CPE Catalog & Events

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:The role of methods of proof in forensic accounting.The various types of methods of proof approved by the courts.The weakness and strengths of the methods of proof.The formulas in calculating methods of proof.Applying the formulas in various circumstances.

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Key changes to audit report elements intended to improve the understandability of the nature and results of financial statement auditsEnhanced required by-product communications with management and those charged with governance to promote more reliable financial statementsClarifications related to obtaining sufficient and appropriate audit evidence, including significant unusual transactions, related parties, going concern uncertainty, and accounting estimatesNew definitions and requirements related to identifying and evaluating risks of material misstatementOther important matters contained in recent SASs 

The major topics covered in this course include:Underlying concepts of internal controlDefining where and why controls, policies and procedures are neededLegacy control measures that are still important for businesses todayCreating control measures that address the use and protection of technology

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Round robin review of lesser known M365 appsReduce / eliminate internal email communications with Teams and SharePointCollaborate on spreadsheet and documents with your colleagues in real timeGet control of your appointment schedule with the Bookings appTap the full potential of OneNote as your primary repository for notes, correspondence and moreReplace email attachments with secure file sharing linksDocument business processes with the Stream appLeverage the power of AI in M365 with Copilot

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:The role of financial reporting for a myriad of usersFundamentals conceptsSpecial Purpose FrameworksFinancial statement analysisCross-functional collaboration

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Decision Making TheoryCompensation & Employee SatisfactionWhat benefits do employees care about?Retirement Plan BasicsHealth Insurance BasicsDisability Insurance BasicsLife Insurance BasicsFringe BenefitsSumming It Up

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:The foundation of auditing PP&E, including the related audit assertions, risks, & threats to the PP&E balance.The various substantive auditing procedures that staff should perform.Real world auditing examples.

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:The urgency of leading change now & the steps in leading changeThe power of crafting a vision that encourages buy-inThe art and science of building strong partnershipsAccelerating change through relationship networksCommunication strategies for changeEstablishing a feedback culture for successful changeManaging self in times of changeCase studies and real-world scenarios

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Subchapter S status election and compliance requirementsRelief for late Form 2553 filings under Rev. Proc. 2022-19Comparison of Rev. Proc. 2022-19 and Rev. Proc. 2023-3I.R.C. §1361 and §1362 analysis for S Corporation electionsCorporate governance and formalities complianceShareholder stock and debt basis rulesBuilt-in capital gains and other aspects of Form 1120SSchedules K-1, K-2, and K-3 preparation and reporting requirementsOfficer reasonable compensation: requirements, advisory strategies, and audit defensesS Corporation eligibility errors and corrective measures

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:The five clear signals that teamwork is brokenThe pervasive myths about teamsWhy conflict is necessary for effective teamsWhy winning teams are built on and depend on trustThe value of assessments and diversityYour fifteen-step action plan to build trust and enhance teamworkRetaining your best talentThe essential steps leaders must take to enable teamwork to flourish

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:All times listed are Eastern Time ZoneWeek 1: CFO Series: Build Your Team, Cohesive Teams That Get ResultsCPE: 2Field of Study: Business Management & OrganizationDiscussion Leader: Don Minges, MBADate: Friday, November 6, 11:00 amDescription: Teamwork is the ultimate competitive advantage, both because it is so powerful and so rare. Why do some teams produce and win, while others fail? What do great team leaders do that make their team a success? Whether you run the executive staff of a multinational company, a small department within a large organization, or even if you are a team member in a small team that needs improvement, we will share proven techniques to enhance teamwork. The best leaders are unselfish and put the team first. It is not complicated to build a team, but it takes effort, and we will show you how. Week 2: CFO Series: Diversification: Risky or Risk Averse Strategy?CPE: 2Field of Study: AuditingDiscussion Leader: Brian Maturi, MBA, FCA & Don Minges, MBADate: Friday, November 13, 11:00 amDescription: Some believe that diversification is a proven method to reduce risk, but - does diversification actually increase risk? The intention for diversification is critical. Most organizations misuse diversification and the blunders have been staggering. What lessons can we learn? How can diversification be implemented to achieve the intended goals? One key is to use a holistic approach, which we will elaborate and explain. Only then will diversification be advantageous. Leaders, the Board, auditors and team members must be aware of the myriad issues of diversification. Done right - diversification is a boon. We will explain what to do, how to do it properly, and what not to do! Week 3: CFO Series: Storytelling Your Financials for ImpactCPE: 2Field of Study: Accounting and Business Management & OrganizationDiscussion Leader: Robert Mims, CPADate: Friday, November 20, 11:00 amDescription: Data alone doesn't drive decisions, stories do. Financial professionals must go beyond spreadsheets and craft compelling financial narratives that engage boards, CEOs, and team members. Using real-world examples, we'll demonstrate how to frame financial results within a broader business story, drawing insights and communicating tangible meaning instead of just displaying boring numbers. Learn how to shift from "presenting financials" to telling a story that aligns with strategic goals, inspires confidence, and drives action. This session equips attendees with the tools to turn financial statements into strategic storytelling assets. Our clients do not recall numbers, but they do remember stories. Stories are memorable, we will show you how to use them. Week 4: CFO Series: Raising Capital the Most Crucial Responsibility!CPE: 2Field of Study: FinanceDiscussion Leader: Don Minges, MBADate: Friday, November 27, 11:00 amDescription: The most essential challenge for any organization is to raise capital. No financing means no employees, no internet, and no bank account, meaning there is no organization. Raising financing provides the lifeblood, a must-do for every CEO and CFO. How do you raise funds to finance an organization? What are the alternatives in addition to debt or equity? What are the pros and cons of each? We will discuss what to do and how to do it in detail. It is vital to accept that those who consider investing their money want something in return. The riskier the investment, the higher the cost. To be successful at raising financing, you must plan extensively, have multiple alternatives, and consider the transaction from the investor's perspective. Raising financing is a challenge, but we will show you how to assess the alternatives to suit the individual organization. Raising capital is tricky and grueling, but we will show you a proven process. Whether you are the CEO, CFO, Board member, accountant, consultant, or advisor, this seminar will help you understand what to consider when raising financing and how to do it.

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:The shift from volume to precision hiringWhy firms are moving to targeted, competency-based hiringTalent market impacts and competitive hiring realitiesAI in recruiting: practical use cases and implicationsWhere AI tools commonly support hiring workflowsBenefits and limitations of AI-enabled screening and assessmentThe skills mismatch in accounting hiringWhy critical thinking and professional communication gaps persistWhy traditional hiring methods miss these competenciesThe new competency hierarchy for high performersDefining and prioritizing the competencies that drive resultsAI ethics awareness and professional judgment in an AI-enabled workplaceAssessment methods for precision hiringStructured behavioral interviewing and scoring rubricsWork simulations, case presentations, and client scenariosUsing AI-enabled assessments responsibly and consistentlyMetrics and ROI: evaluating successQuality-of-hire measures (performance, ramp time, manager satisfaction)Retention and turnover measuresEfficiency measures (time-to-fill, cost-to-fill) and how to balance themImplementation roadmapA phased approach to adopting precision hiring (foundation → expansion → optimization)– Building governance, documentation, and consistency for scalability

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Do you have what it takes to be a successful fractional CFO?Should you be a solo practitioner or join a larger firm?  1099 versus W2?What skills are needed to be successful?Sales, marketing, etc.What are some of the ‘red flags’?Typical assignments and issues a fractional CFO will likely encounterThe greatest opportunity for fractional CFOs?Understanding your value

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Recent legislation impacting business taxpayersThe One Big Beautiful Bill ActExtenders legislation updateMeals and entertainment expense reportingPartnership and S corporation updateIncome and deductions

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Introduction to Prompt Engineering: Basics of structuring effective prompts for meaningful AI responses.Understanding AI's "Lazy" Defaults: Why LLMs provide basic answers and how to push them to deliver richer insights.Multi-Layered Prompting: Techniques to encourage AI to provide responses across beginner to expert levels.Candid and Contrarian Responses: Using prompts that elicit honest and balanced insights, even on controversial topics.Ripple Effect and Cobra Effect: Probing the broader impacts and unintended consequences of financial decisions.Avoid Stupidity Checklist: A practical prompt for reducing mistakes in AI-assisted accounting tasks.Role-Based Perspective Prompts: Crafting prompts that guide AI to respond from specific professional viewpoints.Automation Ideas: Leveraging AI to optimize repetitive accounting tasks.Emotion-Driven Prompting: Exploring how emotion-focused prompts can enhance AI performance and engagement.Practical Applications in Accounting: How to apply prompt engineering in real-world financial analysis and decision-making.

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Required minimum distributions for a deceased’s heirs2025 retirement plan contribution limitsRequired minimum distributions and contributions to charityKey provisions of Secure Act 2.0

The major topics covered in this course include:Preparation of the statement of cash flowsImportance of identifying sources and uses of cash in financial reportingFinancial statement analysisCash-related financial statement disclosures

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Introduction to Forensic Accounting: Gain an understanding of the fundamentals, roles, and responsibilities of forensic accountants in uncovering financial discrepancies, fraud, and economic damages.Maintain Ethical Integrity: Learn the importance of ethics in forensic accounting and strategies for ethical decision-making.Expert Report Preparation: Learn the essential components, best practices, and common pitfalls in writing clear, concise, and objective expert reports for legal proceedings.Investigation Report Writing: Explore the methodologies for conducting investigations, gathering evidence, and crafting thorough and accurate investigation reports.Economic Damages Writing: Understand the methodologies and best practices for calculating economic damages, including lost profits, business valuation, and other financial impacts.Reviewing Investigation Reports and Economic Damages: Analyze real-world examples to review and critique investigation reports and damage calculations, highlighting key insights and lessons learned.

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Introduction to Strategic Formula Use:Why choosing the right formula matters: clarity, performance, and maintenanceCommon traps: overusing IF, defaulting to familiar tools, ignoring modern functionsHow Excel offers multiple ways to solve the same problem and how to pick wiselyConditional Logic and Branching Tools:IFS vs SWITCH vs nested IF: comparing readability and structureWhen to simplify logic and how to avoid nested nightmaresSummarizing Data:SUMIFS vs SUMPRODUCT: multiple conditions, weighted sums, totalsFiltering and Output Control:FILTER vs IF + INDEX: dynamic data extraction with vs without Excel 365Trade-offs in backward compatibility and ease of useCustom Output and Decision Trees:CHOOSE vs SWITCH vs LOOKUP: logic trees and category mappingEmbedded Variables and Reusability:LET vs named ranges: clarity and efficiency for long formulasUsing LAMBDA with LET to create custom functionsSimplifying and documenting complex calculationsBest Practices for Formula Selection:Criteria for deciding: readability, flexibility, future maintenanceTips for avoiding overengineering and formula bloat

The major topics covered in this class include:An explanation of Artificial Intelligence (AI).Specific ways AI is replacing human cognition. What is on the internal control horizon related to AI and other technologies.