CPE Catalog & Events
Avoiding the Most Misapplied Audit Concepts
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Virtual
8.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Risk Assessment - Properly assessing inherent, control, and detection risk on an engagement, and linking the results to an appropriately tailored detailed audit plan based on risk assessment and client service goals, regardless of entity type.Substantive Analytics- Leveraging strong substantive analytic procedures as audit evidence to cut back on tests of details.Selecting items to test common misunderstandings related to designing, performing and concluding on tests of details, including sampling.Identifying and Evaluating Internal Control Deficiencies - Emphasizing the importance of identifying both design and operating effectiveness deficiencies during the course of the audit, and how to properly categorize deficiencies as inconsequential, significant or material for impact on the audit or required communications with management and those charged with governance.
Surgent's Compilations, Reviews, and Preparations: Engagement Performance and Annual Update
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Virtual
8.00 Credits
SSARS No. 21, Clarification and Recodification, and updates to SSARS No. 21 due to the issuance of SSARS No. 23, Omnibus Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services SSARS No. 22, Compilation of Pro Forma Financial Information SSARS No. 24, Omnibus Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services -- 2018 SSARS No. 25, Materiality in a Review of Financial Statements and Adverse Conclusions SSARS No. 26, Quality Management for an Engagement Conducted in Accordance With Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services Sample comprehensive engagement work programs for preparation, compilation and review engagements Reporting and disclosure illustrations for each level of service, including attesting on personal financial statements, prescribed form, special purpose framework and other engagement variations Other communication requirements, such as sample engagement letters and management representation letters
Surgent's Technical Business Practice Issues and Tax Forms for Experienced Practitioners
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Virtual
8.00 Credits
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
How to Audit Accounting Estimates
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Procedures to test the process used by management to develop estimates.Common examples of accounting estimates that are included in the financial statements.Updated requirements in SAS 143.
ACPEN: Navigating IRS Collections: Overview of Form 433 & Offer in Compromise
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Online
2.00 Credits
IRS collection process overview Initial notice and subsequent notices Enforced collection actions: liens, levies, and wage garnishments Payment options and alternatives to enforced actions Detailed review of Forms 433-A & 433-B Offer in Compromise (OIC) program: qualifications and process Advising clients on compliance and payment options
Finding Errors in Excel Spreadsheets
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Understanding Common Excel Errors: Gain insights into the most common types of errors encountered in Excel, including formula errors, reference errors, and logic errors.Advanced Formulas and Functions: Learn to use advanced Excel functions and formulas that are crucial for error detection and data analysis.Data Validation Techniques: Master the art of data validation to prevent errors before they occur. This includes setting up data validation rules and using conditional formatting to highlight potential inaccuracies.Error Tracing and Auditing Tools: Delve into Excel's auditing tools to trace and fix errors. Learn to use Trace Precedents, Trace Dependents, and the Error Checking tool effectively.
Surgent's Adapting to OBBBA Changes: A Strategic Review
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
Business losses The SALT cap Implementing Section 1202 changes Form 1099 reporting changes Business meals Health care–related issues Family and medical leave Other crucial OBBBA provisions
Surgent's Incident Response and Case Studies in AI-powered Cybersecurity
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Virtual
0.00 Credits
Frameworks for incident response (e.g., NIST Cybersecurity Framework) Case studies of notable AI-powered cybersecurity incidents (e.g., ransomware, data breaches) Practical tips for financial professionals to manage crises Post-incident analysis and lessons learned Building organizational resilience through continuous improvement
Current Nonprofit Fraud Trends
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Virtual
4.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Best practices for fraud prevention and detection.Common fraud schemes in nonprofit including cash misappropriation; payroll fraud; vendor fraud; falsified billings; improper use of credit cards or purchase cards; the redirection of cash and non-cash contributions; personal use of assets; the redirection of grant benefits; other grant related fraud; travel and expense reporting fraud; and much more!
ACPEN: Comprehensive Estate Planning: Administration & Postmortem Strategies
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Online
8.00 Credits
Introduction to Estate Administration How to Read a last will and testament Understanding the Entities Administration the Estate and Orderly Process The Probate process and the courts Special Issues in Estate Administration Postmortem Issues Regarding Income Taxation of Descendants and Estates Post Mortem Opportunities on the Estate Income Tax Return Available Post Mortem Estate Tax Elections Portability Election Disclaimers
SEC Case Studies: Ethical Dilemmas in Finance and Accounting
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Introduction to Ethics and Ethical DilemmasEthical Codes and Professional StandardsFraud and the Fraud TriangleEthical Decision-Making ModelsFinancial Statement Manipulation TacticsCash Flow and Key Metrics Misrepresentations
ACPEN: Claims Management Essentials: Cost-Saving Strategies for Employees and Employers
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Online
2.00 Credits
Medical Claims
ACPEN: Schedule C of Form 1040
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Online
2.00 Credits
When Schedule C applies Cash v. Accrual method Typical business deductions Business vehicle expenses Section 179 and bonus depreciation
Auditing digital assets: Client acceptance and continuance, risk assessment, and laws regulations and related parties
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
Client acceptance and continuance Risk assessment and processes and controls Laws and regulations and related parties
CFO Series: Acute Uncertainty Won't Go Away = More Failures?
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:How and why ambiguity is good, and how certainty can be harmfulHow the past blinds us to the real futureThe difference between risk and uncertaintyManaging measurable risk and unmeasurable riskWe need to ask what could happen, not what will happenWhy have our current planning approaches failed? What can we do to improve?The need to analyze decisions from multiple perspectives; why we must ‘think twice’?Probabilities are not necessarily predictive. How statistics can be misused and misunderstood, thus increasing riskNot everything can be anticipated, e.g., the success of GoogleWe must focus on our goalOur plans must be flexible!
BUNDLE: CFO Series - October 2026
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Virtual
8.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:All times listed are Eastern Time ZoneWeek 1: CFO Series: Acute Uncertainty Won't Go Away = More Failures?CPE: 2Field of Study: Auditing and FinanceDiscussion Leader: Brian Maturi, MBA, FCA & Don Minges, MBADate: Friday, October 2, 11:00 amDescription: "Man plans, God laughs." Perfection is fantasy, we must accept uncertainty. Most of our plans are useless and outdated within weeks after we think they are 'finished'. Welcome to today's world, e.g., the pandemic, great recession, supply chain issues, tax changes, tariffs and countless other changes that come from nowhere. What do we do? Do we stop planning? No! Instead we need to change what we do because the 'old' methods have failed countless times. We must change our way of thinking in a world where change is normal and a better way to plan. Some risks can be quantified, but most cannot. Some hazards are measurable, most are not. We will discuss multiple tactics to minimize (as best as practical) threats and gambles so we can feel better about our decisions. We can do a better at planning and dealing with uncertainties, but it is impossible to be perfect. Join us to learn how can we better deal with an ever-changing environment. There are methods to deal with ambiguity and doubt, we will review these approaches to help you plan. Week 2: CFO Series: Internal Controls That Matter: Smart PracticesCPE: 2Field of Study: AuditingDiscussion Leader: Robert Berry MBA, CPA, CIA, CISADate: Friday, October 9, 11:00 amDescription: Internal controls don't have to be complicated, but they must be effective and intentional. In many organizations, especially small to mid-sized ones, internal controls are informal or incomplete, exposing teams to unnecessary risk. This discussion helps finance and accounting professionals understand what internal controls really are, why they matter, and how to build systems that actually work without overwhelming your people or processes. We'll discuss how to design, implement, and monitor core controls across financial reporting, operations, and compliance, using real-world examples that scale to fit your organization. Whether you're starting from scratch or tightening what's already there, this seminar will help you put the right checks and balances in place to protect your resources, your people, and your reputation. Week 3: CFO Series: Identify the 'Good' Clients to Improve MarginsCPE: 2Field of Study: Business Management & OrganizationDiscussion Leader: Robert Mims, CPADate: Friday, October 16, 11:00 amDescription: Some customers are unprofitable from an economic or time perspective, but many organizations do not know the difference. When an organization has a unique, well-differentiated service or product, understanding value from the customer's perspective becomes a crucial factor in profitable pricing. We must take the time to fully understand what is valuable from the customer's point of view. What is value? Why do brand, value, and customer focus matter? Developing a deep understanding of our customers is vital. Our most important customer might be someone we haven't yet recognized. Understanding both external clients and internal stakeholders, including the evolving role of the finance department, is critical to long-term success. Week 4: CFO Series: Decision Making in Our Non-linear WorldCPE: 2Field of Study: Auditing and Finance Discussion Leader: Brian Maturi, MBA, FCA & Don Minges, MBADate: Friday, October 23, 11:00 amDescription: We live in a non-linear world that is neither predictable nor stable. Sometimes we may feel that we may just as well 'throw the dice' since making decisions seem like playing an unpredictable game. What we need are better tactics and tools to improve our decision-making process. All decisions are about the future, and the future is uncertain. In this seminar we will examine the decision-making process itself to find better ways of managing an uncertain future. We will examine the fundamental concepts that we learned in management accounting and will challenge some of the conventional wisdom and correct some common misconceptions.
Money Laundering Awareness for Accountants
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Money laundering overviewRole of tax examiners and auditorsTax return examinationPre-audit indicatorsAudit flagsReal estate issuesCash indicatorsInternational trade signalsLoan considerationsProfessional service provider concernsMoney laundering and ethics
ACPEN: The SECURE Act 2.0 – Planning Opportunities for Individuals
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Online
1.20 Credits
Implications for individuals: Changes to the Saver’s Credit Changing the required minimum distribution rules for Roth 401(k)s Changes to required beginning dates for required minimum distributions of retirement plans. Penalty-Free Withdrawals for Certain Emergency Expenses Special provisions for firefighters and military personnel spouses Increases in catch-up contributions Impact on 529 plans Opportunities for student loan payment matching
ACPEN: Habits That May Keep You from Promotions, Raises or Achieving Your Potential in Organizations: Small Steps Can Lead to Big Changes
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Online
4.00 Credits
Leadership Management
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.
