Calendar of Events - North Dakota CPA Society

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Event Type:

April 2023
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Events available for Registration...

Surgent's Unlimited Plus Package - 2024
1/1/2024 - 1/1/2025
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Level II: Semi-Senior Staff Training
5/13/2024 - 5/16/2024
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Young Professionals: Networking & Learning
5/15/2024
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K2?s Budgeting and Forecasting Tools and Techniques
5/16/2024
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K2?s Case Studies in Fraud and Technology Controls
5/17/2024
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Level III: Beginning in Charge Training
5/20/2024 - 5/23/2024
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MNCPA Audits of Employee Benefit Plans Conference
5/20/2024
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Guide to the Corporate Transparency Act for Accounting and Finance Professionals
5/22/2024
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AI and Data Analytics for Auditing - The Big Picture
5/28/2024
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Level V: Advanced Management and Leadership Essentials
5/28/2024
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Accounting Data Analytics
5/30/2024
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MNCPA Foundations of Business Valuation
5/30/2024
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Level V: Advanced Management and Leadership Essentials
6/3/2024 - 6/6/2024
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Small Firms Conference
6/5/2024 - 6/6/2024
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Small Firms Conference Exhibitor and Sponsorship
6/5/2024 - 6/6/2024
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Level IV: Management and Leadership Essentials Training
6/6/2024
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Free Member Webinar: AI Ethics - A CPA's Guide
6/11/2024
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Management Conference
6/17/2024 - 6/18/2024
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Management Conference Exhibitor and Sponsorship
6/17/2024 - 6/18/2024
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Virtual Management Conference
6/17/2024 - 6/18/2024
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K2?s Business Intelligence, Featuring Microsoft's Power BI Tools
6/19/2024
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Ethical Considerations for CPAs
6/20/2024
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K2?s Excel PivotTables for Accountants
6/20/2024
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Understanding Blockchain, Bitcoin, and Digital Assets, and Their Accounting Intricacies
6/20/2024
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Complying With the Corporate Transparency Act: A Guide for Client Protection
6/21/2024
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Cybersecurity Issues for the Professional
6/21/2024
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K2's Excel Best Practices
6/21/2024
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AI and Data Analytics for Auditing - The Big Picture
6/25/2024
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Guide and Update to Compilations, Reviews, and Preparations
6/25/2024
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Level V: Advanced Management and Leadership Essentials
6/25/2024
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Preparing and Reviewing Client Prepared Financial Statements and General Attest Engagements
6/25/2024
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Auditing Complex Management Estimates
6/26/2024
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Interstate Insights: Regional Perspectives on Multistate Tax Trends
6/26/2024
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Accounting Data Analytics
6/27/2024
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2024 Mid-Year Business Tax Update
6/28/2024
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2024 Mid-Year Individual Tax Update
6/28/2024
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Level I: Basic Staff Training
7/15/2024 - 7/18/2024
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Level V: Advanced Management and Leadership Essentials
7/23/2024
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Yellow Book: Staying Compliant with Government Audiitng Standards
8/8/2024
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Annual Convention Exhibitor and Sponsorship
8/12/2024 - 8/13/2024
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Accounting for Changes in Accounting Principles and Error Corrections
8/15/2024
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Critical Issues That CPAs in Industry Will Need to Face This Year
8/15/2024
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The Inflation Reduction Act?s Changes to Auto and Energy-Related Tax Credits
8/26/2024
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Level V: Advanced Management and Leadership Essentials
8/27/2024
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What Practitioners Need to Know About Estate Planning and Administering a Client?s Estate
8/27/2024
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Farm Tax Conference Exhibitor and Sponsorship
9/9/2024 - 9/10/2024
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AI Ethics: Balancing on the Tightrope
9/11/2024
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Accounting and Auditing Update for Not-for-Profits
9/12/2024
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Guide to the AICPA Quality Management Standards
9/20/2024
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AI and Data Analytics for Auditing - The Big Picture
9/24/2024
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Level V: Advanced Management and Leadership Essentials
9/24/2024
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Accounting Data Analytics
9/26/2024
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Social Security: Dispelling Common Myths with Essential Truths
9/27/2024
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Level IV: Management and Leadership Essentials Training
10/17/2024
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Surgent's Federal Tax Update
10/17/2024
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Accounting and Auditing Update for Small Businesses
10/21/2024
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The Top Five Tax Issues in Dealing with LLCs and Partnerships
10/24/2024
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Level V: Advanced Management and Leadership Essentials
10/29/2024
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Multistate Income Tax Issues
10/30/2024
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Surgent's Individual Income Tax Update
10/30/2024
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Accounting Data Analytics
10/31/2024
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MNCPA Business Valuation Conference
11/6/2024
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K2's Accountant's Artificial Intelligence Conference
11/7/2024
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Level V: Advanced Management and Leadership Essentials
11/16/2024
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Level IV: Management and Leadership Essentials Training
11/18/2024 - 11/21/2024
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AI and Data Analytics for Auditing - The Big Picture
11/26/2024
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Level V: Advanced Management and Leadership Essentials
12/9/2024 - 12/12/2024
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Level V: Advanced Management and Leadership Essentials
12/17/2024
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Surgent's Unlimited Self-Study Package - 2024
1/1/2025
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Surgent's Unlimited Webinar Package - 2024
1/1/2025
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Level I: Basic Staff Training
1/6/2025 - 1/9/2025
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Level V: Advanced Management and Leadership Essentials
1/7/2025
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Professional Ethics: The AICPA's Comprehensive Course
1/15/2025
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Events in the month of April 2023
Surgent's A Complete Guide to the Yellow Book (CGYB)
4/3/2023
If you work with governments and not-for-profits, a thorough understanding of the Yellow Book is essential. This course will equip you with a comprehensive knowledge of the Yellow Book requirements and increase your confidence and proficiency in performing Yellow Book audits. The course materials utilize a highly illustrative and innovative format including over 20 focused exercises on key practice issues.
Surgent's Understanding How the IRS Rewards Whistleblowers (UHIR)
4/3/2023
In 2006, Congress passed the Tax Relief and Health Care Act. Prior to the Act’s passage, rewards to individuals who provided information to the IRS regarding tax fraud were capped at $10 million. The Tax Relief and Health Care Act authorized the IRS to create a Whistleblower Office dedicated to investigating, processing and recovering claims concerning the underpayment of taxes. Under the IRS’ new program, whistleblowers may recover 15 to 30 percent of the amount collected provided the taxes and amounts in dispute exceed $2 million. If the whistleblower’s claim does not meet these criteria, the IRS may still consider granting an award under its pre-2006 Tax Relief Act discretionary authority. Given the rapid growth of this program, practitioners should have a basic understanding of the procedure and content for IRS Whistleblower claims, both from the perspective of a claimant’s potential to recover and a taxpayer’s exposure to liability.
Surgent's Integrated Planning, Forecasting, and Budgeting for Organizational Success (PLF4)
4/3/2023
Planning may be one of the most important assignments of the finance professional; however, it is often accomplished in a way that can harm the organization. In many cases, huge sums are spent only to have a planning document developed that does not serve to bring the company together, but rather causes internal division. In some situations the budget can actually harm both productivity and alignment. This course is designed to bring planning, budgeting, and forecasting together into one fully aligned process that is easier, more efficient, and fully engages all parts of the organization. Rather than the plan being owned by the finance department, it is owned and followed by everyone from the CEO to the entry-level employee.
Surgent's Ethical Considerations for the CPA (ETHC)
4/4/2023
CPAs today face greater challenges than ever to maintain the high ethical standards of their profession. It is vitally important that all CPAs understand their professional responsibilities related to all aspects of their job. This course, which focuses on key components of the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, reviews a history of the CPA profession and focuses on ethical requirements that CPAs must adhere to in their everyday practice, including practical examples of potential ethical dilemmas that practitioners may encounter, particularly those related to objectivity and independence. PLEASE NOTE: THIS COURSE COVERS GENERAL ETHICS AND IS APPLICABLE IN STATES IN WHICH STATE-SPECIFIC ETHICS IS NOT REQUIRED. This course does not qualify for IRS credit.
Surgent's Key Current Financial and Economic Issues Facing the Financial Executive (KFFE)
4/4/2023
The course explores the challenges of the current economic trends and analyzes their impact on you as the financial executive in areas of human resource management; credit markets and banking; risk management and pandemic style disruptions; cash flow planning strategies; debt and equity mix impacts in uncertain markets; globalization of the market in times of uncertainty; retirement planning and social security funding; and acquiring distressed companies and assets. Specific recommendations and insights will be offered to you to deal with the challenges.
Surgent's Unconscious Bias for Managers, Supervisors, and Executives (BCFS)
4/4/2023
Understanding unconscious bias is key to creating an inclusive workplace and to making the best business decisions. This course explores the concept of unconscious bias, the science behind it, and how it can affect the way employers hire, evaluate, and treat employees. We will also discuss strategies employers can use to reduce unconscious bias and create a more inclusive workplace.
Surgent's Section 174 Capitalization of Research and Experimentation Costs (REC2)
4/4/2023
Among the massive tax changes in the TCJA bill was a delayed time bomb targeting the 2022 tax year. As taxpayers hold their breath hoping for a fix from Congress, tax preparers need to grapple with the law currently on the books: Section 174 capitalization of research and experimentation (R&E) costs. The change to R&E will have an outsized impact on taxpayers in industries as varied as software development, manufacturing, and financial services, from multi-billion-dollar corporations to mom-and-pop businesses, as there are no small business exceptions. This impact needs to be evaluated and quantified before filing extensions or business tax returns for 2022. This course will equip tax preparers with necessary information to educate their clients and make informed decisions on how to comply with Section 174 requirements.
Surgent's Unconscious Bias for Employees: Raising the Bar for Workplace Conduct (CUBE)
4/4/2023
A respectful workplace provides the necessary foundation for an inclusive workplace. This course goes beyond what is legal versus illegal to review the boundaries of respectful workplace conduct. We will discuss the potential barriers to a respectful workplace, including unconscious bias, and how to reduce or eliminate those barriers.
Surgent's Basics of the Valuation of a Closely Held Business (BVA4)
4/5/2023
An understanding of the basics of business valuation is an invaluable tool for practicing accountants to better assist clients who are considering buying or selling their business or an interest therein, contemplating estate tax planning or creating a buy-sell agreement, or dealing with the death of an owner, a shareholder dispute, or a divorce. Business valuation may also be a practice area an accountant would be interested in pursuing for increased billables. Many forward-thinking closely-held business owners are currently looking at possibly higher capital gain rates, particularly with a Democratic regime. Take this course to be well advised and prepared in order to better assist that potential selling owner.
Surgent's Comparing and Contrasting Retirement Plans for Small- and Medium-Sized Businesses (CCSM)
4/5/2023
Clients often ask their tax advisors whether they have the "best" pension plan and whether they are using it to its maximum advantage. This program explains how various pension plans work and analyzes why a small or medium-sized business owner would choose one plan over another.
Surgent's Managing Millennials (MMLS)
4/5/2023
By 2025, millennials will represent 75% of the workforce. Whether you are an owner of a small practice or manager in a multinational corporation, it is important to understand characteristics and expectations of this large segment of the workforce. Research reveals that many of the common stereotypes surrounding millennials are unfounded and counterproductive. This course provides an understanding of who millennials are in comparison to their predecessors, the Gen-Xers and baby boomers. Equally important, the presentation will look at common myths regarding millennials and why understanding this class of employees provides opportunities for your organization to grow and succeed.
Surgent's Update on the SECURE 2.0 Act (SEC2)
4/6/2023
This course provides a comprehensive analysis of the SECURE 2.0 Act, which is part of a much larger legislative package entitled the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. The principal focus of the Act is to expand retirement coverage and increase retirement savings. As such, the Act has many important changes relating to IRAs and qualified plans. This long-awaited new legislation alters the landscape of retirement planning for taxpayers of all ages, and there are changes taking immediate effect in January 2023. Make sure you are up-to-date with the latest information available in order to effectively advise your clients on these important changes. In addition, this guidance will be of particular relevance to practitioners’ own retirement planning.
Surgent's What Tax Practitioners Need to Know About Medicare (MEDC)
4/6/2023
When the first cohort of Baby Boomers turned age 65 several years ago, tax advisors began to be bombarded with questions concerning all facets of Medicare. How does Medicare work? How do I apply? How much does it cost? Is Medicare optional or required? This program provides a basic introduction to the Medicare program and covers many of the areas of the Medicare program that clients are most interested in. If you, or some of your clients, have questions relating to Medicare, this program is a must for you.
Surgent's Basics of Employment Law for Non-HR Professionals (ELNP)
4/6/2023
Learn the basics of employment law and how they affect best practices to help control the interview and discover hidden talents of applicants.
Surgent's Excel Budgeting Ideas (EXBI)
4/6/2023
Budget methods are the key to allowing department managers to efficiently prepare their budget in Excel. For example, a budget method may be to spread prior year actuals or match prior year actuals, or match prior year actuals less 10%. In this webinar, we will explore how to allow users to pick a budget method from a drop-down list for each account and then have Excel perform different calculations depending on the budget method selected. We use several features and functions at the same time to pull this off. Even if you are not involved in the budgeting process, the underlying features and functions discussed have a wide range of uses.
Surgent's Applying the CECL Credit Loss Standard to Non-Banking Situations (CEC4)
4/10/2023
The effective date for private companies of ASC 326, Credit Losses, is rapidly approaching. Staring in 2023, all entities will be recording credit losses using the current estimate of credit loss (CECL) model, which will accelerate the recognition of such losses for all companies, including non-lending institutions and companies with trade accounts and leases receivable. This new guidance truly impacts all entities. In this course, we’ll focus on applying the ASC 326 guidance to non-lending institutions. We’ll review the CECL model and discuss how to apply it to trade accounts receivables and lease receivables, as well as the other financial assets which are in the scope of the new guidance. We’ll also examine how to transition to the CECL guidance as well as review the new and voluminous disclosures required by ASC 326. 2023 is right around the corner and now is the time to get up to speed on the impact of this new guidance.
Surgent's Predicting Future Financial Issues Facing the Financial Executive (FFFE)
4/10/2023
Our financial and economic series is designed to take key topics for financial executives and explore them in detail such that the CFO/controller/financial executive can take away useful and practical recommendations dealing with the topic at hand. The program explores the current economic trends and analyze their impact on you as the financial executive in areas professional skepticism, medical care costs, social security viability, the dollar as a world currency, the national infrastructure and the “fate of the states” as well as the AICPA’s top 10 trends and technologies. Specific recommendations and insights will be offered to you to deal with the challenges.
Surgent's Applying ASC 820: The Basics of Fair Value Accounting (FRV4)
4/10/2023
While once thought just to apply to banking and financial institutions, entities now need to apply fair value accounting under ASC 820 across a variety of transitions. From financial instruments to leases, business combination accounting and impairment measurement, GAAP either requires or allows the use of fair value measures in an ever-increasing number of circumstances. Now is the time for you to get up-to-speed on the basics of the fair value approach. In this course, we will review when fair value accounting is required and when an entity can select to use it. Then we will review the basics of the ASC 820 model, including the concept of “exit price,” the various approaches which an entity may follow when using a fair value approach and the different levels of inputs which an entity may consider when determining fair value. Lastly, the course will provide examples on when and how to apply this complex accounting guidance.
Surgent's Guide and Update to Compilations, Reviews, and Preparations (CRU4)
4/10/2023
Specifically designed for preparation, compilation, and review practitioners, this course will provide you with a comprehensive review and hands-on application for performing financial statement preparation, compilation, and review engagements. You will learn the ins and outs of applying SSARS No. 21, Clarification and Recodification, as well as the additional guidance related to SSARS engagements through the issuance of SSARS Nos. 22-25 by the ARSC. The course will also review recent peer review feedback on SSARS engagements, providing insights on how to successfully apply this guidance. Not only will this course bring you up to date on SSARSs requirements and guidance, but more importantly, it will provide you with practical examples and illustrations to help you effectively and efficiently perform compilation, preparation, and review engagements.
Surgent's Ethical Considerations for the CPA (ETHC)
4/11/2023
CPAs today face greater challenges than ever to maintain the high ethical standards of their profession. It is vitally important that all CPAs understand their professional responsibilities related to all aspects of their job. This course, which focuses on key components of the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, reviews a history of the CPA profession and focuses on ethical requirements that CPAs must adhere to in their everyday practice, including practical examples of potential ethical dilemmas that practitioners may encounter, particularly those related to objectivity and independence. PLEASE NOTE: THIS COURSE COVERS GENERAL ETHICS AND IS APPLICABLE IN STATES IN WHICH STATE-SPECIFIC ETHICS IS NOT REQUIRED. This course does not qualify for IRS credit.
Surgent's Ins and Outs of Health Savings Accounts (HSA2)
4/11/2023
Health savings accounts (HSAs) are an effective way for employers to provide employees with financial help so they can pay their out-of-pocket medical expenses in a tax-efficient manner. Individuals who are not participating in an employer-funded HSA may set up their own HSA to achieve the same ends. Clients often ask tax practitioners about the mechanics of HSAs and whether they are beneficial. This program is a two-hour discussion of the topic led by Roy Ramthun, who will take you through the many rules and complexities of this challenging subject.
Surgent's Use the Data Model to Build More Powerful PivotTables (EXPP)
4/11/2023
Do you love PivotTables? Of course, we all do! Traditional PivotTables are incredible, but they do have limitations. If you have ever encountered one of these limitations, you’ll be excited to learn that by using the Data Model as the source for PivotTables, you’ll be able to bypass many of the restrictions that exist with traditional PivotTables. The data model (also referred to as Power Pivot) is included in Excel 2016+ for Windows and available as a free download for previous versions (excluding Excel for Mac). Using the data model enables you to build PivotTables that were previously not practical. If you frequently build PivotTables and would like to do more with them, you’ll want to understand how to use the data model (Power Pivot) to enhance your reports. Note about Excel versions: Power Pivot is not available in all versions of Excel, including Excel for Mac. If you would like to see if Power Pivot is available in your version of Excel, visit the Microsoft site.
Surgent's Lessons Learned from Successful Companies (LLSC)
4/11/2023
Why do some companies fail while others grow and succeed for generations? Common perceptions often attribute organizational success to great leadership, timing, or unique ideas. Although these traits certainly play a role in helping companies grow, research shows that corporate success often hinges on whether a company is value driven. Such companies have core ideologies that drive almost every major decision. In this course, we look at empirical data on why some companies succeed while others fail. By looking at companies that were created prior to 1950 (e.g., Disney, Marriott, or 3M), we can understand why certain organizations have been able to grow and achieve exceptional success through many different eras in the American economy. The lessons learned from these visionary companies can be broadly applied to organizations of all sizes, including accounting and financial service firms.
Surgent's Make Resilience Work for You – An Accounting Leader’s Guide to a Holistic Approach for Managing Teams (RULS)
4/11/2023
Resilience training was originally developed to strengthen individuals in high-risk groups like law enforcement, firefighters, and the military. This course also speaks to accounting and finance experts in a very challenging discipline. Resilience training is based on the intriguing assumption that resilience can be learned. A resilience leader possesses mental toughness, competence, and confidence. A confident accounting or finance person makes better decisions and thinks in deliberate ways to meet adversity and pressure. Resilience is the ability to exercise tenacity, bounce back from tough times, or even triumph in the face of adversity. Today's accounting professionals will experience challenges but are able to reframe then as learning opportunities. Resilient accounting and finance professionals push their limits, learn from their mistakes, and are able to transform an organization and themselves.
Surgent's Government and Nonprofit Frauds and Controls to Stop Them (FCS4)
4/11/2023
George Washington once wrote, “We ought not to look back, unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dear bought experience.” The cost of fraud, dearly paid by governments and nonprofits, is too severe not to learn and profit from. In this course, we will look back at real-world government and nonprofit frauds and derive useful controls to stop them. The course materials utilize a highly illustrative and innovative format. Over 15 focused exercises are included to provide an enhanced working knowledge of fraud and anti-fraud controls to both auditors and industry professionals.
Surgent's Preparing Not-for-Profit Financial Statements (ENFP)
4/12/2023
In order to prepare accurate and effective not-for-profit financial statements, professionals must have a strong working knowledge of the reporting requirements. Now is the time to obtain that knowledge! This course explains the requirements, illustrates how the requirements manifest in the financial statements, and clarifies options available to not-for-profits in applying the requirements. The course covers key accounting areas that affect not-for-profits, including revenue recognition, contributions, and leases. The course materials utilize a highly illustrative and innovative format, including over 30 focused exercises to provide an enhanced working knowledge of not-for-profit accounting and reporting.
Surgent's Mastering the Basics of Inventory Accounting (INV4)
4/12/2023
While many entities maintain inventory, they are often challenged when applying the complexities of inventory accounting. The goal of this course is to provide a detailed overview of inventory accounting concepts that can be applied to a variety of inventory types. The course will cover the basics of inventory capitalization, for both book and tax, as well as the basic inventory valuation methods, LIFO, FIFO, weighted average, and specific identification. Then the course will give a more detailed review of the LIFO and retail methodologies. It will cover the topics of inventory obsolescence reserves and other issues related to inventory accounting, including a discussion of how COVID-19 has impacted these accounting considerations. This course will be the one-shop stop to get you up-to-speed on the accounting for this critical, revenue-producing asset.
Surgent's Artificial Intelligence for Accounting and Finance Professionals (AIP2)
4/12/2023
Accounting and finance professionals have used different forms of automation over the years to improve the efficiency and accuracy of their work. So far, technology has not been able to replace the knowledge, experience, and decision-making of seasoned professionals. Times are rapidly changing. Today, systems easily exceed humans in accuracy and consistency. Artificial intelligence (AI) brings opportunities for accountants and finance professionals in the short term to improve efficiency and accuracy, while providing more value for businesses and customers alike. In the long term, AI will offer profound changes to how professionals work and process data. This course is designed to review where we are and where we are headed in the world of AI.
Surgent's Progressive Discipline and Termination (PDAT)
4/12/2023
Employee discipline is always challenging. Training on proper progressive discipline is critical to avoiding potential lawsuits while also trying to bring out the best possible employee performance. This webinar is designed to assist human resources professionals and managers in understanding the best ways to use progressive discipline as both a management and risk reduction tool. The webinar also will address best practices with regard to the employee termination process.
Surgent's Integrated Planning, Forecasting, and Budgeting for Organizational Success (PLF4)
4/12/2023
Planning may be one of the most important assignments of the finance professional; however, it is often accomplished in a way that can harm the organization. In many cases, huge sums are spent only to have a planning document developed that does not serve to bring the company together, but rather causes internal division. In some situations the budget can actually harm both productivity and alignment. This course is designed to bring planning, budgeting, and forecasting together into one fully aligned process that is easier, more efficient, and fully engages all parts of the organization. Rather than the plan being owned by the finance department, it is owned and followed by everyone from the CEO to the entry-level employee.
Surgent's Technology Trends and Hot Topics Impacting the Accounting Profession (THT4)
4/13/2023

Never have the benefits, and related risks, of utilizing new technology been greater for those in the accounting profession. From Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotic Process Automation (RPA), and Audit Data Analytics (ADA) to cloud-based software solutions, our clients’ technology landscape is rapidly changing. Accordingly, we, as accounting professionals, need to be on the forefront of these changes, including having a firm understanding of the risks associated with the use of these tools.

In this course, we’ll review these trends, highlight new and emerging products, and focus on cybersecurity risks and best practices that will allow accounting professionals to help our clients navigate these exciting but challenging times. Plus, we’ll review the newly issued guidance on audit evidence found in SAS 142, which guides our use of technology on our professional engagements.
Surgent's Opportunities in the Metaverse for Accounting and Other Professionals (MSV2)
4/13/2023
It is no secret that accounting firms, like many other organizations, have begun launching operations in the metaverse. For those unsure, the metaverse is a digital or virtual space where participants simulate a host of activities ranging from shopping to entertainment and business transactions. Why wouldn’t accounting firms and other professionals want to get in early on this new frontier? All types of businesses have begun purchasing and setting up shop in this new virtual world. These are no small endeavors – professionals are creating business plans to operate successfully in the virtual world that started off originally as a niche format for gamers. Accounting firms are starting to announce their acquisition of virtual real estate, and some are paying a premium to obtain prime locations. To operate successfully in the metaverse, professionals need to understand the environment and the rules of the game. This course provides an introduction to the metaverse and an overview of opportunities, risks and rewards for professionals who wish to stay relevant in the ever-expanding virtual world. Participants will walk away with an understanding of where we are in this rapidly developing space, plus gain insights on how to establish a presence or advise clients who wish to explore metaverse opportunities.
Surgent's Data Analytics Toolkit – Tools and Applications (DATA)
4/13/2023
There is no shortage of data, but relatively few organizations have an environment and process to isolate, capture, analyze, and convert data into actionable information. Too often, we collect as much data as possible, continue to use historic measurements, and communicate data using traditional vehicles. Good decisions are not the result of the amount of data gathered, but of the quality and understanding of the information. The goal of this program is to explore a number of analytical tools and techniques and identify applications for them within an organization. Analytical techniques will be introduced throughout the discussion, and a significant amount of time will be spent addressing the steps needed to establish a data-driven environment and identifying and discussing potential/specific applications. In this way, participants get experience they can begin to use in their organizations. An expanded list of reference books and next level software is also provided.
Surgent's Coaching Skills for Managers and Supervisors (CKMS)
4/13/2023
This one-day course will teach effective skills for coaching and training employees. You’ll learn how to identify the characteristics of effective coaches and develop coaching strategies to support and assist your team, with the goal of helping them improve morale, productivity and quality. And, you’ll learn a five-step approach for giving constructive criticism while managing defensive reactions.
Surgent's Going Concern Accounting and Reporting Considerations (AGC2)
4/13/2023
This course will review the relevant considerations related to going concern, including assessing when substantial doubt concerning an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern exists, management mitigation efforts, and required disclosures both when management, and the accountant, feel such efforts will be effective in mitigating the risk, as well as when they do not. Lastly, we’ll consider the accountant’s reporting responsibilities under various scopes of services in various scenarios and how to audit this often-contentious topic.
Surgent's Industry Accountant Toolkit (IATK)
4/14/2023
This course will explore some of the most essential tools for measuring financial and operational success, as well as improving results. Appendices will be provided to give students hands-on applicable materials that can be utilized after completion of the course.
Surgent's Establishing State Residency and Saving Your Clients Money (DOMR)
4/14/2023
Many of our clients are moving to one of the seven states with no personal income tax, particularly Florida and Texas. Others may maintain multiple homes with an eye toward eventually establishing residency in a state with no income tax. This course will give you practical tips for your clients seeking to establish residency in a new jurisdiction. Cash-strapped states are increasingly attempting to assess taxpayers who have declared domicile and residency elsewhere, for example in Florida, to maintain their diminishing tax base. Arm your clients with the tools needed to save money by successfully establishing domicile and residency. As a practitioner, you can’t afford to be unaware of the latest issues affecting so many relocating baby boomers and others. Avoid that state audit with the information provided in this entertaining webinar.
Surgent's Marijuana: A Generalized Business Viewpoint (MRJN)
4/14/2023
Each year, more states legalize cannabis (i.e., marijuana) for medical or recreational purposes. As legalization grows, so too does the cannabis industry. While some financial professionals have stayed away from this growing sector of the economy, others have embraced the opportunities the cannabis industry has to offer. The legalization of cannabis brings with it a complex regulatory landscape, which includes strict compliance with federal and state regulations. However, the complexity of this emerging market provides opportunities for accountants and other financial professionals. Behind the cannabis dispensaries are scores of related business sectors including food production, retail, farming, and chemical production, as well as facilities, design, and construction. Simply stated, the commercialization of marijuana offers financial professionals an opportunity to participate in an industry expected to reach $73 billion worldwide within six years.
Surgent's Introduction to Forensic Accounting (ITFA)
4/14/2023
Forensic accounting encompasses fraud investigation and prevention, as well as a wide variety of functions in litigation. Forensic accountants provide services ranging from serving as an expert witness, to litigation consultant and bankruptcy trustee. As our economy grows more complex, the need for forensic accountants grows as well. One critical role of the forensic accountant is exposing and examining financial fraud. Technology expands the way companies conduct business; however, technology also provides greater opportunities for those willing to commit fraud. Forensic accountants rely on their skills in accounting, coupled with their investigative skills, to explain to clients, courts, and jurors how fraudulent schemes occur and the effect caused by fraud. Forensic accountants also provide expert opinions in calculating damages in litigation and administering bankruptcy estates, as well as a host of other services.
Surgent's ASC 805 Business Combination Accounting: Not Just for the Big Guys (BCM4)
4/17/2023
Business combinations, and the related complex accounting issues that often arise from them, were thought to just be the domain of larger, often publicly traded companies. However, with smaller companies often having aggressive growth plans and with the wide scale availability of financing, business combinations are increasingly occurring at smaller and private companies. Applying the accounting guidance in ASC 805, Business Combinations, can be very challenging, especially if an entity has limited experience in accounting for such transactions. Additionally, the FASB has issued several recent ASUs that have updated the guidance in this area. In this course, we will focus in reviewing the acquisition method of accounting for a business combination under ASC 805, including such topics as determining the acquirer in a transaction, identifying acquired assets and liabilities in a transaction accounted for under ASC 805, including goodwill and other acquired intangible assets, the accounting for employee compensation arrangements arising from such transactions and the subsequent accounting for the recorded assets and liabilities, including accounting, for impairment of such assets. The goal of this course is to demystify the accounting around this often complex area of accounting.
Surgent's Excel: Mastering PivotTables (EXPV)
4/17/2023
PivotTable is a fancy term for an Excel report that summarizes data. If you have not yet had the good fortune of exploring PivotTables, it is about time. In this session, we’ll dig into PivotTables, understand the report layout options, and examine PivotTable formulas.
Surgent's The CMA’s Guide to Project Management (GTPM)
4/17/2023
A significant number of projects fail to achieve their initial goals and/or are not completed within budget and their original timetable. As a team member, a CMA has a unique skill set and experiences to assist in project management. In addition to their analytical training and knowledge of budgets and controls, they typically have ongoing contacts with other professionals from a variety of backgrounds. Familiar analytical tools/techniques can be applied to managing projects. This brief program is designed to aid both experienced and less experienced participants in increasing their knowledge of, and comfort with, the steps and skills needed for success.
Surgent's Excel Shortcuts for Accountants (EXSC)
4/17/2023
This webinar presents a variety of time-saving ideas, shortcuts, and tips that are sure to boost personal productivity. We discuss better summing, address one of the biggest pitfalls that Excel users have faced over the past 25 years, present the most important keyboard shortcuts, demonstrate a better alternative to hiding rows or columns, illustrate how to quickly navigate to other workbooks and files, and demonstrate using Excel with styles.
Surgent's Enterprise Risk Management Concepts and Strategy for Small and Medium-Sized Companies (ERM4)
4/17/2023
2020 taught us that major risks can come at us from any direction and with barely a warning. All organizations operate in a risk environment, but all too often, they either don’t realize it or they don’t develop a strategy to deal with the risks. In this session, we will explore how risks work in both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations and how they can develop a strategy to identify, evaluate, and mitigate those risks. This program will not teach how to eliminate risks, but how to strategize how to reduce their total effect. We will liberally use case studies of both for-profit and not-for-profit companies to bridge the gap between concept and actual implementation. In each area we will explore what our experiences of the pandemic have taught us about this part of risk management.
Surgent's Ethical Considerations for the CPA (ETHC)
4/18/2023
CPAs today face greater challenges than ever to maintain the high ethical standards of their profession. It is vitally important that all CPAs understand their professional responsibilities related to all aspects of their job. This course, which focuses on key components of the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, reviews a history of the CPA profession and focuses on ethical requirements that CPAs must adhere to in their everyday practice, including practical examples of potential ethical dilemmas that practitioners may encounter, particularly those related to objectivity and independence. PLEASE NOTE: THIS COURSE COVERS GENERAL ETHICS AND IS APPLICABLE IN STATES IN WHICH STATE-SPECIFIC ETHICS IS NOT REQUIRED. This course does not qualify for IRS credit.
Surgent's Controllership Skills Update – Budgeting, Forecasting, and Big Data (CON3)
4/18/2023
Budgets are the vehicle for allocating resources, measuring activities, and identifying needed changes and improvements. An organization’s strategy is the primary driver of costs. To be effective, the budget must be linked to strategy and long-term plans. Numerous organizations have achieved a series of short-term targets (budgets) but failed longer term, demonstrating the lack of this necessary linkage. Forecasting, a critical part of any successful budgeting process, can be flawed by technical errors, organizational structure, or emotional forces. The establishment of a system to collect, process, and analyze big data can provide significant insights into the budgeting and forecasting process. An efficient system of incorporating big data and analytics into normal activities will improve management’s decision-making. This brief program offers specific actions to improve your forecasting and budgeting activities. In addition, more advanced techniques are identified for the participant’s further review, which can be applied throughout an organization. Good budgets effectively allocate resources, provide information for decision-making and serve as an early warning system for unforeseen events. A poor budgeting process fosters a false sense of security, provides inappropriate or inaccurate data, and reinforces the status quo. Budgets are about the organization’s story, not just the raw numbers!
Surgent's Bankruptcy Basics: Understanding the Reorganization and Liquidation Process in These Uncertain Economic Times (BNK2)
4/18/2023
Consumers and businesses file for bankruptcy to seek protection from creditors and to reorganize or liquidate debts. Bankruptcy filings rise and fall with the economy. Surveys show that loss of income is the leading cause of consumer bankruptcies, followed by medical expenses and foreclosure. Corporate bankruptcies, on the other hand, are often the result of several factors, including excessive debt, decreased demand, increased costs, lawsuits or poor accounting practices. It is no secret bankruptcy filings will see a tremendous uptick in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. As an accountant, CFP, attorney or other professional, you need to be able to discuss the process and different available courses of action with your clients. Both landlords and tenants will be influenced tremendously. Individuals will look to your advice for a discharge and new start. Businesses will do the same and will also need to advise loyal employees. Creditors will receive proofs of claim and look to you for your expertise. Take this webinar and make sure you can speak fluently to both creditors and debtors. As trusted advisors, then, professionals should have a basic understanding of the bankruptcy process. This course provides a thorough review of the consumer and corporate bankruptcy practice. Participants in this webinar will gain an understanding of how consumer and corporate bankruptcy proceedings begin and end, as well as learn about key issues that affect debtor and creditor rights during bankruptcy. This webinar provides information from the perspective of both debtor and creditor. Although bankruptcy concerns the debts of the debtor, the Bankruptcy Code provides substantial protections to creditors. Creditor rights, however, vary widely depending on the status afforded the creditor under the Bankruptcy Code. Do yourself, your clients and your profit margin a favor and sign up for this invaluable webinar.
Surgent's Anatomy of a Ransomware Event and Incident Response (ARE2)
4/18/2023
The past two years have ushered in an explosion of ransomware attacks affecting businesses and individuals. Many of us read or hear about these attacks, but there is little understanding of how they occur, how a response is undertaken, and how the chances of experiencing one can be reduced. Join us to learn about these topics so you can be prepared with the best response and the knowledge to avoid common mistakes in a ransomware event.
Surgent's Controllership Skills Update: Risk Management (CONT)
4/18/2023
The most recent recession and its fallout, weather (look at 2017), process and product failures, and unethical behavior have again highlighted failures by numerous organizations in identifying and managing risk. The size and reputation of organizations proved not to be the key to success. Again, we saw that failures can result in areas/industries thought to be “under control” through their policies, practices and/or regulations. A core activity of financial management is to effectively protect the assets of their organizations, without significantly reducing new ideas and growth. This brief program provides insights and approaches to identify risk and manage the above noted trade-off. The course is designed for financial managers looking to quickly build upon their existing knowledge and experience, as well as to help to start the less experienced individual. It offers ideas that can be used immediately, as well as longer term approaches. Updated to include new information particularly in the areas of disaster planning, business continuity, and ethics, as well as a sample group exercise to test your current risk management systems.
Surgent's Budgets, Forecasts, and Forward-Looking Cash Flow Projections in a Post-Pandemic Environment (BCE4)
4/19/2023
The COVID-19 pandemic has had many far-reaching implications. In addition to the financial reporting impact of the pandemic, many other business functions, such as budgeting and forecasting are also proving to be challenging in the current environment and will require adjustments to how they were done in the past. As re-opening guidance continues to be issued, companies will have more visibility into when and how they can resume production and operations. Management and the Finance Team will need to work together to accurately forecast the impacts that the pandemic will have on revenue, margins, and costs in both the short term and long-term. Also, accurate operating and cash flow forecasts are essential for updating critical accounting estimates, including impairment models, contract modifications, and going concern risk assessments. They are also essential to determining the extent of operational disruption, supply chain disruptions, and other impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as identifying potential liquidity and working capital short-falls and access to existing sources of capital. In this course, we’ll review best practices for budgeting and forecasting in the COVID-19 environment. We’ll discuss what techniques can remain the same and which need to change as entities struggle to assess the impact of this crisis.
Surgent's Data Security: Best Practices to Protect Your Business and Yourself (DTS1)
4/19/2023
Data security is a front-of-mind topic for most businesses because the risk and cost statistics are sobering. Each of us is in the crosshairs because a typical internet-connected computer faces a cyberattack every 39 seconds. Businesses of all sizes should be cognizant of the ethical issues that must be considered when planning their approach to privacy and data security. In this webinar, we will explore both the risks we have traditionally faced in the workplace personally, as well as the novel set of data privacy threats and compliance challenge issues employers face with a remote and mobile workforce.
Surgent's Achieving High Levels of Compliance and Customer Service in Your Organization (CCS4)
4/19/2023
Probably one of the greatest conflicts in an organization is determining which is more important: compliance or customer service. This program digs deeply into the issue and prepares the finance professional to achieve high levels of compliance and customer service in the department and in the entire organization. We will examine both disciplines from an analytical standpoint, proving why they are necessary for both for-profit and nonprofit businesses to achieve success.
Surgent's Controller/CFO Update: Hot Topics Facing Today's Financial Professional (TCF4)
4/19/2023
In today's rapidly changing world, finance professionals are required to wear many hats and are often the keys to the success of the organization. On one hand, they need to be abreast of the latest proven financial skills for making the best decisions, and on the other hand they need the best skills to motivate, manage, and lead people. Being pigeon-holed into one area or another is neither good for career building nor good for the organization. This reality has proven to be even more true with the advent of COVID-19. We'll cover the latest issues that all CFOs and controllers need to know about and provide how-to guidance to allow for immediate use in their organizations.
Surgent's A Complete Tax Guide to Exit Planning (EXP2)
4/19/2023
When exit planning, it is important to weigh various issues, including tax implications, to achieve an effective management and/or ownership change. Many envision tax-free reorganizations being the most preferable structure to avoid capital gains tax, but the opportunities come at a cost to the seller. This course will provide a well-rounded discussion of the various strategies to consider when advising on exiting a business.
Surgent's U.S. Taxation of Foreign Corporations: A Case Study Approach (TFC3)
4/20/2023
This course is a case study designed to provide a comprehensive overview of U.S. taxation of a foreign corporation. Using a specific example, the course will walk through step-by-step mechanics on how to calculate the income inclusions and foreign tax credits under GILTI (Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income), Subpart F, and PFIC (Passive Foreign Investment Company) regimes. The case study will further evaluate tax impact of subsequent distributions from the foreign corporation and sales of its stock. A compare-and-contrast approach will highlight the different outcomes of these regimes for individuals and for C corporations, empowering participants to advise their clients on the most tax efficient way to structure their international investments.
Surgent's The Art of Delegation: Strategies for Improving Your Skills (DEL2)
4/20/2023
One of the most challenging skills for a manager or supervisor to master is delegation. This course will cover a variety of delegation-related topics and provide participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to delegate work and authority effectively.
Surgent's Summary and Analysis of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IR22)
4/20/2023
Throughout much of 2022, it was very doubtful whether any tax legislation would be enacted. At long last we now have new tax legislation impacting 2023 and later years in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This program will cover the new tax legislation embodied in the IRA in detail so that those attending can properly advise their clients if and how these various tax changes impact their individual and business planning. Be the first to know about this brand-new legislation in a comprehensive manner. In contrast to courses provided by others that only highlight the broad strokes of the legislation, which you could easily access in an online summary, our expert panelists will detail all of the relevant facets applicable to planning for both you and your clients.
Surgent's Time Management for Professionals (TMP2)
4/20/2023
The phrase “time management” is misleading. No one manages time. Instead, we manage events in our lives which consume time. Like money, time is both finite and valuable; it should be budgeted and used wisely. Those individuals who “manage” or budget their time wisely often are more productive, less stressed, and able to achieve their goals more effectively than others. Professionals by nature place a high value on their time. Still, successful time management strategies vary based upon the personality, motivation, and discipline of each individual. This course provides simple, practical, and powerful techniques that help professionals work efficiently and achieve better balance in their lives. Successful time management skills also reduce the risk of burnout, which in turn improves the likelihood of achieving success in any endeavor.
Surgent's Workplace Harassment: How to Prevent Harassment and Reduce Liability Risks in Today’s Changing Environment (WHLR)
4/20/2023
Workplace harassment — especially sexual harassment — has dominated headlines in light of the #MeToo movement. While nothing suggests that such harassment is more prevalent than it was before the movement, people now feel more empowered to speak out, and the standard of appropriate workplace conduct is changing. With harassment claims to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission increasing over 50% in 2018, it is more important than ever to understand how to prevent and avoid harassment in the workplace.
Surgent's Excel Budgeting Ideas (EXBI)
4/21/2023
Budget methods are the key to allowing department managers to efficiently prepare their budget in Excel. For example, a budget method may be to spread prior year actuals or match prior year actuals, or match prior year actuals less 10%. In this webinar, we will explore how to allow users to pick a budget method from a drop-down list for each account and then have Excel perform different calculations depending on the budget method selected. We use several features and functions at the same time to pull this off. Even if you are not involved in the budgeting process, the underlying features and functions discussed have a wide range of uses.
Surgent's Client Advisory Services (CAS): A Guide to the Variety of Offerings Professionals Can Provide (CAS2)
4/21/2023
According to a 2020 AICPA survey, advisory and consulting services were considered the greatest unmet needs of clients. The recent growth in Client Advisory Services (CAS) has led many to ask what is included in this broad category as well as how to develop the services for clients. With so much focus on the recent success of CAS offerings, now is the time to learn how the services differ from what you currently offer, which of your clients would benefit most, and what you need in place to add a quality CAS program to your firm's menu of services.
Surgent's Excel Shortcuts for Accountants (EXSC)
4/21/2023
This webinar presents a variety of time-saving ideas, shortcuts, and tips that are sure to boost personal productivity. We discuss better summing, address one of the biggest pitfalls that Excel users have faced over the past 25 years, present the most important keyboard shortcuts, demonstrate a better alternative to hiding rows or columns, illustrate how to quickly navigate to other workbooks and files, and demonstrate using Excel with styles.
Surgent's Perplexing Financial and Economic Issues for the CFO/Controller (FECC)
4/24/2023
For CFOs and Controllers, the emergence of regulatory, fiscal, and monetary policy directly impacting their organizations’ costs, competitiveness, and financing options, are causing them to understand the effect of shocks well outside of their control. The Dodd-Frank Act, health care reform, shortfalls in Social Security, unfunded pension liabilities, and deficit spending will all be explored relative to their impact on the CFO/Controller and your organization.
Surgent's Employee vs. Independent Contractor: Achieving Success in a Worker Classification Audit (EMIC)
4/24/2023
The IRS believes, perhaps with some justification, that many workers classified as independent contractors are actually employees and should be treated as such for tax purposes. The result is that worker classification audits are frequent and often costly for business clients, both in terms of time as well as money expended. This program prepares tax practitioners to assist their clients with worker classification audits, and to avoid them if possible, by discussing and explaining the circumstances under which workers will most likely be characterized as employees or as independent contractors. The program also deals with the first line of defense against the IRS in worker classification audits — Section 530, as well as the common law factors distinguishing an employee from an independent contractor. This program also explores the IRS Voluntary Classification Settlement Program and discusses whether a practitioner should advise a client to request admission into this program.
Surgent's Use the Data Model to Build More Powerful PivotTables (EXPP)
4/24/2023
Do you love PivotTables? Of course, we all do! Traditional PivotTables are incredible, but they do have limitations. If you have ever encountered one of these limitations, you’ll be excited to learn that by using the Data Model as the source for PivotTables, you’ll be able to bypass many of the restrictions that exist with traditional PivotTables. The data model (also referred to as Power Pivot) is included in Excel 2016+ for Windows and available as a free download for previous versions (excluding Excel for Mac). Using the data model enables you to build PivotTables that were previously not practical. If you frequently build PivotTables and would like to do more with them, you’ll want to understand how to use the data model (Power Pivot) to enhance your reports. Note about Excel versions: Power Pivot is not available in all versions of Excel, including Excel for Mac. If you would like to see if Power Pivot is available in your version of Excel, visit the Microsoft site.
Surgent's Preparation and Compilation Engagements Under the SSARS (PCE4)
4/24/2023
Be the go-to person on financial statement compilation and preparation engagements. Specifically designed for those performing preparation and compilation engagements, this course will provide you with a hands-on application for performing preparation and compilation engagements under AR-C Section 70 and 80, respectively. You will learn the ins and outs of relevant sections of the SSARS related to preparation and compilation engagements with a focus on how recently issued updates to SSARS No. 21 impact these engagements. More importantly, you will be provided practical examples and illustrations to help you effectively and efficiently perform those engagements, including a detailed discussion of the reporting requirements under AR-C 80 related to compilation engagement. Lastly, the course will review recent peer review feedback on these types of engagements, highlighting areas where you can improve engagement quality.
Surgent's Guide and Update to Compilations, Reviews, and Preparations (CRU4)
4/25/2023
Specifically designed for preparation, compilation, and review practitioners, this course will provide you with a comprehensive review and hands-on application for performing financial statement preparation, compilation, and review engagements. You will learn the ins and outs of applying SSARS No. 21, Clarification and Recodification, as well as the additional guidance related to SSARS engagements through the issuance of SSARS Nos. 22-25 by the ARSC. The course will also review recent peer review feedback on SSARS engagements, providing insights on how to successfully apply this guidance. Not only will this course bring you up to date on SSARSs requirements and guidance, but more importantly, it will provide you with practical examples and illustrations to help you effectively and efficiently perform compilation, preparation, and review engagements.
Surgent's Anatomy of a Ransomware Event and Incident Response (ARE2)
4/25/2023
The past two years have ushered in an explosion of ransomware attacks affecting businesses and individuals. Many of us read or hear about these attacks, but there is little understanding of how they occur, how a response is undertaken, and how the chances of experiencing one can be reduced. Join us to learn about these topics so you can be prepared with the best response and the knowledge to avoid common mistakes in a ransomware event.
Surgent's Preparing Schedules K-2 and K-3: Critical Updates for Reporting Foreign-Related Tax Information for Partnerships and S Corporations (K2K3)
4/25/2023
Many partnerships and S corporations are now required to complete the voluminous Schedules K-2 and K-3 to report foreign-related tax information. Updated for the 2022 tax year, this course is an essential guide for tax preparers on how to tackle the preparation of these forms. The course includes an overview of and introduction to Schedules K-2 and K-3, an in-depth discussion of filing requirements and exceptions, a walk-through of what information is required to be reported in different parts of the schedules, and real-life tips and examples. The course includes three comprehensive case studies on how the form should be completed for operating, real estate rental, and investment partnerships.
Surgent's Business Writing: Professional & Effective Emails (BWPE)
4/25/2023
Good writing is good business. Studies show that the average business worker receives 121 emails per day. That’s a lot of emails. Are your emails effective? Are they being read? Are they professional and tone-smart? In this course, you will learn techniques and skills to get your emails to stand out and improve their effectiveness and professionalism.
Surgent's Technology and Ethics: Applying CPAs’ Ethical Standards to Our Changing Technology Environment (TAE4)
4/25/2023
While CPAs’ commitment to ethics hasn’t changed, the environment in which CPAs operate has changed significantly over the past decade, and will continue to change as rapidly, or even more so, over the next few years. As CPAs adapt to this rapidly evolving environment, they need to understand how our current ethical standards apply in this new environment and whether any new ethical guidelines need to be developed or modified to reflect the challenges of our ever-changing and technologically linked world. In this course we’ll review the CPA’s ethical requirements with a specific focus on how these are impacted by technology. The course will explore ethical challenges related to data security and privacy, investigate emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, and discuss how technological advances impact how CPAs provide their services. Lastly, the course will review recent initiatives of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) to update its Code to provide guidance to assist accountants and auditors in navigating the more pressing ethics and independence challenges arising from evolving technologies.
Surgent's Monthly Accounting and Auditing Update (MAAU)
4/25/2023
The one constant in life is change. This is true in the A&A world as well. 2022 will continue to challenge the accounting profession in many areas, including implementing new AICPA and FASB pronouncements. In this monthly series, we will explore the hot topics and current events that are driving financial accounting today, such as auditing and SSARS standards implementation and getting ready for ASC 842 implementation. Through detailed discussion of new standards and commentary from relevant industry experts, this monthly update will keep you up to date on what you need to know in the accounting world. So, whether your area of specialty is employee benefit plans, leases, not-for-profit and governmental accounting or something else, this monthly hour will give you what you need to know to do your job as effectively as possible.
Surgent's Controller/CFO Update: Hot Topics Facing Today's Financial Professional (TCF4)
4/26/2023
In today's rapidly changing world, finance professionals are required to wear many hats and are often the keys to the success of the organization. On one hand, they need to be abreast of the latest proven financial skills for making the best decisions, and on the other hand they need the best skills to motivate, manage, and lead people. Being pigeon-holed into one area or another is neither good for career building nor good for the organization. This reality has proven to be even more true with the advent of COVID-19. We'll cover the latest issues that all CFOs and controllers need to know about and provide how-to guidance to allow for immediate use in their organizations.
Surgent's Going Concern Accounting and Reporting Considerations (AGC2)
4/26/2023
This course will review the relevant considerations related to going concern, including assessing when substantial doubt concerning an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern exists, management mitigation efforts, and required disclosures both when management, and the accountant, feel such efforts will be effective in mitigating the risk, as well as when they do not. Lastly, we’ll consider the accountant’s reporting responsibilities under various scopes of services in various scenarios and how to audit this often-contentious topic.
Surgent's Ethical Considerations for the CPA (ETHC)
4/26/2023
CPAs today face greater challenges than ever to maintain the high ethical standards of their profession. It is vitally important that all CPAs understand their professional responsibilities related to all aspects of their job. This course, which focuses on key components of the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, reviews a history of the CPA profession and focuses on ethical requirements that CPAs must adhere to in their everyday practice, including practical examples of potential ethical dilemmas that practitioners may encounter, particularly those related to objectivity and independence. PLEASE NOTE: THIS COURSE COVERS GENERAL ETHICS AND IS APPLICABLE IN STATES IN WHICH STATE-SPECIFIC ETHICS IS NOT REQUIRED. This course does not qualify for IRS credit.
Surgent's Hiring and Firing of Employees - What You Can and Cannot Do (HFEM)
4/26/2023
There are numerous federal laws that restrict what businesses can do in terms of hiring and firing employees. Many of these laws impose significant penalties if employers violate them. Accordingly, it is crucial that all employers and their professional advisors understand these laws and apply them to their employment practices.
Surgent's ASC 805 Business Combination Accounting: Not Just for the Big Guys (BCM4)
4/27/2023
Business combinations, and the related complex accounting issues that often arise from them, were thought to just be the domain of larger, often publicly traded companies. However, with smaller companies often having aggressive growth plans and with the wide scale availability of financing, business combinations are increasingly occurring at smaller and private companies. Applying the accounting guidance in ASC 805, Business Combinations, can be very challenging, especially if an entity has limited experience in accounting for such transactions. Additionally, the FASB has issued several recent ASUs that have updated the guidance in this area. In this course, we will focus in reviewing the acquisition method of accounting for a business combination under ASC 805, including such topics as determining the acquirer in a transaction, identifying acquired assets and liabilities in a transaction accounted for under ASC 805, including goodwill and other acquired intangible assets, the accounting for employee compensation arrangements arising from such transactions and the subsequent accounting for the recorded assets and liabilities, including accounting, for impairment of such assets. The goal of this course is to demystify the accounting around this often complex area of accounting.
Surgent's Avoiding Deficiencies in Peer Reviews: Focus on Engagement Quality (ENQ4)
4/27/2023
With the AICPA’s heightened focus on enhancing audit quality, increased oversight of the peer review process and the auditor’s overall responsibility to provide high quality services, the focus on compliance with professional standards has never been greater. Recent peer reviews have indicated that auditors are often failing to perform and/or document certain critical components of an audit such as the auditor’s assessment of risk and linking the results of the assessment to substantive procedures performed. In addition, auditors are not adequately documenting their consideration of fraud, expectations in analytical procedures and the appropriate level of work needed to understand an entity’s internal control. Now is time to revisit the way that auditors are performing and documenting the work performed to meet professional standards since nonconforming engagements can result in an auditor’s referral to the AICPA Ethics Committee. The ASB has not made significant changes to its quality standards since 2006. There are currently three standards on quality management in exposure draft that are expected to be issued in the second quarter of 2022. These changes will be substantive. This course will discuss the new standards. This course will also focus on the most significant items resulting in deficiencies identified in the peer review process. We will also discuss the applicable audit standards, documentation requirements and best practices. The objective of the course is to provide the insights necessary to help an auditor improve not just the quality of their work but also the perception of the accounting profession as a whole.
Surgent's Basics of the Valuation of a Closely Held Business (BVA4)
4/27/2023
An understanding of the basics of business valuation is an invaluable tool for practicing accountants to better assist clients who are considering buying or selling their business or an interest therein, contemplating estate tax planning or creating a buy-sell agreement, or dealing with the death of an owner, a shareholder dispute, or a divorce. Business valuation may also be a practice area an accountant would be interested in pursuing for increased billables. Many forward-thinking closely-held business owners are currently looking at possibly higher capital gain rates, particularly with a Democratic regime. Take this course to be well advised and prepared in order to better assist that potential selling owner.
Surgent's Lessons Learned from Recent Accounting Malpractice Actions (AMA2)
4/27/2023
Recent economic volatility has created added stress on accounting and finance professionals and their clients. When individuals or businesses lose money, they often blame others for their misfortune. Business disputes can sometimes lead to accounting malpractice claims. Understanding the most common types of accounting malpractice claims provides a roadmap of what not to do. This course provides a current overview of accounting malpractice litigation throughout the United States. The goal is to learn about the types of claims asserted against CPA firms and strategies to employ to avoid such claims. Reviewing malpractice claims allows us to identify patterns of behavior that may reduce litigation risk.
Surgent's Data Security: Best Practices to Protect Your Business and Yourself (DTS1)
4/27/2023
Data security is a front-of-mind topic for most businesses because the risk and cost statistics are sobering. Each of us is in the crosshairs because a typical internet-connected computer faces a cyberattack every 39 seconds. Businesses of all sizes should be cognizant of the ethical issues that must be considered when planning their approach to privacy and data security. In this webinar, we will explore both the risks we have traditionally faced in the workplace personally, as well as the novel set of data privacy threats and compliance challenge issues employers face with a remote and mobile workforce.
Surgent's Assessing the Risk of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit (ARF8)
4/28/2023

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners says that there is fraud lurking in all businesses, including not-for-profit organizations. It often goes undetected for years and when uncovered, management and the board may question why the auditor did not identify it. The auditor’s responsibility in a financial statement audit is to assess risk and perform sufficient procedures to obtain reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement due to fraud or error. However, failure to perform an adequate fraud risk assessment and report deficiencies in internal control, such as lack of segregation of duties, can leave a firm vulnerable.

This course will discuss the audit procedures that should be performed in accordance AU-C 240 as recently amended, best practices in performing fraud risk assessment procedures, when and how to report control deficiencies noted in an audit, and the most frequent types of fraud found in small to midsize entities along with internal controls that could be implemented to help prevent and detect them. We will take a look at various cyber fraud schemes and how they might be prevented/detected, at the use of analytics as fraud risk procedures, and at assessing the risk of fraud in a Single Audit. This course features case studies.
Surgent's New Jersey Law and Ethics (ETNJ)
4/28/2023
Professional conduct and ethical behavior are really the backbone of the entire accounting and auditing profession. These components form the foundation upon which our creditability with the general public is built, without which, there is no profession. Whether you are a practitioner in public accounting or business and industry, you must always act in accordance with the requirements that define professional conduct and ethical behavior. This course is approved by the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy (Board) and fulfills the requirement that each applicant for triennial license renewal shall complete, during the preceding triennial period, a four credit hours course on New Jersey law and ethics approved by the Board applicable to the practice of public accountancy. This course specifically covers the Accountancy Act of 1997; Rules of the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy, including the rules of professional conduct; the Uniform Enforcement Act; and the Uniform Regulations of the Division of Consumer Affairs. The primary objective of the course is to contribute directly to the maintenance of your professional competence as a licensed New Jersey CPA.
Surgent's Ins and Outs of Health Savings Accounts (HSA2)
4/28/2023
Health savings accounts (HSAs) are an effective way for employers to provide employees with financial help so they can pay their out-of-pocket medical expenses in a tax-efficient manner. Individuals who are not participating in an employer-funded HSA may set up their own HSA to achieve the same ends. Clients often ask tax practitioners about the mechanics of HSAs and whether they are beneficial. This program is a two-hour discussion of the topic led by Roy Ramthun, who will take you through the many rules and complexities of this challenging subject.
Surgent's The Accountant as the Expert Witness (TAEW)
4/28/2023
As litigation becomes more complex, attorneys are relying more on accountants to serve as consulting experts or expert witnesses at trial. Serving as an expert witness is not as difficult as you might expect. Accounting experts educate lawyers and jurors on issues such as valuation, tax liability, and forensics. Learn how accountants become expert witnesses, the role they play during pre-litigation through to trial, and the techniques experts employ to avoid challenges from opposing counsel.
Surgent's Management Fundamentals (MAFU)
4/28/2023
In a recent Gallup study, 50% of respondents quit because of their manager, which makes your managers and supervisors your company’s first line of defense against costly turnover. This program looks at management from a broad perspective and then drills down into key skills needed to manage effectively.
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