WICPA CPE & Special Event Catalog
Preparing to be a Forensic Accountant: Focus on Computer Forensics: Part III (Steganography)
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Online
1.60 Credits
Member Price: $79
This course is a complement to our series on Becoming a Forensic Accountant & the focus of the course is on steganography techniques. Steganography is the art & science of embedding secret messages in a cover message in such a way that no one, apart From the sender & intended recipient, suspects the existence of the message. The first use of steganography can be traced to 440 BC when ancient Greece, people wrote messages on wood & covered it with wax, that acted as a covering medium Romans used forms of Invisible Inks, to decipher those hidden messages light or heat were used. During World War II the Germans introduced microdots, which were complete documents, pictures & plans reduced in size to the size of a dot & were attached to normal paperwork. Null Ciphers were also used to hide unencrypted secret messages in an innocent looking message. Given the amount of data being generated & transmitted electronically, it's no surprise that numerous methods of protecting that data have evolved. There are various types of steganography: Text Steganography: Hiding information inside the text files. This involves changing format of existing text, changing words in a text, generating random character sequences or using context-free grammars to generate readable texts. Image Steganography: Process of hiding text in an image without distorting the picture. Video Steganography: Technique to hide any kind of files into a cover video file. Audio Steganography: The secret message is embedded into an audio signal which alters the binary sequence of the corresponding audio file. Network Steganography: The process of utilizing active network protocols as carriers to transmit a covert message, undetectable by an uninformed party, From a host to its destination. This session will review these methods & also discuss relevant software.
Failure to Detect Fraud & the Reasons Why
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
SAS 122, AU 240, Consideration of Fraud in A Financial Audit state that auditors fail to detect fraud for two reasons. One, they haven't been trained to look for it & two, they don't know what it looks like. I would like to add a third reason: they don't want to find fraud because it causes problems for the audit. This session is designed to familiarize auditors with the many faces of fraud; where & how to look for them & what to do if you think you have found fraud. Not everyone is able to recognize fraud. During this program, the attributes a fraud auditor (frauditor) will be discussed. In order to recognize fraud, an auditor must understand their client's operation. What is an indicator in one client's operation may be business as usual in another & you have to know the difference. After viewing this program, chances are you will never look at your client the same way!
Current Fraud Trends: Nonprofit & Government Entities
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Nonprofit entities & governmental entities have a high degree of public accountability. This course will examine the most common fraud schemes & provide multiple examples of how to prevent or detect these schemes.
The Controllership Series: The Treasury Function Part I: Cash & Investing
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
This course corresponds to our Controllership series. This course is dedicated to exploring the traditional controller role & stepping out of the box to identify areas where the controller can continue to add strategic value to their organizations. Within this segment of our controllership series, we discuss the area of cash & investments & explore how the controller can move these responsibilities into more of a strategic role. In today's world, the role of cash management is often a pivotal role in the organization. In economically difficult times, controllers may find that they spend a great deal of their time on understanding & managing the organizations' cash position. This is certainly important and, in some areas, can be seen as a staple of the lifeblood of the organization's ongoing viability. This course takes a look at some of the typical objectives involved in Cash management & then evaluates how those objectives can be further stretched into strategic pillars of the organization.
The Controllership Series: The Controller's Role in Digital Transformation
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Online
1.40 Credits
Member Price: $39
A controller's role in digital transformation is to act as a key facilitator in integrating new technologies within the finance function. This process moves beyond traditional accounting tasks to actively analyze data, provide insights based on financial information. This will ensure the smooth implementation of new systems that streamline financial operations, all while maintaining compliance & financial control within the organization. This course will introduce some of those topics & methods Controllers are beginning to turn to.
Preparing to be a Forensic Accountant: Focus on Digital Forensics
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Online
1.80 Credits
Member Price: $79
Forensic accounting, forensic accountancy or financial forensics is the specialty practice area of accounting that investigates whether firms engage in financial reporting misconduct. Forensic accountants apply a range of skills & methods to determine whether there has been financial reporting misconduct. Financial forensic engagements may fall into several categories. For example: Economic damages calculations, whether suffered through tort or breach of contract. Post-acquisition disputes such as earnouts or breaches of warranties Bankruptcy, insolvency & reorganization Securities & tax fraud Money laundering Business valuation Computer forensics/e-discovery This session is designed to delve into further investigative procedures used including digital forensics. Future sessions will focus on computer forensics, network forensics & mobile forensics.
Understanding the 4 W's in Budgeting: Who, What, When & Which?
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
This session introduces a structured approach to government budgeting using the four W's: Who, What, When & Which. Participants will explore WHO should be involved in the budgeting process, including internal teams & external stakeholders, while learning effective communication strategies to foster collaboration. The session examines WHAT the budgeting process entails, covering essential phases, components, legal requirements & common challenges. Attendees will also learn WHEN to engage the public through strategic planning, workshops & outreach initiatives. Finally, the session highlights WHICH departments play key roles, From financial planning to managing capital projects. By the end of this session, participants will have a comprehensive understanding of government budgeting & how to align financial planning with community priorities.
Preparing to be a Forensic Accountant: Cloud Forensics
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Online
1.40 Credits
Member Price: $79
Cloud computing has become a source of cyber-crime. "Cloud forensics is the application of digital forensics in cloud computing as a subset of network forensics to gather & preserve evidence in a way that is suitable for presentation in a court of law." Cloud forensics is a combination of the varied types of accounting forensics including:Digital forensics, Network forensics, Hardware forensics. In cloud crime, the cloud is considered the object when the target of the crime is the cloud service provider they are directly affected by the act. It is considered the subject of the crime when the criminal act is committed within the cloud environment. It is considered the tool when it is used to plan or conduct a crime. This course will delve into the many concepts involved in cloud forensics. The course complements other courses in the series of Becoming a Forensic Accountant.
Strategic Government Budgeting: Tools for Long-Term Sustainability
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $39
This course equips participants with the tools & strategies needed to create sustainable, long-term budgets that align with policy goals & ensure fiscal responsibility. Participants will explore key budgeting frameworks, learn techniques for forecasting revenue & expenditures & analyze scenarios to mitigate financial risks. The course incorporates practical exercises & case studies to provide hands-on experience with scenario planning, enhancing budget transparency & resilience. By the end of the session, attendees will have the knowledge & confidence to design & implement budgets that support long-term governmental priorities & strengthen financial stability.
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.
Preparing to be a Forensic Accountant: Focus on Document Review & Handwriting Analysis
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
Forensic accounting, forensic accountancy or financial forensics is the specialty practice area of accounting that investigates whether firms engage in financial reporting misconduct. Forensic accountants apply a range of skills & methods to determine whether there has been financial reporting misconduct. Financial forensic engagements may fall into several categories. Economic damages calculations, whether suffered through tort or breach of contract. Post-acquisition disputes such as earnouts or breaches of warranties Bankruptcy, insolvency & reorganization Securities & tax fraud Money laundering Business valuation Computer forensics/e-discovery This session is designed to delve a bit deeper into the world of forensic accounting & identify some of the specific areas of expertise required to become a forensic accountant. We will then first delve deeper into the art of document analysis & handwriting analysis.
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.
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.
Critical Technical Skills for CFOs & Controllers
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Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $149
Accounting & finance managers & executives must demonstrate sound technical & analytical necessary for personal growth & organizational success. This course will provide insights into the most critical technical & analytical skills needed by CFOs & Controllers: or those that want to be!
Yellow Book Ethics
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
The Yellow Book outlines essential ethical principles for governmental auditors, including serving the public interest, maintaining integrity, objectivity & professional behavior. This course provides a focused review of these key concepts & their practical application in governmental auditing. Participants will also explore the independence standards, gaining insights on maintaining objectivity & avoiding conflicts of interest to ensure unbiased & professional audits.Note: This course qualifies to count toward the WICPA membership Ethics CPE requirement.
K2’s NextGen Document Management, Workflows, And Portals
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
The next generation of paperless technology has arrived. This session explores how firms are modernizing document management, client collaboration & internal workflows using AI-enhanced systems & integrated portals. Learn how new-generation ("NextGen or NGX") paperless ecosystems combine security, automation & accessibility to streamline client communications & approvals. The session will review leading document management & workflow tools, portal features & how integration across accounting, tax & client service platforms drives productivity & compliance. Attendees will leave equipped to evaluate & implement modern document systems that enhance client experience while maintaining robust security & compliance controls.
K2’s Advanced Excel
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Online
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $250
Elevate your Excel expertise with K2's Advanced Excel program! This laptop-friendly course is designed for experienced Excel users who are ready to take their skills to the next level. In this session, you will master critical advanced Excel skills in six key areas: Collaborating seamlessly with other users & securing your workbooks, Utilizing tables to analyze & report data efficiently, Integrating & manipulating data From external sources with ease, Creating & auditing complex formulas, Harnessing advanced data analysis tools for deeper insights, Employing visualization techniques to communicate information effectively. Drawing From over thirty years of experience in delivering Excel training to accountants & business professionals, this program is packed with relevant, real-world examples that reinforce the topics presented. Don't miss this opportunity to become more efficient & proficient in Microsoft Excel, the go-to tool for accounting & financial professionals. This course covers advanced Excel topics that are essential for business success. Participate in this session to elevate & transform your Excel skills!
Ultimate Small Business HR Guide: Essential Tips for Success
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Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $39
As a small business owner or manager, navigating the complexities of HR can be challenging, but it's crucial for your company's success. This comprehensive webinar will provide you with practical, informative & encouraging tips to help you build a strong HR foundation for your small business. From recruitment strategies to employee retention, legal compliance to company culture, we'll cover all the essential aspects of HR that will contribute to your business's growth. Let's create a thriving workplace where both your business & your employees can flourish.
S Corporation Essentials: Review & Update
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Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $149
This program addresses the critical issues & special opportunities facing S-corporations, with a focus on reporting shareholder basis & distributions. 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
GASB 96 –SBITA, GASB 94 P3 & GASB 87 Leases (Year 2)
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Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
This is a 2 hour webcast that will focus on the similarities between all three of these GASB accounting standards that deal with contractual arrangements such as leases, Subscription-Based Information Technology Arrangements (SBITA) & P3s. Compare & contrast these standards as you prepare for implementation this year of GASB 94 & GASB 96 & review the implementation efforts of Leases in Year 2.
