CPE Catalog & Events
Surgent's Form 1040 Return Review Boot Camp for New and Experienced Reviewers
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Virtual
8.00 Credits
Key provisions of the recent HR 1, One Big Beautiful Bill Act, have been incorpoated throughout the course Review an error-prone "staff-prepared" Form 1040 from client-provided information. Where do you start? Get to know your client and ask the questions Several new reporting issues for the reviewer to consider, including the main credit provisions as enacted under the American Rescue Plan What are common errors preparers make and what are the areas generating malpractice claims? The importance of engagement letters, questionnaires, and §7216 permission statement Initial administrative groundwork Identifying organizing issues in the tax return to be reviewed Avoiding “willful blindness.” Handling ethical and moral dilemmas Efficient review of certain advanced issues for income, adjustments, deductions, and credits Effective procedures for delinquent clients, filing past-due tax returns First-time client issues requiring extra scrutiny Multiple checklists of efficient procedures to identify potential issues on a 1040 return Listing of schedules for staff to prepare to make a review easier, including basis issues for 1040 clients Reconciling time pressure with thoroughness and quality control Professionals acting professionally
Start From Trust: An Evidence-Based Approach to AI Adoption
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Virtual
1.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Why one visible machine error collapses trust while identical human error does not, and what that asymmetry costs firms in both directionsWhere small and midsize firms actually stand on AI adoption, and why a firm that has not adopted broadly is not automatically behindCalibrated trust: the difference between misuse (overtrust), disuse (undertrust), and trust matched to what a tool actually does wellThe five-stop adoption spectrum: paralysis, accidental delay, informed caution, responsible piloting, and reckless adoptionThe AI Trust and Usage Quadrant: four firm postures and the next step each one impliesGoverned versus unstructured AI use, and why staff already bringing their own tools makes abstention a decision rather than an optionWhat the evidence says about human and AI combinations, and the two task questions that predict whether a tool will help or hurtReading vendor claims: the gap between a demo and production, and why fluent explanations increase acceptance of wrong answersFive trust questions to ask any AI vendor: permission, uncertainty, audit trail, explainability, and change controlThe NIST AI Risk Management Framework trustworthiness characteristics as a technical backboneThree vulnerabilities that current firm financial performance can conceal: client expectations, talent, and deferred learningCognitive offloading and skill retention: what firms lose by waiting, and the conditions under which offloading frees capacity insteadFive actions a firm can take this week, and four evidence-based rollout rules for a first pilot
ACPEN: State Tax Nexus: Frequently Awkward Questions
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Online
2.00 Credits
Frequently asked questions about income tax and sales tax nexus New developments Key factors in reviewing potential nexus consequences Nexus road trip to eight large states Tax impacts of remote work Free, multistate resources
ACPEN: Communicate Financial Concepts to Non-Accountants
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Online
2.00 Credits
The math literacy barrier The financial literacy barrier What to say and how to say it Communicating ideas graphically
Self-Rental Real Estate: Passive Activity & Section 199A
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Definition of self-rental property - both for Sections 199A and 469Self-rental income from directly owned properties and reporting on Form 1040, Schedule E, page 1Self-rental income from indirectly owned (partnerships, S corporations) and reporting on Form 1040, Schedule E, page 2Form 8582 (passive activity)The flow-through entity grouping electionIllustrative examples and consequences of failing to comply with the reporting standardsSelf-rental property and "former passive activities" rules
Pass-Through and Corporate Annual Tax Update
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Virtual
3.50 Credits
Strategies for tax savings Business entity changes IRS administrative issues, compliance, and new forms Court cases settled in the last year that provide tax return guidance IRS rulings, procedures, and notices for the last year New, updated, and expiring tax deductions and credits
ACPEN: Financial & Tax Accounting for S Corporations
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Online
4.00 Credits
Review of the AICPA "small&" GAAP rules The impact of the entity's tax status history on its financial accounting Deferred tax accounting for S corporations Required S status financial accounting disclosures Financial accounting impact of the C to S election and the S to C election The relationship of financial accounting and the Form 1120S Financial and tax accounting for the S corporation shareholder equity account Financial vs. tax accounting for loans to and from S corporations and their shareholders
Analyzing Financial Statements
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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
Mastering SSARS: From Compilation to Preparation Engagements
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Virtual
4.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:The SSARS landscapeReview engagementsCompilation engagementsPreparation engagementsSelecting from the menu of SSARS engagementsAICPA quality management standardsIndependence and other ethical considerationsConsiderations when changing the level of servicePitfalls to avoidBest practices to adopt
CPA to CFO: Essential Competencies for Finance Leaders
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Virtual
1.00 Credits
To purchase the report referenced in this presentation, or any of the research papers published by CPA Crossings, visit https://www.cpacrossings.com/research. The major topics that will be covered in this course include: Top competencies hiring executives seek in CFO candidates based on survey of 320+ CEOs and recruiters Critical thinking frameworks and strategy creation techniques for financial leadership Forward-looking financial skills including capital management, forecasting, and funding strategies Industry-specific requirements for high-growth companies and nonprofit organizations Practical career development strategies to build CFO-ready competencies
ACPEN: Creative Strategies for Buying, Selling, or Gifting a Business
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Online
8.00 Credits
Valuation methods for business interests Stock purchase versus asset purchase Estate transfer and tax considerations Gifting strategies for business interests Trusts and partnerships in business transfers Self-canceling installment notes in transactions Transferring S corporation stock to trusts Business interest transfer with Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
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
Workforce Transformation and Talent Management in 2025
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Virtual
1.00 Credits
To purchase the report referenced in this presentation, or any of the research papers published by CPA Crossings, visit https://www.cpacrossings.com/research. The major topics that will be covered in this course include: Understanding why the traditional pyramid structure is failing firms The inverted pentagon framework and its talent retention advantages Impact of technology and AI on entry-level accounting roles The 6 Ps of Business Model Transformation implementation Accelerating specialized skills acquisition in your workforce Effective knowledge transfer through mentorship and job rotation Technology-driven training and development strategies Best practices from other industries for workforce transformation Building and retaining specialized middle layers of expertise Strategic pricing models to support the pentagon structure
ACPEN: Managing Through Corporate Politics - The Achilles’ Heel of Executing Professional Skepticism
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Online
2.00 Credits
Defining corporate politics Impact of corporate politics Types of corporate politics and remedies Metaphors of corporate politics Dispelling myths The players
ACPEN: Data Science for Accountants – Business Analytics
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Online
2.00 Credits
The Rise of Business Intelligence (BI), Business Analytics (BA), and Big Data Why the interest in BI and BA? The analytics continuum How BA can provide a competitive advantage The difference between BI and BA The difference between forecasting and predictive analytics Fundamentals of analytical techniques Examples for the CFO and accounting function Benefits from applying analytics The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the accounting profession
Becoming a Fractional CFO: What to Do and How?
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Do you have what it takes to be a successful fractional CFO?Should you be a solo practitioner or join a larger firm? 1099 versus W2?What skills are needed to be successful?Sales, marketing, etc.What are some of the ‘red flags’?Typical assignments and issues a fractional CFO will likely encounterThe greatest opportunity for fractional CFOs?Understanding your value
How to Audit: Property, Plant, & Equipment
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:The foundation of auditing PP&E, including the related audit assertions, risks, & threats to the PP&E balance.The various substantive auditing procedures that staff should perform.Real world auditing examples.
Microsoft Copilot Deep Dive Hands-on Bootcamp for CPAs
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Getting started with Microsoft CopilotTour of the Copilot app and how to use itVariety of hands-on case study examples for accounting, finance and taxProtecting your data privacy in Microsoft CopilotAdvanced Microsoft Copilot features reviewIntegration with Microsoft 365 apps
Surgent's Annual Update for Defined Contribution Plans
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
Common risks and pitfalls associated with defined contribution plans Nuances of the fair value disclosures New reporting and disclosure requirements for the current year Results of DOL Audit Quality Study
Surgent's Comparing and Contrasting Retirement Plans for Small- and Medium-Sized Businesses
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
Factors business owners should take into account when choosing a retirement plan SIMPLE plans Simplified employee pension plans 401(k) plans Defined benefit plans Ensuring eligible employees are covered Employees’ impact on choice of plan Ongoing compliance requirements Establishing a plan after the tax year end Changes to safe harbor 401(k) plans Pooled employer plans Defined benefit plans and cash balance plans
