CPE Catalog & Events

Updates to auditing and attestation standards Recently issued exposure drafts Current environment and implication for audit planning

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Limitations in roles and responsibilities an auditor can accept without impairing independenceAssessing the strength of your auditor's ability to think critically, strategically, and creatively in appropriate circumstancesEvaluating your auditor's time and project management stillsGrading your auditor's communication and interpersonal skills, in exceeding your expectations on an audit

AICPA Code of Professional Conduct Threats to compliance with Code of Ethics Updated Statement of Standards for Taxpayer Services (SSTS) Ethical challenges in selecting appropriate GAAP alternatives

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Purpose of Financial Statement AnalysisComparing Actuals vs. Expectations & BenchmarkingCase Studies 1 & 2Ratio AnalysisCase Study 3Analysis of Statement of Cash FlowsCase Studies 4 & 5Other Uses of Ratios

Learn how to qualify and to make the S corporation election Determine how to calculate initial and annual stock and debt basis amounts and the three reasons why they are maintained Understand the four loss limitation rules applied on the shareholder's individual income tax return (i.e., basis, at-risk, passive, and excess business loss limitations) Understand the proper tax treatment and reporting of a distribution from the S corporation to a shareholder Determine how to calculate AAA and OAA account for an S corporation as well as the 3 potential taxes Determine the impact of health insurance, the net investment income tax, qualified business income tax deduction and unreasonable compensation issues on the reporting function of the S corporation

An overview of control frameworks and concepts Strategy considerations that can be incorporated into control development Understanding and controlling risk that arises when organizations change or choose not to

Personal residence and vacation home advantages and traps Depreciation, credits, passive losses, qualified business income (QBI) Installment sales Involuntary conversions Like-kind exchanges Real estate investment trusts (REITs)

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Content - From generating content ideas to SEO research and creating content through its distribution we will look at tools to accomplish these goals efficiently and effectively.Lead Generation - Tools to determine the best offers and get them in front of the appropriate audiences.Lead Nurturing - Once you have a prospective client "raise their hand" virtually or physically, it is critical to design and implement campaigns and other tactics to keep them engaged and move them closer to being a client. We will cover this i-depth during the course.Sales - After you have a prospect ready to get to the next phase of the purchase journey, it is imperative to answer objections, explain the process of working with your firm and then close the sale. These tools will allow you to do this without an entire sales team!Onboarding - Once the prospect becomes a client leverage automation to make onboarding seamless, systematic and simple for your team.Referrals and Reviews - Instead of chasing clients for reviews or case studies, consider baking the ask right into your current or automated processes. This course will show you how!

The major topics covered in this course include:Defining primary personality style characteristicsDetermining your own primary personality style and the style of othersEffectively adapting for improving interactions with various personality stylesLeveraging strengths and minimizing the negative impact of personality weaknessesApplying personality style analysis to real-life situations involving clients, staff, peers and superiors

The difficult trade-offs in making choices. Functioning in the ‘gray’ areas. The value of trust. How lack of accountability can lead to ethical issues.

Budget defining, Budget cultures Tacticle budget issues Ideas for budget solutions and process solutions Understanding people in the budget process Communicating your budget to non financial types

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:What Excel Tables are and why they are importantLearn how to create Excel Tables from scratchMaster the art of sorting and filtering data within Excel tables to quickly identify patterns, trends, and outliersLearn how Excel Tables uses structured reference formulas to create accurate calculationsHow Excel Tables increase spreadsheet creation productivity

Communicate more powerfully with clients and other CPA's by understanding human behavior • How to judge if your communication is effective in motivating someone • How to get someone to really hear you and how to really hear what someone else is “not saying.” • How to communicate so that someone will happily do what you want How to create trust and get people to like working with you – inside and outside the firm • The 3 most important keys for getting someone to feel rapport with you • Why rapport is so important, and how to use it to profit in your work • How to quickly solve problems with people once you have their rapport Secret techniques that super-successful communicators use • How to persuade people without them knowing they are being persuaded • How Ronald Reagan, Oprah and Bill Clinton are similar, and how you can tap into their "magical abilities." • The three most important keys all successful communicators use How outstanding service can lead to more promotions and/or client development • The art of getting more referrals and turning referrals into clients • Why great service is better for your business in the long run • How to know what’s most important to your client or boss—so you can focus on that

The Rise of Business Intelligence (BI), Business Analytics (BA), and Big Data Why the interest in BI and BA? The analytics continuum How BA can provide a competitive advantage The difference between BI and BA The difference between forecasting and predictive analytics Fundamentals of analytical techniques Examples for the CFO and accounting function Benefits from applying analytics The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the accounting profession

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Understanding ethicsAvailable tools to aid in ethical decision makingThe role of bias in making ethical decisionsApplication through case studies

The impact of recent legislation on the construction industry How to qualify for the “small contractor exemption” and its advantages to the taxpayer Options available to the “small” contractor regarding taxation of long-term contracts How the choice of entity impacts taxation of contractors How AMT impacts the construction industry IRC §460 and “large” contractors How “uninstalled materials” impact taxation of contractors How the “look-back” rules impact contractors How the “10 percent method” can allow certain contractors to defer recognizing taxable income Critical tax planning strategies for contractors

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Why Advanced Search Skills Are So Critical for AccountantsWhy You Need More than Google to Search the InternetGARP: Generally Accepted Research PrinciplesAlternatives to GoogleAdvisory SearchSocial SearchSpecialty searchSearch Engine resourcesWhat's Ahead in Search

The major topics that will be covered in this class include: Why a Needs Assessment is the first step in deciding which software is best for your client and how to complete oneWhat are the questions to ask your client that will also assist in determining which is better - QuickBooks Desktop or QuickBooks OnlineA deep dive into the features of each version such as User Permissions, Bank Feed differences, Sales Tax, Reporting, as well as pricing comparisonsThe challenges of converting between versionsA look at what's new for 2020 in both Desktop and Online

Each week’s topics will change based on the most critical issues affecting financial professionals

Intentions versus results. Is using the ‘Threats Based Approach’ always the best? What is, “The clean hands rule,” and how does it apply to Ethics? Situations where Ethics is not black-and-white.