Professional Development and Event Catalog

This course provides tax and accounting professionals with a framework for serving as the lead advisor in a multidisciplinary planning environment. Participants will explore how to coordinate with attorneys, financial planners, insurance professionals, and bankers to deliver integrated planning strategies. The course emphasizes identifying opportunities across estate, financial, retirement, and tax planning while managing collaboration and delivering cohesive client solutions.

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As the new administration proposes changes to tax policies, estate planning strategies must adapt to evolving laws and regulations. This course equips financial professionals with advanced tools and techniques to address complex estate planning issues, including the latest legislative and regulatory updates. Participants will gain insights into tax-efficient wealth transfer strategies, charitable giving techniques, and the impact of recent tax law changes on estate and gift taxation. With a focus on real-world application, this course provides practical strategies for leveraging closely held stock, split-interest trusts, and life insurance in estate planning. Attendees will explore how to maximize tax benefits while ensuring compliance with changing regulations, ultimately helping clients achieve their financial and legacy goals. *Please Note:  If you need credit reported to the IRS for this IRS approved program, please download the IRS CE request form on the Handouts Tab and submit to kori.herrera@acpen.com

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This course is an updated overview of the single audit of state and local governments and not-for-profit organizations under the OMB Unified Circular, as well as the applicable AICPA standards for compliance audits. 

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There has never been a greater opportunity to leverage technology tools to automate your tax services. This course will provide specific examples of how you can use AI (artificial intelligence) based tools to complement your tax planning, research and compliance services. You will learn how to leverage AI to automate the collection and organization of client data, the engagement management process, tax research, and enhance client advisory services with AI too This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

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In the realm of modern business, the trend of outsourcing functions or activities to third-party service providers is on the rise. While this strategy can enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness, it also introduces inherent risks that necessitate careful identification, assessment, and management. As a result, those utilizing such outsourced services, along with their auditors, increasingly demand comprehensive insights into the effectiveness of controls within these service organizations. To fulfill this need, the AICPA offers a range of SOC (System and Organization Control) for service organizations engagements, providing assurance reports that offer vital information for evaluating and mitigating the risks tied to outsourcing, thereby fostering trust and transparency. This webcast serves as an introduction for CPA firms who are new to SOC for service organizations engagements or as a refresher for those already acquainted. It does not delve into the specifics of conducting a SOC examinations; however, it offers a general understanding of how to start up a SOC practice.

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There are multiple facets to ethical choices, including should you use your ‘head’ or your ‘heart’? What are the pros and the cons?  How can we balance these opposing views?  This seminar outlines the value of; trust, courage, fairness, sensitivity, persistence, honesty and gracefulness – to help us make better ethical decisions.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the hottest topic in technology circles today. And for good reason! AI can help all business professionals – including HR professionals – work more efficiently and effectively. AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot are proving themselves daily as valuable assets. These tools can help you automate research, draft documents, summarize emails, analyze Excel data, and even create PowerPoint presentations for you. If you haven't yet explored what today's AI tools can do, you'll want to participate in this session to become more productive and efficient with this very practical technology.

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A common challenge for the controller role is in closing the month-end and period-end books in preparation to issue financial statements. This duty requires precision, timing and efficiency. In today’s digital world, many organizations have access to financial accounting software that will assist with the steps in the financial close. However, even with this aid it is critical the accountant understand the various steps for the close process and how they inter-relate to other accounting processes. This course gives you an insight into the inter-relationships between many processes that impact the financial close. The closing process has traditionally been a slow one with many companies taking two weeks to close its subsidiary’s books and another two to three weeks to roll up and consolidated the results. With the introduction of technology much has been done to help accelerate that process with integrated enterprise resource planning systems and general ledger and consolidate software. Within this segment we will discuss the elements of the financial close and also important concepts to assist the controller in accelerating their close timeline. This includes addressing all functional areas of the close including payroll, invoicing, payables, inventory, cash, and the general ledger. We will also discuss important concepts of ensuring your financial close is accurate by discussing bank reconciliations, overhead allocations, bad debt reserves, unpaid wages and accruals for vacation time, account reconciliations, deprecation and overall financial statement review. Note: This course does not address utilizing technology in the financial close. Its focus is to understand the varied procedures involved in the financial close whether or not technology is utilized.  

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As the managers' role continue to evolve, it is crucial for us to understand the strategic aspects of managing a diverse workforce, beginning with understanding the big trends in employee demographics. We begin with a rhetorical question - asking if employees are assets? GAAP tells us they are not, so discussion will revolve around whether this treatment delivers an unhealthy bias on our view of the people in our organization. What do the most successful organizations believe and why? If you have an opinion as to whether employees are an asset or not, this is a fun session intended to be interactive with participation either live, virtual or both.

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In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, accounting professionals are expected to be more than just number crunchers, they are expected to be insightful interpreters of data. In an era where data is king, this course is your gateway to becoming a savvy data analyst, giving you a competitive edge in your field. We will guide you through the intricacies of making complex data analysis approachable and engaging. You will learn the all important Data Analysis Process Flow that will take you from collecting data all the way to making insightful decisions based upon your data. We will explore the basics of data modeling that will allow you to access data from multiple sources and use sophisticated calculations to create our data metrics. You will learn how to create interactive dashboards, perform sophisticated reporting, and uncover deep insights from your data. Whether you're looking to streamline your reporting process, enhance your data visualization skills, or make more data-driven decisions, this course is tailored to meet those needs. It's not just about learning a tool; it's about enhancing your professional identity as a forward-thinking accounting professional. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

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Organizations often fail not because strategy is flawed, but because performance is measured poorly. This session focuses on the critical link between strategy, measurement, and execution. Participants will explore why there is no "perfect" metric, how strategy fails due to weak measurement, and how financial and non-financial metrics work together to drive performance. The session emphasizes aligning metrics with mission, strategy, and organizational priorities using practical frameworks such as the Balanced Scorecard. Humorous videos will be incorporated to drive home some key points and keep things entertaining.

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Arguably the most discussed topics to come out of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) are the taxation of tips and overtime. Practitioners need to understand these provisions now, as they are effective for 2025 tax returns. This program provides practitioners with the background currently available to advise clients regarding these two important tax developments. Both employers and employees need to understand these timely changes to taxation.

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Be ready for your peer review! The peer review process is an effective way to monitor practice quality, ensuring that your firm meets high standards while protecting the public interest. Gain a better understanding of the overall peer review process and learn how to fully prepare for your triennial review. This webcast will help you: Understand and compare the system and engagement review processes Address recently issued peer review guidance and quality control requirements Learn how both guidance and requirements affect your firm You'll also discover the most common areas of noncompliance with professional standards and how to avoid them well before your review is due. Participants will leave this session with the resources and tools to enhance their firm's peer review quality.

The employer-employee relationship strains both sides in uncertain times, and businesses need CPAs, controllers, and other advisors to provide understanding of the complex legal, tax, and health care issues associated with all aspects of employment. This course provides in-depth coverage of this critical area.

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In a competitive market, every company is looking for anyway to differentiate themselves from their competition. While we often look to new markets and data for a competitive advantage, ethics can be the factor that makes the biggest difference to customers, employees, and the public at large. Using surveys, research, case studies, and examples, this course will explore why the CPA credential and the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct is so different. We will discuss why CPA's are in a unique position of trust and how this can put their companies ahead. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

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The tax strategies behind estate planning Estate planning is vast and complicated. A fundamental understanding of estate and trust taxation is essential to helping clients plan for their futures. Topics include: Tax obligations of trusts and estates, and how these obligations affect beneficiaries The federal income taxation of trusts and decedents' estates, along with the tax effects of specific scenarios for beneficiaries Planning options that can minimize your clients' taxes while accumulating income and the distribution or transfer of wealth to intended beneficiaries Detailed explanations of complex estate and trust concepts Learners build their understanding of the unique tax issues affecting trusts and estates, including: The taxation of simple and complex trusts, grantor trusts, and electing small business trusts Fiduciary accounting and the Uniform Principal and Income Act Deductions and credits available to trusts and estates Updated for H.R. 1, commonly referred to as OBBBA This comprehensive course has been updated to discuss the effects of H.R. 1 on estate and trust taxation. Relevant topics include: Overall limitation on itemized deductions Permanence of the expanded lifetime estate tax exemption Section 163(j) business interest 0.5% floor on itemized charitable contribution deductions And much more Part of Tax Staff Essentials Level 3 This self-study online course is part of Tax Staff Essentials Level 3, a comprehensive learning program that provides senior- and supervisor-level tax professionals with the technical training required to take a leadership role on their teams.

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Unlock the incredible potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation tools to revolutionize your business operations. Imagine boosting productivity and accuracy effortlessly with cutting-edge technologies. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini are your new best friends for conducting research, drafting reports, and crafting correspondence. Meanwhile, Microsof's Power Automate platform and tools, such as Zapier, can elevate your efficiency to levels you never thought possible. Join our session to modernize your workflows and harness these powerful tools. You'll dive into practical applications of today's AI and automation technologies, moving beyond the basics to streamline workflows, enhance internal controls, maximize productivity, and even boost team morale. Additionally, we'll guide you through potential pitfalls and help you avoid common mistakes when using these tools. This session is a must-attend for anyone looking to stay ahead in the fast-paced business world. Don't miss out on this opportunity to transform your operations and achieve unparalleled efficiency. Sign up today and take the first step towards a smarter, more productive future!

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Ready to elevate your accounting practice through ethical decision-making? If you consistently apply the five principles of ethical intelligence that Forbes Contributor Bruce Weinstein, The Ethics Guy, presents in this high-content, results-focused webinar, your business will prosper. Beginning with the most fundamental principle of all, Do No Harm, you'll discover how to make the right decisions in a range of challenging situations. Through engaging, real-life "What would you do?" scenarios, an exploration of the principles of ethical intelligence, and a few fun writing exercises, you'll gain practical insights you can apply professionally and personally. We'll also answer some frequently asked questions about ethics that will enrich your understanding of a topic you can't afford to ignore. We end with a Call to Action, so that you can put the lessons you learn into practice immediately. You'll leave with the tools to foster trust, build a thriving practice, and impress clients with the high standards of service you live by. Who knew an ethics webinar could be both practical and fun? This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

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With all the planning, procedures, and reporting involved in a single audit, sometimes things can slip through the cracks. But what if the thing that slips through is fraud? Compiled from news releases, court records, and the thrilling annals of the Federal Audit Clearinghouse, this course tells the tale of seven real-world frauds that seemingly dodged detection in the single audit process. Leveraging the incredible gift of hindsight, this course is designed to raise your awareness and sharpen your focus on the potential for fraud in single audits!

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This course provides a comprehensive overview of Written Information Security Plans (WISP), focusing on their purpose, requirements, and implementation. Starting with the 2024 PTIN renewal season, all PTIN holders must certify they have a WISP and have trained employees, staff, and contractors as necessary. Participants will explore the history and legal foundation of WISP under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and how compliance is enforced through Circular 230, AICPA Statements of Standards, and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations. Attendees will gain practical guidance on writing an effective WISP and ensuring compliance with due diligence standards for data security.

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