WICPA CPE & Special Event Catalog
360 Budgeting: A Holistic Approach to Process & Solutions
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Online
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $250
The budgeting process can be a time consuming & frustrating process for accountants. The constraints & pressures can lead to poor decisions in both the technical & human components. This series will offer solutions to the budgeting woes From both the big picture & in the details. Budget Mastery: Process, Problems & Solutions The budgeting process can be a mundane one for accountants. Let's be realistic & agree that even the word "budget" does not bring excitement to you & your departmental colleagues. The constraints & pressures can lead to poor decisions in both the technical & human components. This session is the first part of a four part series & will cover the big picture of keeping the process fresh, pragmatic & useful. We discuss these keys in an engaging manner by discussing both our flaws & strengths, including how to build on these characteristics towards an enjoyable solutions-based method that should deliver effective results for your organization. Budget Mastery: Walkthroughs & Real World Calculations Towards Tying Budgets to Value This session takes a unique review of the fundamental budget issues faced by all & walks through a detailed modeling process intended to generate discussion & best practices to improve your organization's financial modeling. From the beginning of the accounting process: 'the chart of accounts' to the end of the process: 'the valuation of the company', the budgeting cycle via a live case model to learn best practices common to successful companies. This course stands on its own but is part two of a four part budget mastery series. Budget Mastery: The Human Side of Budgeting-Navigating People's issues with 360 Insight You have a fantastic budget, but certain players are not pleased. Financial plans have a technical component & human component. We can resolve some of our budget issues by exploring the process' human aspect. Understanding what makes you & others operate can enhance your understanding of the entire organization & build upon the respect & influence needed to navigate & lead the budgeting cycle. This session includes a case study that measures an individual's personality type & then explores how to use our strengths & weaknesses to create a better budget process & quite frankly maybe a better you. This is a great & fun course on its own, but is also part three of a four part series on budget mastery. Budget Mastery: From Numbers to Narrative: Effectively Presenting Your Budget & Reporting Perhaps the most important element of the budget process is its communication. If management does not understand the budget: there is an issue. Knowing the right ways to communicate at all levels is essential to stakeholders laying an ownership claim to successful budgets. This session reveals several key guidelines in successful budget presentations & will identify key problems in how people often communicate financial plans. Presenting your budget & reporting is the final part of a four part series, but can easily stand on its own course that is intended to be fun, enjoyable & educational.
Smarter Tax Services with Artificial Intelligence Tools
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
There has never been a greater opportunity to leverage technology tools to automate your tax services. This course will provide specific examples of how you can use AI (artificial intelligence) based tools to complement your tax planning, research and compliance services. You will learn how to leverage AI to automate the collection and organization of client data, the engagement management process, tax research and enhance client advisory services with AI too This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Common Deficiencies in Employee Benefit Plans
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Discover critical insights From the latest Department of Labor studies on employee benefit plan audits & tackle the pressing issue of audit deficiencies head-on. This course dives deep into the most common errors undermining audit quality & explores the underlying causes of these issues. Through practical strategies, engaging case studies & regulatory guidance, participants will learn how to close gaps in compliance, enhance audit execution & protect plan participants & beneficiaries. Whether you're an experienced auditor or new to benefit plan audits, this course will equip you with the tools needed to elevate audit quality & ensure regulatory compliance.
Becoming a Fractional CFO: What to Do & How?
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Are you considering becoming a fractional CFO, or possibly a public CPA firm or consulting practice that wants to offer fractional CFO services or advisory services? Either way, do you truly know what to do and how? Are you aware of the many pitfalls? Becoming a successful fractional CFO is complicated and it is not a trivial career change! Review the lessons learned from experienced fractional CFOs on how to enter, engage and run a thriving fractional CFO practice. Whether you are in public practice, a consultant, or in industry - be prepared for this as a possibility. Many fractional CFOs do not execute their practice as they could and that is why they are not very successful. This discussion includes over fifty (50) recommendations to strengthen your fractional CFO practice. What do clients typically need? Are you better as a solo practitioner or should you join a firm? How to manage the relationship(s)? Every effective organizations make plans and if you want a winning fractional CFO business, come join us and learn how. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Accounting for Leases
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Online
2.60 Credits
Member Price: $99
In February 2016, FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which provides new guidelines that change the accounting for leasing arrangements. To be able to properly account for leases, financial professionals must understand ASU 2016-02 (also referred to as Topic 842). This guidance covers information on how leases should be accounted for. The previous leasing standard (ASC 840) had been in existence for almost 40 years. Under ASC Topic 842, lessors continue to classify leases as operating, direct financing, or sales-type. While lessees now classify leases as operating or financing leases. Previous guidance only required capital leases to be reflected on the BS. The new guidance requires all leases to be reflected on the BS. This is a major change for organizations & will cause their balance sheets to swell as leases must now be disclosed on the balance sheet. The standards original effective dates were prior to 2019. In April 2020, due to COVID-19, FASB voted to defer the effective date for ASC 842 for private companies & certain not-for-profit's for one year. For private companies & private not-for-profits, the leasing standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021 & interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. For public companies the leasing standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The course covers elements of lease classification for both lessees & lessors. Also, numerous examples are incorporated as reference.
Compilation, Preparation & Review Basics & Peer Reviews
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Cover the basic requirements for performing preparation, compilation and review engagements under Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services (SSARS), including the new SSARS No. 25, Materiality in a Review of Financial Statements and Adverse Conclusions. Review common issues found on SSARS engagements in connection with peer reviews and the impact of various findings on the results of a peer review. Identify key issues to consider during SSARS engagements and determine how to incorporate quality control recommendations and tips for performing high-quality SSARS engagements. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event
Individual Tax Update: OBBA & Recent Developments
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
A discussion of the latest tax developments impacting individual 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.
White-Collar Crime: What Every CPA Should Know
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
According to the FBI, "white-collar crime is ... synonymous with the full range of frauds committed by business & government professionals ... characterized by deceit, concealment, or violation of trust .... The motivation behind these crimes is financial-- to obtain or avoid losing money, property, or services or to secure a personal or business advantage." CPAs can & should play a crucial role in preventing & detecting white-collar crime, as well as in prosecuting the perpetrators. This session will explore whether we are up to this challenge, heighten awareness regarding the CPA's role as a front-line defender of the public interest & assess whether we are deserving of the public trust we enjoy.
Leading Up: The Superpower Every Ascending Leader Needs
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Most leadership training focuses on leading downstream, with the goal of eventually advancing to an executive role. Few people get to be "top dog" in their organization. So, nearly every worker will spend their entire career leading up, even while serving in a leadership role. Learn the skills & tactics needed to develop an effective working relationship with your boss & other superiors. Gain the credibility & support necessary to get things done & advance professionally.
About the TIGTA: Who Watches the IRS?
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
This course will provide an overview of the work and impact of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) on the US tax system, regulatory ethics and accounting profession. TIGTA is an independent organization that provides oversight of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and conducts audits, investigations and inspections and evaluations to promote integrity, economy and efficiency in the administration of the nation's tax system. The course will explore the role of TIGTA in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the IRS, identifying opportunities to improve the administration of tax laws and upholding ethical standards in the accounting profession. 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.
How to Audit Cash
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Cash is essential to every business and is often one of the first accounts audit staff are exposed to. This course will cover the basics of auditing cash, including the related audit assertions, risks, & threats to the cash balance. 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.
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.
Enact Retaliation Abatement & Monitoring Measures
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $39
Once an employee decides to report an issue, the risk for retaliation must be minimized. Metrics matter. As such, capturing & reviewing employee data for indicators of possible retaliation are key to protecting those who report. The more subtle forms of retaliation, though, require a focused communication plan to address. This course offers recommendations for implementing specific retaliation monitoring protocols.Note: This course qualifies to count toward the WICPA membership Ethics CPE requirement.
State Tax Nexus: Frequently Awkward Questions
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Award winning discussion leader Mark Hugh discusses both nexus basics & new developments in the dynamic, ever changing world of state income & sales tax nexus. This valuable course answers your frequently asked questions, reviews key factors in examining potential nexus consequences, takes a tour through the rules in states comprising 50% of the US & identifies free, online multistate resources. 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
Qualified Business Income (QBI) Deduction (199A): The Ins & Outs
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Online
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $300
The Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (TCJA) was a major overhaul of our tax system that lowered the income tax rates for individual & corporate taxpayers & introduced the new 20% qualified business income (QBI) deduction for sole proprietors & pass-through entities. The cornerstone of this course is the comprehensive discussion of the 20% QBI deduction final regulations under IRC 199A. 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
Introduction to Yellow Book
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Performing engagements in accordance with Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS), commonly referred to as the "Yellow Book," involves additional reporting, ethics & performance requirements that go beyond those outlined in AICPA Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS). This course provides an overview of the guidance found in the Yellow Book & explores its relationship with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct. Participants will gain an understanding of the unique CPE requirements for GAGAS engagements & review the Yellow Book standards for financial statement audits, with a focus on ethical principles & independence. This course is designed to equip professionals with the foundational knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of Yellow Book engagements effectively.
Overcome Your Obstacles to Abundance
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Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $149
Getting rich requires many things. First, you need to know how to overcome previous limitations you may have had about making a lot of money. Second, you need to know & use the best financial strategies for becoming wealthy--including the latest investment & marketing strategies. And third, you need to be able to enjoy your lifestyle & look at what obstacles get in the way of you being rich & fully contented. By exploring the latest methods for achieving financial & personal success, you'll be able to make a lot more money & have a great time doing it.
Promote Internal Whistleblowing & Succeed in Creating a Strong Speak Up Culture
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $39
The Department of Justice updated guidance regarding their evaluations of Corporate Compliance Programs in March 2023: "Prosecutors should assess whether the company's complaint-handling process includes proactive measures to create a workplace atmosphere without fear of retaliation, appropriate processes for the submission of complaints & processes to protect whistleblowers." This course offers recommendations for employers to consider when developing or augmenting an internal complaint handling process. Organizations benefit when whistleblowers trust the process & choose to promptly report their concerns internally. The measures offered promote a strong speak up culture & align with the Department of Justice's guidance.Note: This course qualifies to count toward the WICPA membership Ethics CPE requirement.
Fraud & Financial Distortion: What May Be Hiding Behind the Numbers
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Financial statements are intended to communicate the financial condition of an organization, but the numbers themselves are only a translation of underlying business operations. When financial professionals focus solely on the accounting presentation without understanding the operational realities behind those numbers, significant risks, distortions, or even fraud can go undetected. This course explores how CPAs, auditors, controllers & financial analysts can apply operational thinking when reviewing financial information. Participants will learn how to translate financial results back into operational language & evaluate whether a business model is plausible. Through practical examples & real-world case studies, the program highlights warning signs that may indicate financial distortion or misrepresentation. The session equips participants with practical questions & analytical tools to help identify what may be hiding behind seemingly reasonable financial statements.
CFO Series: Driving Efficiency
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Online
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $369
This event is a rebroadcast of a live event.The CFO Series provides a convenient, one-stop way for CFOs and those who aspire to be CFOs, to earn an entire year of CPE with a single decision. Each day consists of a subject matter expert leading discussions about four different topics. The CFO Series features high-quality presentations and an interactive, executive level colleague-to-colleague approach with case studies, group discussions, and team exercises. "It's the little things that matter." We are so busy that we sometimes fail to do the fundamental duties as well as we should. How can we get more out of every audit, reduce the pressure, and streamline the process? What lessons can we learn from diabolical and brazen fraud activities? We need to re-examine our internal controls so they will be effective today and will scale to remain effective in the future. Even the Statement of Cash Flows can be made much more effective -- we will show you how. These 'little things' can and do have an outsized impact. We will review today's best practices. We can all learn from the mistakes made by others so we will be even more efficient. Module 1: Audit Survival Toolkit: Tactics to Reduce Stress and Get Through Audits with ConfidenceIf the word "audit" makes your team groan -- you are not alone. Whether it is an internal review, a regulatory exam, or a full-blown financial audit, most finance and accounting teams face scrutiny from multiple directions. This seminar helps participants understand what auditors are really looking for, how to align your goals with theirs, and what you can do to make the audit process smoother, less stressful, and more productive? You will learn what to expect during each phase of the audit -- planning, fieldwork, and reporting --and walk away with practical strategies to improve your communication, documentation, and overall preparedness. Whether you are supporting an external audit, prepping for compliance testing, or working with internal auditors, this session will help your team respond with clarity, confidence, and professionalism. We will show you how to streamline the audit process -- so it is easier for you and for the auditors which saves time and money. Module 2: Internal Controls That Matter: Protection with Simple, Smart, and Scalable PracticesInternal controls don't have to be complicated -- but they must be effective and intentional. In many organizations, especially small to mid-sized ones, internal controls are informal or incomplete, exposing teams to unnecessary risk. This discussion helps finance and accounting professionals understand what internal controls really are, why they matter, and how to build systems that actually work - without overwhelming your people or processes. We'll discuss how to design, implement, and monitor core controls -- across financial reporting, operations, and compliance -- using real-world examples that scale to fit your organization. Whether you're starting from scratch or tightening what’s already there, this seminar will help you put the right checks and balances in place to protect your resources, your people, and your reputation.Module 3: Cash Flow Clarity: Effectively Communicate Cash Flows to Drive Better DecisionsThe cash flow statement is one of the most confusing financial reports -- yet it has the potential to deliver the essential keys to understand business performance. After all, cash is still both king and queen! This session explores how to present, interpret, and communicate cash flows effectively to help CEOs, boards, and decision-makers drive smarter results. By using the Sources and Uses format, professionals can make the statement more intuitive and actionable. Learn how to simplify cash flow information and focus discussions on what matters most: how cash is generated and deployed? We will demonstrate how to confidently present this powerful financial statement to non-financial leaders. The cash flow statement is misunderstood, and we will show you how to fix that.Module 4: Amazingly Crazy Fraud Cases - Fraud So Wild It Shouldn't Be RealSome fraud cases are so unbelievable, they sound like Hollywood scripts, but they are all real and we can learn a lot from them. In this fast-paced, story-driven discussion, we will review some outrageous fraud cases -- from forged financials and luxury lifestyles to deepfakes and fake companies that fooled the smartest people in the room. You will hear the stories, spot the red flags, and walk away with practical takeaways to help you strengthen your professional skepticism, identify fraud warning signs, and build a better fraud prevention mindset. If you enjoy a relevant story with a side of financial insight -- you’re in the right place. We all can learn valuable lessons from these outrageous and real frauds.
