CPE Catalog & Events

Recently issued FASB Accounting Standards Updates, PCC Update and items on the FASB’s Technical Agenda Leases – Topic 842 Recently issued ASUs covering common control leases, crypto assets (e.g., cryptocurrency), and income tax disclosures ASC 326: CECL Review of SAS 142 – Focus on Audit Evidence Recently issued SASs and other AICPA activity SSARS No. 25 and other recently issued SSARS Detailed review of SAS 145 Other important A&A practice matters

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.

What are AI tools? Where are we with AI tool development? What is ChatGPT? ChatGPT – what kind of queries are possible? Copyright and intellectual property issues Benefits of AI tools Concerns with AI tools Impact on business use of AI Policy on AI tools

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Target profit and Break-even analysis.Relevant costs and decision-making.Standard costs and variances.Activity-based costing.Segment reporting and analysis.Budgeting.

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

The major topics covered in this course include:Overview of the OneDrive Sync app functionalityStep-by-step review and demonstration of how to deploy this appInstalling the Sync app on your local devicesConfiguring the files and folders to synchronize toy your local deviceManage the locally stored filesBest practice tips for using the Sync app and avoiding common mistakes

Examine the CPA's role in today's economy Compare similarities and differences between individual and business ethics Explore the link between ethics, integrity and scruples Discuss the basic attributes of ethics and professional conduct Review the history of the CPA profession and the CPA's requirement to adhere to ethics policies and codes of conduct Review the AICPA's Code of Professional Conduct and a CPA's responsibilities to the public, clients and colleagues Discuss the common rules and statutes faced daily in the CPA profession. Case studies may also be utilized to present potential ethical dilemmas CPAs may face during their careers Review CPA Independence violations by current legal case examples

Gain exclusion and tax-free reorganization planning Gain exclusion with sales of C corporation stock – Section 1202 Deferral of gain with installment reporting Gain planning with partnerships Basis planning – basis step-up at death, gifts of interests to family Restructuring the business entity – C vs. S corporation, partnerships, LLCs Real estate planning – retention vs sales, like-kind exchanges Employee stock ownership plans – special tax incentives Employee benefit planning with ownership change Taxes other than the federal income tax – state tax, estate, gift and generation-skipping taxes, and property taxes Prospects for tax law change

Action steps in 706 preparation engagement Filing requirements, new forms, IRS return review procedures, closing letters Obtaining transcripts and previously filed returns Completing introductory pages 1 4 Worksheets provided: Summary of Estate Plan Summary of Estate and Subtrust Funding; Beneficiary Allocation Schedule

New rules in the accounting arena SQMS NOCLAR rules Cybersecurity New Audit Standards

Economic update Leadership and management changes as a result of the pandemic Managing for productivity Metrics and benchmarking Social media's place in our organizations

Explanation of legislation enacted in 2025 along with reminders for 2024 from legislation of recent years California tax law changes Income inclusions, exclusions and deductions Property transaction updates Passive activities, hobbies and other losses Guidance and planning on energy credits Significant IRS developments affecting practice and compliance procedures California's major developments for individuals and conformity to federal law changes for 2025 Filing status, credits and retirement plan developments Expired and expiring provisions Inflation adjustments for 2026 Due diligence and planning reminder

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Technology Hot Topics for Audits.Accounting Standard UpdatesProjects identified by the FASB's Invitation to Comment: Agenda Consultation.Year 2 considerations for leases including modification accounting.The impact of the changes to auditing group auditsThe status of the AICPA's quality management project management.The current work of the ASB. 

Comprehensive coverage of the Inflation Reduction Act, including: The Clean Vehicle Credit, Credit for Previously Owned Clean Vehicles, Credit for Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicles, Residential Clean Energy Credit, Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, Premium Tax Credit, Elective Payment, Transferability, and Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship Requirements Comprehensive coverage of the SECURE 2.0 Act, including: Expanding Enrollment in Retirement Plans, Increase in Age for Required Beginning Date for Mandatory Distributions, New Exceptions to Penalty-Free Withdrawal from Retirement Plans, and recent IRS guidance Timely coverage of breaking tax legislation Detailed analysis and examples of Sale of Passthrough Entity Interest and Net Investment Income Tax The Gig Economy -- Tax implications, Independent Contractor vs. Employee Classification, and the 2024 DOL Final Rule Real Estate professional requirements Review of pertinent cases and rulings affecting taxpayers Practice aids, including all the numbers applicable for the current year -- inflation-adjusted amounts, mileage rates, retirement contributions, and more Advanced practice, reporting, and other issues intertwined with advanced planning and discussion ideas

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:A review of the various lookup functions, beyond VLOOKUPLearn which lookup works best for your situationHow to apply the many lookup functionsDiscover advanced lookup techniques like nested lookups, approximate matching, and handling errors effectivelyAn in-depth review of the following functions:VLOOKUP / HLOOKUPXLOOKUPMATCH / INDEXXMATCHINDIRECTFILTERSORT / SORTBYUNIQUEAn overview of some newer functions

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:How Inspirational leadership is the foundation that ethically drives results.Simplify the complex: Walk through the Results Model and discover practical how-to examples of execution.Hacks for getting great results with specific examples you can leverage in your business:The How: Empower your people to feel like an owner, managing difficult conversations well, leading with empathy and what that looks like, how it should feel, motivational coaching techniques to get your employee relationships back on track, and unleashing the power of appreciation and gratitude.The What: Powerful score-carding, transformational goal-setting conversations, and positive accountable follow- up.

Definition of data analytics and big data; challenges and goals; establishing an environment for success; governance; common uses of analytics and current examples Behavioral forces that impact decisions; examples of inaccurate forecasts; identifying strategic measurements (KPIs); data sources Statistical tools, including median, mode, moving average, ratio analysis, Pareto analysis, trend analysis, regression, z-score, and simulation Software tools that are readily available and can assist in visually exploring data, expanding the scope of available data, as well as collecting, analyzing, and presenting results Specific ideas for using data analytics for accountants and financial managers, including current examples and areas for further consideration Lists of readings and next-level software for a participant’s future reference

Benefits of an HSA How an employer sets up an HSA How individuals qualify to set up an HSA High deductible health plans and how they relate to an HSA Eligible medical expenditures Annual contributions to an HSA Importance of enrollment in Medicare Qualified HSA funding distribution

Making an S corporation election and late filing relief Disproportionate distributions Selling S corporation shares Redemption rules

Review an error-prone "staff-prepared" Form 1040 from client-provided information. Where do you start? Get to know your client and ask the questions Several new reporting issues for the reviewer to consider, including the main credit provisions as enacted under the American Rescue Plan What are common errors preparers make and what are the areas generating malpractice claims? The importance of engagement letters, questionnaires, and §7216 permission statement Initial administrative groundwork Identifying organizing issues in the tax return to be reviewed Avoiding “willful blindness.” Handling ethical and moral dilemmas Efficient review of certain advanced issues for income, adjustments, deductions, and credits Effective procedures for delinquent clients, filing past-due tax returns First-time client issues requiring extra scrutiny Multiple checklists of efficient procedures to identify potential issues on a 1040 return Listing of schedules for staff to prepare to make a review easier, including basis issues for 1040 clients Reconciling time pressure with thoroughness and quality control Professionals acting professionally