CPE Catalog & Events
Construction Contractors: Auditing Considerations
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Virtual
4.00 Credits
Auditing contractor accounting and revenue from contracts with customers Planning and risk assessment for construction contractors Key controls Substantive procedures for long-term contractors
ACPEN: Hands-On Tax Return Workshop – S Corporations (Form 1120S)
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Online
8.00 Credits
Extensive review of the S corporation income tax laws with an emphasis on any new legislative Schedule K analysis– determine if income statement items are separately (i.e. schedule K) or non-separately stated income and expense items Discuss how schedule K items get allocated to shareholders on their schedule K-1s Look at detailed Schedule K-1 information reporting to shareholders needed for the qualified business income (QBI) deduction, 3.8% net investment income tax and business interest expense limitations Talk about the unreasonably low officer compensation issues Learn the special tax treatment of fringe benefits paid to 2% shareholders and family members Schedule M-1 – calculate the reconciliation of income or loss per books with income or loss per income tax return Schedule M-2 – detailed step-by-step calculation of the AAA, PTI, E&P and OAA accounts Basic overview of the tax treatment of distributions including when a S corporation has prior C corporation earnings and profits (E&P) Review the importance and basics of calculating a shareholder’s stock and debt basis Basic overview of the potential S corporation built in gains tax from the conversion of a C to S corporation
Surgent's Preparing C Corporation Tax Returns for New Staff and Paraprofessionals
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Virtual
8.00 Credits
Updates throughout regarding the recent HR 1, One Big Beautiful Bill Act Preparation of a reasonably complicated Form 1120, U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return, from trial balance to completed return The importance of Schedule M-1, including adjustments in reconciling book income to tax income and items staff may look for on all business returns New tax planning strategies for depreciation deductions, including changes to §179 and first-year depreciation under §168(k) as a result of new tax legislation Methods of accounting In-depth analysis of Form 4797 dealing with depreciation recapture Deductible expenses, including rules on meals and entertainment Section 163(j) Computation of tax liability Overview of common business deductions – deductibility and Schedule M-1 How to practically handle uniform capitalization and inventory accounting for a small manufacturing concern And more!
Surgent's Preparing Individual Tax Returns for New Staff and Paraprofessionals
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Virtual
8.00 Credits
Updates related to HR 1, One Big Beautiful Bill Act, incorporated throughout the course Preparation of various Form 1040 individual tax returns and schedules; provided answers include “filled-in” forms Coverage of Form 7203 Coverage of §199A qualified business income, its calculation, limitations, and examples Dividends and interest – Ordinary, return of capital, and capital gain distribution dividends; tax-exempt interest, original issue discount, etc. Security transactions – From Form 1099-B to Form 8949 to Schedule D, plus mutual fund sales and related basis issues Self-employed person issues Schedule C deductions including depreciation Sale and exchange of property – Understanding Form 4797 and depreciation recapture; capital gains A working understanding of passive losses – How to handle rental property and how the passive loss rules flow to the tax forms Itemized deductions – A thorough understanding of what’s deductible and what’s not Interest deductions – Limitations and timing problems Charitable contributions substituting for taxes, IRS says – No! Retirement contributions and education credits and deductions Tax computations – The Kiddie Tax, AMT, regular tax, tax credits Individual problems illustrated by form preparation for various items, with numerous “practice tips” Impact of recent legislation and forms changes on the 1040
Cybersecurity: Protecting Your Firm's Data and Reputation
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
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
AI Liability and Malpractice Exposure
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Professional accountability for AI-generated workAI errors, hallucinations, and malpractice exposureEmerging cases, sanctions, and disciplinary actionsAI regulatory expectations in the US, Canada, and UKProfessional liability insurance and AI coverage gapsConfidentiality, privilege, privacy, and data exposureVerification, documentation, governance, and defensibility
The Current and Future Landscape of Audit Technology
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Explore the transformative impact of technology on the audit profession in this forward-looking courseGain practical insights into cutting-edge tools and trends, including data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and automationNavigate the evolving audit landscape with confidence and adaptability
ACPEN: Leading for Well-Being: Building Resilient Teams & Thriving Workplaces
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Online
3.50 Credits
The Importance of Mental Wellness in Leadership Recognizing and Preventing Burnout Building and Sustaining Resilient Teams Leading by Example: Self-Care and Continuous Growth
ACPEN: Dashboard and Report Design Principles Using Excel
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Online
4.00 Credits
Principles of Visual Design for Dashboards and Reports Chart Design for Rapid Understanding Table Design for Efficiency Effective Use of Commentary Strategic Layout Techniques Trend Analysis Methods Developing Organizational Design Standards Excel Application Techniques Critical Review Skills Best Practices for Data Presentation
Individual Tax Update: OBBA and Recent Developments
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Legislation impacting individual taxpayersThe One Big Beautiful Bill ActExtenders legislation updateChild tax and dependent care creditsSection 199A deductionCapital gains and lossesRental real estateOther passive activities losses
Ethics, AI, and Music: What Every CPA Must Know
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Virtual
1.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include: Four key aspects of artificial intelligence that are relevant to CPAs: machine learning, generative AI, large language models, and GPT.The role that five powerful principles—the principles of ethical intelligence—play in using AI the right way. Short, focused writing exercises (30 seconds each) designed to deepen understanding of the topic. Real-world case studies about the use of AI in music as well as accountingAnswers to several crucial questions about how to use artificial intelligence with ethical intelligence.
ACPEN: Before You Let Them Go: A Whole Brain Approach to Helping Team Members with ADHD Thrive in Your Organization
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Online
1.00 Credits
Creative Thinking Productivity Neurodiversity Inclusion Employee Retention
ACPEN: New Tips and Overtime Tax Rules: Compliance and Best Practices
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Online
1.00 Credits
Updated OBBA guidance on tip reporting and allocation Qualifying tip requirements Self-employment and qualified tips Employer and employee tax responsibilities for tipped wages Overtime pay deduction Tip and overtime information returns
ACPEN: Communicating in a Virtual and Live Environment – Numbers Matter But So Do Words
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Online
2.00 Credits
Tackling the emotions of presenting Use of visuals in presentations Telling stories Who is your audience and why is it crucial? Defining presentations in a virtual and live world dynamic Discuss the overarching themes of effective presentations Building out a presentation with a roadmap order Discuss the types of presentations, including the good and the bad Tips on the right considerations in being effective in virtual presentations
ACPEN: Form 7203 - How to Calculate Shareholder Basis
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Online
2.00 Credits
Introduction to Form 7203 and its purposes Mechanics of completing Form 7203 accurately Strategies for reconstructing shareholder basis Loss limitations under I.R.C. §461 At-risk rules and limitations for S Corporation shareholders Documentation requirements for shareholder basis Common errors in calculating and reporting basis Best practices for maintaining and reporting shareholder basis
A Working Parent's Guide to Prioritizing Mental Wellness
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Challenging Cultural Expectations and Managing Stress: Explore the impact of societal pressures and develop strategies to counter unrealistic expectations while managing stress effectively.Prioritizing Self-Care and Physical Well-Being: Learn the importance of self-care, including sleep, exercise, relaxation, and setting boundaries, as well as understanding the critical connection between physical and mental health.Seeking Support and Building Resilience: Recognize when to seek help -whether through therapy, friends, or family- and develop skills to build resilience, create flexible work arrangements, and identify when additional support, such as professional intervention, is needed.
Corporate Finance Technology Selection: Practical Frameworks
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Virtual
1.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:The changing finance technology landscape: continuous processing, modular ecosystems, automated controls, and real-time visibility (and the risks these shifts introduce)Technology trends and “AI” definitions: automation vs. machine learning vs. generative AI vs. agentic AI—what each means for governance and auditabilityFive common challenges in finance tech projects and how to address them:Cutting through vendor claims and AI hypeIntegration complexity and hidden costsChange management and proving ROIData quality readiness for AI and automationRisk, security, and governanceVendor Evaluation Scorecard: 20 criteria across five categories, including control “deal-breakers” (audit trails, segregation of duties, logging, SOC reporting, error handling)Five-Year Total Cost Framework: software, implementation, data migration/cleanup, integration build & maintenance, internal costs, training, and ongoing operations (plus common underestimates)Industry-specific considerations (manufacturing, distribution/wholesale, SaaS/tech, professional services)Four-phase implementation roadmap with checkpoints and red flags: Assessment & Planning; Selection & Negotiation; Implementation & Testing; Optimization & Ongoing GovernanceWorking with external advisers (CPA/auditor involvement, implementation partner expectations, and common deficiencies to avoid)
ACPEN: Addressing Common Documentation Deficiencies
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Online
2.00 Credits
AU-C 230 Auditing Yellowbook
ACPEN: FASB Update and Review
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Online
2.00 Credits
FASB updates that will affect near-term reporting Future topics that may soon be addressed by the FASB
Power Skills: Professionalism and Client Interactions
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Best practices when communicating with the client.Complicated scenarios for practice.
