Professional Development and Event Catalog

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) were implemented to improve the lives of employees. FMLA allows eligible employees to take job-protected leave for their own serious health conditions or to care for sick family members. The ADA was intended to ensure "equality of opportunity" and "economic self-sufficiency" for individuals with disabilities. Yet both laws have proven challenging for employers. These laws are complex with rules that can be confusing and often misunderstood. This webinar is designed to provide information, guidelines, and examples of the key concepts under both laws.

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In 2006, Congress passed the Tax Relief and Health Care Act. Prior to the Act's passage, rewards to individuals who provided information to the IRS regarding tax fraud were capped at $10 million. The Tax Relief and Health Care Act authorized the IRS to create a Whistleblower Office dedicated to investigating, processing and recovering claims concerning the underpayment of taxes. Under the IRS' new program, whistleblowers may recover 15 to 30 percent of the amount collected provided the taxes and amounts in dispute exceed $2 million. If the whistleblower's claim does not meet these criteria, the IRS may still consider granting an award under its pre-2006 Tax Relief Act discretionary authority. Given the rapid growth of this program, practitioners should have a basic understanding of the procedure and content for IRS Whistleblower claims, both from the perspective of a claimant's potential to recover and a taxpayer's exposure to liability.

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One of the most intimidating aspects of going into business for yourself is compliance. Tax, employment, and regulatory laws are difficult to navigate, so it often falls on the CPA to know the basics in these areas to help their clients avoid costly litigation. In this course, we will cover basic compliance areas for small business owners. We will look at the main elements of a contract, taxation of entity types, worker classification, property law, and many of the other areas that are often overwhelming for small business owners. By being able to speak to these issues, practitioners will be able to add value and help their small business owner clients grow and thrive.

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This program explores the role of client internal controls for balancing efficiency and effectiveness in a risk-based audit. We offer practical insights regarding an auditor's assessment of the risk of material misstatement when auditing financial statements of non-issuers, with particular emphasis on internal controls of small-to-medium clients.

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With the increasing complexity and ever-changing nature of tax laws and issues, today’s accountant needs a one-day update course focusing on business income tax issues with an emphasis of newly enacted income tax legislation. This comprehensive class will not only review the current Federal business income tax laws but will also update tax return preparers of new tax forms, changes to existing tax forms, as well as tax planning opportunities and pitfalls. This is a “must-attend” course for all tax practitioners who want to be up to speed quickly and have a successful Federal business income tax filing season.   *Please Note:  If you need credit reported to the IRS for this IRS approved program, please download the IRS CE request form on the Course Materials Tab and submit to terri.storer@acpen.com    

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The course provides a concise overview of how to use ChatGPT to more effectively and efficiently research IRS taxation law. It delves into techniques for extracting precise information from complex tax legislation, interpreting IRS guidelines with AI assistance, and utilizing ChatGPT's advanced language models for nuanced legal analysis. Participants will learn how to streamline their research process, identify relevant tax law precedents, and apply AI insights to real-world tax scenarios, enhancing their professional proficiency in navigating the intricate world of IRS taxation. 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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Preparation, compilation, and review engagements continue to receive heightened attention in peer review, even years after the issuance of SSARS No. 21. This course examines the most common deficiencies identified in peer reviews of SSARS engagements, with an emphasis on practical compliance and engagement quality. Participants will explore frequent problem areas in preparation, compilation, and review engagements and discuss why these deficiencies occur. The course focuses on understanding the root causes of noncompliance, rather than simply listing technical errors, and highlights practical approaches firms can use to improve consistency, documentation, and overall engagement performance. Designed for practitioners performing SSARS engagements, this course helps participants strengthen compliance while maintaining an efficient and practical approach to engagement execution. 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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Small CPA firms, defined as those with 30 or fewer professionals, face distinct challenges amid rapid technological change, evolving regulatory demands, and mounting pressure to attract and retain talent. This webcast keeps practitioners current on the developments that matter most while offering practical, immediately applicable insights to strengthen their practices. Participants will gain clarity on today's most pressing questions: How can small firms address staffing shortages and build a sustainable talent pipeline? Which emerging technologies merit investment now? How should firms prepare for new compliance requirements and regulatory updates? What practice-management strategies are most effective for staying competitive in a fast-changing landscape? What sets this webcast apart is its exclusive focus on small firms. Each session emphasizes practical, resource-efficient solutions tailored to their needs. Attendees will hear real-world examples, explore current trends, and receive actionable guidance from experts who understand the realities of small-firm leadership. Designed for partners, managers, and future leaders, this program equips small firms to operate more efficiently, respond effectively to evolving standards, and position themselves for sustainable growth.

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As financial and tax professionals well know, information overload is a constant struggle we face because things change quickly, and the sheer number of changes being made on a daily basis is enormous. Of great importance to small and medium tax and advisory firms is differentiating between changes that are relevant to our practice and our clients and changes that are new but totally irrelevant. Distinguishing between the two is difficult and time-consuming. Mike Tucker and a team of experts are pleased to present a weekly series designed to eliminate the clutter and get you what you need to stay up-to-date and perform for your clients. Mike and his co-presenters will dispense news on current events impacting taxes, finance, and industry. The subject matter will differ each week and intermittently include topics such as Social Security and Medicare. The panelists will discuss personal and corporate tax matters as well as other late-breaking news related to practitioners' personal finances and those of their clients. Every financial professional will benefit from this series. This is a cost-effective way for accountants to fulfill their compulsory continuing education because this weekly series will include almost 40 one-hour presentations. Sign up today — your clients and your bottom line will thank you.

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As a small business owner or manager, navigating the complexities of HR can be challenging, but it's crucial for your company's success. This comprehensive webinar will provide you with practical, informative, and encouraging tips to help you build a strong HR foundation for your small business. From recruitment strategies to employee retention, legal compliance to company culture, we'll cover all the essential aspects of HR that will contribute to your business's growth. Let's create a thriving workplace where both your business and your employees can flourish.

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Here's a more detailed look at the controller's role in AI: 1. Data Integrity and Quality: •    Controllers are responsible for ensuring the quality and integrity of data used to train and inform AI models.  •    They work to establish data governance frameworks, implement data quality initiatives, and ensure data lineage (tracking data from source to downstream systems).  2. Risk Management: •    Controllers assess potential risks associated with AI implementation, including inaccuracies, vulnerabilities, and ethical considerations.  •    They help define and implement risk management frameworks for AI, ensuring that AI systems are used responsibly and ethically.  3. Compliance:  •    Controllers stay informed about relevant regulations and ensure AI systems are compliant with those regulations. •    They monitor AI systems to ensure they are not violating any laws or policies. 4. Transparency and Auditability:  •    Controllers work to ensure that AI decisions are transparent and auditable. •    They establish processes to review AI decisions and identify potential biases or errors. 5. Collaboration and Training:  •    Controllers work with IT and business teams to understand AI's capabilities and limitations. •    They provide training to teams on how to use and manage AI tools effectively. 6. Value Creation: •    Controllers can leverage AI to identify areas for automation, improve efficiency, and gain real-time insights into financial operations.  •    They can use AI to make more informed decisions and create more strategic recommendations for action.  7. Emerging Role: •    The role of the controller is evolving with the rise of AI, with controllers becoming more hands-on throughout the implementation process.  •    They are increasingly seen as catalysts for AI-enabled transformation, helping to identify potential use cases and build confidence in the technology This course will explore many of these topics.

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This course compares the tax consequences of stock and asset transactions from both buyer and seller perspectives. Participants will analyze basis step-ups, depreciation implications, allocation rules, and elections under §§338 and 336(e). Case studies illustrate negotiation considerations and after-tax outcomes.

Introduction to Governmental Accounting 101, is a 2-hour webcast that takes the participant on a whirlwind tour of governmental accounting basics, focusing on wetting the participant’s appetite for more.  This session will be the first of a series of webcasts, with each subsequent webcast delving deeper and deeper into governmental accounting basics. 

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The Uniform Guidance requirements for subrecipient monitoring and management were updated effective October 1, 2024, introducing new expectations for pass through entities overseeing federal awards. This session will provide practical guidance on implementing compliant subaward agreements, performing risk based monitoring, and managing subrecipient financial performance in accordance with 2 CFR SS200.331-200.333. Attendees will also gain insight into indirect cost rate requirements, fixed amount, and subaward agreements to strengthen oversight and prepare for federal agency or Single Audit reviews. Using fixed amount awards to solve an out-of-the-box solution.

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For roughly 90% of American retirees, Social Security income will be the foundation of their retirement income. Yet, many are ill-prepared and lack understanding of the critical aspects of making an informed claiming decision. Further challenged to separate fact from fiction, consumers crave accurate information from knowledgeable professionals to make the most out of these coveted monthly benefits. This course dispels common myths about Social Security that lead to confusion and replaces them with the truth to an empowered retirement. Help your clients navigate their claiming age decisions with greater confidence, equipped with the essential truths they should consider before pushing the Social Security "on" button.

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We are bombarded with information continually. So how do we determine what is valid and what isn't? This course points out common pitfalls inherent in data interpretation and gives practical tips to overcome those pitfalls by using real life examples. The course incorporates information from key thought leaders including Adam Grant, Alex Edmans, and Hans Rosling. 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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Those charged with governance, with the assistance of internal audit,  are responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of the organization, and ensuring value is delivered to the entity's stakeholders. This course will provide guidance on fulfilling the responsibility for challenging how much risk and uncertainty to accept through the application of COSO's Enterprise Risk Management Framework.

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Many entities prepare their financial statements using non-GAAP frameworks, such as tax and cash basis. Participants who attend this course will learn the unique reporting and disclosure requirements when preparing non-GAAP financial statements commonly referred to as special purpose frameworks (SPFs) or other comprehensive basis of accounting (OCBOA) financial statements. 

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This course is designed to equip CPAs, EAs, attorneys, and tax professionals with the essential knowledge and strategies needed to navigate the latest developments. Explore innovative approaches to maximize retirement savings, discuss tax- efficient retirement plan options, and align estate planning techniques with current trends. Gain a thorough understanding of altered rules for Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) and discover how to optimize estate plans in response to changing regulations. This update is tailored for professionals seeking practical insights in the realm of contemporary retirement planning. **Please Note:  If you need credit reported to the IRS for this IRS approved program, please download the IRS CE request form on the Course Materials Tab and submit to kori.herrera@acpen.com.

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This course covers recently issued accounting and financial statement reporting standards from the Financial Accounting Standards Board. Key implementation challenges and experiences from public company filings will be identified. 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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