CPE Catalog & Events

Volume to Value: A New Era of Precision Hiring in Accounting

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:The shift from volume to precision hiringWhy firms are moving to targeted, competency-based hiringTalent market impacts and competitive hiring realitiesAI in recruiting: practical use cases and implicationsWhere AI tools commonly support hiring workflowsBenefits and limitations of AI-enabled screening and assessmentThe skills mismatch in accounting hiringWhy critical thinking and professional communication gaps persistWhy traditional hiring methods miss these competenciesThe new competency hierarchy for high performersDefining and prioritizing the competencies that drive resultsAI ethics awareness and professional judgment in an AI-enabled workplaceAssessment methods for precision hiringStructured behavioral interviewing and scoring rubricsWork simulations, case presentations, and client scenariosUsing AI-enabled assessments responsibly and consistentlyMetrics and ROI: evaluating successQuality-of-hire measures (performance, ramp time, manager satisfaction)Retention and turnover measuresEfficiency measures (time-to-fill, cost-to-fill) and how to balance themImplementation roadmapA phased approach to adopting precision hiring (foundation → expansion → optimization)– Building governance, documentation, and consistency for scalability

ACPEN: Group Audits: Who is Responsible for What?

Responsibilities of the group audit engagement team, including the group engagement partner Clarifying roles and responsibilities of component auditors and reference auditors in audits of group financial statements Special considerations on audit planning and audit reporting in a group audit

CONFERENCE: TaxCon

The major topics that will be covered in this conference include:Changes in Tax LawInternational and federal challengesResolutions for new and emerging problems

TaxCon (Day 1)

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Changes in Tax LawInternational and federal challengesResolutions for new and emerging problems

ACPEN: K2's Ten Questions To Ask Your IT Team

Ten Strategic Question Frameworks for Technology Assessment      Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Oversight Through Targeted Dialogue      Cloud Governance and Remote Work Technology Evaluation

Accounting for digital assets under US GAAP: Specialized accounting, fair value, and stablecoins

Guidance on how to account for digital assets Fair value of digital assets under FASB ASC 820 Accounting for stablecoins Specialized industry practice for digital asset accounting

ACPEN: A Guide to Sampling - Part 1

Auditing Yellowbook

Entertainment, Meals & Travel Expenses: Review and Update

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Definition of what qualifies as an entertainment expenseStrategies to deduct business entertainment expensesDeductibility of mealsSituations not subject to the 50% meals and entertainment reductionHow to handle automobile issues related to employer-provided parkingProper accounting for deductible vs. non-deductible expendituresThe four steps to analyze business expensesThe latest federal legislation, cases and rulings

How Much Are Your Ethics Worth?

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Understanding ethicsAvailable tools to aid in ethical decision makingThe role of bias in making ethical decisionsApplication through case studies

Surgent's Applying the Yellow Book to a Financial Statement Audit

Circumstances requiring auditors to follow the Yellow Book (Government Auditing Standards or GAGAS) Relationship of Yellow Book requirements to GAAS and single audit requirements The Yellow Book requirements related to the performance of and reporting on a financial audit Identifying and reporting findings under the Yellow Book

Surgent's Business Law for Small Business Owners

Contract principles Legal issues related to various types of business organizations Worker classification Employee rights and the duties of employers Real property law

Surgent's Ethical Considerations for the CPA

Examine the CPA's role in today's economy Compare similarities and differences between individual and business ethics Explore the link between ethics, integrity and scruples Discuss the basic attributes of ethics and professional conduct Review the history of the CPA profession and the CPA's requirement to adhere to ethics policies and codes of conduct Review the AICPA's Code of Professional Conduct and a CPA's responsibilities to the public, clients and colleagues Discuss the common rules and statutes faced daily in the CPA profession. Case studies may also be utilized to present potential ethical dilemmas CPAs may face during their careers Review CPA Independence violations by current legal case examples

How Recent Auditing Standards Improve Risk-Based Audits

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Key changes to audit report elements intended to improve the understandability of the nature and results of financial statement auditsEnhanced required by-product communications with management and those charged with governance to promote more reliable financial statementsClarifications related to obtaining sufficient and appropriate audit evidence, including significant unusual transactions, related parties, going concern uncertainty, and accounting estimatesNew definitions and requirements related to identifying and evaluating risks of material misstatementOther important matters contained in recent SASs 

Surgent's Annual Accounting and Auditing Update

Recently issued FASB Accounting Standards Updates, PCC Update, and items on the FASB’s Technical Agenda Recently issued ASUs covering derivatives, credit losses under ASC 326, government grants, and expense disaggregation FASB Final PIR Report for Leases (Topic 842) Statement on Quality Management Standards: SQMS 1, SQMS 2, and SQMS 3 Proposed SAS on the auditor’s responsibility relating to fraud Recently issued SASs and other AICPA activity Recently issued PCAOB standards and SEC rulemaking activities Other important A&A practice matters

Surgent's Tax Forms Boot Camp: LLCs, Partnerships, and S Corporations

Compare and contrast the tax consequences, opportunities, and pitfalls of operating a business as a partnership, LLC, or S corporation  Reporting Requirements for Schedules K-2 and K-3  Form 7203, S Corporation Shareholder Stock and Debt Basis Limitations  Gain a comprehensive understanding of income tax laws for S corporations from eligibility and election to tax return preparation, stock basis, and loss limitation issues  Recognize and properly handle special pass-through items of income and expense  Accurately prepare S corporation returns and reconcile book income to taxable income  Accurately prepare partnership returns and reconcile book income to taxable income  What the transactional method entails and how to report partners’ capital accounts under this method  Properly handle the tax treatment of distributions to shareholders, partners, or members  Understand the special restrictions and sanctions for tax year-end selection  Review the basics of partnership and LLC formation and basis calculation  Self-employment tax or NOT, for each entity  Filling in K-1s correctly for S corporations, partnerships, and LLCs. Major changes in K-1 reporting on both partnership and S corporation forms and content  The most frequently used forms and schedules, including some form “oddities” 

Tax Fundamentals of LLCs and Partnerships - Tax Staff Essentials

Basic tax structure of partnerships and LLCs Check-the-box elections to be taxed as a partnership Partnership distributions Compensatory payments to partners At-risk and passive activity limits Profit and loss allocations: general rules and restrictions

The Best Federal Tax Update Course by Surgent

Comprehensive coverage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Review of key components of President Trump's tax bill, including a tip income exemption, overtime pay relief, Social Security tax exemption, auto loan interest deductibility, SALT deduction modifications, a lower corporate tax rate, restoration of 100% bonus depreciation, immediate R&D expensing, and permanent extension of select TCJA provisions Tariff policy and implementation - analyze the use of tariffs as a fiscal and trade policy tool Digital assets and tax implications - understand the new Form 1099-DA for reporting digital asset transactions, along with updated IRS guidance on cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and broker responsibilities Artificial intelligence - discover how AI and generative tools are transforming tax practices, as well as how the IRS is leveraging AI to enhance audit selection Form 1099-K reporting requirements - understand the evolving IRS thresholds and rules for third-party payment platforms Sale of Passthrough Entity Interests and Net Investment Income Tax - analyze the tax implications of selling interests in passthrough entities, including relevant examples, and how the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) applies to these transactions  The Gig Economy - examine key tax implications for gig workers, including Independent Contractor vs. Employee classification challenges, reporting responsibilities, and the impact of the 2024 Department of Labor Final Rule on worker status Timely coverage of breaking tax legislation Practice aids, including all the numbers applicable for the current year -- inflation-adjusted amounts, mileage rates, retirement contributions, and more Advanced practice, reporting, and other issues intertwined with advanced planning and discussion ideas

Comprehensive Accounting and Financial Reporting Update

The major topics covered in this class include:CECL for nonfinancial institutions.Accounting for Paycheck Protection Program loans.Accounting for web-hosting services.Revenue recognition.Leases.FASB projects in progress.

State Pass-Through Entity Tax Updates for Year End Planning

ACPEN: Maximizing the Tax Benefits of an Installment Sale

Installment sale treatment eligibility When to elect out of installment sale treatment Installment sales of business assets Installment sale default and the rules for personal property vs real property Depreciation recapture