WICPA CPE & Special Event Catalog
Retaining Top Talent: Strategies for CPA Firms
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $55
In today's challenging talent market, accounting firms face unprecedented pressure to retain their best performers. This course provides actionable, research-backed strategies to help firms keep their top talent from leaving. Based on comprehensive surveys of both current accounting professionals and those who have recently left the profession, participants will learn the real reasons employees stay or go-and what firms can do about it. The course goes beyond simple solutions like "pay more, expect less" to explore comprehensive retention strategies including whole-person compensation, work-life balance improvements, career development pathways and necessary business model transformations. Participants will discover why 73% of surveyed professionals want to stay with their current firm, yet many still leave-and how to bridge that gap. Key topics include understanding the true cost of turnover versus retention, implementing flexible work arrangements that actually work, creating meaningful career paths for non-partner track professionals and transforming firm operations to support both profitability and employee satisfaction. Special attention is given to retaining diverse talent and adapting to the expectations of younger professionals who will comprise 27% of the workforce by 2025. Whether you're a firm leader, HR professional, or manager responsible for team retention, this course provides the insights and tools needed to build a sustainable talent strategy in an evolving profession. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
The Ethics Hour: Ethics is the Engine to Better Leadership: Taking Action, featuring Bob Mims & Don Minges
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $39
Ethics is grounded in leadership & the finest leaders are always ethical. Every effective leader is ethical, in words & actions. The best leaders communicate effectively. Being trustworthy is more than being honest & fair. In today's turbulent environment, leadership matters more than ever as the talented staff will readily move to ethical leaders. We must enhance our leadership skills to remain valuable. Simple stated: we all want to work for & with, an ethical leader.Note: This course qualifies to count toward the WICPA membership Ethics CPE requirement.
Advanced ChatGPT for Accountants
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
This course concisely explains the latest "see, hear, speak" multi-modal updates to ChatGPT and how they can be used in an accounting context. New features include vision processing, voice conversation, image generation, real-time Internet access, advanced data analysis, plugins and more. Discover how this technology can be used in mind-blowing ways to analyze financial data, optimize processes and solve problems in the accounting domain. Through the lens of ChatGPT, practitioners can explore innovative solutions, automate routine tasks and generate deeper insights and value to their clients and organizations in previously unimaginable workflows. You'll walk away with scores of advanced ChatGPT strategies and tips that can be immediately applied and deliver instant results to elevate the efficiency and effectiveness of your accounting projects and tasks. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Surgent's Bankruptcy Basics: Understanding the Reorganization & Liquidation Process in These Uncertain Economic Times
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $99
Consumers and businesses file for bankruptcy to seek protection from creditors and to reorganize or liquidate debts. Bankruptcy filings rise and fall with the economy. Surveys show that loss of income is the leading cause of consumer bankruptcies, followed by medical expenses and foreclosure. Corporate bankruptcies, on the other hand, are often the result of several factors, including excessive debt, decreased demand, increased costs, lawsuits or poor accounting practices. It is no secret bankruptcy filings will see a tremendous uptick in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. As an accountant, CFP, attorney or other professional, you need to be able to discuss the process and different available courses of action with your clients. Both landlords and tenants will be influenced tremendously. Individuals will look to your advice for a discharge and new start. Businesses will do the same and will also need to advise loyal employees. Creditors will receive proofs of claim and look to you for your expertise. Take this course and make sure you can speak fluently to both creditors and debtors. As trusted advisors, then, professionals should have a basic understanding of the bankruptcy process. This course provides a thorough review of the consumer and corporate bankruptcy practice. Participants in this course will gain an understanding of how consumer and corporate bankruptcy proceedings begin and end, as well as learn about key issues that affect debtor and creditor rights during bankruptcy. This course provides information from the perspective of both debtor and creditor. Although bankruptcy concerns the debts of the debtor, the Bankruptcy Code provides substantial protections to creditors. Creditor rights, however, vary widely depending on the status afforded the creditor under the Bankruptcy Code. Do yourself, your clients and your profit margin a favor and sign up for this invaluable program.
Surgent's Ethical Considerations for CPAs
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $99
As accounting firms' non-attest offerings to their attest clients become more diversified, such engagements increase firms' exposure to independence violations. In order to thread the needle of providing value-added services and upholding their independence obligations, firms need to have a strong foundational understanding of the applicable ethical and independence rules which govern these engagements. In this course, we'll review the relevant sections of the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct regarding independence, objectivity and conflicts of interest. The course will focus on the Code's Independence Rule and common threats to auditor's independence. In particular, the course will focus on those unique considerations related to non-attest services, both from the perspective of AICPA interpretations and other applicable rules and regulations. PLEASE NOTE: THIS COURSE COVERS GENERAL ETHICS AND IS APPLICABLE IN STATES IN WHICH STATE-SPECIFIC ETHICS IS NOT REQUIRED. Note: This course qualifies to count toward the WICPA membership Ethics CPE requirement.
Surgent's Making Sense of Essential OBBBA Provisions
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $119
When clients ask questions about the impact of new tax legislation embodied in OBBBA, it is important that accounting and finance practitioners can reply with accurate and relevant planning strategies. This program prepares accounting and finance practitioners with the knowledge and insights to help their clients apply the new law to their advantage. This program is an introduction and review of some of these critical changes and their impact on individual and business taxpayers. By taking this program, accounting and finance practitioners will have a broader, deeper understanding of many of the OBBBA changes that impact their clients. This course is a two-hour review and analysis of what we consider some of the most important changes from the OBBBA impacting clients and perhaps their businesses.
Not Just Your Everyday FASB Update
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Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $149
This course highlights significant updates that affect financial reporting & related attestation services. We will explore novel FASB pronouncements while examining the enduring impact of lease accounting & revenue recognition standards. This course will provide reminders regarding both GAAP & non-GAAP financial reporting alternatives for closely held entities. We will also explore selected guidance regarding audit, review & compilation engagements.
Independence for Auditors: AICPA, PCAOB, GAO & DOL
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Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $149
Independence requirements are foundational to audit quality, yet they vary depending on the applicable regulatory and professional framework. This course provides a practical overview of auditor independence rules and highlights key similarities and differences across major standard setters and oversight bodies. Participants will review independence requirements issued by the AICPA, Government Accountability Office (GAO), Department of Labor (DOL) and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board / SEC. The course emphasizes common areas of confusion, nuanced differences among the frameworks and considerations auditors should keep in mind when performing attest services for different types of clients. This overview course is designed to help auditors recognize which independence rules apply in various engagement scenarios and better position themselves to meet applicable independence requirements. 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.
Peeking Behind the Curtain: Exploring IRS Audit Technique Guides
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Have you ever considered a tax audit From the perspective of an IRS examiner? This session explains how you can use IRS Audit Technique Guides (ATGs) to enhance tax compliance. You will obtain a glimpse of the audit process From the viewpoint of an IRS agent as we explore insights that the IRS provides to its own examiners.
Accounting & Attestation for ESG
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting has become an increasingly important area of focus for standard setters, regulators and stakeholders. This course provides an overview of how ESG considerations intersect with accounting and attestation services, with attention to developments affecting both preparers and assurance providers. Participants will review current ESG-related initiatives and projects underway at the Financial Accounting Standards Board, Governmental Accounting Standards Board and the AICPA. The course also explores the types of services CPAs may provide in connection with ESG reporting, including advisory and attestation engagements and discusses how these engagements differ in scope and responsibility. Designed for CPAs seeking to understand the evolving ESG landscape, this course helps participants recognize where ESG fits within existing professional standards and how CPAs can support organizations seeking credibility and assurance over ESG information. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
How to Audit Expenses & Payables
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
It is imperative that audit staff understand the fundamentals of expenses & payables. This course will cover the basics of auditing expenses, accrued liabilities and other payables, including the related audit assertions, risks, & threats to the expenses & payables balances. During this course, we will also highlight the various substantive auditing procedures that staff should perform and also walk through some real-world examples. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Noble Leadership: An Ethical Approach
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Research tells us that leaders, supervisors and managers have more impact on an employee than does a therapist and/or life partner. Being a leader is a huge opportunity and privilege and requires introspection and personal growth. This webinar is infused with values of fairness, compassion, respect and more and will be of most value to individuals who believe that everyone, regardless of circumstance, deserve "certain general conditions that are ...equally to everyone's advantage" (John Rawls). The Noble leader believes in people. The Noble leader is curious and humble and invites challenge and feedback into his/her/ world. The Noble leader is a true believer in seeing the good in others, helping them to be their best which in turn helps the Leader grow as well. The Noble leader does not shy away from confronting bad behavior/performance in a respectful and clear way while believing in the inherent dignity of each individual This workshop based on ethical principles offers a glimpse into what it takes to become a Noble Leader and how one can journey through for increased self awareness and skill development. 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.
Critical "Soft" Skills for CFOs & Controllers
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Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $149
Accounting & finance managers & executives must demonstrate sound soft skills necessary for personal growth & organizational success. This course will provide insights into the most crtical personal skills critical for CFOs & Controllers: or those that want to be!
How to Audit Accounting Estimates
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
When auditing management's accounting estimates, increased professional skepticism is necessary as there is always the potential for bias in areas of increased subjectivity & complexity. This course will demonstrate procedures to test the process used by management to develop estimates, as well as walk through common examples of accounting estimates that are included in the financial statements. It includes the updated requirements in SAS 143. 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 Controllers role in ESG
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Online
1.50 Credits
Member Price: $79
As ever more jurisdictions move toward mandatory disclosure of ESG metrics, (ex: the European Union's new Corporate Sustainability Reporting directive & impending U.S. SEC requirements) the urgency to get those disclosures right has gone up. This course to as an introduction to the concept of requirements for Controllers & financial personnel to understand ESG disclosures .Whether the role related to ESG disclosures & information falls into the job responsibility of the controller or not is yet to be seen. However, it is clear the Controller must maintain some level of knowledge & expertise around the types & timing of such disclosures.
PowerPoint: Tips & Tricks for Today's Accountant
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
PowerPoint is a widely available resource that is potentially underutilized by accountants because many accountants do not stray beyond Excel & Word in the Microsoft Office suite. You will learn how to create & edit a professional PowerPoint slide deck. This session places particular emphasis on efficiency tips & tricks that will allow you to develop creative, professional visual aids while minimizing time & effort. The course's author will share personal insights he has cultivated throughout more than two decades of public speaking. Although the session will focus on creating & editing slides, we will illustrate best practices for presentation delivery. We will also explain how PowerPoint can be used for purposes other than delivering presentations.
Asset Misappropriation You Have It: They Want It
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Have you ever thought about stealing? If the answer is NO, then you need to find another profession because you will never be a successful fraud examiner/investigator or a financial auditor. To find fraud, you must first determine, given the opportunity through weak internal controls, how a person would steal. You have to say to yourself, given the opportunity that exists, how many ways could I take advantage of it? In other words, you must be able to think how you could steal & not be caught. So yes, to find fraud, you must first think about stealing. For a fraudster to be successful, they must make you think fraud is a legitimate transaction. They must make you think it is something that it is not. There are so many places where fraud can be hidden. It is up to you to evaluate where the risks of fraud are in an organization, then design effective investigative procedures to determine if someone took advantage of the opportunity. If they did not, how else may they have taken advantage of the opportunity? One must remember that one weakness in internal control may create several ways to take advantage of it & you must examine every such one. During this session, the many ways fraud can be hidden in asset misappropriations will be discussed. Remember, the number of ways is only limited by one's imagination.
Business Tax Update: OBBA & Recent Developments
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
A discussion of the latest tax developments impacting business taxpayers, with a focus on important provisions, rules and concepts. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Procurement Standards 2026: What You Need To Know
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Federal procurement requirements under the Uniform Guidance were significantly revised effective October 1, 2024, introducing new expectations for procurement methods, internal controls, contractor oversight & domestic sourcing preferences. This session will provide grant recipients & subrecipients with practical guidance on implementing compliant procurement procedures under 2 CFR SS200.317-200.327 & aligning procurement policies with updated federal standards & thresholds From the FAR. Attendees will learn how to strengthen procurement documentation, apply revised competition requirements & prepare for federal agency or Single Audit procurement system reviews. This session provides the regulatory application to develop your own SOP.
Strategic Use of Trump Accounts: Planning Opportunities for Tax Professionals
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
This course provides tax & accounting professionals with a focused overview of Trump Accounts & their practical application in client planning. Participants will examine eligibility requirements, contribution rules, tax treatment & reporting considerations. Through practical examples, the course emphasizes evaluating suitability, identifying planning opportunities & avoiding common compliance pitfalls when incorporating Trump Accounts into client strategies. 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
