CPE Catalog & Events

Emerging technologies all business professionals should know Considerations associated with upgrading to Windows 11 Practical options for protecting your data New features in commonly-used applications such as Excel and Adobe Acrobat DC

Module 1: Quality is Free - But How do We Measure the Cost? What do we mean by quality? Why does quality pay off? Total quality management, including lean and six sigma The four elements of the cost of quality Practical prevention activities The necessity of appraisal and why quality cannot be inspected into a process Sources of internal failure and other sources you may not have considered External failure and the hidden costs of 'shortcuts' Creating an effective and actionable cost of quality report Module 2: Understanding and Mitigating External and Internal Risks: How? - 2.00 A&A Credits Defining risk as it impacts organizations Understanding external and internal risks o Examples of these risks o How do we identify and assess? o What can be done about the risks? Developing a risk mitigation strategy and plan Monitoring and mitigating risk Module 3: Insurance - How to Manage Your Insurance Program How are risks managed? - What is risk transfer? What does a broker do, how do we choose a broker, and how should we pay them? What can insurance protect against? Deductibles, self-insurance, and captives Issues affecting different classes of insurance regarding claims and accessibility Actions you need to take in addition to securing insurance Umbrella policies and how they attach above the primary Module 4: Effective Implementation of Enterprise Risk Management What is ERM and why is it important? What is your risk appetite and risk tolerance? The COSO framework for ERM and its recent updates The ERM Steering Committee - what is it for and what does it do? Risk heat maps - evaluating what is hot and what is not Risk owners and the risk control plan Measuring the effectiveness of the implementation The role of leading and lagging indicators - KRIs Making it part of everyday management The need to integrate ERM into strategic planning

Identifying weaknesses in traditional reporting processes Using leading-edge features in Excel to improve reporting practices How to work with Power Query to solve common reporting challenges Adding Slicers and Timelines to your Excel-based reports

Powerful new functions and features in Excel, such as XLOOKUP and Dynamic Arrays How to use "legacy" features and functions such as AGGREGATE Creating effective forecasts in Excel

Critical risks in QuickBooks environments Internal control options that can mitigate risk to prudently acceptable levels Enabling alternative control measures to improve internal controls in QuickBooks environments

Relevant sections of SSARS No. 21, Clarification and Recodification SSARS No. 21, Clarification and Recodification, and updates to SSARS No. 21 due to the issuance of SSARS No. 23, Omnibus Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services SSARS No. 22, Compilation of Pro Forma Financial Information SSARS No. 24, Omnibus Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services - 2018 SSARS No. 26, Quality Management for an Engagement Conducted in Accordance With Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services Proposed changes to the SSARS guidance Comprehensive sample engagement work programs for preparation and compilation engagements Prescribed form, specified line item, pro forma, and other engagement variations Complete illustrations of relevant engagement letters, reporting and other required communications for preparation and compilation engagements

Understanding the Cloud-based options available in a Microsoft 365/Office 365 environment How to use tools such as Teams, Planner, and Power Automate Storing data in SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business

The benefits of a 501(c)(3) organization being classified as a public charity rather than a private foundation (and how Schedule A, Part I "claims" qualification as such)   The public policy precepts and approach preparers need apply in demonstrating filer has met the predominant "public support test" which is demonstrated at Schedule A's Part II  The overarching needs and preparation tasks of Schedule B and related worksheets, including  which donors are to be listed and with what identifying information required (dependent on the filer's 501(c)-subsection); and what information 501(c)(3) filers may omit from the 990's public inspection copy  

Key technologies that facilitate remote work options Cybersecurity issues impacting remote work environments How to communicate and collaborate when working remotely

Proper documentation as a means of audit quality Factors impacting the nature and extent of documentation Illustrative workpapers and exercises Use of practice aids and other mechanisms as means of audit documentation Checklist for self-review of workpapers

Common instances of accounting malpractice Current claim trends Frequent defenses to claims Statute of limitations Damages Claims by practice area

The fraud landscape in the United States Fraud risk procedures as updated by recently issued standards Most likely fraud types found in small to mid-sized entities Internal controls to prevent and detect fraud What to do when fraud is identified or suspected Case studies based on recent frauds

Objective of financial reporting Interrelationships of financial statements and disclosures Accounting changes Financial statement preparation and review process Best practices for financial statement preparation and review Frequently missed issues in compilation and review engagements as noted by peer reviewers Understand how to comply with AR-C 100 on International Standards and AR-C 120, Compilations of Pro forma Information Introduction to attestation standards (AT) Performing attestation examination engagements Performing attestation review engagements Performing agreed-upon procedures

Module 1: Quality is Free - But How do We Measure the Cost? What do we mean by quality? Why does quality pay off? Total quality management, including lean and six sigma The four elements of the cost of quality Practical prevention activities The necessity of appraisal and why quality cannot be inspected into a process Sources of internal failure and other sources you may not have considered External failure and the hidden costs of 'shortcuts' Creating an effective and actionable cost of quality report Module 2: Understanding and Mitigating External and Internal Risks: How? - 2.00 A&A Credits Defining risk as it impacts organizations Understanding external and internal risks o Examples of these risks o How do we identify and assess? o What can be done about the risks? Developing a risk mitigation strategy and plan Monitoring and mitigating risk Module 3: Insurance - How to Manage Your Insurance Program How are risks managed? - What is risk transfer? What does a broker do, how do we choose a broker, and how should we pay them? What can insurance protect against? Deductibles, self-insurance, and captives Issues affecting different classes of insurance regarding claims and accessibility Actions you need to take in addition to securing insurance Umbrella policies and how they attach above the primary Module 4: Effective Implementation of Enterprise Risk Management What is ERM and why is it important? What is your risk appetite and risk tolerance? The COSO framework for ERM and its recent updates The ERM Steering Committee - what is it for and what does it do? Risk heat maps - evaluating what is hot and what is not Risk owners and the risk control plan Measuring the effectiveness of the implementation The role of leading and lagging indicators - KRIs Making it part of everyday management The need to integrate ERM into strategic planning

Overview of ASC 326, Credit Losses Application of ASC 326 to non-lending institutions CECL transition and disclosures Audit considerations related to the adoption and ongoing accounting for CECL

Notice 2020-75: PTE elections What is a 754 election? What if a 754 election is not in effect? Tax implications of a partnership interest sale on the seller Look-through provisions

Module 1: Navigating the Storm: Crisis Management for Resilient Firms The need for crisis management and business continuity plans Risk assessment and identification How to develop a crisis management framework Crisis communication strategies Business continuity planning essentials Keys to crisis leadership and decision making in a crisis Module 2: Proven Strategies for Effective Fraud Detection and Prevention Understanding fraud o Definitions and types How are frauds caught? Where, how, and when to look o Common red flags How to reduce your fraud risks Module 3: CFO or Detective? A Guide to Conducting Effective Investigations What is an investigation and when is it warranted? How to prepare for an investigation - Who should conduct it and defining the boundaries When to outsource vs. conduct the investigation internally Evidence collection and preservation - The paper and data trail - Witness statements Employee rights during investigations Investigative techniques (data analytics, surveillance, interviews) Reporting results When to take the next step - the legal process Module 4: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning: Practical Applications for Finance Explain AI and ML and describe potential finance-related applications for both. Demonstrate the growth of AI. Discuss practical applications and risks for AI and ML, specific for accounting and finance. Bookmark and share examples of ethical policies to help mitigate these risks. Demonstrate prompt engineering tips to yield desired responses from Generative AI tools like Chat GPT, Gemini, Perplexity AI, and Microsoft Copilot.

Understanding the differences between ethics, morals, and laws Key technology issues that can impact ethical behavior in businesses Examples of potential ethical conflicts precipitated by modern technologies

Updated review of the interaction of the generations New data on the common values held by multiple generations that may surprise you Practical advice on the motivation and management techniques that work in today's economy

Best practices for creating, editing, and managing PDFs The process for creating and distributing PDF forms Integrating PDFs with other applications Securing your PDFs