WICPA CPE & Special Event Catalog
Retirement Planning Issues: Where We Stand Now
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Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $149
This course is designed to equip CPAs, EAs, attorneys & tax professionals with the essential knowledge & strategies needed to navigate the latest developments. Explore innovative approaches to maximize retirement savings, discuss tax- efficient retirement plan options & align estate planning techniques with current trends. Gain a thorough understanding of altered rules for Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) & 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 & submit to kori.herrera@acpen.com.
Forensic Accounting: Investigating Divorce Cases
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Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $149
With over 50% of marriages ending in divorce, forensic accountants are frequently used in uncovering hidden income and assets. It is not uncommon for one spouse to hide money from another, sometimes for nefarious reasons. As a CPA, your services are valued by high-net-worth individuals who hire attorneys in their divorce proceedings. In this course, you will learn the art of financial investigations and how to uncover the truth in divorce cases, whether from offshore accounts to lifestyle analysis. Step by step, the course will teach you the valuable skills necessary in finding, analyzing, evaluating and presenting your findings to your client and if needed, ultimately in divorce court. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Mastering the Art of Conflict: CPA Transformative Strategies
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Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $149
Unlock the secrets to transforming workplace and client conflicts into opportunities for growth and innovation. As accounting professionals play an increasingly influential role in organizational decision-making, the ability to transform conflict into opportunity is paramount. In this course, learn how to elevate your conflict resolution skills with methods grounded in "Crucial Conversations," "Fierce Conversations," and "Leading with Questions." Discover how to build stronger client and colleague relationships and model constructive communication behaviors. This class breaks down transformative strategies into actionable steps that every CPA can master. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.Note: This course qualifies to count toward the WICPA membership Ethics CPE requirement.
Take Command of your Time
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Manage distractions, decrease stress and improve productivity. This training is designed to help business professionals improve their productivity and work performance by learning how to prioritize time, decrease distractions and lower stress. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
The Controllership Series: The Future Role of the Controller Part I
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Online
1.50 Credits
Member Price: $79
This is a two-part series that discuss new trends & concepts the financial controller should begin to execute in order to truly become a valued member of the senior leadership team. The rapid pace of the evolving technological landscape has promoted changes in how accountants & financial professionals focus attention on strategy & modernize their roles to leverage digital technology. There is increased demand for enhancing flexibility into finance cycles & initiating real-time reporting & insights. These are the core attributes that will assist in transforming the work that controllership function performs. Is the financial controllership prepared to meet future business demands? The IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants) & Deloitte's Center for Controllership aimed to better understand the current state of controllership & expectations of future demands for controllers & accounting professionals. They conducted a survey in late 2022 & identified several trends. The survey takes a look at how prepared controllership is to meet future business demands. It also highlights some insights for leaders to consider that may increase their preparedness. It also identified areas of additional insight & questions to answer on the controllership transformation journey. In this segment one, we go through numerous concepts in detail & the remaining concepts will be covered in segment two.
K2’s Microsoft Power Tools
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Unlock the full potential of your Microsoft 365 subscription with our exclusive session on Microsoft's Power Tools! Discover the incredible capabilities of Power BI, Power Query, Power Pivot & Power Automate & learn how these tools can revolutionize your productivity & efficiency. Many professionals are unaware that they already have access to these powerful tools, leading to missed opportunities & suboptimal performance. Don't let this be you! Participate in this session to explore the practical applications of these tools & elevate your productivity & internal control structure to new heights
How Much Are Your Ethics Worth?
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Ethics are of central importance to the CPA profession. But what do we mean by ethics? Is it just appropriate behavior, compliance with laws, or is it more than that? In this course, we'll discover what sets ethics apart and, therefore, sets the profession apart as well. We'll explore the tools available, the role of bias and dive into real life case studies. We'll apply the AICPA's ethical framework and detect where bias was involved in the case studies. We'll even discover that one person set the price tag on their ethics at $53.7 million, only to lose it all in the end. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.Note: This course qualifies to count toward the WICPA membership Ethics CPE requirement.
From Numbers to Narratives: Mastering Data Analysis for CPAs
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
The accounting profession is rapidly shifting from a compliance-centered focus to one that demands insight, foresight and strategic advisory skills. "From Numbers to Narratives: Mastering Data Analysis for CPAs" explores the "why" behind this transformation and highlights the critical role data analysis plays in helping CPAs remain relevant and competitive. This course provides a high-level overview of the skills and mindset required to move beyond historical reporting and into forward-looking analysis and storytelling. Participants will gain an understanding of how Microsoft 365 applications - such as Excel, Power Query, Power BI, OneDrive and Teams - can be leveraged to transform raw financial data into meaningful insights. With an emphasis on the advisory role of CPAs, this course empowers professionals at every stage of their career to embrace analytics as a core competency. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Revenue Recognition: Allocate the Transaction Price
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Online
1.80 Credits
Member Price: $79
The updated revenue recognition standard outlines five steps for proper compliance. At the surface, these steps seem simplistic. However, there are many considerations that should be considered within each step based on your process & industry.
Bears Will Be Bears: Fraudsters Too
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Bears are intelligent & motivated to find food. When I left some fried chicken in my Jeep while in Gatlinburg, a bear tore a hole in the top & ate the chicken & part of my Jeep. He was just a bear being a bear. I'm responsible because I left the chicken in the Jeep & gave him the opportunity. Similarly, people are intelligent & motivated to survive. If we give them opportunity by not implementing good internal controls, they will take our assets. This session reviews the investigation & prosecution of the former director of a conference center who took advantage of lax internal controls of a joint-venture & stole thousands. She was just a fraudster being a fraudster.
Introduction to Governmental Accounting
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Governmental accounting differs significantly From other forms of accounting & requires a distinct approach to financial reporting. This course introduces the foundational principles of governmental accounting, including fund accounting concepts & the modified accrual basis of accounting. Participants will explore the structure & purpose of governmental fund financial statements & government-wide financial statements, gaining clarity on their objectives, layouts & key elements. The course also addresses essential topics such as component units, the role & structure of Management's Discussion & Analysis (MD&A) & the preparation & significance of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). Designed for those new to governmental accounting-- or those seeking a refresher-this course provides a solid foundation for understanding & applying governmental financial reporting principles. The course has been updated to reflect recent guidance issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, including GASB Statements 101-105.
Introduction to Risk Assessment
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Effective risk assessment is foundational to designing an appropriate audit response. This course introduces the audit risk model and provides an overview of the risk assessment procedures performed during engagements. Participants will review the components of the audit risk model and examine common risk assessment procedures, including inquiries, analytical procedures and observation and inspection techniques. Emphasis is placed on understanding how risk assessment drives engagement planning and supports the development of appropriate audit responses. Designed for auditors seeking a structured introduction or refresher, this course builds foundational knowledge necessary for effective engagement planning and execution. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
The Many Faces of Fraud
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
What does fraud look like? It depends. What may appear to be an indicator of fraud in one client's operation could be normal in another, making it critical to understand your client & the transactions you expect to see. Look for what should be present but isn't-- and for what is present but shouldn't be. This course emphasizes the importance of professional skepticism, which has no on/off switch-- it must be applied continuously. As auditors, our role is to independently verify, yet too often we rely on client representations without sufficient validation, increasing the risk of missing fraud. Many auditors recognize, in hindsight, that they have encountered fraud indicators but failed to identify them at the time. This session will provide you with the tools to recognize those indicators & strengthen your ability to detect fraud-- so you are better prepared for what you may find.
Internal Controls Over Compliance versus Compliance
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $55
Accurately identifying and testing controls over compliance is critical, yet it remains a common deficiency highlighted in peer reviews. This course offers a comprehensive overview of internal controls over compliance, with a focus on their application to Single Audits. Participants will learn how to effectively align internal controls with specific compliance requirements. Additionally, we will address one of the most frequent findings in audits of governmental entities receiving federal grants: the misidentification of controls and the confusion between compliance and control processes. This course will help clarify the distinction, equipping you with the tools to enhance audit quality and ensure compliance effectiveness. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Upholding Independence While Holding Your Client's Hand
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Many entities look to their CPA as a trusted advisor when tackling complex accounting topics. This is more relevant now than ever. The FASB's big three accounting pronouncements involving revenue recognition, leasing & credit losses have placed a magnifying glass on this reality. Practitioners need to exercise caution to ensure they maintain independence as they assist their review & audit clients with such matters, as well as with compilation engagements. This course addresses these issues & explores best practices & guidance provided by the AICPA's Code of Professional Conduct.Note: This course qualifies to count toward the WICPA membership Ethics CPE requirement.
Foundations of IT Audit for CPAs
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Online
3.00 Credits
Member Price: $109
This course introduces CPAs, financial auditors as well as technology auditors to the foundational concepts of IT auditing. Participants will learn how IT systems support financial reporting, how to assess risk in IT environments & how IT General Controls (ITGCs) & application controls impact audit procedures. The course also introduces IT audit planning & scoping to help auditors determine what systems & controls to evaluate.
Consulting Services Secrets
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $39
Award winning discussion leader Mark Hugh discusses how to create & capture value with consulting services. Whether you want to consult a little or full time, this valuable course reviews identifying a specialty, growing a practice, capturing value, creating deliverables & effective marketplace marketing strategies.
The AB5s of Employees & Independent Contractors
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
This course explores the tests used to determine whether a worker is properly characterized as an employee or an independent contractor for tax purposes, with a focus on the cost of getting it wrong & possible Section 530 relief. The game changing impact of the Dynamex case & AB5 will also be discussed. 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 & submit to terri.storer@acpen.com
Benford’s Law & Other Digital Analysis Techniques
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Online
1.80 Credits
Member Price: $79
Numbers & especially the digits within those numbers can conceal a lot of information. Benford's Law & other digital analysis techniques can be the keys to unlocking that information. This session will explain what Benford's Law is, how it works & how it can be used to reveal bogus information & made-up data. Accountants & auditors should understand how to use this valuable audit tool as well as other digital analysis techniques. But, if you attend this session, you must promise not to reveal the secret behind these techniques to any fraud perpetrators.
IT Controls & SOC Reporting in Financial Audits
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Online
3.00 Credits
Member Price: $109
This course provides a practical understanding of IT controls & SOC reporting within financial audits. Participants will learn how to interpret SOC reports, evaluate control effectiveness & determine reliance strategies. Real-world examples will demonstrate how IT controls tie directly to relevant financial statement areas & alignment with Complementary User Entity Controls (CUECs).
