CPE Catalog & Events

Smart Formula Selection in Excel: What to Use When

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Introduction to Strategic Formula Use:Why choosing the right formula matters: clarity, performance, and maintenanceCommon traps: overusing IF, defaulting to familiar tools, ignoring modern functionsHow Excel offers multiple ways to solve the same problem and how to pick wiselyConditional Logic and Branching Tools:IFS vs SWITCH vs nested IF: comparing readability and structureWhen to simplify logic and how to avoid nested nightmaresSummarizing Data:SUMIFS vs SUMPRODUCT: multiple conditions, weighted sums, totalsFiltering and Output Control:FILTER vs IF + INDEX: dynamic data extraction with vs without Excel 365Trade-offs in backward compatibility and ease of useCustom Output and Decision Trees:CHOOSE vs SWITCH vs LOOKUP: logic trees and category mappingEmbedded Variables and Reusability:LET vs named ranges: clarity and efficiency for long formulasUsing LAMBDA with LET to create custom functionsSimplifying and documenting complex calculationsBest Practices for Formula Selection:Criteria for deciding: readability, flexibility, future maintenanceTips for avoiding overengineering and formula bloat

2026/27 Annual Update for Not-for-Profit Accountants & Audit

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Overview of accounting developments affecting not-for-profit organizations, including recently issued Accounting Standards Updates (ASUs) from the Financial Accounting Standards Board and an introduction to the International Non-Profit Accounting Standard (INPAS).Auditing and attestation developments from the AICPA, including the next phase of quality management with a focus on monitoring and remediation responsibilities. Recent and upcoming standards affecting audit, attestation, and consulting engagements, including updates related to SSAEs, SSARSs, exposure drafts on confirmations and fraud, and changes affecting group audits. 

ACPEN: Resolving Ethical Dilemmas—You Make the Call

Ethical frameworks Threats and safeguards to objectivity and independence

ACPEN: Leveraging Analytical Procedures to the Fullest on Audits - Case Studies in Strengthening Audit Evidence

How well-designed analytic procedures enhance audit quality Elements of strong analytic procedures Selecting the proper analytic, and altering the strength for the intended purpose Evaluating the data used in generating expectations Improving documentation, including evaluating sufficiency and appropriateness of the audit evidence obtained

Surgent's Guide to Partner Capital Account Reporting

How a partner’s outside basis and capital account differ Reconciling Schedule M-2 Form 1065 with Partnership K-1 Schedule L IRS requirement to report partner tax basis on the transactional approach Implications if a capital account is negative Deficit restoration accounts and qualified income offsets Modified outside basis method and modified previously taxed capital method Determining a partner’s beginning capital account  Beginning capital account for partnerships and partners consistently reporting on the tax basis The two types of adjustments under 754 and how 743 and 734 require different capital account presentations

Surgent's Navigating AI Compliance: The EU AI Act for U.S. Finance and Accounting Leaders

Introduction to the EU AI Act: background, objectives, global relevance, and extraterritorial scope Key provisions and risk classifications: prohibited, high-risk, limited-risk, and general-purpose AI systems; prohibited AI practices Compliance requirements for high-risk AI systems: technical documentation, data governance, and human oversight requirements; importance of risk management and transparency obligations Practical steps for U.S. professionals: strategies to align with EU compliance standards; anticipating future regulatory developments

Surgent's New and Expanded Tax Benefits Associated with Section 1202 – Qualified Small Business Stock

The graduated holding periods and the related graduated capital gain exclusions Raising the per-issuer gain exclusion cap to $15 million Raising the corporate-level aggregate gross asset threshold to $75 million Qualifications for a corporation to issue Section 1202 stock Using multiple non-grantor trusts to unlock the $15 million exclusion cap The 10% test associated with non-operating real estate and investment securities The 50% working capital test The 80% test relative to an active qualified trade or business QSBS attestation letter Excluded businesses Permissible businesses, including manufacturing, retailing, technology, and wholesaling How Section 1202 applies in the context of a transfer to other taxpayers

ACPEN: Enhancing Performance Through Effective Coaching

Coaching Effective Communication Problem Solving Use of AI as a coaching tool

Financial & Tax Accounting for S Corporations & Partnerships

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Review the Accounting Standards Codification, OCBOA/Special Purpose Frameworks, and AICPA financial reporting framework and their application to partnerships, LLCs and S corporationsFinancial accounting issues arising from changes in ownershipFinancial vs. tax accounting for partnership/LLC capital accountsSection 704(b) substantial economic effect rules and their relation to financial accountingThe integration of financial accounting with Forms 1065 and 1120SFinancial accounting basis for ownership interests vs. tax accounting basis for ownership interestsDeferred tax accounting for partnerships/LLCs and S corporationsFinancial accounting for the operations of a partnership/LLCFinancial accounting impact of the C to S election and the S to C electionFinancial and tax accounting for S corporation shareholder equity and partner capital accountsFinancial vs. tax accounting for loans to and from S corporations and their shareholders

Cybersecurity: Protecting Your Firm's Data and Reputation

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Assessment of the current cybersecurity threat level and vulnerabilitiesDeveloping your WISP (Written Information Security Program) Deploying a password management app (PMA) to fortify the security of your login credentialsImplementing an incident response plan to minimize the damage from a cybersecurity attackUnderstanding the role of cybersecurity insurance

Streamlined Excel Reporting Series Session 3: PivotTable Wrap-Up and Web Data

What's Behind the Data?

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Ways in which data and information can be misleadingCommon pitfalls when encountering dataHow to re-evaluate the data to avoid those pitfalls

ACPEN: LLC's & S Corps -- A Comparative Analysis

Comparative analysis of LLCs and S Corporations Entity formation, compliance, and operational structures Self-employment tax and its implications for LLCs and S Corporations Form 2553 preparation and relief for late filings Rev. Proc. 2022-19 and Rev. Proc. 2023-3: analysis and application S Corporation eligibility errors and corrective measures Corporate governance and formalities for both entity types Shareholder stock and debt basis for S Corporations Forms 1120S, 1065, and related schedules (K-1, K-2, K-3) Officer reasonable compensation and general partner guaranteed payments Audit strategies, estate planning, and business continuation planning

Ethics: How to Run Your Business Well

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:The five principles of ethical intelligenceHow to make the right decisions in a range of challenging situationsThe fundamental ethical principal, "Do No Harm"

Surgent's Annual Accounting and Auditing Update

Recently issued FASB Accounting Standards Updates, PCC Update, and items on the FASB’s Technical Agenda Recently issued ASUs covering derivatives, credit losses under ASC 326, government grants, and expense disaggregation FASB Final PIR Report for Leases (Topic 842) Statement on Quality Management Standards: SQMS 1, SQMS 2, and SQMS 3 Proposed SAS on the auditor’s responsibility relating to fraud Recently issued SASs and other AICPA activity Recently issued PCAOB standards and SEC rulemaking activities Other important A&A practice matters

ACPEN: Financial Acumen for Today's HR Leader

Financial Statement Insight Trend Analysis Financial Benchmarks

Mastering Partnership Basis: Inside and Outside Basis

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Explain the use of both "inside" and "outside” basis determination.How to calculate tax basis capital accounts, including when the entity is formed, including the impact of contributed property.Clarify the importance of partnership capital accounts and partnerships debt on partner's tax basis.Explanation of how basis is impacted distributions and by sale and/or liquidation of the partnership interest.Comprehensive example to illustrate the mechanics of the basis determination process.

ACPEN: Tactical CFO Series - Make Your Business Process Work For You

Tactical Budgeting – Moving Beyond Traditional Budgets to Manage Performance Major Subject: Budgeting as a tactical management tool to improve organizational performance. Tactical Business Systems – Getting the Most from Information Systems and ERP Major Subject: Strategic and tactical use of information systems and ERP in finance leadership. Tactical Data Management – Turning Data into Actionable Information Major Subject: Transforming organizational data into actionable insights for better decision-making. Tactical Finance Leadership – Building the Finance Team of Tomorrow Major Subject: Developing tactical leadership skills to build and lead high-performing finance teams.

2026/27 AICPA Regulatory Ethics Update

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Update on ethics and independence developments from the AICPA Professional Ethics Executive Committee (PEEC)Recent developments shaping ethical requirements for the professionProposed and ongoing projects on PEEC's agenda

ACPEN: Ethics, Tax Practice & The Cannabis Industry

Ethical challenges in the cannabis industry Circular 230 and its application Federal case law and cannabis-related tax disputes Preparer due diligence in cannabis tax scenarios State vs. federal legal conflicts in tax reporting IRS Office of Professional Responsibility guidance Board of Accountancy standards and enforcement Risk management for cannabis-related tax clients