Professional Development and Event Catalog
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Is Activity-Based Costing the Right Tool for Your Organization?
Friday, Jan. 22 5:00pm - 6:47pm
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
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This session provides a refresher regarding the fundamentals of activity-based costing (ABC). We will examine theoretical concepts before exploring practical possibilities for implementing ABC. A major focus of the course will be factors to consider when determining whether this managerial accounting tool is an appropriate resource for an organization.
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Sampling - Avoiding Common Mistakes on Financial Statement and Compliance Audits
Friday, Jan. 22 5:00pm - 6:48pm
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
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Sampling is an important method for determining the extent of testing controls, testing compliance, and tests of substantive details. It allows the auditor to apply procedures to less than 100% of the population yet extend results to project likely conclusions about the entire population. This module will describe the proper process for both attribute testing and variable sampling in financial statement and compliance audits.
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Fraud and Financial Distortion: What May Be Hiding Behind the Numbers
Friday, Jan. 22 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
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Financial statements are intended to communicate the financial condition of an organization, but the numbers themselves are only a translation of underlying business operations. When financial professionals focus solely on the accounting presentation without understanding the operational realities behind those numbers, significant risks, distortions, or even fraud can go undetected. This course explores how CPAs, auditors, controllers, and financial analysts can apply operational thinking when reviewing financial information. Participants will learn how to translate financial results back into operational language and evaluate whether a business model is plausible. Through practical examples and real-world case studies, the program highlights warning signs that may indicate financial distortion or misrepresentation. The session equips participants with practical questions and analytical tools to help identify what may be hiding behind seemingly reasonable financial statements.
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K2's Productivity Life Hacks
Friday, Jan. 22 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
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Today's busy professional has an ever-expanding workload, but delivery timelines are decreasing. We have more meetings, more emails, and more work projects. Outside of work, we have increased family and social obligations. Simply, there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done. We all could benefit from an extra hour of productivity throughout the day. Effectively using technology in your personal and business life is a great way to get more mileage out of your day. This course will look at 10 different tools or services that can make your life easier or take the headache out of mundane tasks. We will look at tools that simplify scheduling appointments, take the hassle out of tracking time, improve data sharing between applications, and more. Participants will leave this class with tips and tricks on shaving hours of time per week.
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Inventory Observation - Cretaceous Conservatory Simulation
Friday, Jan. 22 5:00pm - 7:47pm
Online
3.00 Credits
Member Price: $109
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Step into the heart of the Cretaceous Conservatory for an unforgettable inventory observation adventure! In this immersive simulation, you'll travel to a remote island where the inventory isn't just vast, it's alive. As an auditor responsible for ensuring accuracy in the company's dinosaur-development operations, you'll face wild risks, navigate complex inventory procedures, and confront the unexpected. Through hands-on scenarios, you'll learn to identify misstatements, evaluate unique inventory challenges, and apply standard observation techniques all while staying one step ahead of potential disaster. Can you survive the wilds of the Cretaceous and emerge as the ultimate inventory explorer, or will the risks prove too much to handle?
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The Preparation of Form 706 - Line-by-Line
Friday, Jan. 22 5:00pm - 7:52pm
Online
3.00 Credits
Member Price: $109
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Preparing Form 706 requires a detailed understanding of estate taxation, valuation rules, and compliance requirements. This course provides a step-by-step breakdown of Form 706, helping tax professionals accurately report estate taxes while ensuring compliance with IRS regulations. Participants will explore key components, including gross estate calculations, deductions, tax computation, and portability elections. With real-world examples and practical guidance, attendees will gain confidence in preparing Form 706, even in complex scenarios. This course will also cover any recent legislative changes introduced by the new administration and their impact on estate tax planning and compliance. *Please Note: If you need credit reported to the IRS for this IRS approved program, please download the IRS CE request form on the Course Materials Tab and submit to kori.herrera@acpen.com
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The Controllership Series - The Controllers Role in Strategic Thinking and Advising - Part 2
Saturday, Jan. 23 9:00am - 10:02am
Online
1.20 Credits
Member Price: $39
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The strategic controller helps leadership decide what should happen, not just explain what has already been done. The controller often acts as the enterprise translator between strategy, operations, and financial outcomes. This can sometimes appear to be accuracy-focused and not necessarily decision useful insight. Controllers must move away from just variance explanation and include performance interpretation. To do this, the controller must understand business models and value drivers, be able to translate strategy into financial growth and align KPIs with strategic priorities. Part of this process includes understanding concepts of root-cause analysis vs. surface-level variance analysis. It also includes understanding correlation vs. causation in financial data. Within this segment we will review all of these concepts and controllers will come away with insightful ideas regarding how to elevate their roles.
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Managing Generational and Cultural Variances
Saturday, Jan. 23 10:00am - 11:23am
Online
1.60 Credits
Member Price: $79
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Whether you have held a management position for several years, or are just transitioning to a role which requires you to manage other individuals, you will find that becoming and remaining a good manager is often an art rather than just a technical skill! This segment flows nicely with the segment on Managing Traits and Skills. This segment will focus on the dynamics of managing in a world full of several generations in the workforce as well as cultures.
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Strategic Use of Trump Accounts: Planning Opportunities for Tax Professionals
Saturday, Jan. 23 10:00am - 12:00pm
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
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This course provides tax and accounting professionals with a focused overview of Trump Accounts and their practical application in client planning. Participants will examine eligibility requirements, contribution rules, tax treatment, and reporting considerations. Through practical examples, the course emphasizes evaluating suitability, identifying planning opportunities, and avoiding common compliance pitfalls when incorporating Trump Accounts into client strategies. *Please Note: If you need credit reported to the IRS for this IRS approved program, please download the IRS CE request form on the Course Materials Tab and submit to terri.storer@acpen.com
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Qualified Business Income (QBI) Deduction (§199A) – The Ins & Outs
Saturday, Jan. 23 10:00am - 5:39pm
Online
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $300
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The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was a major overhaul of our tax system that lowered the income tax rates for individual and corporate taxpayers and introduced the new 20% qualified business income (QBI) deduction for sole proprietors and pass-through entities. The cornerstone of this course is the comprehensive discussion of the 20% QBI deduction final regulations under IRC §199A. *Please Note: If you need credit reported to the IRS for this IRS approved program, please download the IRS CE request form on the Course Materials Tab and submit to terri.storer@acpen.com
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ACPEN Signature 2026: Governmental Accounting and Auditing Update
Saturday, Jan. 23 10:00am - 6:00pm
Online
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $250
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Stay up-to-date on rapidly changing developments by participating in the 2026 Governmental Accounting and Auditing Update! Take advantage of this opportunity to find out about breaking government issues. This is your opportunity to hear about the latest challenges facing state and local governments and practitioners who work with them and audit them, presented by leading experts on governmental accounting and auditing, both those who work in the trenches and those from the regulatory world. With all of the fiscal, regulatory, and new standards challenges facing governments and their auditors, it is important to keep current on critical issues and developments. From a governmental accounting, auditing, and compliance perspective, 2026 will be a critical year for addressing the complex federal and local funding and audit challenges as well as focusing on implementing new standards and requirements! Plus, it is imperative that you start planning for the significant changes coming in 2026 and beyond! Exciting new topics this year include focused discussions on addressing the new GASB pronouncement on subsequent events, implementation issues on pronouncements becoming effective on financial model improvements and capital asset disclosures, artificial intelligence and governments, and current issues! For Single Audits, the ACPEN panel will cover topics that are relevant to single audits being performed NOW. Following current developments and using the most recent guidance is critical to conducting quality single audits. Hear the details on the latest single audit issues including implementation issues relating to the Uniform Guidance (April 2024 Revision); the most recent OMB Compliance Supplement; significant changes in the AICPA’s Audit Guide, Government Accounting Standards and Single Audits; and the latest audit quality findings relating to single audits. It is critical that auditors understand how requirements have changed and be ready to effectively implement them in their single audit engagements. You’ll receive an update on the most recent accounting and auditing developments affecting governments and government auditors. This includes Single Audit issues, AICPA and Yellow Book issues, new and recently effective GASB pronouncements, audit issues, and a look at what’s on the horizon. Join ACPEN’s panel of experts as they discuss not only the technical requirements of new standards, but also the key implementation issues that must be addressed by auditors and their governmental clients! Benefit from their experience and insights from many perspectives, as well as their long experience in governmental accounting and auditing.
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Cybersecurity and IT Risk for IT Auditors and Financial Auditors
Saturday, Jan. 23 11:00am - 2:00pm
Online
3.00 Credits
Member Price: $109
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This course equips financial and information technology auditors with an understanding of cybersecurity risks and their impact on financial reporting as well as cybersecurity best practices. Participants will learn to identify threats, evaluate controls, and assess risk using recognized frameworks, with a focus on audit implications.
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IT Controls and SOC Reporting in Financial Audits
Saturday, Jan. 23 11:00am - 2:00pm
Online
3.00 Credits
Member Price: $109
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This course provides a practical understanding of IT controls and SOC reporting within financial audits. Participants will learn how to interpret SOC reports, evaluate control effectiveness, and determine reliance strategies. Real-world examples will demonstrate how IT controls tie directly to relevant financial statement areas and alignment with Complementary User Entity Controls (CUECs).
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The Entrepreneurial Spirit - A Leadership Perspective
Saturday, Jan. 23 12:00pm - 1:02pm
Online
1.20 Credits
Member Price: $39
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In today’s rapidly changing business environment, organizations need professionals who think beyond traditional roles and demonstrate initiative, innovation, and strategic thinking. The entrepreneurial spirit is no longer limited to business founders—it is a mindset that drives creativity, problem-solving, and opportunity recognition within any organization. By understanding and embracing the entrepreneurial spirit, professionals can enhance their ability to lead initiatives, adapt to uncertainty, and contribute meaningfully to the long-term success of their organizations.
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Ethical Considerations in Record Retention: Should I Keep or Should I Throw
Saturday, Jan. 23 2:00pm - 2:56pm
Online
1.00 Credits
Member Price: $39
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Requirements surrounding record retention continue to leave many practitioners confused. What documents must you keep, how long must you keep them and which can you destroy? Discuss why it is important to understand the requirements and the potential impact it can have on both the governmental unit and the CPA firm.
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AI In Audit and Financial Reporting
Saturday, Jan. 23 2:00pm - 3:06pm
Online
1.60 Credits
Member Price: $39
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Auditors and financial professionals must understand how to integrate AI responsibly while maintaining professional skepticism, audit quality, and compliance with regulatory expectations. However, the use of AI also introduces new governance, ethical, and regulatory considerations that organizations must carefully manage. This course explores how AI is currently being used in audit and financial reporting, the benefits and risks associated with its adoption, and how organizations can establish appropriate governance, controls, and oversight.
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The Essential Guide to Understanding Private Company Financial Statement Disclosures with Renee Rampulla
Saturday, Jan. 23 2:00pm - 5:43pm
Online
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $149
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This course addresses frequently encountered disclosures associated with the preparation of private company financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), or a "Special Purpose Framework"; (SPF), such as cash or tax basis. Learn to research presentation and disclosure requirements and examples using the FASB Codification and other resources. Understand frequent disclosure requirements such as contingencies, risks and uncertainties, accounting policies, revenue recognition, leases, credit losses, impairment, fair value, and much more. Know the additional disclosure requirements needed when preparing private company financial statements using a special purpose framework, such as cash or tax basis.
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The Controllership Series - The Controllers Role in Strategic Thinking and Advising - Part 1
Saturday, Jan. 23 3:00pm - 4:08pm
Online
1.80 Credits
Member Price: $89
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The strategic controller helps leadership decide what should happen, not just explain what has already been done. The controller often acts as the enterprise translator between strategy, operations, and financial outcomes. This can sometimes appear to be accuracy-focused and not necessarily decision useful insight. Controllers must move away from just variance explanation and include performance interpretation. To do this, the controller must understand business models and value drivers, be able to translate strategy into financial growth and align KPIs with strategic priorities. Part of this process includes understanding concepts of root-cause analysis vs. surface-level variance analysis. It also includes understanding correlation vs. causation in financial data. Within this segment we will review all of these concepts and controllers will come away with insightful ideas regarding how to elevate their roles.
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White-Collar Crime: What Every CPA Should Know
Saturday, Jan. 23 4:00pm - 5:45pm
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $89
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According to the FBI, “white-collar crime is … synonymous with the full range of frauds committed by business and government professionals … characterized by deceit, concealment, or violation of trust …. The motivation behind these crimes is financial—to obtain or avoid losing money, property, or services or to secure a personal or business advantage.” CPAs can and should play a crucial role in preventing and detecting white-collar crime, as well as in prosecuting the perpetrators. This session will explore whether we are up to this challenge, heighten awareness regarding the CPA’s role as a front-line defender of the public interest, and assess whether we are deserving of the public trust we enjoy.
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Effective Manager - Traits and Skills
Saturday, Jan. 23 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Online
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $99
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Many courses deal with leadership and manager skills. Whether you have held a management position for several years or are just transitioning to a manager role, you will find that becoming/remaining a good manager can often be an art rather than just a technical skill. It can be (and should be) a learning and an ever- evolving process.