Calendar of Events

Common Audit and Financial Reporting Deficiencies in State and Local Governments, is a 2 hour webcast detailing many of the more common mistakes that auditors and accountants are making in either the preparation of their annual financial statements or the audits of such financial statements. Deficiencies in audit standards (AICPA, GAO, Single Audit) and preparation standards (GASB) noted in this webcast are driven by the most recent results found in audit organization peer reviews, workpaper or desk reviews, and various organizations checklists for oversight. 

• Review and apply recently issued and proposed FASB and AICPA pronouncements
• Review and apply guidance within ASC 842, Leases
• Understand SAS 142 and SAS 145
• Recall and apply AICPA quality management standards (SQMS 1, SQMS 2, and SQMS 3)
• Be familiar with other important A&A practice matters you should be aware of
• Utilize hands-on examples and illustrations to increase your overall understanding and application of the material

• Recently issued FASB Accounting Standards Updates, PCC Update and items on the FASB’s Technical Agenda
• Leases – Topic 842
• Recently issued ASUs covering common control leases, crypto assets (e.g., cryptocurrency), and income tax disclosures
• ASC 326: CECL
• Review of SAS 142 – Focus on Audit Evidence
• Recently issued SASs and other AICPA activity
• SSARS No. 25 and other recently issued SSARS
• Detailed review of SAS 145
• Other important A&A practice matters

Targets can be a powerful catalyst for remarkable achievements - from landing humans on the moon to eradicating smallpox and repairing the ozone layer. However, poorly designed targets can have severe consequences, potentially leading to executive imprisonment, corporate collapse, or even loss of life.

This course uses real-world examples and case studies to guide you through a practical, step-by-step process for crafting robust, effective, and credible targets for your organization. You'll learn how to harness the positive potential of targets whilst avoiding the pitfalls that can derail even the most well-intentioned performance initiatives.

Audit Risk Assessment in Plain English, is a 2 hour webcast highlighting the AICPA’s clarified risk assessment standards, along with a new Statement on Auditing Standard (SAS 145) related to understanding the entity, the entity’s environment, the entity’s internal controls, and assessing the risks of material misstatement.  This session will attempt to simplify the requirements using common sense examples and language.

This session will focus on the most common types of fraud in the procurement and contracting arena, with a focus on fraud in construction.  The session will examine fraud vulnerabilities in the four key phases of the procurement process:

• Presolicitation.
• Negotiation.
• Performance.
• Closeout and Claims. 

Within each phase, “red flags” will be discussed.  These are the indicia of possible fraud that managers should be alert for.  Also, within each phase, the most common fraud schemes will be highlighted and discussed.  Finally, the session will describe the generally accepted safeguards or controls that should be established to prevent the various fraud schemes that can occur.  This part of the program will make extensive use of actual fraud case studies designed to demonstrate fraud risks and fraud detection strategies.

Transform your data presentation skills with our comprehensive course on creating impactful dashboards and reports using Excel. This workshop is tailored for professionals who:

• Regularly produce or update dashboards and reports
• Struggle with confusing or overly complex reporting tools
• Seek to streamline varied reporting styles across their organization
• Aim to establish a consistent, replicable "house style" for reporting
• Want to impress stakeholders with clear, user-friendly data presentations

Through a combination of theory and hands-on practice, you'll learn the fundamental principles that make reports and dashboards easy to understand. We'll distill these concepts into a set of practical rules and guide you through their application in Excel.

Elevate your data analysis capabilities with our focused course on Power Query. Tailored for financial professionals, this training will show you how to get started using Power Query and teach you some of the ways to take advantage of its ability to handle messy data and automate repetitive tasks.

Harness the efficiency of Power Query to revolutionize the way you work with data. Learn how to "program" your tasks once and set them on repeat, eliminating the need for repetitive, robotic work. This automation not only saves time but also ensures consistency and accuracy in your data processes.

Whether you're dealing with complex datasets or simply looking to streamline your reporting processes, this course will equip you with the tools and knowledge to make Excel work for you like never before.

Unlock the full potential of Excel with our comprehensive training on shortcuts and formulas. This course is designed for CPAs and financial professionals who want to enhance their efficiency and accuracy in Excel. Learn how to navigate and utilize different versions of Excel, discover powerful new functions, and master the art of creating effective tables and automations. With practical examples and hands-on exercises, you'll transform your Excel skills, making your daily tasks quicker and more precise.

Plus, benefit from insider tips and tricks drawn from the instructor's extensive real-world experience. Whether it's mastering keyboard shortcuts that save you time or applying formulas that simplify complex calculations, you'll gain practical knowledge that you can immediately apply in your work. This course isn't just about learning Excel; it's about learning to excel at Excel.

Due to the constant stress of a fast paced life, overwork, and family demands, it’s easy to feel one’s life is out of balance. When this happens, all areas of your life can suffer. By learning key methods for setting priorities and goals, overcoming stress, and deciding what’s most important to you, you can achieve new levels of balance and greater results. Having more balance in your life will allow you to do less of what you don’t want and more of what is truly important to you.

Running or advising a small business? The KPI Bootcamp can help you rapidly identify and implement the right KPIs to achieve your or your client's goals. Delivered by Bernie Smith, KPI specialist and seasoned entrepreneur, this course will guide you through selecting a powerful set of measures tailored to your business. The structured approach helps you refine your objectives and choose KPIs that drive growth and profitability.
The program includes access to over 400 pre-defined KPIs, each with a clear, jargon-free definition, business benefits, real-world examples, and practical implementation tips.

Governmental Accounting 101, is a 2 hour webcast that takes the participant of a whirlwind tour of governmental accounting basics, focusing on wetting the participant’s appetite for more.  This session will be the first of a series of webcasts, with each subsequent webcast delving deeper and deeper into the governmental accounting basics. 

This is a 2 hour webcast that will focus on the similarities between all three of these GASB accounting standards that deal with contractual arrangements such as leases, Subscription-Based Information Technology Arrangements (SBITA) and P3s.  Compare and contrast these standards as you prepare for implementation this year of GASB 94 and GASB 96, and review the implementation efforts of Leases in Year 2. 

Unlock the full potential of Excel with our comprehensive training on shortcuts and formulas. This course is designed for CPAs and financial professionals who want to enhance their efficiency and accuracy in Excel. Learn how to navigate and utilize different versions of Excel, discover powerful new functions, and master the art of creating effective tables and automations. With practical examples and hands-on exercises, you'll transform your Excel skills, making your daily tasks quicker and more precise.

Plus, benefit from insider tips and tricks drawn from the instructor's extensive real-world experience. Whether it's mastering keyboard shortcuts that save you time or applying formulas that simplify complex calculations, you'll gain practical knowledge that you can immediately apply in your work. This course isn't just about learning Excel; it's about learning to excel at Excel.

Most professionals routinely use Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint, but many are self-taught and, as a result, have not been exposed to the best features of these three applications. Consequently, they often use “brute force,” inefficient means when working with these three components of Microsoft Office. If that describes you, ensure you carve time out of your schedule to participate in this fourhour session. In it, you will learn how to work much more efficiently when using these tools to get better results in less time.

This session is the beginning in a series on the new revenue recognition standard. The standard outlines five steps for proper compliance. At the surface, these steps seem simplistic. However, there are many considerations that should be considered within each step based on your process and industry. This course is designed to provide an overview of the technical guidance and outline the five steps involved in the revenue recognition model. We also explore some concepts to consider within each step and then evaluate some challenges that specific industry's may have when complying with the standard. Future courses will further delve into each step and provide example and scenarios that should be considered to properly apply the step.

• Learn in detail about the preparation of Form 1120-S, Schedules M-1, K, and K-1
• Learn in detail about the preparation of Form 1065, Schedules M-1, K, and K-1
• Identify and handle commonly found S corporation and partnership tax issues

• Compare and contrast the tax consequences, opportunities, and pitfalls of operating a business as a partnership, LLC, or S corporation 
• Reporting requirements and filing exceptions 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” 

• Understand the latest enacted tax law changes
• Understand strategies and techniques to use in light of tax changes
• Understand current cases and rulings affecting individuals and businesses

• Comprehensive coverage of the Inflation Reduction Act, including:
• The Clean Vehicle Credit, Credit for Previously Owned Clean Vehicles, Credit for Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicles, Residential Clean Energy Credit, Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, Premium Tax Credit, Elective Payment, Transferability, and Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship Requirements
• Comprehensive coverage of the SECURE 2.0 Act, including:
• Expanding Enrollment in Retirement Plans, Increase in Age for Required Beginning Date for Mandatory Distributions, New Exceptions to Penalty-Free Withdrawal from Retirement Plans, and recent IRS guidance
• Timely coverage of breaking tax legislation
• Form 1099-K reporting requirements
• Detailed analysis and examples of Sale of Passthrough Entity Interest and Net Investment Income Tax
• The Gig Economy -- Tax implications, Independent Contractor vs. Employee Classification, and the DOL Final Rule
• FinCEN reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act 
• Employee Retention Tax Credit updates
• 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

• Identify common frauds occurring in federal awards today
• Avoid losing sight of the potential for fraud occurring in single audits
• Protect governments and nonprofits from fraud

• Study real-life misappropriations involving federal awards and how they were carried out
• The backgrounds, motivations and methodologies of the fraudsters
• Brainstorm where things went wrong that allowed the frauds to occur without prevention or detection

This session reviews the three elements of fraud, how fraudsters think, how proper internal controls can prevent and detect fraud, and the red flags to look for to identify fraud. It looks at Radar O'Reilly, one of the most beloved characters of the TV show M*A*S*H. He was trusted by his boss to run the administrative side of the US Army medical unit. Were there red flags all around Radar? Did he have the opportunity to steal? Was he a fraudster? We'll find out? Attendees learn to recognize the traits of this type fraudster that are present in many organization. Case studies of various Radars are included.

Fraud continues to plague businesses at epidemic levels, and technology control failures are a big reason fraud occurs. Using a case study approach, in this session, you will learn about the pervasiveness of fraud, the control failures that contribute to fraud, and what you can do to mitigate fraud risk.

A specific focus of this course is the application of information technology general controls and information technology application controls. In this course, you will examine numerous reported fraud cases and identify the general control and application control failures that contributed to each of these frauds. By learning through these real-world case studies, you will be better positioned to reduce fraud risk.

Internal controls are more important than ever, and their importance increases daily. However, internal controls present a challenge for many smaller organizations. This program will teach you how to evaluate, develop, and implement an effective internal control structure in a small business environment. You will identify how to assess risk in smaller organizations and implement preventive, detective, deterrent, and compensating controls to mitigate these risks, even without proper segregation of duties. Additionally, participating in this program will teach you technology-focused techniques for preventing and detecting fraud and securing information systems and sensitive data.

For small organizations, maintaining an effective system of internal controls presents a significant challenge. Realistically, implementing many theoretical concepts surrounding internal controls may not be possible in some cases. Consequently, many internal control structures foster an environment where too much risk exists. This factor and uncontrolled information systems can often lead to disastrous results. Participate in this program to learn the necessary insights and tools to design, implement, and monitor effective internal controls, security, and anti-fraud measures in small organizations.

• Understand the legal framework that allows accounting and financial firms to operate and grow within the marijuana industry
• Be familiar with applicable Internal Revenue Code sections applicable to this industry
• Be well versed in the potential risks and rewards for financial professionals working in the marijuana industry
• Understand the issues unique to the production, delivery, and retail aspects of this market

• An overview of current state and federal laws governing marijuana
• A review of state boards of accountancy regarding marijuana
• How some financial professionals are capitalizing on the marijuana industry
• Providing auditing and tax services within the marijuana industry
• How accountants and other financial professionals can manage risk within this industry
• IRC Section 280E’s prohibition of deductions involving controlled substances
• A summary of various state taxation laws on marijuana
• Ethical issues for accountants who work in the marijuana industry
• Relevant banking regulations
• Growth projections

• Calculate an S corporation shareholder's basis in his or her S corporation shares on Form 7203
• Understand and apply the S corporation shareholder loan basis rules

• Introduction to Form 7203
• Introduction to the calculation of stock basis
• Introduction to the calculation of loan basis
• Taxable and nontaxable S corporation distributions to shareholders
• The election to reduce basis by deductible losses and expenses before reducing basis by nondeductible expenses

The QuickBooks platform is a robust environment with features and capabilities that many users are unaware of or do not know how to utilize effectively.  This course helps you get more out of QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online and resolve the issues that even experienced QuickBooks users struggle with, such as locking down prior periods.  This program starts fast with a chapter covering the top issues accountants face with QuickBooks.  The day continues with practical guidance and solutions designed to help accountants get the most out of QuickBooks for themselves or their clients. You will learn about issues, such as setting up a new company, configuring and customizing QuickBooks preferences, and enabling system security and password protection features.  Also, you will learn how to lock down transactions in prior periods, the audit trail, customizing reports, exporting reports to Excel, and extending QuickBooks’ usefulness with tools such as the Fixed Asset Manager and Loan Manager.  

Accountants in the various financial services industries are expected to be alert to potential money laundering situations, even if they are not specifically tasked with monitoring AML compliance. This workshop unpacks the basic AML compliance requirements and considers real world cases involving financial professionals & responses to AML red flags. The content of this workshop emphasizes the ethical considerations faced by accountants who encounter money laundering situations.

Ethics are how groups define right from wrong. Codes of Ethics define good behavior from bad behavior for professionals. When we break those codes, we "break bad." For five seasons, the popular television show "Breaking Bad" explored the transformation of one good man breaking bad. This session provides an overview of ethics and why people break bad, while using examples from the TV show as well as case studies of good people who broke bad.

QuickBooks remains one of the leading accounting solutions for small and growing businesses and Intuit has added numerous advanced features to the application over the past few releases. In this seminar, you will learn how to take advantage of many of QuickBooks’ new and advanced features to solve important issues. For example, you will learn advanced inventory management techniques, including the ability to change the default costing methodology in QuickBooks, and implementing lot and serial number tracking. You will also learn how to build complete sets of financial statements in Excel that link in real-time to underlying QuickBooks data files and how to create multi-company financial statements. Additionally, you will learn how to put the Client Data Review feature to work to streamline the process of identifying and correcting errors and closing accounting periods in QuickBooks.

Knowing how to take advantage of the advanced tools and features available can determine your level of success when working with QuickBooks. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn about QuickBooks’ “deep” features so that you maximize your effectiveness with the application.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the hottest topic in technology circles today. And for good reason! AI can help all business professionals – including HR professionals –
work more efficiently and effectively.

AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot are proving themselves daily as valuable assets. These tools can help you automate research, draft documents,
summarize emails, analyze Excel data, and even create PowerPoint presentations for you. If you haven't yet explored what today's AI tools can do, you'll want to participate in this session to become more productive and efficient with this very practical technology.

Microsoft 365/Office 365 continues to grow and evolve, yet most utilize only a fraction of the tools available in their subscription. For example, powerful resources such as SharePoint Online and audio and video conferencing can change how your organization communicates and collaborates. In contrast, more personal apps such as Teams, Planner, Flow, and Sway allow individuals to work more efficiently and effectively in virtually all facets of their jobs. Further, security enhancements to Office 365 mean that your organization can take advantage of all these features in a highly secure environment. 

Isn’t it time you learned how to move beyond the traditional Microsoft 365/Office 365 applications such as Excel, Word, and Outlook and unleash all your subscription offers? Join us in this fast-paced and highly interactive seminar where you will learn what you need to know to succeed with Microsoft 365/Office 365.

This course provides practical suggestions for improving leadership skills, including self-awareness, communication, delegation, empowerment, coaching, and counseling. 

Being neuro-inclusive is not only kind, but can also help your team get the right things done in less time. This course will be about what neurodiversity is, give an overview of brain science, and show you tactical tips and techniques you can use to help your company get more of the right things done in less time with a strategy designed with more brains in mind. 

Unlock the full potential of Excel with our comprehensive training on shortcuts and formulas. This course is designed for CPAs and financial professionals who want to enhance their efficiency and accuracy in Excel. Learn how to navigate and utilize different versions of Excel, discover powerful new functions, and master the art of creating effective tables and automations. With practical examples and hands-on exercises, you'll transform your Excel skills, making your daily tasks quicker and more precise.

Plus, benefit from insider tips and tricks drawn from the instructor's extensive real-world experience. Whether it's mastering keyboard shortcuts that save you time or applying formulas that simplify complex calculations, you'll gain practical knowledge that you can immediately apply in your work. This course isn't just about learning Excel; it's about learning to excel at Excel.

While outsourcing and automation have been used in multinational corporations, the decline in accounting program enrollment at many universities has made finding qualified entry-level staff more challenging and forced a new conversation about these tools in small and mid-sized businesses. This session will discuss the business environment for outsourcing and review the ethical, regulatory, and practical considerations associated with revealing data and relying on the work of others in your organization.

Fraud continues to plague businesses at epidemic levels, and technology control failures are a significant reason fraud occurs. Using a case study approach, in this session, you will learn about the pervasiveness of fraud, the control failures that contribute to fraud, and what you can do to mitigate fraud risk.

A specific focus of this course is the application of information technology general controls and information technology application controls. In this course, you will examine numerous reported fraud cases and identify the general control and application control failures that contributed to each of these frauds. By learning through these real-world case studies, you will be positioned better to reduce fraud risk.

This course is meant to complement the course that evaluates all aspects of the five steps to revenue recognition. The course "Understanding the new revenue recognition rules" examines the five-step model outlined in the standard that organizations must utilize when recognizing revenue. The new standard applies to all companies.

• Understand the various roles and requirements of forensic accountants
• Recognize the skills that forensic accountants use in fraud investigation, in bankruptcy proceedings, and in litigation support roles
• Understand the formal training and certifications available in forensic accounting

• Review of the different aspects of forensic accounting
• The civil litigation process as it relates to forensic accounting
• Litigation services provided by forensic accountants
• Fraud detection and prevention
• Various types of fraud
• Training and certifications in forensic accounting
• Forensic accounting in bankruptcy proceedings
• Forensic accounting in family law proceedings
• Calculating damages for use in litigation
• Valuations
• Ethical issues pertinent to forensic accounting

• Understand how Circular 230 addresses the more commonly encountered ethical questions tax return preparers face in practice on a regular basis

• What does practicing before the IRS mean?
• Who may practice before the IRS?
• What should a tax preparer do if he or she has knowledge of a client's omission of income from a tax return?
• May a tax preparer rely on the work of other tax return preparers?
• May a tax preparer rely on and use client-provided information?
• Standards associated with giving advice to clients
• Abolition of the disclaimer requirement
• When must a tax preparer examine a client’s books and records?

• Learn when and how to utilize the provisions of IRC Section 453 in order to defer recognizing gain on the sale of real property via installment sales
• Learn when and how to utilize the provisions of IRC Section 1031 in order to defer recognizing gain on the sale of real property via a like-kind exchange

• How does the IRC define an installment sale under Section 453?
• When can a taxpayer utilize the provisions of IRC Section 453?
• When should a taxpayer utilize the provisions of an installment sale and when should it be avoided
• How does the issue of a “dealer” vs. a “non-dealer” impact the use of the installment sale method
• How to report an installment sale when related parties are involved
• How to calculate an installment sale
• How has the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act impacted the use of the Installment Sale Method
• What is a like-kind exchange as defined by IRC Section 1031
• When can a taxpayer utilize the provisions of IRC Section 1031
• What types of real property are eligible for like-kind exchange treatment and what types are not
• What is “boot” and how does it impact the like-kind exchange deferral
• How to calculate a like-kind exchange including any taxable portion
• How has the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act impacted the use of like-kind exchanges
  
  
  

• Distinguish an employee from an independent contractor and understand the relief available to employers who misclassify employees
• Understand the withholding requirements for FICA and federal income taxes for Forms W-2 and 1099, including back-up withholding
• Examine employer requirements regarding Form W-4
• Understand the gig economy and the payroll tax responsibilities associated with it

• Statutory employees, independent contractors, and possible changes to §530 relief
• Using SS-8
• Payroll Tax Penalties -- Who is a responsible person?
• Forms W-2, 1099, 1099-NEC, SS-8, W-4, 941, and Form 940 reporting/deposit requirements and due dates
• Understanding payroll tax responsibilities in the gig economy

• Identify effective coaches and develop coaching strategies to support your team
• Give constructive criticism while managing defensive reactions

• The definition of “coaching” and the coaching process
• Characteristics of effective coaches
• Coaching strategies to support and assist others as they change ineffective behaviors
• Conducting one-on-one coaching sessions for setting goals and improving performance

Young doctors sometimes arrive at an exotic medical diagnosis (You've got Kuru!), when a more common place explanation is likely (You've got a cold). These diagnoses are known as Zebras and doctors are taught, "When you hear hoofbeats, think of horses not zebras". Sometimes, the patient really has a rare disease and suffers from misdiagnosis and subsequent improper treatment. Similarly, managers, auditors, and investigators often see indicators of fraud, but dismiss them because they've been taught or assume based upon experience that it is just a mistake that looks like fraud. This session uses case studies to explore some of the more common symptoms of fraud that are often misdiagnosed.

• Define nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC) and explain how it differs from qualified retirement plans
• Identify and describe the key compliance requirements for NQDC plans, including IRC Section 409A and other relevant regulations
• Understand the taxation of NQDC plans, including the timing of income recognition, FICA, and federal/state taxes, and the tax consequences for both employers and employees
• Distinguish between the various types of NQDC plans, such as salary deferral arrangements, and supplemental executive retirement plans (SERPs), and understand their unique features and benefits
• Understand the financing and funding options available for NQDC plans and the pros and cons of each approach
• Develop and implement effective planning strategies for NQDC plans, considering factors such as participant demographics, company objectives, and tax efficiency
• Summarize the key takeaways from the course, emphasizing the importance of proper plan design, compliance, and administration in maximizing the benefits of NQDC plans for both employers and employees

• The basics of nonqualified deferred compensation (NQDC)
• NQDC compliance
• Taxation of NQDC plans
• Types of NQDC plans
• Financing/funding NQDC plans
• Planning strategies

The ancient Romans had a saying about using caution when appointing someone to a position of trust, "don't set a wolf to watch the sheep". That saying is in use today and has changed to include "don't put a fox to guard the henhouses";. The thought is similar, but the wolf and fox are vastly different animals. Wolves rely upon their strength to survive while foxes rely on their cunning. Like foxes, fraudsters rely upon their cunning to defeat or circumvent internal controls. This session reviews the investigation of a deputy court clerk who exploited a weakness in internal controls and committed fraud in the courthouse.

This course is a continuation of discussion over Step One in the revenue recognition process of Identify the Contract. Specifically, this session delves further into the considerations surrounding contract modifications, change orders, unpriced change orders, cancelations, non-finalized changes and accounting treatment when a contract does not exist.

• Plan an effective approach to privacy and data security in the workplace as well as for the remote workforce
• Explain common data privacy risks and threats faced today by both individuals and businesses

• Ethical duty to safeguard employee, client, and litigant data
• Common threats, including phishing, ransomware, and bad password management
• Security management of business and personal electronic devices
• Best practices for creating and securing passwords
• Insight into how our personal information is exploited in our daily lives

On May 28, 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) issued converged guidance on recognizing revenue in contracts with customers (ASC 606). The objective of the guidance is to establish principles to report useful information to users of financial statements about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue from contracts with customers. The new guidance provides several benefits to financial statement users.  

This is one in a series of courses that outline the updated revenue recognition standard.

By the nature of our work and training, financial professionals have more personal finance knowledge than the general population. However, sometimes we spend so much time planning our company's future that we neglect or defer taking steps to build our own personal net worth.

If you are dissatisfied about the speed that you are accumulating savings, this session will help put you on the right track. Even if you are meeting your goals, this session will provide insights and ideas which will add to and reinforce what you may already be doing.

Excel is the accountant’s tool of choice for analyzing and reporting financial data, yet many use time-consuming and error-prone processes to complete everyday tasks. Regardless of your level of experience, if you use Excel, you need this course to learn more efficient and effective ways to work with Excel. In this course, you will discover countless tips, tricks, and techniques to improve your general level of productivity, reduce the amount of time you spend on mundane tasks, such as formatting, and customize Excel for greater accuracy and efficiency. You will also learn valuable formula-building skills, best practices for linking Excel data from other worksheets and workbooks, and how to streamline report generation and printing processes.

Your K2 instructor will reinforce key learning points throughout the program with practical, real-world examples that will improve your understanding and comprehension of the topics presented. This highly acclaimed course draws on over twenty-five years of experience in delivering spreadsheet training to accounting and financial professionals, which assures you of the relevance and usefulness of the information and guidance provided during the program.

The new revenue recognition standard outlines five steps for proper compliance. At the surface, these steps seem simplistic. However, there are many considerations that should be considered within each step based on your process and industry. Previous courses in this series have covered the standard at a high level and evaluated step one and two of the standard. They are:

• Understanding the Revenue Recognition Standard
• Revenue Recognition: Identify the Contract - Part One
• Revenue Recognition: Identify the Contract - Part Two
• Revenue Recognition: Identify Performance Obligations – Part One
• Revenue Recognition: Identify Performance Obligations – Part Two
• Revenue Recognition: Determine Transaction Price - Part 1
• Revenue Recognition: Determine Transaction Price - Part 2
• Revenue Recognition: Allocate the Transaction Price
• Revenue Recognition: Recognize Revenue

    
This segment is designed to evaluate Step Three of the new model dealing with Determining the Transaction Price.

• Thoroughly understand the requirements of the Yellow Book and how they relate to the AICPA and single audit requirements
• Excel in the Yellow Book auditing arena
• Save time and stress on Yellow Book engagements via in-depth knowledge of the requirements

• When is the auditor required to follow the Yellow Book (aka Government Auditing Standards or GAGAS)?
• How the Yellow Book requirements relate to generally accepted auditing standards and the single audit requirements
• The different types of Yellow Book audit and attestation engagements that auditors may be called upon to perform
• The Yellow Book standards related to the qualifications of the auditor (i.e., requirements related to independence, CPE, peer review, and more)
• The Yellow Book requirements related to the performance of and reporting on a financial audit
• The Yellow Book requirements related to attestation engagements (i.e., examinations, reviews, and agreed-upon procedures engagements) and performance audits

• Identify compliance issues
• Understand how health care mandates apply to employers and individuals
• Explain the nondiscrimination rules that apply to employer-sponsored retirement and health care plans

• ERISA compliance: employee welfare plans and qualified plans
• Fringe benefit issues: COBRA, Family and Medical Leave Act, and new developments in health care
• Health care plans: HRAs, HSAs, and other employer-sponsored plans
• Qualified plan requirements: eligibility, coverage, and vesting

• Be aware of fiduciary accounting principles
• Calculate Distributable Net Income and the income distribution deduction
• Prepare Form 1041 and Schedule K-1

• Classifying receipts between “income” and “corpus” under the Uniform Principal and Income Act
• Calculation of DNI utilizing three different methods, a “forms” method (Schedule B), a “code” method, and a “shortcut” method, utilizing a worksheet of common income and expenses
• Proper W-2 preparation and procedures in the year of death
• Taxpayer passes before taking a required minimum distribution; what must be done? 
• Forgetful fiduciaries of simple trusts
• Fluctuating trusts – Simple one year, complex the next
• Dividing income in the year of death
• Overview of Subchapter J
• Form preparation issues – Filing requirements and line-by-line explanations of Form 1041
• Taxable income of estates and trusts and expense allocation issues
• Specific deductions and miscellaneous itemized deductions
• Income in respect of a decedent
• The income distribution deduction calculation
• Relation of principal and income law to DNI
• Understanding how to handle capital gains and losses
• Allocating tax items to beneficiaries: another K-1
• Other considerations: excess deductions on termination
• Comprehensive DNI case study, with principal (cost and FMV) and income reconciliation
• Comprehensive trust and estate case studies, with filled-in forms

• Identify the key provisions of recently issued SASs
• Properly document understanding of the plan, the environment, and internal controls for an employee benefit plan
• Understand the importance of reading, reviewing, and documenting the controls in a service organization control report
• Identify potential audit triggers that may result in Department of Labor inspections
• Understand the risks associated with a benefit plan audit engagement
• Avoid common mistakes noted during peer reviews

• Proper planning of benefit plan audit engagements and developing audit strategy while improving overall efficiency
• Common pitfalls in planning and detailed audit procedures
• Changes affecting 401(k) plans, including recently issued SASs
• Common mistakes as noted in peer reviews and DOL inspections

This comprehensive 8-hour course explores the pervasive issue of fraud in State and Local governments. Our panel of experts from inside and outside government will provide participants with the tools and knowledge necessary to identify, prevent, and respond to fraudulent activities in State and local governments.

The course begins by examining the types of fraud commonly encountered in governmental settings, including financial fraud, procurement fraud, and abuse of power. With our experienced panelists, participants will delve into real-world case studies to understand the tactics used by fraudsters and the impact on public trust, resources, and governance. Special emphasis will be placed on understanding regulatory frameworks and compliance measures designed to mitigate fraud risks.

As the managers' role continue to evolve, it is crucial for us to understand the strategic aspects of managing a diverse workforce, beginning with understanding the big trends in employee demographics. We begin with a rhetorical question - asking if employees are assets? GAAP tells us they are not, so discussion will revolve around whether this treatment delivers an unhealthy bias on our view of the people in our organization. What do the most successful organizations believe and why? If you have an opinion as to whether employees are an asset or not, this is a fun session intended to be interactive with participation either live, virtual or both.

Mergers, acquisitions and alliances have been and continue to be major avenues to organizational growth and increased competitive advantage. Despite the great initial promise of many mergers and alliances, few seem to yield the anticipated results.

Numerous studies indicate that between 55% and 77% of mergers fail to accomplish their intended purpose. This course helps financial professionals, and their advisors identify, execute, and consummate mergers and acquisitions that create shareholder value while avoiding the many traps that can cause post-acquisition failure.

Enhance your productivity and streamline your accounting practices with ideas learned in this course. This dynamic program, designed specifically for accountants seeking a competitive edge, delves into the practical applications of ChatGPT in your daily workflow. From conducting comprehensive research and crafting compelling correspondence to swiftly addressing technical inquiries and optimizing

Excel formulas, you will gain invaluable skills to expedite your tasks and improve overall efficiency. Furthermore, we will delve into the power of ChatGPT plugins, equipping you with the knowledge to process PDF documents seamlessly and efficiently navigate the vast expanse of the web. Join us on this transformative journey and unlock your potential as a proficient and empowered accountant.

• Recognize when and why a lookup function is better than a direct cell reference
• Use three of Excel's many lookup functions
• Gain comfort with the arguments of the functions presented

• Using lookup functions as an alternative to direct cell references
• Understand the limitations of the VLOOKUP function
• Discover ways to move beyond these limitations

• Recognize when a worker might have an implied employment contract
• Know what to ask about and what to discuss during an employment interview
• Know how to discharge an employee — what, and what not, to say and do

• Employment at will — what this means in a practical sense
• Implied employment contracts
• What a prospective employer can ask about, and test for, during employment interviews
• Federal anti-discrimination rules applicable to hiring and firing
• How to discipline or fire an employee and not get sued
• FMLA/ADA/PWFA — Pregnant Worker’s Fairness Act
• Constructive discharge — what is it and how it affects your business?

Charts and graphs are nothing new. However, many professionals struggle with building compelling visualizations. If that statement describes you, participate in this session to improve your skills in creating Excel charts and other visualizations. As a result, you will create visualizations to enhance your communication skills.

This session is much more than just a seminar on fundamental charts. Instead, in this session, you will learn how to create advanced charts that are interactive, dynamic, and aesthetically pleasing – three qualities that will help to ensure that your readers and audience will understand the data you are presenting. This seminar is a must if you want to improve your communication skills.

How you say what you say is more important than what you say. According to a UCLA study, 93% of a communicators effectiveness is based on non-verbal cues. This foundational program include a focus on the verbal, vocal and visual delivery techniques appropriate for the business environment, which can improve a speakers credibility, influence and impact. Depending on the course length other topics include; managing fear, organizing your presentation, increasing attention and interaction, handling questions, infusing humor, creating impactful visuals, and more.

The mad scramble to remote work and utilize apps like Teams has been trying for most organizations over the past couple of years. With a rush to install and no time to plan, most team members did their best, prioritizing remote meetings as the primary concern. Therefore, as a result, Teams is vastly misunderstood and underutilized in most organizations. Join us in this session to go beyond the remote meetings aspect of Teams and to learn how to optimize efficiency, communication, and workflow with Teams.

The new revenue recognition standard outlines five steps for proper compliance. At the surface, these steps seem simplistic. However, there are many considerations that should be considered within each step based on your process and industry. Previous courses in this series have covered the standard at a high level and evaluated step one and two of the standard. They are:

• Understanding the Revenue Recognition Standard
• Revenue Recognition: Identify the Contract - Part One
• Revenue Recognition: Identify the Contract - Part Two
• Revenue Recognition: Identify Performance Obligations – Part One
• Revenue Recognition: Identify Performance Obligations – Part Two
• Revenue Recognition: Determine Transaction Price - Part 1
• Revenue Recognition: Determine Transaction Price - Part 2
• Revenue Recognition: Allocate the Transaction Price
• Revenue Recognition: Recognize Revenue

    
This segment is designed to evaluate Step Three of the new model dealing with Determining the Transaction Price.

• Understand the major issues on which taxpayers and the IRS are in conflict
• Understand recent IRS guidance and legislation impacting pass-through entities

• Comprehensive coverage of the Inflation Reduction Act, including:
  • The Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax, The Clean Vehicle Credit, Credit for Previously Owned Clean Vehicles, Credit for Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicles, §45L New Energy Efficient Home Credit, Elective Payment, Transferability, and Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship Requirements
• Principles and considerations for nonresident withholding, composite payments, and passthrough entity taxes
• Comprehensive coverage of the SECURE 2.0 Act with a focus on provisions applicable to employers
• Thinking beyond §163(j) -- Interest Allocation Rules, Original Issue Discount, Applicable High Yield Discount Obligations, Convertible Corporate Debt Instruments, and Debt-Financed Distributions 
• Retirements and redemptions: considerations for partnerships and S corporations
• Timely coverage of breaking tax legislation
• Selected Practice and Reporting Issues: What’s new?
• A review of recent cases and tax law changes and IRS guidance affecting S corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, and limited liability partnerships
• Form 1099-K reporting requirements
• Bonus depreciation 
• Section 174 Research & Experimental Expenditures -- new guidance under Notice 2023-63 and Notice 2024-12
• FinCEN reporting requirements 
• A review of like-kind exchange transactions under §1031

• Understand strategies and tactics to use in light of new legislation
• Understand the most current guidance on retirement planning
• Understand how to nail down valuable deductions and other reductions to the tax base

Unlock the full potential of Excel with our comprehensive training on shortcuts and formulas. This course is designed for CPAs and financial professionals who want to enhance their efficiency and accuracy in Excel. Learn how to navigate and utilize different versions of Excel, discover powerful new functions, and master the art of creating effective tables and automations. With practical examples and hands-on exercises, you'll transform your Excel skills, making your daily tasks quicker and more precise.

Plus, benefit from insider tips and tricks drawn from the instructor's extensive real-world experience. Whether it's mastering keyboard shortcuts that save you time or applying formulas that simplify complex calculations, you'll gain practical knowledge that you can immediately apply in your work. This course isn't just about learning Excel; it's about learning to excel at Excel.

Poorly handled conflicts can lead to break downs in communication, reduced morale, and higher turnover. However, when managed well, conflict has the potential to bring value to the organization and the team. Conflict is a costly and often mishandled occurrence in the workplace. Successful conflict resolution occurs by listening to and providing opportunities to meet each side needs, and adequately addressing their interests so that they are each satisfied with the outcome. In this you will learn the different conflict modes, how to choose the appropriate strategy for your situation, and how relationships impact your ability to promote the positive outcomes and minimize the negative outcomes of conflict.

Stop struggling with PDFs! Adobe Acrobat and other PDF tools provide access to features that make working with PDF files a breeze. In this course, you will learn how to use tools and features such as PDF forms, redaction, converting PDFs to Word and Excel files, and electronic signatures. You will also learn how to create and apply tick marks, build indices, catalogs, and portfolios, and secure PDF documents to their fullest.

The popularity and usefulness of PDFs increase daily, but most PDF users have not learned how to manipulate PDF documents effectively. Accordingly, they struggle and strain with these standard files. You do not need to let this be the case. Join us in this very timely session where you will learn the top features necessary to optimize your work with PDF documents.

In this course, participants will learn about the five principals of COSO's Fraud Risk Management Guide and the linkages each principal has to the use of forensic data analytics to measurably demonstrate effectiveness and ROI.  We will also explore key elements to a successful program that is sustainable as well as pitfalls to avoid. Finally, we will cover several case studies that demonstrate the key concepts discussed. 

In the fast moving world where everyone is communicating through email, text and instant messaging we have forgotten the power of face-to-face conversation. Communication and connection is the foundation for building a thriving network and business.

During this talk, The Connector’s Advantage author, Michelle Tillis Lederman will inspire you to leverage the power of personal connection in the digital age while still incorporating the efficiency of virtual communication.

This segment is designed to evaluate Step Five of the new model dealing with recognizing revenue which is the final step in applying the new revenue recognition standard. For performance obligations that are fulfilled at a point in time, revenue is recognized at the fulfillment of the performance obligation. For performance obligations to be satisfied over time, an entity must decide how to appropriately measure the progress and completion of the performance obligation. A performance obligation is satisfied when or as control of the good or service is transferred to the customer. There are several issues companies should consider in applying step 5 of the standard:

•   Determining if a Performance Obligation is satisfied over time
•   Identifying indicators of transfer of control of good/services
•   Utilizing input and output methods to measure progress of revenue recognition
•   Understanding stand-ready obligations and how to apply discounts

• Obtain a basic comfort level using PivotTables
• Understand the fact that external data sources can feed a PivotTable
• Use Excel's web browser to retrieve web data

• Explore PivotTable capabilities and functionality
• Retrieve data from a database and feed it into the PivotTable
• Pull web tables from web pages into Excel

• Understand the sources of risk and potential actions/behavior that may hide them
• Gain up-to-date knowledge of risk management and build upon and improve existing practices
• Recognize actions/steps that can result in measurable benefits to an organization
• Become familiar with the process of Business Continuity Planning
• Identify and discuss analytical tools and areas for further investigation

• Rethinking Risk Management:
• Historic view
• Challenges
• Rules
• Recent lessons
• Required skills
• Sources of Risk:
• Economy
• Competitors
• Operations
• Investments
• Strategy
• Compensation
• Routine practices
• Unethical behavior.
• Enterprise Risk Management (ERM):
• Defining ERM
• Areas of focus
• Implementation
• Planning for disasters
• Business continuity
• Contingencies
• Analytical Tools:
• Post-completion evaluations
• Simulation
• Z-score
• Hedging
• Brainstorming
• Mind mapping
• Delphi technique

• Help small business owners understand why they need to adopt retirement plans for themselves and their employees
• Identify critical features and benefits of SEP IRAs and SIMPLE IRAs
• Determine which employees must be covered under SEP IRAs and SIMPLE IRAs
• Determine the steps that businesses should take to establish SEP IRAs and SIMPLE IRAs, and
• Explain the operational and administrative requirements for SEP IRAs and SIMPLE IRAs

• The new Roth SEP IRAs and Roth SIMPLE IRAs created under SECURE Act 2.0
• Key factors for choosing a retirement plan for a small business
• Key questions an advisor must ask a small business owner to help determine which retirement plan is suitable for their business
• Key questions an advisor must ask a small business owner to help ensure compliance with applicable rules and regulations
• How SEP and SIMPLE IRAs benefit the small business owner
• How SEP and SIMPLE IRAs benefit employees of small businesses
• The tax benefits that help to offset the cost of employer contributions
• How to determine which business is eligible to adopt a SIMPLE IRA or SEP IRA
• How to determine which employees must be covered

• Understand the rules relating to Form 1099-DA

• Definition of a digital asset for purposes of Form 1099-DA
• What is a sale of a digital asset affected by a broker on behalf of another person?
• Mandatory 2025 reporting of gross proceeds information and voluntary reporting of basis information
• Treatment of sales of digital assets
• Who is a broker for purposes of Form 1099-DA?
• Information required to complete Form 1099-DA
• Reporting closing transactions and covered securities
• Who is a processor of digital asset payments?
• How many transactions to report on each Form 1099-DA and how many forms to file for each transaction
• Optional reporting methods for digital asset transactions
• Substitute statements for the Form 1099
• Reporting a disposition of digital assets held by a widely held fixed investment trust

• Understand which income tax returns and schedules have changed for individuals and pass-through entities
• Identify the legislative, administrative, and judicial developments that affect the income tax returns and schedules of individuals and pass-through entities

• Timely coverage of breaking tax legislation
• Comprehensive coverage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and SECURE Act 2.0 
• A tour of the most recent changes starting from gross income and ending with alternative minimum tax (AMT) and selected credits including the latest IRS guidance on recent tax legislation
• Hot developments affecting the upcoming tax season
• Review of new laws and changes in old forms to provide a familiarity for the upcoming tax season
• Key new tax and practice developments and how they impact the current-year tax forms for individuals

This comprehensive 8-hour course explores the pervasive issue of fraud in State and Local governments. Our panel of experts from inside and outside government will provide participants with the tools and knowledge necessary to identify, prevent, and respond to fraudulent activities in State and local governments.

The course begins by examining the types of fraud commonly encountered in governmental settings, including financial fraud, procurement fraud, and abuse of power. With our experienced panelists, participants will delve into real-world case studies to understand the tactics used by fraudsters and the impact on public trust, resources, and governance. Special emphasis will be placed on understanding regulatory frameworks and compliance measures designed to mitigate fraud risks.

In this course, participants will learn about key trends and innovations impacting the field of forensic data analytics.  From generative AI to ChatGPT, machine learning and transaction review, data sharing consortiums and cryptocurrency trends, this course is for the futurist who wants to be leading edge in compliance and anti-fraud technology innovation. 

Our guidance on ethics comes from the AICPA and other groups, but it does not fully address the “why” behind ethics. This session will examine and define what ethics is and what it means to varying people in the workplace. Understanding what motivates people and understanding those people are key to both solving ethical dilemmas and workplace issues that can lead to greater job satisfaction and efficiency. To correct an issue, you need to delve into the root cause – the why?

Many Microsoft 365/Office 365 subscriptions include robust Cloud services for improving productivity. Foundational services, such as SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, and Exchange Online, join with other powerful tools such as Teams, Planner, Power Automate, Forms, and Power Apps to provide a productivity platform second to none. Unfortunately, most users will never benefit from working with these tools simply because they remain unaware of these features.

Plan to attend this session to learn about the “rest of 365” and how these Cloud-based applications can enhance personal and team productivity while simultaneously facilitating remote working arrangements. Don’t miss this opportunity to get all the knowledge and guidance necessary to leverage your investment in Microsoft 365/Office 365 fully.

• Advise clients on the latest applicable Social Security strategies
• Implement effective Social Security strategies for practitioners’ own needs

• Will Social Security be there for me?
• How is my benefit calculated?
• Can I claim my benefit and work too?
• When do I stop paying Social Security taxes?
• Why does my government pension cause my benefits to be reduced?
• Can I claim spousal benefits now and my own later?
• What is my breakeven?
• Can I claim benefits from my ex-spouse?
• What do you mean I may pay taxes on my income benefits?
• … and more!

• Identify and manage client risks and expectations
• Develop strategies for boosting client satisfaction and loyalty
• Understand client management best practices
• Develop practical skills to build stronger client relationships and improve client satisfaction
• Leverage technology to enhance your client service capabilities
• Discover strategies to optimize client retention and drive growth in your practice

• The evolving landscape of client expectations in the accounting profession
• Building strong and lasting client relationships through effective communication, empathy, and proactive service
• Implementing efficient client onboarding and engagement processes
• Leveraging technology to streamline communication, enhance collaboration, and deliver personalized service
• Effectively resolving client concerns and complaints
• Utilizing client feedback to continually improve your practice

• Understand and advise clients on the current state of IRS audits
• Present an effective defense against an IRS audit

• Why the IRS selects a tax return for audit
• What happens when the taxpayer disagrees with the results of the audit
• IRS employees who interact with taxpayers during an audit
• FATCA audits
• Types of IRS examinations
• Potential IRS audit outcomes
• Substitute for returns
• Large Partnership Compliance Program
• IRS’s shift in audit strategies
• Responding to IRS Notices online
• Audits of high income and high net-worth individuals
• The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (BBA) and its impact on auditing partnerships
• IRS Letters of Concern

Properly identifying performance obligations is a critical step in the five-step revenue recognition model. It is a step that must be completed at the inception of the contract and prior to moving on to step three of the model. As discussed in segment one on performance obligations, there are many types and variations of obligations and as such, management will be required to utilize significant judgment when applying this step. However,  it is important that the judgment be supported by considerations of the proper factors.

The course further evaluates areas that impact performance obligations. We utilize multiple examples from various industries to illustrate the considerations that must be evaluated in line with both identifying performance obligations and allocating the transaction price appropriately.  
 

Tax return preparation and consulting always involves the accountant's review of – and reliance on – information provided by the client. Not everything can, or need be, verified. This workshop considers the duty of CPA tax return preparers to make further inquiries, from the perspective of Circular 230, preparer penalties and professional ethics.

In this course, we will share tips and tricks for working remotely.  You will learn what to do/what not to do in a virtual working environment, strategies for leading teams remotely, employee engagement ideas, and techniques and tools for teleworking.

Discover the real-world power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and equip yourself with the skills to conquer modern challenges in accounting and finance. In this engaging course, we demystify AI and unveil its practical applications, transforming it from theory into a hands-on tool. Learn the essential AI fundamentals and unlock its remarkable potential to boost your productivity and effectiveness alongside your team.

Explore the specific problem-solving capabilities of AI, tailored to address the unique challenges faced by accounting and financial professionals. Gain expertise in leveraging AI features integrated into everyday applications, including the ubiquitous Excel. Uncover how these features enable you to effortlessly detect fraud, identify potential transaction errors, and elevate your financial operations to new heights. Witness firsthand how AI is reshaping the present and future of your profession, positioning you at the forefront of this revolutionary wave.

• Understand how to navigate and successfully complete a simple federal estate tax return

• Changes to the IRS Form 706
• How to successfully navigate the form
• The ins and outs of the “portability” rules, including how the rules actually work using common examples
• Income tax consequences
• How to avoid malpractice traps
• Overlooked GST issues

Many organizations have a process documented for their employment life cycle but do not look at it wholistically. Having a longer view of the employee life cycle can provide more value to your company that you might think. Join us for an interactive discussion around the entire life cycle of employees with best practices discussed on continuous improvement for your organization. This session will provide an overview of each of the steps in the timeline from multiple perspectives, to provide keen insights on actionable ideas to take back to your workplace and implement today.

Leaders naturally wield power and influence. But, to avoid the temptation of abusing power, leaders must apply ethical behaviors for themselves and others. Words,
actions and deeds which demonstrate integrity and trust yield the credibility that make others want to follow ethical leaders. Betraying trust can destroy careers, whole
organizations, and lives. This is why trust is a top prerequisite for principled and ethical leadership. Positive (and negative) influence is derived from the credibility trust brings.

Ethical leaders who continually work to earn and keep trust reap enormous payback in all aspects of business including superior economic, competitive, and strategic performance.

Whether you are responsible for managing 1 employee or 20, your leadership can make or break your team. Learn practical leadership strategies that you can implement when you return to your office. In today’s competitive market, it’s more imperative than ever that as leaders we are inspiring and motivating our teams to success.  

Many finance departments spend considerable time managing cash, particularly if the organization is highly leveraged or cash rich.  Many opportunities exist to reduce your financing costs or increase short-term cash returns if you manage cash effectively.  This session will cover a wide variety of day-to-day cash management tools.  

This is a dynamic course tailored for seasoned accountants who are looking to elevate their skills in navigating and leading through organizational change. This advanced program focuses on enhancing agility by providing the tools and techniques necessary to manage and adapt to rapid shifts in the accounting landscape. Participants will explore theoretical frameworks alongside practical strategies that support effective change management for diverse business environments.

The QuickBooks platform is a robust environment with features and capabilities that many users are unaware of or do not know how to utilize effectively.  This course helps you get more out of QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online and resolve the issues that even experienced QuickBooks users struggle with, such as locking down prior periods.  This program starts fast with a chapter covering the top issues accountants face with QuickBooks.  The day continues with practical guidance and solutions designed to help accountants get the most out of QuickBooks for themselves or their clients. You will learn about issues, such as setting up a new company, configuring and customizing QuickBooks preferences, and enabling system security and password protection features.  Also, you will learn how to lock down transactions in prior periods, the audit trail, customizing reports, exporting reports to Excel, and extending QuickBooks’ usefulness with tools such as the Fixed Asset Manager and Loan Manager.  

• Learn complicated issues of filing status and dependency exemptions
• Learn about Schedules A, B, C, D, E, and SE; Forms 8867, 4797, and 4562; passive rules and more
• Complete comprehensive problems related to Schedules A, C, and D; QBI, 4797, 6251, and more, all with “filled-in” forms
• Learn about IRA contributions, self-employed retirement plans, child-care credits, and the adoption tax credit

• New and expanded energy credits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
• Preparation of various Form 1040 individual tax returns and schedules; provided answers include “filled-in” forms 
• Coverage of Form 7203 
• Coverage of §199A qualified business income, its calculation, limitations, and examples 
• Dividends and interest – Ordinary, return of capital, and capital gain distribution dividends; tax-exempt interest, original issue discount, etc. 
• Security transactions – From Form 1099-B to Form 8949 to Schedule D, plus mutual fund sales and related basis issues 
• Self-employed person issues 
• Schedule C deductions including depreciation 
• Sale and exchange of property – Understanding Form 4797 and depreciation recapture; capital gains 
• A working understanding of passive losses – How to handle rental property and how the passive loss rules flow to the tax forms 
• Itemized deductions – A thorough understanding of what’s deductible and what’s not 
• Interest deductions – Limitations and timing problems 
• Charitable contributions substituting for taxes, IRS says – No! 
• Retirement contributions and education credits and deductions 
• Tax computations – The Kiddie Tax, AMT, regular tax, tax credits 
• Individual problems illustrated by form preparation for various items, with numerous “practice tips” 
• Impact of recent legislation and forms changes on the 1040 

• Properly complete several tax forms related to certain advanced technical issues which arise in preparing Forms 1065 and 1120-S
• Understand advanced technical practice issues facing practitioners today

• Schedules K-2 and K-3 and filing exceptions
• Form 7203 
• IRS Tax Pro Account 
• IRS modernization initiatives
• Information Returns Intake System (IRIS)
• Identity Theft warnings  
• IRS guidance for the marijuana industry 
• “Recycled” Form 1099-NEC to report nonemployee compensation 
• Form 1065 steps for reporting capital 
• Centralized audit regime; late filing penalties and small partnership relief 
• “Substance over Form” argument of shareholder loans 
• Advanced study of “At-Risk” loans 
• Employer W-2 correction requests 
• White House 2025 Budget Points 
• Don't get caught watching the paint dry -- What is hot and new 
• What is terminating S corporations today? 
• Special allocation issues of §704 
• Final regulations for allocating depreciation recapture to partners and members of LLCs 

Would you like to find important documents in 10 seconds or less? Would you like to ensure your digital information is safe and secure? Would you like to improve workflow efficiency? Of course, you would, and with some planning and guidance, you will realize these and other benefits of a paperless office. Naturally, no one expects a fully “paperless” office, but reducing the amount of paper we shuffle can offer tremendous rewards. This course will teach you the best practices and proven processes for effective document management.

Participating in this program will teach you how to implement simple, inexpensive document management systems at an individual, workgroup, or small business level. You will also learn about sophisticated and comprehensive document management systems appropriate for larger offices and organizations, including systems with automated workflow processing. Your instructor will guide you through issues such as digitizing paper files, exporting and importing data from specialized applications into a document management system, essential hardware and software considerations, and the policies necessary to facilitate a successful office. Upon completing this course, you will have a comprehensive understanding of your options and a clear direction for implementing your version of a Paperless Office.

Leaders have the right to exercise customary management functions. Employees have the right to be kept free from discrimination. Neither employer rights nor employee rights are absolute. The courts are equally protective of the rights of employees and employers. A courtroom is the wrong place for anyone to find this out. This course provides practical knowledge on how to effectively balancing these two sets of rights, such that employees and leaders stay out of court. Employers avoid lawsuits, rather than win lawsuits.

• Understand filing requirements for Schedules K-2 and K-3
• Identify what parts of Schedules K-2 and K-3 need to be completed

• Detailed discussion of the domestic filing exception 
• Filing requirements and exceptions for every part of Schedules K-2 and K-3
• Examples based on common client situations encountered in practice

Microsoft 365/Office 365 continues to grow and evolve, yet most utilize only a fraction of the tools available in their subscription. For example, powerful resources such as SharePoint Online and audio and video conferencing can change how your organization communicates and collaborates. In contrast, more personal apps such as Teams, Planner, Flow, and Sway allow individuals to work more efficiently and effectively in virtually all facets of their jobs. Further, security enhancements to Office 365 mean that your organization can take advantage of all these features in a highly secure environment. 

Isn’t it time you learned how to move beyond the traditional Microsoft 365/Office 365 applications such as Excel, Word, and Outlook and unleash all your subscription offers? Join us in this fast-paced and highly interactive seminar where you will learn what you need to know to succeed with Microsoft 365/Office 365.

Web portals, "low-code/no-code" data collection, and survey tools have changed how we collect data. Modern solutions like Microsoft 365 Forms, Zoho Survey, SurveyMonkey, Microsoft PowerApps, and legacy tools like Adobe Acrobat Forms allow users to create web forms and integrate the resulting data into business process workflows. This session introduces the range of available tools, demonstrates standard features, and shows how tools permit users to expose or conceal questions based on answers given earlier in the survey. Attend this session to learn how to use tools you already own to efficiently collect data from your team, customers, and vendors.

• Determine what options a given client has with respect to initiating Social Security payments
• Identify other factors that could affect a claiming age decision
• Advise divorced clients with respect to their ability to receive Social Security benefits from a former spouse
• Advise married clients regarding their options with respect to maximizing Social Security benefits for the couple and for a surviving spouse

• When is a person eligible to take Social Security benefits?
• Factors to consider when selecting an option for taking Social Security benefits
• Is there a best age to start taking Social Security benefits?
• How to maximize Social Security benefit payments for surviving spouses
• How can a divorced spouse collect Social Security benefits based on the work record of a former spouse?
• How minor children can collect Social Security benefits based on the work record of an older parent

• Explain the eligibility requirements for funding Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k) plans
• Describe the tax impacts of rollovers from employer plans to Roth IRAs
• Demonstrate the steps that determine whether a Roth distribution is tax-free
• Determine when the ordering rules apply

• Funding options for Roth accounts
• 529 plans to Roth IRAs
• Backdoor Roth strategies
• The new Roth SEP and Roth SIMPLE IRAs
• Roth 401(k) contribution rules
• The tax impact of rolling a 401(k) to a Roth IRA
• Who can start the Roth IRA 5-year clock?
• The 5-year rules for Roth 401(k)s and Roth IRAs
• Direct and indirect Roth conversions
• Direct and indirect rollovers from Roth 401(k) plans
• The risky recapture of the 10% penalty
• How the ordering rules work and when they apply
• FIFO rules for Roth IRAs
• Case studies and cheat sheets to reinforce concepts

• Recognize the tax compliance obligations when a new client is hired
• Identify ongoing tax obligations including Form 941 and 940 filings
• State where unemployment insurance should be paid

• Form W-4
• Form I-9
• Form W-9
• End-of-year compliance
• Payroll tax returns
• Unemployment insurance

• Mine a tax return for tax planning with a client
• Understand the planning implications of the current environment
• Determine the best tax strategies for retirement
• Understand tax planning for the middle-income client

• Comprehensive coverage of the SECURE Act 2.0
• Understanding the environment: what’s new, what’s expired or expiring, and what’s likely to change
• Reading a tax return for developing client-specific tax strategies
• Changes to the lifetime estate tax exemption in light of proposed regulations 
• The net investment income tax: planning for compliance
• Family income-splitting strategies that need to be considered
• Income tax issues: impact on timing of other income
• Selling a principal residence
• Two principal residences at the same time
• Use of life insurance to protect families: Whole Life Insurance, Term Life Insurance, Universal Life Insurance, and Variable Life Insurance
• Using Roth IRAs and Roth contribution programs to best advantage
• Conversions: do they still make sense?
• Taking distributions: matching timing to client requirements
• Qualified plan contributions to reduce current income and Social Security tax: implications for business owners and self-employed
• Social Security solvency issues
• Incentive Stock Options and Employee Stock Purchase Plan considerations
• What to do about itemized deductions
• Trans-generational planning: conversions, income, and gain-splitting
• Tax benefits of HSAs and other tax-advantaged accounts
• Identifying tax opportunities: reviewing the prior-year return to develop a plan for the future
• Planning for middle-income taxpayers: financial planning for the young, the working, and those approaching or in retirement
• Best financial planning ideas for young people

• Understand the new rules relating to the deductibility of expenses associated with meals, entertainment, and food and beverages that employers provide to employees

• The 50% deduction for meals that are ordinary and necessary in carrying on a trade or business
• Elimination of the temporary rules that applied for 2021 and 2022 which allowed for 100% deductibility for ordinary and necessary business-related meals
• When meals are still 100% deductible
• IRS rules relating to the nondeducibility of activities considered entertainment or amusement
• What constitutes entertainment/amusement for tax purposes?
• When employers may deduct food and beverages provided to employees
• 50% deductibility for occasional employee meals and for overtime meals
• 50% deductibility for business meals during business meetings
• Business meals incurred during business travel
• Invoice meals separately from entertainment

How you onboard a new employee is critical in ensuring they understand your company culture and are immersed properly in your organization. On the flipside, in the event you are dealing with an employee termination, this too is critical in handling with care and sensitivity.  

Once an employee decides to report an issue, the risk for retaliation must be minimized. Metrics matter. As such, capturing and reviewing employee data for indicators of possible retaliation are key to protecting those who report. The more subtle forms of retaliation, though, require a focused communication plan to address. This course offers recommendations for implementing specific retaliation monitoring protocols.

What do people say about you when you leave the room? Is it what you want them to say? How you show up in the room, get listened to, build trust, and are known amongst your colleagues are all critical components of your future success. In this workshop Michelle Tillis Lederman, CEO and Founder of Executive Essentials, will discuss how to determine you brand attributes, demonstrate the nuances of body language on your professional presence, and discuss how to strengthen trust and the lasting impressions you make on your network, expanding upon lessons from her books The Connectors; Advantage and The 11 Laws of Likability. 

This is a specialized course designed for experienced accounting professionals who are looking to strengthen their interpersonal and professional skills in maintaining
appropriate boundaries within and beyond the workplace. This course delves deep into the complexities of workplace relationships, personal practices, & ethical dilemmas, providing participants with advanced strategies to effectively manage professional distances and avoid problematic conflicts of all kinds. Through interactive sessions, case studies, and expert guidance, attendees will learn how to navigate sensitive situations with tact and integrity, ensuring that their professional conduct remains impeccable, and their careers continue to thrive in an increasingly complex business environment.

The standard also requires information about the following categories: 

• disaggregation of revenue
• contract balances
• performance obligations

This webinar will deal directly with disclosure requirements for the standard. Several courses currently exist on the platform related to an overview of the standard and deep dive into individual steps of the standards. 
 

• Distinguish an employee from an independent contractor and understand the relief available to employers who misclassify employees
• Understand what is needed to complete Forms W-2, 1099-MISC, 1099-R, and SS-8
• Understand the gig economy and the payroll tax responsibilities associated with it

• Payroll tax requirements for wages, including wages subject to the .9 percent tax, employee benefits and reimbursements, nonqualified deferred compensation, stock options, and tips
• Fringe benefits issues, such as health insurance, life insurance, cafeteria plan benefits, accountable and non-accountable plans, standard mileage rates, and per diem rates
• Special issues -- Using a common paymaster, how to file W-2s after a takeover, merger, or acquisition, and state and local tax withholding
• Statutory employees, independent contractors, and possible changes to §530 relief
• Penalties -- Who is a responsible person?
• Expenses and gross-up calculations
• Pension issues and payroll taxes including SIMPLE plans, and §401(k) and pension distributions
• The Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)
• Forms I-9, W-9, W-2, 1099, 1099-NEC, SS-8, and 940
• Understanding payroll tax responsibilities in the gig economy

A harmonious working environment is one in which people feel safe, seen, heard, and respected. Critical to maintaining it are that employees have high self-esteem, are treated with respect, and work in a safe, non-violent setting. This course provides practical knowledge and scripts on how to take appropriate action and deal effectively with discriminatory comments, sexual harassment, and threats and acts of violence, such that personal and employer liability is avoided.

Unlock the full potential of Excel with our comprehensive training on shortcuts and formulas. This course is designed for CPAs and financial professionals who want to enhance their efficiency and accuracy in Excel. Learn how to navigate and utilize different versions of Excel, discover powerful new functions, and master the art of creating effective tables and automations. With practical examples and hands-on exercises, you'll transform your Excel skills, making your daily tasks quicker and more precise.

Plus, benefit from insider tips and tricks drawn from the instructor's extensive real-world experience. Whether it's mastering keyboard shortcuts that save you time or applying formulas that simplify complex calculations, you'll gain practical knowledge that you can immediately apply in your work. This course isn't just about learning Excel; it's about learning to excel at Excel.

In this course, participants will gain a broad understanding of the various anti-fraud preventive and detective tests available to practitioners and take initial steps in building their own library of tests unique to their business or industry risks. Specific discussions and examples will include vendor analysis to look for potentially improper payments around conflicts of interests, fake vendor schemes, bribery & corruption, sanctions and trade compliance, anomalous payments, segregation of duties, among other risk categories.  Participants will also explore tests around customers or distributors that include margin analysis, free goods, discounts and revenue recognition. Further, we will explore employee related test to mitigate travel & entertainment expense abuses. We will also point out various online and public resources for participants to start building their own library of tests to support both reactive investigations as well as proactive prevention and detection.

It is the role of a leader to build and maintain a great culture in the organization. The culture is the driving force that shapes the attitudes and behaviors of everyone in the organization. A relationship driven organization is built on trust and is the most effective way to improve productivity, engagement, and the bottom line. Understand the components that enable trust to be created and maintained throughout teams and organizations.

Now more than ever, navigating loss, grief and crisis in the workplace is a skillset that leaders must possess. Keeping the heart in human resources is so important, especially in this post-pandemic state we are living in. We will explore ways that you can show empathy to your employees while also balancing your business needs. 

In this five part master series, class participants will gain a comprehensive view into the world of forensic data analytics (FDA). From understanding practical use cases of FDA in the audit, internal audit, investigations and proactive monitoring to understanding necessary data sources, validation proceudres, success factors and pitfalls to avoid. We will also explore hundreds of leading anti-fraud tests around corruption, conflicts of interest, fake vendor schemes, segregation of duties, revenue recognition and sales abuse, among dozens of other schemes.  Participants will develop their own library of anti-fraud tests from various open source locations and apply them in relevant contexts such as the COSO Fraud Risk Management Guide. Finally, participants will also peek into future innovations in FDA and how technologies such as ChatGPT, data visualization, machine learning, AI and cryptocurrencies are all impacting the discipline.  We can't promise you'll be a programmer after this course, but you will certainly be armed with the information needed to project manage an FDA project and "direct" the programmers to accomplish your fraud risk / FDA objectives.  

Web portals, "low-code/no-code" data collection, and survey tools have changed how we collect data. Modern solutions like Microsoft 365 Forms, Zoho Survey, SurveyMonkey, Microsoft PowerApps, and legacy tools like Adobe Acrobat Forms allow users to create web forms and integrate the resulting data into business process workflows. This session introduces the range of available tools, demonstrates standard features, and shows how tools permit users to expose or conceal questions based on answers given earlier in the survey. Attend this session to learn how to use tools you already own to efficiently collect data from your team, customers, and vendors.

• Identify differences in how business entity types are taxed for income tax purposes
• Recognize how personal financial planning for a business owner is related to financial planning for a flow-through entity business
• Identify how S-Corporations are taxed for self-employment tax purposes
• Recognize double-taxation and when it applies
• Identify when a transaction should be recorded on the accounting records under the cash method
• Recognize when income is recognized and an expense must be accrued on the accounting records under the accrual method
• Identify what account should not appear on the financial records if the accrual method is being used

• Financial planning pyramid
• What to consider when picking an entity
• Single member LLC vs. sole proprietorship
• Corporations – S vs. C
• Double taxation

• Understand and apply SSARS No. 21, Clarification and Recodification
• Be familiar with changes related to the issuance of SSARS Nos. 22-25
• Be familiar with preparation, compilation, and review program examples
• Be aware of the most recent reports and other required communications

• SSARS No. 21, Clarification and Recodification, and updates to SSARS No. 21 due to the issuance of SSARS No. 23, Omnibus Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services
• SSARS No. 22, Compilation of Pro Forma Financial Information
• SSARS No. 24, Omnibus Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services -- 2018
• SSARS No. 25, Materiality in a Review of Financial Statements and Adverse Conclusions
• Sample comprehensive engagement work programs for preparation, compilation, and review engagements

• Understand the basics of employment law and how they affect employment best practices
• Identify techniques to help control the interview and discover the hidden talents of applicants

• How the application of policies and employment laws within the workplace can reduce employee complaints, and protect your company from claims of discrimination or wrongful behavior
• Examining wage and pay practices, FMLA examples, and other challenging workplace questions, to insure actions are consistent with laws/policies
• Key functions of employment including recruitment, interviewing and selection

The tools for managing performance and addressing misconduct are not identical. The failure to point this out to leaders has often resulted in the use of the wrong tool. Reinforcing good performance and securing improvements in performance requires skill in coaching employees, making effective requests, and providing effective feedback. This course provides practical knowledge and scripts for setting, communicating, and enforcing performance expectations, such that personal and employer liability is avoided.

• Identify key provisions of SQMS 1, SQMS 2, and SQMS 3
• Recall quality management provisions in SAS 146, SSARS No. 26, and SSAE 23
• Understand the role of firm leadership in establishing quality management standards
• Create a risk assessment
• Draft the new QM document
• Perform steps used in monitoring and the assessment of the firm’s System of Quality Management

• Quality management standards
• SAS 146, SSARS No. 26, and SSAE 23
• Risk assessment, which forms the basis of the SQM
• Monitoring and evaluating the SQM

• Advise clients regarding the latest information on estate planning and administration

• The federal transfer tax exemption 
• What constitutes a valid will
• Common trust vehicles often used to safeguard assets
• Consequences of intestacy
• How to transfer property outside of a will
• Legal treatment of marital property
• Transfer of IRAs and retirement plans
• Probate generally and probate for property held outside of the state of decedent’s residence
• When an estate tax return should be filed
• Portability of the Deceased Spousal Unused Exclusion (DSUE) amount

How well do you understand your organization’s cash flow? Good cash management techniques can provide a competitive advantage! This session shows you how to effectively measure and manage your cash conversion cycle. With a more complete understanding of how cash flows through your organization, you can eliminate impediments. Better cash management lowers your borrowing costs, reduces financing needs, and creates financial flexibility in your organization.

This course on ethics in communication and reporting covers essential topics to ensure integrity and professionalism in our interactions. We begin with the fundamentals of ethical communication, emphasizing the importance of honesty, transparency, and respect. We then explore four must-have communication skills crucial for effective and ethical exchanges. The session also provides practical application steps on how to improve these ethical communication skills in daily practice. Finally, we discuss the problems associated with unethical behavior in reporting and communication, highlighting the potential consequences and the importance of maintaining ethical standards to build trust and credibility.

The updated revenue recognition standard outlines five steps for proper compliance. At the surface, these steps seem simplistic. However, there are many considerations that should be considered within each step based on your process and industry.  

The Department of Justice updated guidance regarding their evaluations of Corporate Compliance Programs in March 2023: “Prosecutors should assess whether the company’s complaint-handling process includes proactive measures to create a workplace atmosphere without fear of retaliation, appropriate processes for the submission of complaints, and processes to protect whistleblowers.”

This course offers recommendations for employers to consider when developing or augmenting an internal complaint handling process. Organizations benefit when whistleblowers trust the process and choose to promptly report their concerns internally. The measures offered promote a strong speak up culture and align with the Department of Justice's guidance. 

Does your organization encourage timely reporting? Does your organization provide substantive protection for those who report? Organizations should be aware of characteristics indicative of a retaliatory culture - one in which bad actors are provided ample opportunity and cover to retaliate.

Individuals may cite retaliatory concerns when weighing their decision to report an issue; during an investigation; or, after an investigation’s conclusion. No matter the timing, when an individual raises a retaliation concern, their claims should be taken seriously and fully reviewed. Does your organization analyze retaliation allegations and investigate outcomes as part of their cultural assessment?   Most organizations track retaliation matters at a general, non-specific level. The type of retaliation and the perceived cause of the retaliatory act are not delineated. When a retaliation matter requires investigation, an organization should gather key data points for trending purposes and to fine tune future training and policy initiatives.

This course offers recommendations for
(1) framing responses to retaliation allegations
(2) capturing key data points
(3) developing specific metrics for retaliation matters

• Understand the different types of bankruptcy proceedings
• Advise clients regarding the proof of claim process
• Be well versed in the eligibility requirements for consumer bankruptcies
• Understand the role of the automatic stay injunction

• Commencement of a bankruptcy proceeding
• Protections provided to debtors under the Bankruptcy Code
• Key procedural aspects of bankruptcy
• The automatic stay
• Differences between Chapters 7, 11, and 13 bankruptcy cases
• The bankruptcy discharge
• Proofs of claim
• Plans of reorganization
• Litigation that can arise during bankruptcy
• Creditor committees
• Bankruptcy trustees
• Avoidable preferences and fraudulent transfers
• Special rights afforded to landlords and secured creditors

This is a compelling course designed to strengthen the ethical foundations of experienced accountants in leadership roles. This course delves into the challenges
and responsibilities of maintaining high ethical standards in complex and pressure-filled business environments. Participants will explore key concepts of ethical decision- making, the impact of leadership on organizational integrity, and strategies for fostering an ethical culture even when external behaviors fall short of these standards. Through engaging lectures, dynamic discussions, and real-world scenarios, this course equips leaders with the skills necessary to act as ethical pillars within their organizations, ensuring their actions influence positive change and uphold the highest standards of professional conduct.

Good people believe everyone else is just like them. They cannot imagine someone could con them or their company and have no guilt or remorse about what they have done. Lack of guilt and empathy are key traits of a psychopath. Most of us envision psychopaths to be cold-blooded serial killers who are locked away in prison. However, experts estimate that 4% of corporate executives are psychopaths who may initially appear to be more normal than the rest of us. Psychopaths may present a convincing picture of virtue while helping themselves to money, status and sex while leaving a path of shattered expectations, empty wallets, and broken hearts in their wake. Learn how to recognize and deal with others who have no conscience. 

New features in Excel provide tremendous opportunities to improve Excel-based operational and financial reports. For example, Data Models, Power Query, Data Analysis Expressions, Power Pivot, and many others can help you create more powerful summaries and schedules in less time than ever. Bundle these tools with some of Excel’s “legacy” features, and you have significant new opportunities to improve your Excel-based reporting environments.

In this fast-paced seminar, you will learn about the importance of using Power Query to link data into Excel data models and how you can manage these data models to facilitate better and more efficient reporting. Additionally, you will learn how to incorporate Key Performance Indicators, Slicers, and Timelines into your reports to enhance the analytics and understandability of the data. Further, you will learn best practices to quickly and easily format your spreadsheets to give them a polished and professional appearance. This course should be at the top of your professional development list if you use Excel for any reporting process.