CPE Catalog & Events
ACPEN: Inventory Observation - Cretaceous Conservatory Simulation
-
Online
3.00 Credits
Obsservation Auditing
ACPEN: The Preparation of Form 706 - Line-by-Line
-
Online
3.00 Credits
Overview of Form 706 and estate tax fundamentals Gross estate valuation and inclusion rules Deductions, credits, and tax computation Portability election and its implications Filing deadlines and procedural requirements Common issues and IRS audit triggers Legislative changes affecting estate taxation
ACPEN: Shorten Month-End - Closing Best Practices
-
Online
4.00 Credits
Trends in financial statement closings including the Quick Close, Soft Close and Virtual Close Review and discuss information systems headaches that slow you down Work through examples of close cycle "time killers" and how to resolve them Get inventory and cost of sales under control Identify the improvement projects that will yield the biggest benefit
Analyzing Financial Statements
-
Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Balance sheet analysisIncome statement analysisCash flow statement analysisClues in the notes and MD&AIndustry nuances
ACPEN: The SECURE Act 2.0 – Planning Opportunities for Employers
-
Online
1.00 Credits
Implications for Employers Starter § 401(k) plans for small employers Requiring automatic 401(k) enrollment Improving worker access to emergency savings Increasing part-time workers’ access to retirement accounts Statute of Limitations on excise taxes imposed on overcontributions to retirement plans Multiple employer §403(b) plans Automatic portability provisions Other changes in the administration of company retirement plans
ACPEN: Businesses Receiving Government Assistance
-
Online
2.00 Credits
What is Yellow Book? What is different because of Yellow Book? When might Yellow Book apply to a business? Common application of concepts to businesses Answers to common questions
Adobe Acrobat Tips for Working with PDF Files
-
Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Review of all that Adobe Acrobat has to offerOrganizing your PDFs with bookmarks, links, file attachments and moreFormatting the presentation of PDFs with headers, footers and watermarksCreating and processing fillable formsProcessing documents for e-signatureTips for converting email messages, documents and spreadsheets into PDF formatCombining multiple PDF files into a single binder Utilizing the security features of Adobe Acrobat to protect document confidentiality
The 10 Must Know Excel Features
-
Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Excel Tables: Master the use of Excel tables for efficient data management, including sorting, filtering, and structured references, to manage data more effectively.Custom Sorting: Get to grips with custom sorting options to organize data in a way that best suits your needs, enhancing data readability and analysis.XLOOKUP: Discover the power of XLOOKUP for advanced data retrieval, a game-changer for complex analysis, allowing you to extract specific data from extensive datasets with ease.SUBTOTAL: Gain proficiency in using the SUBTOTAL function, a versatile tool for calculating data in visible cells, ideal for analyses that require dynamic calculations.SUMIF(S): Explore the functionality of SUMIF and SUMIFS functions for conditional summing, crucial for precise budgeting, expense tracking, and financial reporting.Array Formulas: Dive into array formulas to perform multiple calculations on one or more items in an array, enhancing the efficiency of complex accounting computations.Data Validations: Learn to implement data validations to ensure data integrity and prevent errors in financial data entry, a critical skill for maintaining accurate accounting records.Slicers: Learn to use slicers for interactive data segmentation in tables and PivotTables, enabling accountants to quickly filter and analyze specific subsets of financial data.Conditional Formatting: Understand how to apply conditional formatting to highlight critical financial data points, trends, and variances, making data analysis and interpretation more intuitive.PivotTables: An introduction to PivotTables, one of the most powerful Excel features, for summarizing, analyzing, and presenting large sets of financial data in a digestible format.
Numbers to Narrative: Storytelling in Business Communication
-
Virtual
1.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Role of narrative in professional communicationSituation–complication–resolution frameworkNarrative arcs in business contextsIntegrating data within a structured storyDefining tension and resolution logicallyMaintaining accuracy while improving clarityApplication of storytelling framework to a workplace scenario
ACPEN: The Preparation of Form 706 and 709 – Understanding the Law
-
Online
2.00 Credits
Estate and Gift Taxation Fundamentals Valuation of Estate Assets Components of the Gross Estate Deductions in Estate Taxation Charitable and Marital Deductions Tax Credits and Their Application
ACPEN: Schedule C of Form 1040
-
Online
2.00 Credits
When Schedule C applies Cash v. Accrual method Typical business deductions Business vehicle expenses Section 179 and bonus depreciation
AI Prompt Engineering Masterclass for Accountants
-
Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Introduction to Prompt Engineering: Basics of structuring effective prompts for meaningful AI responses.Understanding AI's "Lazy" Defaults: Why LLMs provide basic answers and how to push them to deliver richer insights.Multi-Layered Prompting: Techniques to encourage AI to provide responses across beginner to expert levels.Candid and Contrarian Responses: Using prompts that elicit honest and balanced insights, even on controversial topics.Ripple Effect and Cobra Effect: Probing the broader impacts and unintended consequences of financial decisions.Avoid Stupidity Checklist: A practical prompt for reducing mistakes in AI-assisted accounting tasks.Role-Based Perspective Prompts: Crafting prompts that guide AI to respond from specific professional viewpoints.Automation Ideas: Leveraging AI to optimize repetitive accounting tasks.Emotion-Driven Prompting: Exploring how emotion-focused prompts can enhance AI performance and engagement.Practical Applications in Accounting: How to apply prompt engineering in real-world financial analysis and decision-making.
Surgent's Understanding S Corporation Taxation: Late S Corporation Elections, Disproportionate Distributions, and Selling Shares
-
Virtual
2.00 Credits
Making an S corporation election and late filing relief Disproportionate distributions Selling S corporation shares Redemption rules
Surgent's Performing an Effective Audit Risk Assessment
-
Virtual
4.00 Credits
Audit process and planning Materiality, performance materiality, and tolerable misstatement Assessing the risk of material misstatement Understanding internal controls and when the auditor must evaluate the design and implementation of internal controls Designing procedures to test the effectiveness of controls Issues noted related to performing substantive procedures Documentation Communication with the Client and Governance
Enterprise-Wide Risk Management in Accounting and Finance
-
Virtual
4.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Enterprise-wide risk management best practices for identifying, evaluating, and determining how to respond to relevant risks.The importance of risk and uncertainty disclosures in the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements, including evolving risks with cybersecurity and ESG.Coordinating risk management efforts, including the required involvement of corporate governance.How to embed risk management into day-to-day accounting and finance activities.
Ethics, AI, and Music: What Every CPA Must Know
-
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: HR Investigations – Episode 2 – Interview Techniques
-
Online
2.00 Credits
Interview terminology Types of questions Levels of listening Verbal and nonverbal communications Documenting results
Surgent's Recent Changes in Workplace Regulations: Overtime, Non-compete Agreements, and Employee/Independent Contractor
-
Virtual
2.00 Credits
Final Rule - Employee or Independent Contractor Classification Under the FLSA: the multifactor “economic reality” test; What analysis guides whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor under this final rule? Can a worker voluntarily waive employee status and choose to be classified as an independent contractor? Are any of the economic reality factors adopted in this rule more important than others when evaluating a worker’s employment status? How does the final rule explain “extent to which the work performed is an integral part of the employer’s business?” The Federal Trade Commission’s Decision on Non-compete Agreements: impact on new and existing non-competes; treatment and definitional terms for senior executives; definition of a non-compete clause; definition of a “worker” New Overtime Rules: exemptions from minimum wage and overtime pay requirements for executive, administrative, professional, outside sales, and computer employees; increases in the standard level and the highly compensated employee total annual compensation threshold; new mechanism allowing for the timely and efficient updating of the salary and compensation thresholds Current status of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) rules
Surgent's Starting a Small Business: What Every Trusted Advisor and Entrepreneur Needs To Know
-
Virtual
0.00 Credits
Understanding the time commitment required to start and run a business Selecting a corporate structure to protect your personal assets Building your product or service Sales and marketing in your business Establishing your owners, investors, managers, and employees Accounting, recording-keeping, and other software programs Leases, contracts, and employee agreements Protecting intellectual property Insurance Business plans Financing Market position
ACPEN: Planning for Small Business Success
-
Online
4.00 Credits
The integrated planning model The strategic plan Linkage with Performance Based Management Tracking success Real world examples
