr. Cohen, noted psychologist, transformational speaker, executive coach and author of Be The Sun, Not The Salt, has been teaching organizations to do for years. Dr. Cohen's work is based on scientific studies of human behavior broken down into simple, easily digestible pillars structured around the Heliotropic Effect. In this webcast we will discuss Dr. Cohen's path to this work, what the Heliotropic Effect is and how Be The Sun, Not The Salt is the perfect reminder to Do More of That every day.Note: This course qualifies to count toward the WICPA membership Ethics CPE requirement.
Revenue Recognition Topic 606: Identify Performance Obligations Part II
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Online
1.40 Credits
Member Price: $39
Properly identifying performance obligations is a critical step in the five-step revenue recognition model. It is a step that must be completed at the inception of the contract and prior to moving on to step three of the model. As discussed in segment one on performance obligations, there are many types and variations of obligations and as such, management will be required to utilize significant judgment when applying this step. However, it is important that the judgment be supported by considerations of the proper factors. The course further evaluates areas that impact performance obligations. We utilize multiple examples from various industries to illustrate the considerations that must be evaluated in line with both identifying performance obligations and allocating the transaction price appropriately.
Common Sense CFO: Dealing With Ever Changing Accounting Standards & Strategy Demands
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $79
GAAP is changing at an increasing rate. Every successful organization has a sound strategy. Financial leaders are faced with the dual challenge of navigating evolving accounting standards while strategically guiding their organizations toward sustainable growth and profitability. What are the newer accounting changes that will impact professional accounting? This seminar will equip finance professionals with the critical skills and practical insights needed to effectively manage the complexities of ever-changing accounting standards and upgrade your essential strategic planning skills. Strategic skills are mandatory today. Strategies that do not keep pace with the market are doomed to fail. If we do not keep up, our successor will.
The Head & Heart of Ethics: Featuring Bob Mims & Don Minges
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $39
There are multiple facets to ethical choices, including should you use your `head' or your `heart'? What are the pros and the cons? How can we balance these opposing views? This seminar outlines the value of; trust, courage, fairness, sensitivity, persistence, honesty and gracefulness: to help us make better ethical decisions.Note: This course qualifies to count toward the WICPA membership Ethics CPE requirement.
The Controllership Series: Overhead, Direct & Indirect Costs & Allocation Methods
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $39
Managing expenses is a key for business success and overhead costs play a pivotal role in realizing favorable profit margins. Almost all companies have some form of overhead consisting of specific categories of indirect expenses. The better organizations are able to manage overhead costs, the more competitive they are in the marketplace. It is incumbent in the Controller's role to effectively manage, monitor and perform ongoing assessment of overhead costs, allocations and rates. Overhead refers to the ongoing business expenses not directly attributed to creating a product or service. A company must pay overhead on an ongoing basis, regardless of how much or how little the company sells. It is important for budgeting purposes but also for determining how much a company must charge for its products or services to make a profit. Overhead can be fixed, variable, or a hybrid of both. There are different categories of overhead, such as administrative overhead, which includes costs related to managing a business. In short, overhead is any expense incurred to support the business while not being directly related to a specific product or service.
When You Hear Hoofbeats, It May Be a Zebra
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $39
Young doctors sometimes arrive at an exotic medical diagnosis (You've got Kuru!), when a more common place explanation is likely (You've got a cold). These diagnoses are known as Zebras and doctors are taught, "When you hear hoofbeats, think of horses not zebras". Sometimes, the patient really has a rare disease and suffers from misdiagnosis and subsequent improper treatment. Similarly, managers, auditors and investigators often see indicators of fraud, but dismiss them because they've been taught or assume based upon experience that it is just a mistake that looks like fraud. This session uses case studies to explore some of the more common symptoms of fraud that are often misdiagnosed.
How Prevalent Is Retaliation Within Your Culture?
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $39
Does your organization encourage timely reporting? Does your organization provide substantive protection for those who report? Organizations should be aware of characteristics indicative of a retaliatory culture: one in which bad actors are provided ample opportunity and cover to retaliate.Note: This course qualifies to count toward the WICPA membership Ethics CPE requirement.
New PCAOB Quality Control Standard Overview
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $79
Due to advances in technology, use of outside resources and more, PCAOB released a new integrated, risk-based standard focused on accountability and continuous improvement for all PCAOB-registered firms. This course will provide an overview of the significant elements and foundational principles of this new standard.
A Fox in the Henhouse/Courthouse
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $39
The ancient Romans had a saying about using caution when appointing someone to a position of trust, "don't set a wolf to watch the sheep". That saying is in use today and has changed to include "don't put a fox to guard the henhouses";. The thought is similar, but the wolf and fox are vastly different animals. Wolves rely upon their strength to survive while foxes rely on their cunning. Like foxes, fraudsters rely upon their cunning to defeat or circumvent internal controls. This session reviews the investigation of a deputy court clerk who exploited a weakness in internal controls and committed fraud in the courthouse.
Mission-Critical Leadership: How Smart Managers Lead Well in All Directions
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $79
Most leadership development focuses on a single direction within the organizational hierarchy: downstream to subordinates. While it is important to be a good boss, leadership is much more than that. The best leaders learn to lead well in all directions. They lead upward to superiors and across among peers throughout the organization. And it all starts with self-leadership. This often overlooked or misunderstood leadership principle is essential to build a thriving and productive culture. This topic is based on Jon's book, Mission-Critical Leadership: How Smart Managers Lead Well in All Directions.
Performance Management: Hiring to Retiring
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Online
1.20 Credits
Member Price: $39
How you onboard a new employee is critical in ensuring they understand your company culture and are immersed properly in your organization. On the flipside, in the event you are dealing with an employee termination, this too is critical in handling with care and sensitivity.
Corporate Ethics Cases: Discuss Real Life Conflicts
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Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $129
If you have ever had someone just read you the rules in an ethics class, you know there is a better way. Cases in Corporate Ethics reviews 8 real life cases and puts you in the position of someone in the middle of it all. You'll learn about conflicts that corporate financial professionals often encounter, you'll gain skills for dealing with a boss who is behaving badly and find out where to go for help. Once you have studied ethics using real world cases, you'll never want to do it any other way.Note: This course qualifies to count toward the WICPA membership Ethics CPE requirement.
Creating A Culture of Trust
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $39
It is the role of a leader to build and maintain a great culture in the organization. The culture is the driving force that shapes the attitudes and behaviors of everyone in the organization. A relationship driven organization is built on trust and is the most effective way to improve productivity, engagement and the bottom line. Understand the components that enable trust to be created and maintained throughout teams and organizations.
The Controllership Series: The Role of the Controller in ESG
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Online
1.50 Credits
Member Price: $59
Why do for profit organizations exist??? To make money!!!!! What a great concept. But if the organization does not have the proper collections and credit procedures in place, they may not be able to access that money. Hence the importance of the credit and collection process. Credit and collections are critical areas for the financial statement controllers. Customer credit is a form of payment that allows small business customers to purchase a product or service before paying for it in full. The process works similarly to the way a credit card does: you procure something and pay it back later. Collections is a term used by a business when referring to money owed to that business by a customer. When a customer does not pay within the terms specified, the amount of the bill becomes past due and is sometimes submitted to a collection agency. The sales and collection process includes business activities related to selling products and services, maintaining customer records, billing customers and recording payments from customers. It also includes activities necessary to manage accounts receivable, such as aging accounts and authorizing credit. This course delves into the topics that impact the sales, credit and collections process for management. We discuss strategic steps management can take to ensure their processes are efficient and that they are able to actually collect their revenue.
