CPE Catalog & Events

Shortcuts that Excel Users Love

The major topics covered in this course include:The power of keyboard shortcutsOft used features with more capability than meets the eyeNew helpful featuresNote: This session is taught using Hands-On methodology. We provide practice files that tie to the examples in the course materials so participants can undertake all the steps in unison with the instructor.

Corporate Finance Technology Selection: Practical Frameworks

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)

CFO & Controller Critical Skills: Budgeting & Forecasting

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Overview of budgeting toolsOverview of difference between budgeting and forecastingExamples of various budgeting and forecasting techniques

Retirement Planning: Next Stage for You or Your Client

The major topics covered in this class include:Welcome to Your Next Stage -- Developing a new perspective on what this next stage is really all aboutIt's About Time -- Discovering a new sense of purposeMoney Matters -- Assessing your financial conditionsRelationships Matter Too -- Addressing needed or potential changes in your relationshipsHealthy Habits -- Examining new or renewed ways to stay healthyWho I Am -- Creating a new identity, and answering "So what do you do?"My Master Plan -- Figuring out what to do next

CPAs as AI Systems Evaluators

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:The emerging CPA role in AI system evaluationNIST, ISO, SOC 2, COSO, and AI assurance frameworksAI regulatory and compliance developmentsHallucination, bias, model drift, sycophancy, and security risksAI benchmarks, golden datasets, red-teaming, and performance testingAI governance, controls, documentation, and evidenceAI evaluation engagements, independence, ethics, and professional liability

Fraud & Embezzlement: Case Studies from the Trenches

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:How organizations can find themselves defrauded due to lax oversight and weak internal controls.How the existence of the "trusted advisor" creates situations where CPAs can drop their professional skepticism.Illustrations of the issues companies should look for in preventing fraud and embezzlement.

Fraud Busters: Controls to Prevent & Detect Fraud

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Fraud motivators - the fraud triangle, typical profiles of fraud perpetratorsRevisiting the basics of controls - design vs effectiveness, preventative vs. detectiveEntity-wide controls and how they can assist in fraud deterrenceSpecific fraud types and the controls that could prevent and detect them

Internal Control - Testing for Operating Effectiveness

The major topics covered in this class include:Generally accepted audit requirements related to testing controls for operating effectivenessIdentifying key controls that may prove effective and efficient to test in a control reliance strategyResponses when deviations are discovered when evaluating the design or operating effectiveness of internal controlLeveraging audit evidence available for Service Organization Control (SOC1) ReportsGeneral computer control considerations when evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting

Workforce Transformation and Talent Management in 2025

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: Real Estate Professionals: Passive Activity, Sec. 199A and Investment Income Tax

Definition, pros and cons of being a real estate professional Integration of the real estate professional rules with reporting on Form 1040, Schedule E Real estate professionals and indirectly owned (partnerships, S corporations) entity’s reporting on Form 1040   How ""real estate business"" is interpreted under the Section 199A rules and how it integrates with the passive activity rules Real estate professionals and the Form 8582 (Passive Activities) How to make the ""grouping"" election for passive activities and the flow-through deduction

ACPEN: IRS Cybersecurity Checklist

Defining Cybersecurity and Cyber Risks Implications of Cybercrime Cyber Attack Trends Landscape of Cyberattacks Laws and Regulations Security Standards and Frameworks Cybersecurity Roadmap

ChatGPT and Advanced Financial Analysis for Accountants

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Financial Modeling with ChatGPT IntegrationAdvanced Ratio Analysis TechniquesRisk Assessment and Scenario AnalysisValuation Methods and ChatGPT ApplicationsUtilizing Performance Metrics in Financial AnalysisData Analysis and Interpretation with AIInvestment Analysis Enhanced by ChatGPT

Common Financial Statement Disclosures

The major topics covered in this class include:General disclosures about the entity and its environmentCommon critical information useful to financial statement readers for making economic decisionsExplain results of operations through information that supplements the face financial statements

Surgent's What Practitioners Need to Know About Estate Planning and Administering a Client’s Estate

The federal transfer tax exemption  What constitutes a valid will Common trust vehicles often used to safeguard assets Consequences of intestacy How to transfer property outside of a will Legal treatment of marital property Transfer of IRAs and retirement plans Probate generally and probate for property held outside of the state of decedent’s residence When an estate tax return should be filed Portability of the Deceased Spousal Unused Exclusion (DSUE) amount

Business Transformation: Critical Skills for CFOs and Controllers

AICPA's Annual Federal Tax Update

Inflation adjustments 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 Legislative and regulatory updates affecting tax practitioners Tax matters affecting individuals, C corporations, partnerships, S corporations, estates, and trusts

Surgent's Preparing Not-for-Profit Financial Statements

Key requirements, options, and disclosures related to each of the basic financial statements The reporting of functional and natural expense information Core not-for-profit accounting requirements related to conditional and unconditional contributions, promises to give, restrictions, designations, contributed services, net assets, special events, the classification of expenses, and more

Surgent's Technical Business Practice Issues and Tax Forms for Experienced Practitioners

Bonus depreciation and §179 changes under the OBBBA Schedules K-2 and K-3 and filing exceptions Form 7203  IRS Tax Pro Account  IRS modernization initiatives Information Returns Intake System (IRIS) Identity Theft warnings   IRS guidance for the marijuana industry  “Recycled” Form 1099-NEC to report nonemployee compensation  Form 1065 steps for reporting capital  Centralized audit regime; late filing penalties and small partnership relief  “Substance over Form” argument of shareholder loans  Advanced study of “At-Risk” loans  Employer W-2 correction requests  Don't get caught watching the paint dry -- What is hot and new  What is terminating S corporations today?  Special allocation issues of §704  Final regulations for allocating depreciation recapture to partners and members of LLCs 

Tax Depreciation: Review and Update

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Recent tax legislation and developments related to capitalizationEligible property for Section 179 and Section 168(k)Discussion of the Section 179 deduction and its use to depreciate real propertyThe Section 168(k) deduction and its use to depreciate real propertyDisposition of segments of real propertyExchanges of tangible personal property after repeal of the like-kind exchange rulesOther related topics

ACPEN: State of AI

AI Hype vs Reality AI 2025 Advancements AI Governance Structure AI Strategy Planning AI Implementation Decisions