Professional Development and Event Catalog

Designed for all tax practitioners, including those who just prepare returns and those who assist on financial statement engagements, this course will replenish your accounting and reporting tank with an update of recent standard-setting activities at the FASB and AICPA. To start, the course will review the significant new financial accounting, auditing, accounting services and ethics guidance issued by standard setters over the past few years. The course will also focus on the unique income tax reporting implications of recently issued accounting standards, such as revenue recognition (ASC 606) and leases (ASC 842). The course then discusses the preparation of tax-basis financial statements. Lastly, the course will dive into the unique income tax accounting considerations which arise from certain types of transactions, such as stock-based compensation, and review the presentation and disclosure requirements of ASC 740.

Designed for all tax practitioners, including those who just prepare returns and those who assist on financial statement engagements, this course will replenish your accounting and reporting tank with an update of recent standard-setting activities at the FASB and AICPA. To start, the course will review the significant new financial accounting, auditing, accounting services and ethics guidance issued by standard setters over the past few years. The course will also focus on the unique income tax reporting implications of recently issued accounting standards, such as revenue recognition (ASC 606) and leases (ASC 842). The course then discusses the preparation of tax-basis financial statements. Lastly, the course will dive into the unique income tax accounting considerations which arise from certain types of transactions, such as stock-based compensation, and review the presentation and disclosure requirements of ASC 740.

A clear and concise set of proper financial statement disclosures can make or break an entity's financial statements. Such disclosures are no longer simply additional information provided by a business; they can be complex in nature and difficult to both prepare and understand, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. Oftentimes financial statement users will first turn to the notes in the financial statements in order to get a feel for where the business and its numbers might be heading, so these disclosures need to be well-written and follow applicable standards. This course will focus on key balance sheet and income statement disclosure as well as those relating to adoption of new accounting standards related to revenue (ASC 606) and leases (ASC 842), accounting policies, changes in accounting estimates and errors, subsequent events, going concern, and related party disclosures. The course will use illustrations, examples based on private company financial statements disclosures, and real-world excerpts from financial statements to provide you with a hands-on feel for the disclosure requirements across a number of accounting standards.

A clear and concise set of proper financial statement disclosures can make or break an entity's financial statements. Such disclosures are no longer simply additional information provided by a business; they can be complex in nature and difficult to both prepare and understand, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. Oftentimes financial statement users will first turn to the notes in the financial statements in order to get a feel for where the business and its numbers might be heading, so these disclosures need to be well-written and follow applicable standards. This course will focus on key balance sheet and income statement disclosure as well as those relating to adoption of new accounting standards related to revenue (ASC 606) and leases (ASC 842), accounting policies, changes in accounting estimates and errors, subsequent events, going concern, and related party disclosures. The course will use illustrations, examples based on private company financial statements disclosures, and real-world excerpts from financial statements to provide you with a hands-on feel for the disclosure requirements across a number of accounting standards.

The best way to ensure engagement quality is through consistent application of a firm's system of quality control. In this course, we will review the key components of such a system, which can be found in the AICPA's quality control standards. Specifically, this course will discuss adherence to relevant ethical standards, client and engagement acceptance and continuance procedures, human resources policies and procedures, engagement performance and monitoring activities, and best practices in designing and implementing effective quality control standards that address the responsibilities of firm leadership. The course will place special focus on addressing the challenges that smaller firms may have when attempting to implement these standards.

With the AICPA's heightened focus on enhancing audit quality, increased oversight of the peer review process and the auditor's overall responsibility to provide high quality services, the focus on compliance with professional standards has never been greater. Recent peer reviews have indicated that auditors are often failing to perform and/or document certain critical components of an audit such as the auditor's assessment of risk and linking the results of the assessment to substantive procedures performed. In addition, auditors are not adequately documenting their consideration of fraud, expectations in analytical procedures and the appropriate level of work needed to understand an entity's internal control. Now is time to revisit the way that auditors are performing and documenting the work performed to meet professional standards since nonconforming engagements can result in an auditor's referral to the AICPA Ethics Committee. The ASB has not made significant changes to its quality standards since 2006. However, the ASB has recently issued SQMS 1 and 2, and the related SAS 146. These changes in these new standards are substantive. This course will also focus on the most significant items resulting in deficiencies identified in the peer review process. We will also discuss the applicable audit standards, documentation requirements, and best practices. We will specifically look at the issues related to the peer review "must select" audit areas: Government Auditing Standards and Single Audit and Employee Benefit Plans. Finally, we will discuss issues in compilations and reviews as well as disclosure deficiencies noted by peer reviewers. The objective of the course is to provide the insights necessary to help auditors and accountants improve not just the quality of their work but also the perception of the accounting profession as a whole.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) eliminated the deduction for any expenses related to activities generally considered entertainment, amusement, or recreation and also limited the deduction for expenses related to food and beverages provided by employers to their employees. The IRS has recently issued final regulations on the business expense deductions for meals and entertainment following changes made to the TCJA. These regulations address the elimination of the deduction for expenditures related to entertainment, amusement, or recreational activities and provide guidance to determine whether an activity is considered to be entertainment. The final regulations also address the 50% limitation on the deduction of food and beverage expenses and when the 50% limitation does not apply.

Most review techniques developed by professionals are self-taught and fine-tuned via experience. Yet how does one start? The purpose of this course is to give both new and seasoned reviewers additional and advanced procedures via a multitude of checklists to thoroughly review various tax returns. Its emphasis is not planning; rather, it is to develop a strategy to properly review a return effectively and thoroughly. The course includes dozens of practice tips for new reviewers and is updated for impacts of newly enacted legislation.

Most review techniques developed by professionals are self-taught and fine-tuned via experience. Yet how does one start? The purpose of this course is to give both new and seasoned reviewers additional and advanced procedures via a multitude of checklists to thoroughly review various tax returns. Its emphasis is not planning; rather, it is to develop a strategy to properly review a return effectively and thoroughly. The course includes dozens of practice tips for new reviewers and is updated for impacts of newly enacted legislation.

The objective of this course is to train new, rusty, or returning-to-practice staff with a hands-on, pencil-pushing gold standard for preparing Form 1065. Common to advanced issues of partnerships are explored in the current course that can double as a quick and practical reference guide for tax treatment and tax preparation guidelines. Within each chapter, we illustrate various parts and areas of interest when preparing a 1065, including examples and corresponding tax forms. We bring it all together in the final two chapters with a comprehensive example that integrates and links all previous chapters. The course and instruction delivery are geared toward a basic understanding and progress to more complex issues via Surgent's "Step-by-Step" preparation guide.

The objective of this course is to train new, rusty, or returning-to-practice staff with a hands-on, pencil-pushing gold standard for preparing Form 1065. Common to advanced issues of partnerships are explored in the current course that can double as a quick and practical reference guide for tax treatment and tax preparation guidelines. Within each chapter, we illustrate various parts and areas of interest when preparing a 1065, including examples and corresponding tax forms. We bring it all together in the final two chapters with a comprehensive example that integrates and links all previous chapters. The course and instruction delivery are geared toward a basic understanding and progress to more complex issues via Surgent's "Step-by-Step" preparation guide.

The objective of this course is to train new, rusty, or returning-to-practice staff to prepare complicated federal subchapter S corporation tax returns. The course utilizes a chapter-by-chapter, hands-on approach. As more details are discussed in each chapter, participants are provided with the information needed to prepare an intricate Form 1120-S. The course and instruction delivery are geared toward basic understanding and systematically address more complex issues via Surgent's step-by-step preparation guide. The boot camp will help staff understand the connections between a trial balance and a completed S corporation return. The completed Form 1120-S is provided in the case solutions.

Most review techniques developed by professionals are self-taught and fine-tuned via experience. Yet how does one start? The purpose of this course is to give both new and seasoned reviewers additional and advanced procedures via a multitude of checklists to more thoroughly review S corporation and partnership tax returns. Its emphasis is not planning; rather, it is to develop a strategy to properly review a return effectively and thoroughly. The course includes dozens of "practice tips for new reviewers" and is updated for impacts of newly enacted legislation.

Most review techniques developed by professionals are self-taught and fine-tuned via experience. Yet how does one start? The purpose of this course is to give both new and seasoned reviewers additional and advanced procedures via a multitude of checklists to more thoroughly review S corporation and partnership tax returns. Its emphasis is not planning; rather, it is to develop a strategy to properly review a return effectively and thoroughly. The course includes dozens of "practice tips for new reviewers" and is updated for impacts of newly enacted legislation.

Owners of S corporations and partnerships are subject to numerous limitations on pass-through losses, each with unique rules, applications, and complexities. With the increase in popularity of pass-through business entities, it is essential for CPAs to understand the complexities and interactions of these pass-through loss limitations.

Owners of S corporations and partnerships are subject to numerous limitations on pass-through losses, each with unique rules, applications, and complexities. With the increase in popularity of pass-through business entities, it is essential for CPAs to understand the complexities and interactions of these pass-through loss limitations.

This course will discuss common fraud schemes found in business transactions. The course also includes a conversation with Nathan Mueller, a reformed white-collar offender who committed financial statement fraud from a large financial institution. This is the first of five 2-hour courses in Surgent's Fraud Certificate Program. This program includes a combination of lectures, animated videos, and live interviews with white-collar offenders and whistle-blowers. Each course is designed to be engaging and informative and will enhance your understanding of fraud.

Our focus is to reduce the overall risk of fraud. To that end, this course focuses on what factors contribute to turning honest employees into schemers. Discussion will include integrity and ethics, as well as how people may react in certain situations. We also explore the darknet and cryptocurrency fraud.

Our focus is to reduce the overall risk of fraud. To that end, this course focuses on what factors contribute to turning honest employees into schemers. Discussion will include integrity and ethics, as well as how people may react in certain situations. We also explore the darknet and cryptocurrency fraud.

Fraud is all around us, though many times we miss it. As accountants, we have a professional responsibility to detect material fraud. However, our ability to detect fraud is directly related to our understanding of how fraud occurs, how prevalent it is and what types of procedures allow both accountants and companies to detect fraud before it becomes material. In addition to providing a quick update on recently issued accounting and auditing standards, this course will review the latest fraud statistics compiled by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), and see how COVID-19 has impacted the fraud landscape. Then the course will review our professional responsibilities to both detect fraud and to report actual or suspected fraud, plus identify which procedures are most effective at identifying and preventing fraud.