CPE Catalog & Events
Surgent's The CMA’s Guide to Project Management
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Virtual
1.00 Credits
Establishing a system: identifying forces that support the status quo; setting milestones and goals; the role of the CMA Necessary first steps: set a framework for the project’s activities; identify needed resources; obtain support; decide on a structure; establish a team for a specific project; identify necessary team skill sets Project evaluation: analytical tools, strategic evaluation; sources of risk Maintaining focus: monitoring and measuring results; keeping to the project’s scope Avoiding frequent traps: sunk costs; financing pitfalls; project creep; tunnel vision; failure to integrate the team’s work internally and/or the final project with the remaining organization Introduction and examples of analytical tools throughout the session: mapping; CPM; Gantt charts; benchmarking; Pareto analysis; PESTLE analysis; valuation techniques; post-completion evaluations
What's Changing in A&A for Governmental Entities (2026/27)
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Virtual
4.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Major pronouncements issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, including GASB Statements No. 103, 104, and 105.Overview of active GASB exposure drafts and ongoing projects.Auditing developments, covering significant updates to the Yellow Book issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, including changes related to quality management, effective dates, and recent updates to the Green Book.
ACPEN: Grow Your Business from Within – Striking the Right Balance Between a CPA Firm's Financial, People, and Client Success
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Online
8.00 Credits
How to become a value-added business advisor to successfully grow the firm from within Best practices for leveraging engagement team discussions to better understand the entity and its environment, identify risk of material misstatement, and provide value-added business advice in audit and other attest services Critical traits of a thinking auditor, tips for stretching yourself beyond the basics Tips for value pricing and other ways to improve a CPA firm's financial success Managing change and promoting creative thinking Choosing between varying levels of client service
Finance and Innovation: Reinvent Your Organization and Dept.
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Virtual
8.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:What is innovation?The different forms of innovation, e.g., sustaining and disruptive.The five discovery skills needed to be innovative?The value of why we need to find ways to say, “Yes!” How to change your processes, rules and departments to be more innovative? Lessons learned from innovative businesses with examples.How does innovation happen and how to make innovation stick?The need to improvise and embrace broad experiences.
S Corporations: Calculating Shareholder Basis
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Discuss the calculation of basis when the entity is formed including the impact of contributed propertyExplain the importance of shareholder loans to the entityUses a comprehensive example to illustrate the mechanics of the basis determination processSchedule K-1 Basis and Form 7203Discuss how basis is impacted by distributions of corporation propertyExplain how basis is impacted by sale/or liquidation of the S corporation interestDiscuss how S corporation losses impact Form 1040 Schedule E reportingShow how to get from the Schedule K-1 information to the basis calculations
ACPEN: Instant Audit? Just Add Risk Assessment
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Online
1.00 Credits
The audit risk model Risk assessment Linking risks to audit procedures Other responses to risks Documentation
ACPEN: Tricks and Treats to Avoid Litigation
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Online
1.00 Credits
Key concepts of effective employee relations Balancing employee and employer rights Handling employee complaints Addressing personality & attitude problems
ChatGPT and Advanced Accounting Research
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:The accounting research transformation: Comparing Google vs. AI methodologiesAI ecosystems and specialized models for accounting applicationsAdvanced prompt engineering techniques for financial and tax researchAI-powered search engines and deep research platforms for accounting professionals AI as an ideation and thinking partner for complex accounting problems Specialized accounting research tools and AI superstoresPersona priming and P&P stacking methodologies for optimal AI interactionsEthical considerations and limitations of AI in accounting researchThe compliance chess effect: AI's impact on tax planning and regulatory responseAI-driven automation for regulatory updates and compliance monitoring
Corporate Finance Technology Selection: Practical Frameworks
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Virtual
1.00 Credits
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)
ACPEN: Liquidity & Uncertainty Disclosures for Nonprofits
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Online
2.00 Credits
Required disclosure related to liquidity and other significant uncertainties for fair presentation of financial statements Evaluating the need for going concern and other uncertainty disclosures in the current environment
ACPEN: Tax Practice Ethical Challenges and Circular 230
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Online
2.00 Credits
Circular 230 (IRS) rules for conducting a "best" tax practice How to avoid tax return preparation penalties Recent developments impacting today's tax practice Review of tax return preparer's registration rules Explanation of the revised AICPA Code of Professional Conduct Contingent fees
Securing Your Data with a Password Management App - Updated
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics covered in this course include:Introduction to the world of password management apps and what makes them so secureReview and demonstration of top selling password management appsSoftware features that will be reviewedPassword generationEmergency user accessEntity vs. individual password managementDesktop vs. cloud basedMulti device synchronizationPII (personally identifiable information) forms fillerCredit card storageDigital data vault
Surgent's Governing Agentic AI: Cybersecurity, Data, and Risk
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Virtual
0.00 Credits
Cyber risks: prompt injection, drift, model manipulation, data leakage Red-teaming and simulation exercises (CSA, IBM frameworks) Controls mapping: COSO, SOX, and NIST AI RMF Regulatory context: GDPR, CCPA, EU AI Act, SEC guidance Platform security discussion and comparisons
Ethics: 10 Crucial Qualities of High Character CPAs
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics covered in this class include:Discover why the ten crucial qualities of high-character CPAs are essential to your successLearn how to evaluate these qualities in job candidates and why you must do so
Internal Controls Over Compliance vs Compliance
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Virtual
1.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Testing internal ControlsAlign internal controls with specific compliance requirementsThe misidentification of controls and the confusion between compliance and control processes
Surgent's Defending Firms: Email Fraud, Cloud Risks, Cyber Insurance, and Remote Work Security
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Virtual
0.00 Credits
Email fraud Phishing attacks Cloud security risks Cyber insurance Securing remote work environments
Using ChatGPT with Excel
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Introduction to ChatGPT and other AI (Artificial Intelligence) language modelsDiscussion of best practices for using ChatGPT with ExcelUse ChatGPT to create, debug and explain formulasUse ChatGPT to learn how to use Excel featuresUse ChatGPT to automate repetitive tasks in ExcelUse ChatGPT to easily create macros
ACPEN: Beyond the Basics of SSARS and Nonattest Services: Are You Certain You Are in Compliance?
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Online
8.00 Credits
Preventing malpractice claims related to nonattest accounting services Identifying and safeguarding independence threats when issuing attest reports Establishing an understanding with the client regarding non-audit services Defining the varying levels of responsibility for accountants performing non-audit services Performing compilations and reviews effectively and efficiently, including nature and extent of documentation considerations Practice performing analytical review procedures appropriately, including developing proper advance expectations for review engagements Properly considering going concern, subsequent events, and other disclosure matters Common issues related to peer reviews, including recurring reporting problems Applying financial analysis best practices to help your clients better interpret their financial results
How Much Are Your Ethics Worth?
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
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
AICPA's New SSTS #4 - New Ethics Standard for Tax Resolution
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Virtual
1.00 Credits
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the ethical guidelines outlined in Circular 230 and the newly updated Statements on Standards for Tax Services (SSTS) #4. Gain insights into how these standards apply to real-world tax resolution scenarios, ensuring compliance and integrity in your practice.
