CPE Catalog & Events
Accounting for the Gig Economy
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Online
2.00 Credits
Characteristics unique to the gig economy Independent contractor and employee classification considerations Recordkeeping considerations for independent contractors Accounting and reporting issues for gig economy participants Audit and attestation for clients who participate in the gig economy Tax and regulatory considerations The CPA as a trusted advisor for independent contractors
Surgent's Controller/CFO Update: Hot Topics Facing Today's Financial Professional
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Virtual
4.00 Credits
Economic update Leadership and management changes as a result of the pandemic Managing for productivity Metrics and benchmarking Social media's place in our organizations
How AI Is Automating Internal Control
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Virtual
4.00 Credits
The major topics covered in this class include:An explanation of Artificial Intelligence (AI).Specific ways AI is replacing human cognition. What is on the internal control horizon related to AI and other technologies.
Walter Haig's Personal Financial Health Checkup
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Virtual
8.00 Credits
The topics that will be covered in this course include:Preparing a personal financial statement following U.S. GAAPRecasting U.S. GAAP personal financial statements into powerful management toolsIdentifying key financial factors that must be managed in order to achieve financial self-sufficiencyKey personal planning documents including HIPAA Medical Disclosure Document, Living Will, Medical Durable Power of Attorneys, and Letter of Instruction at DeathHow to create "goal" statements that achieve results
Written Information Security Plans
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Virtual
1.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Introduction to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and its impact on data security.Circular 230 compliance and due diligence for practitioners.AICPA Statements of Standards relevant to WISP requirements.Key components of a Written Information Security Plan.Training requirements for employees, staff, and contractors.Practical guidance for drafting and implementing a WISP.FTC enforcement of data security standards for PTIN holders.Best practices for maintaining and updating WISP compliance.
Internal Control - Testing for Operating Effectiveness
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
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
K2'S Supercharging Your Spreadsheet Collaboration
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Online
1.00 Credits
Collaboration methods using Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365 Ways to track changes to sheets and compare different versions of a file Tools for sharing and responding to comments among a team from within a file
Best Non-Google Search Tools for Accountants
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Why Advanced Search Skills Are So Critical for AccountantsWhy You Need More than Google to Search the InternetGARP: Generally Accepted Research PrinciplesAlternatives to GoogleAdvisory SearchSocial SearchSpecialty searchSearch Engine resourcesWhat's Ahead in Search
Surgent's Artificial Intelligence for Accounting and Finance Professionals
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
What is artificial intelligence? What are the different forms of artificial intelligence? The difference between artificial intelligence and machine learning The types of problems artificial intelligence can solve The role of algorithms How artificial intelligence will affect accounting and finance careers Data governance, security, and privacy How accounting firms are using AI today The role of artificial intelligence in asset management
Surgent's Ethics for Tax Professionals
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
What does practicing before the IRS mean? Who may practice before the IRS? What should a tax preparer do if he or she has knowledge of a client's omission of income from a tax return? May a tax preparer rely on the work of other tax return preparers? May a tax preparer rely on and use client-provided information? Standards associated with giving advice to clients Abolition of the disclaimer requirement When must a tax preparer examine a client’s books and records?
Surgent's Improving Your Profits: Identifying Cost Cutting Opportunities
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
What keeps companies from becoming streamlined? Behavioral biases Information processing biases Emotional biases How to deal with behavioral biases Connecting behavioral biases to cost cutting Creating a culture of cost cutting Rules of thumb for cost cutting Managing headcount Post-COVID common areas of excess cost Budgeting techniques Budget variances Benchmarking Common size financial statements Horizontal analysis Negotiation and contracting techniques Cash flow and the business cycle
Surgent's Top 10 Celebrity Estate Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
Overview of estate planning The dangers of a Power of Attorney The most important aspect of a will Role, scope, rights, and responsibilities of an executor Benefits of incorporating a trust Bequests Caring for a pet Claims against the estate Insurance Consequences of poor estate planning
Financial Statement Presentation and Disclosure
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Online
4.00 Credits
U.S. GAAP and Special purpose frameworks Form and content of financial statements: Balance sheets Income statements; Statements of cash flows Retained earnings and/or owners’ equity statements Comprehensive income Supplementary information Comparative vs. single-period financial statements Sufficiency of disclosures Illustrative disclosures frequently encountered in small-to-medium reporting entities Industry-specific nuances
Comprehensive Audit & SSARS Update
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Virtual
4.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:AICPA Accounting and Review Services Committee standards update and new practice aidAICPA Auditing Standards Board standards update including recent changes to the audit and attestation standardsAICPA’s new Quality Management Standards - Overview, implementation considerations, timeline, and AICPA implementation resourcesPCAOB, IAASB standard-setting agenda and potential future AICPA ASB standards changesUpdate on AICPA’s Enhancing Audit Quality InitiativeTrends in audit quality including the DOL’s audit quality studyFrequent peer review findings and practice tips for achieving high practice qualityLatest on the DOL’s audit quality study
2025 Annual Update for Governments and Not-for-Profits
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Online
7.00 Credits
Not for Profit Governmental Auditing & Accounting Yellowbook
Hands-On Tax Return Workshop - Partnerships & LLCs (Form 1065)
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Online
8.00 Credits
Extensive review of the partnership income tax laws with an emphasis on any new legislative changes Comparison of partnerships, LLCs and LLPs Overview the formation of a partnership/LLC and the §704(c) pre-contribution gain or loss rules Schedule K analysis– determine if income statement items are separately (i.e. schedule K) or non-separately stated income and expense items How schedule K items get allocated to partners on schedule K-1s Look at detailed Schedule K-1 information reporting to partners needed for the qualified business income (QBI) deduction, 3.8% net investment income tax and business interest expense limitations Learn the special tax treatment of fringe benefits paid on behalf of the partners and LLC members Comparing the tax and §704(b) book capital account computations Discuss partner guaranteed payments and self-employment tax issues Schedule M-1 – reconciliation of income or loss per books with income or loss per income tax return Schedule M-2 – analysis of partners’ capital accounts Review the importance and basics of calculating a partner/member’s outside tax basis. Overview of the tax treatment of distributions, recourse and nonrecourse debt allocations, §754 election for optional basis adjustments and §743/§734 mandatory basis adjustments
S Corporation Preparation, Basis Calculations & Distributions - Form 1120S Schedule K & K-1 Analysis
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Online
8.00 Credits
Extensive review of the S corporation tax laws with an emphasis on any new legislation Review the Form 1120S and discuss how items get reported on the S corporation tax return (i.e. page 1 versus Schedule K) and flow-thru to the shareholders on their schedule K-1 Analyze the Schedule K-1 line-by-line and discuss where the items get reported on the individual’s Federal income tax return and how the items affect the shareholder’s stock and debt basis 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 S corporation formation issues under IRC §351 Tax ramifications and reporting of distributions at the S corporation level including when the S corporation has prior C corporation earnings and profits (E&P) Preparation of the Schedule M-2 and the ordering rules for distributions out of the AAA, PTI, E&P and OAA accounts
Navigating IRS Authorizations: Form 2848 & Form 8821
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Overview of IRS Power of Attorney (POA) rules.Form 2848: Authority to Represent Clients before the IRS.Form 8821: Accessing Tax Information Without Representation.Identifying errors and compliance risks in POA filings.Rules for revoking or updating POA authorizations.Managing authorizations through the CAF system.Electronic submissions and the IRS online authorization process.Ethical responsibilities when holding a POA.
Revenue Recognition Topic 606 - Identify Performance Obligations Part 2
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Online
1.40 Credits
Revenue Recognition Accounting
Creating Terrific Equity Compensation Plans: Beware of the Pitfalls
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Online
2.00 Credits
Why most equity compensation plans fail? Complexity of GAAP accounting for equity compensation plans Tax implications of equity compensation plans Who and how an equity compensation plan should be administered? Compliance issues to consider Recommendations to design a better equity compensation plan