WICPA CPE & Special Event Catalog
Surgent's Engagement & Client Retention Best Practices
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $119
Positive client relationships require work. Miscommunication, unrealistic expectations and differing personality styles may strain a client's relationship with professional advisors. Fortunately, there are tested strategies that foster and strengthen client relationships. Creating appropriate boundaries early on is one of many effective strategies that can help. This course explores actions accounting and finance professionals can take to create and grow their client relationships. This webinar provides actionable insights on how to engage new and old clients alike. Strained client relationships can harm both the client and the firm's profitability. Yet automation, for example, allows some firms to remain more engaged while others miss the mark. There is a science underlying client retention that involves understanding the client journey, ensuring consistent client interactions and equipping employees with the tools needed to satisfy client needs. Understanding these skills should help you protect the relationships that sustain your business.
The Art of Engaging in Difficult Conversations
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Difficult conversations tend to be avoided because professionals shy away from the uncomfortable and the fear of polarizing their relationships. Participants will learn strategies and tactics to engage in productive conversations which address challenges and deepen relationships. They will understand where and why they are avoiding having difficult conversations. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
CFO Solutions to IRS Problems
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Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $149
Many CPAs are becoming full-time or fractional CFOs for small businesses. In that position, they are the resident expert in finances, cash flow planning and budgeting. But what about dealing with the IRS? The IRS has broad powers to administer the assessment and collection of taxes. From removing penalties to criminal prosecutions, this presentation focuses on how CFOs can prevent problems with the IRS and how to develop winning strategies if the IRS knocks on the door. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Ethical Intelligence for Artificial Intelligence
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Organizations and individuals enticed by the siren song of artificial intelligence cannot ignore ethical considerations. Professionals must consider accuracy of information, data privacy, independence, source citations, organizational policies, security, data retention and other ethical matters. This course discusses ethical issues associated with the utilization of AI in a professional setting and provides suggested best practices. 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.
The Controllership Series: Addressing Budgeting Uncertainty
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $39
With new accounting standards, the economic landscape & evolving technology, accounting, financial reporting & finance continue to grow in complexity. FASB has tried to address the growing complexity, by working towards making GAAP less convoluted. The struggle to stay on top of accounting financial reporting requirements & finance changes due to the economy continues for several reasons. Lack of in-house SMEs, managing high volumes of transactions & data & evolving information technology systems. In the future, executives must consider the challenges they will face in future years that will bring their own nuances & complexities. Budgeting is certainly one of those processes that must be evaluated & re-evaluated for efficiency. This session delves into the corporate budgeting process & discusses methods used & which methods may or may not allow for the organization's to properly plan for a volatile future.
Depreciating & Expensing Business Assets
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
This course will address recent tax legislation, rules & developments related to capitalization & depreciation; Section 179 & 168(k) 100 % bonus deduction; Depreciation of automobiles, including new luxury auto limits; ADS depreciation for electing farm & real estate business. 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
ChatGPT & IRS Taxation Law Research
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
The course provides a concise overview of how to use ChatGPT to more effectively and efficiently research IRS taxation law. It delves into techniques for extracting precise information from complex tax legislation, interpreting IRS guidelines with AI assistance and utilizing ChatGPT's advanced language models for nuanced legal analysis. Participants will learn how to streamline their research process, identify relevant tax law precedents and apply AI insights to real-world tax scenarios, enhancing their professional proficiency in navigating the intricate world of IRS taxation. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Indirect Cost Rates 2026: What Nonprofits Must Know to Build NICRA-Proof Proposals
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Indirect costs are an important aspect of obtaining full cost recovery on grants & cooperative agreements. An indirect rate is a mechanism for recovering allocable indirect costs. Have you struggled to understand how indirect rates work? We will show you Uniform Guidance theory & the mechanical aspects of how indirect rates are constructed. This session will cover the two of the most widely used indirect cost rate proposal templates to obtain Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreements (NICRA) for both the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) & U.S. Department of Interior (DOI). We will address: • Fringe & indirect rate examples, • The power of an indirect rate multiplier, • What is an ideal indirect rate, • Mandatory requirements for constructing an indirect rate, • The importance of the Statement of Functional Expense & • Understanding the HHS & DOI model templates.
Metrics Management: Linking Strategy to Performance
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Organizations often fail not because strategy is flawed, but because performance is measured poorly. This session focuses on the critical link between strategy, measurement & execution. Participants will explore why there is no "perfect" metric, how strategy fails due to weak measurement & how financial & non-financial metrics work together to drive performance. The session emphasizes aligning metrics with mission, strategy & organizational priorities using practical frameworks such as the Balanced Scorecard. Humorous videos will be incorporated to drive home some key points & keep things entertaining.
Surgent's Workplace Harassment: How to Prevent Harassment & Reduce Liability Risks in Today’s Changing Environment
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $99
Workplace harassment — especially sexual harassment — has dominated headlines in the last several years. With discussions of workplace harassment in the news, employees better understand their rights and feel more empowered to speak out and the standard of appropriate workplace conduct is changing. With workplace harassment claims continuing to be filed at a steady pace with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, state agencies and the courts, it is more important than ever to understand how to prevent and avoid harassment in the workplace.
An Ethical Approach to Mental Health Issues at Work
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
In the past talking about mental issues in the workplace was taboo. Not anymore!!! So many of us suffer with mental health issues at some point in our lives. Poor mental health impacts, from a work perspective, productivity, absenteeism, retention and more. On a personal level it often causes personal distress and hopelessness. The Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) is addressing mental illness as a critical factor for the wellbeing of organizations. Additionally, the EEOC is cracking down on mental health discrimination. It is a very important topic for any functional business! This ethics-based webinar will bring awareness to this issue and offer suggestions on managing mental health issues in ethical, compassionate and healthy ways. It will offer suggestions on managing mental health issues for leaders, managers and all staff to create and environment of safety and belonging. This webinar will also address the topic of suicide talking about warning signs and resources. 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.
Preparing to be a Forensic Accountant: Focus on Computer Forensics: Part II (Cryptology)
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $39
This is a continuing part of our series on forensic accounting. Within this segment we discuss the concepts that are part of computer forensics known as cryptology. The term cryptography is From Ancient Greek & means "hidden secret". It is the practice & study of techniques for secure communications in the presence of adversarial behavior. Cryptography is about constructing & analyzing protocols that prevent third parties or the public From reading private messages. Cryptography starts with secrets. Various aspects in information security such as data confidentiality, data integrity, authentication & non-repudiation (where a statement's author cannot successfully dispute its authorship) are central to modern cryptography.
The Controllership Series: The Controllers Role in Internal Controls
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Online
1.50 Credits
Member Price: $79
This course in part of our series on the Controllership Role. Internal control is relevant to everyone in the workplace. It represents our moral responsibility to understand & comply with organization policies & procedures. It also provides the means to hold individuals accountable for their work. The controller is an impactful position that affects a company's processes including financial, compliance & operational. Controller functions vary across companies often following the size & complexity of the business & the industry. Smaller companies require more versatility for the controller Larger companies are more able to segregate job responsibilities across other employees. The controller should be knowledgeable of the various controls to create a control system that will appropriately safeguard company assets & processes. Internal controls are typically comprised of control activities such as authorization, documentation, reconciliation, security & segregation of duties.
2026/27 Governmental Auditing Update: Yellow Book & Uniform Guidance
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
This comprehensive course provides a focused update on key auditing developments affecting governmental & Single Audit engagements. The course integrates recent changes to the Yellow Book issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office with major updates to Uniform Guidance & related Single Audit requirements. Participants will begin with an overview of significant revisions to the 2024 Yellow Book, including changes related to quality management, key audit roles & effective dates. The course also addresses the GAO's implementation delay & its implications for audit planning, along with recent updates to the Green Book that may affect internal control considerations for governmental entities & Single Audits. The course then shifts to recent developments affecting Single Audits, including the 2024 Uniform Guidance overhaul, updates to Appendix B of the AICPA GAS/Single Audit Guide & guidance issued through the Office of Management & Budget (OMB). Reporting-related changes, including the transition to SAM.gov-based reporting, are also discussed. Designed for auditors working with governmental entities & federal awards, this course helps participants understand how recent auditing & compliance changes intersect-and what to monitor as expectations continue to evolve.
Ethics & Technology for CPAs
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Explore the ethical principles included in the Code of Professional Conduct that address the emerging practice issues created by new technologies. Consider how technologies may impact audit quality and the integrity of the financial systems and whether they create a need for CPAs to adjust their skill sets to address those challenges. Look at the potential ethical challenges created by the data related to privacy, security and its application. Discuss the changes being proposed to address emerging ethics challenges. 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.
Schedule K-1: What is it & What do I do with it?
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
This seminar offers a practical and in-depth exploration of IRS Schedule K-1, a critical reporting document issued to taxpayers with interests in pass-through entities such as Partnerships, S Corporations and Estates or Trusts. Participants will gain a clear understanding of how to interpret and accurately report Schedule K-1 data on Form 1040, with emphasis on common income, deduction and credit items. The course also demystifies the Qualified Business Income (QBI) Deduction, including eligibility criteria, reporting mechanics and integration with K-1 data. Key compliance topics-such as basis and loss limitations, material participation rules and passive activity considerations-will be addressed through practical examples. In addition, attendees will be briefed on recent developments affecting Schedules K-2 and K-3, ensuring they are equipped to navigate evolving international reporting requirements. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Resistance to Resilience: Strive for Tech Change Acceptance
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $55
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. 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: Sales, Collections & Customer Credit
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Online
1.50 Credits
Member Price: $79
Why do for profit organizations exist" To make money!!!!! What a great concept. But if the organization does not have the proper collections & credit procedures in place, they may not be able to access that money. Hence the importance of the credit & collection process.Credit & 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 & 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 & is sometimes submitted to a collection agency. The sales & collection process includes business activities related to selling products & services, maintaining customer records, billing customers & recording payments From customers. It also includes activities necessary to manage accounts receivable, such as aging accounts & authorizing credit. This course delves into the topics that impact the sales, credit & collections process for management. We discuss strategic steps management can take to ensure their processes are efficient & that they are able to actually collect their revenue.
Forensic & Fraud Interviewing Techniques & Skills
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Online
2.20 Credits
Member Price: $89
In forensic accounting, interviewing is used to obtain important information From witnesses & suspects. An important aspect is the ability of investigators to obtain accurate & reliable information From victims, witnesses & 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 & 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 & not through a standardized model of training. This session focuses on various interview concepts & methods.
Calculating the Retirement Need
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $55
For most people, funding their own retirement is the largest expense they will ever have. Due to advances in medical technology and overall healthier lifestyles, it is not unusual for someone to live 30 years or more in retirement. In this course, we will discuss how to quantify and calculate the retirement needs of the client. We will talk about time value of money concepts, how to help clients quantify their retirement goals and even how to address risk perceptions. By doing this, we will allow practitioners to be able to better address client questions and frame trade-offs when necessary. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.