CPE Catalog & Events

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Discussion of the impact of the Section 174 law change requiring capitalization of research and experimental costs.Comparison of the Section 41 R&E credit to the Section 174 R&E deduction.Financial accounting for R&E costs.Required change of accounting method and Form 3115.Revised treatment of software development costs.Comprehensive case problems explaining implementation of the law changes.

Update on significant business tax developments related to cases and rulings Business provisions of any recent legislation impacting business entities Depreciation changes in Sec. 179 and Sec. 168(k) bonus depreciation Recent developments impacting partnership and S corporations, including any changes to Forms 1065 and 1120S

What is a lease? Recognition and measurement of lease assets and liabilities Impact on lessors and lessees Disclosures and transition rules Effective dates

Team dynamics Influence Organizational behavior Leadership

Languages of appreciation Appreciation strategies

Employee Relations Culture Leadership Employee Retention

Analysis of upcoming trends and anticipated shifts in estate planning practices Review of legislative updates affecting estate planning strategies Advanced techniques for minimizing estate taxes and maximizing wealth transfer efficiency Integration of digital assets and technology into estate planning frameworks Consideration of unique challenges presented by blended families, same-sex marriages, and non-traditional relationships

The role of the trustee and how to avoid problems How to use trusts to avoid probate How revocable living trusts are affected by income, gift, and estate taxes Marital deductions and marital and bypass trusts How an irrevocable trust can be the center of an estate plan Advantages of an irrevocable life insurance trust How to create a dynasty trust Why a GRIT, GRAT, GRUT, or QPRT can be a good estate planning tool Trust options to provide security for older clients Advantages, tax consequences, and limits on charitable contributions and private foundations Charitable remainder and charitable lead trust issues How trusts can serve as asset protection devices Business trust issues

Health and Wellness Burnout Stress Management Employee Engagement

Employee engagement Values-based governance Organizational culture Employee relations

Employer Brand Talent Management Future of Work Onboarding New Hires

Accounting Sales Collections

Partnership taxation Different types of partnerships Tax obligations of partners   Role of the partnership agreement in tax reporting   Filing deadlines of Form 1065   

History of Sustainability Accounting Sustainability Metrics for Industry Published Sustainability Standards

Virtual Work Remote Work Telecommuting Flexible Work Options

Emotions Relationships

What is "Sustainability" in business today? SHRM publications about sustainability Sustainability for the world, organizations and individuals Key HR opportunities for promoting sustainability to improve performance and reduce risk

Flexible Work Options Employee Engagement Talent Management Strategy

DEI Employee engagement Remote work Organizational culture Employee relations

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Course 1: Audit 101: AICPAs Code of Professional Conduct PrinciplesCPE: 2Description: AICPAs Code of Professional Conduct - as a whole will provide an overview of the basic principles of the AICPA's Code of Professional Conduct with practical implementation examples. CPAs must seamlessly transition to a profession that relies heavily on conformance with technical and ethical standards. It is critical for CPAs to seek to serve the public interest with a strong sense of character, integrity, competence, and due professional care. In addition, CPAs must appropriately safeguard any threats to independence and objectivity.Course 2: Audit 102: Professional Skepticism - Finding Fraud and ErrorCPE: 2Description: Professional Skepticism is a critical skill for audit and other attest services. The public places a high value on assurance services provided by an external public accountant, as the CPA's involvement directly enhances the degree of confidence intended users can place on the financial statements to make economic decisions. A proper mindset, including professional skepticism, is a critical feature of a high-quality audit or other attest service. Professional skepticism is an essential attitude that enhances the ability to identify and respond to conditions that may indicate possible material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.Course 3: Audit 103: Adapting to the Engagement - Complying with SSARSCPE: 2Description: Adapting to the Engagement is a critical foundational course. A CPA may perform various attest services under relevant professional standards, including compilations, reviews and audits. Reviews and audits are also considered assurance services, providing either limited or reasonable assurance that financial statements are free of material misstatement. In addition, the CPA may perform non-attest services, such as bookkeeping or preparation of financial statements. CPAs must fully understand the professional responsibilities related to each of these varying levels of services, in order to effectively and efficiently satisfy engagement objectives.Course 4: Audit 104: Audit Documentation - Workpapers To Pass ReviewCPE: 2Description: Audit Documentation is an important foundational course. Proper documentation is essential to a high-quality audit and other assurance services, as auditors are required to prepare and maintain documentation to demonstrate that sufficient and appropriate audit evidence was obtained to support the auditor's opinion. It is critical for workpapers to provide a clear understanding of the nature, timing and extent of procedures applied, the results of those procedures, source of evidence obtained, and conclusions reached. Both audit effectiveness and efficiency are directly impacted by the nature and extent of audit documentation.Course 5: Audit 105: The Audit Risk Model - Foundational PrinciplesCPE: 2Description: The Audit Risk Model is a critical foundational course. Financial statement auditors are engaged to provide reasonable assurance that financial statements are not materially misstated, whether due to fraud or error. Professional standards require auditors to obtain sufficient and appropriate evidence to support that opinion. It is critical for effective and efficient auditors to have a clear understanding of all the important elements and concepts related to properly identifying, evaluating, and deciding how to respond to risk in a financial statement audit.Course 6: Audit 106: Internal Control Fundamentals - Evaluating DesignCPE: 2Description: Internal Control Fundamentals is a critical foundational course. Obtaining an understanding of the entity and its environment is part of assessing risk of material misstatement, in order to design the nature, timing and extent of further audit procedures necessary to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to support the auditor's report. A critical component of understanding the entity and its environment is to evaluate the design and implementation of internal control over financial reporting.Course 7: Audit 107: Auditing Cash - Applying Basic Audit SkillsCPE: 2Description: Auditing Cash - Applying Basic Skills demonstrates how the approach to auditing different cash accounts may vary and how to strengthen inquiry which is an important audit procedure in this area. Cash tends to be one of the first areas assigned to new auditors, as there is typically little complexity and subjectivity involved. In addition, persuasive audit evidence from a third-party is generally available. However, research shows that around 80% of asset misappropriation relates to cash. Therefore, the audit of accounts and classes of disclosures related to cash and cash equivalents does tend to carry some level of risk of material misstatement.Course 8: Audit 108: Auditing PP&E and Leases - Common RisksCPE: 2Description: Auditing PP&E, Including Leases will address tips and techniques for auditing tangible long-lived assets for various assessed risk levels, with a special emphasis on lease accounting under Topic 842. Property, plant and equipment can range from a low-risk to a high-risk audit area, depending on the nature of transaction and events engaged in by the reporting entity. Construction, capitalized interest and complex leasing arrangements tend to result in higher risk of material misstatement.