CPE & Event Catalog

Why we get off balance and how to overcome those tendencies. Methods that turbo charge motivation, health and happiness. The power of culture and friends to affect our lives. The importance of clear intention in order to effect change that lasts.

How the CPA can meet the challenges presented by a new client. AICPA Code of Professional Conduct. AICPA Statements on Standards for Tax Services. IRS Circular 230. Case study illustration of how to bring the new client into ethical, proper financial and tax compliance.

Getting started with Power BI. Creating effective visualizations in Power BI. Publishing Power BI reports to dashboards. Optimizing dashboards for viewing on mobile devices.

Overview of CRM functionalities tailored to accounting, including customizations and integrations. Integrated tools that leverage CRM data for automating tasks and improving efficiency. Strategies for successfully adopting a CRM platform and solutions to overcome common challenges.

Alternatives to adopting Topic 842. Short-term lease and related-party leasing arrangements. Identifying lease agreements under the new rules. Proper treatment of lease incentives, leasehold improvements, and lease modifications.

Auditing cash. Audit assertions, risks, and threats to the cash balance. Auditing procedures to perform.

An emphasis on newly enacted tax legislation affecting IRAs, including the NEW final required minimum distribution (RMD) regulations. Contribution limits to and tax treatment of distributions from Traditional, Roth, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs. Deductible phase-out limits for Traditional IRA contributions for taxpayers that are active participants in qualified retirement plans. Roth IRA contribution phase-out limits as well as tax-free qualified distributions. Planning opportunities for conversions to ROTH IRAs. Rollover rules to/from different retirement accounts and the one-rollover-per-year limitation. The different options of receiving IRA distributions before age 59 and a half and avoiding the 10% early distribution penalty (including substantially equal periodic payments). The required minimum distribution (RMD) rules from IRAs needed to avoid the 50% penalty after the account owner turns age 72 or dies. The tax ramifications of spouse and non-spouse beneficiaries and how this affects the RMD calculation after the account owner's death. Overview of health savings account (HSA) eligibility rules, contribution limits and distribution rules.

Accounting for simple business entities. Income tax, modified cash basis and other alternatives to GAAP. Avoiding the pitfalls and costs of GAAP reporting and disclosure requirements. Documenting accounting decisions to minimize potential liability.

Business management.

Discuss the most recent individual income tax legislation passed to date including any TCJA provisions expiring after 2025. Review numerous individual income tax provisions related to business, including but not limited to the 20% qualified business income (QBI) deduction, Section 461(l) business loss limitations, and depreciation. Cover issues related and any changes to the various taxes. Brush up on other topics such as income filing status, personal exemptions, itemized deductions, exclusions from income, adjustments to income, rentals, passive activity rules and individual income tax credits. Walk through changes to IRAs and the NEW final required minimum distribution (RMD) regulations. Look at any changes to the Form 1040 and other related schedules and forms.

Statutory framework for 1031 exchanges. Business and investment property characterization. Deferred exchange rules and techniques. Exchange mathematics: boot, gain and basis. Reporting for failed exchanges (over two tax periods). Improvement, reverse and non-safe harbor exchanges Partnership and TIC issues: IRC Sec. 761.

Preparation. Compilations. Reviews.

Form 1040 essentials: filing requirements, due dates, and key schedules. Filing status, dependency rules, and taxable income sources (wages, business income, rental income, and investments). Adjustments to income, deductions, and tax credits (standard vs. itemized deductions, Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, and Education Credits). Self-employment and business income taxation (Schedule C, self-employment tax, business deductions). Rental income and pass-through entity reporting (Schedule E, Schedule K-1, shareholder stock and debt basis on Form 7203). Preparer due diligence, Circular 230 compliance, and taxpayer rights. IRS cybersecurity considerations and best practices for taxpayer data security. Legislative updates for 2024 and potential changes in 2025.

What is Yellow Book? What is different because of Yellow Book? When might Yellow Book apply to a business? Common application of concepts to businesses. Answers to common questions.

Single audit. Yellow book.

Tackling the emotions of presenting. Use of visuals in presentations. Telling stories. Who is your audience and why is it crucial? Defining presentations in a virtual and live world dynamic. Discuss the overarching themes of effective presentations. Building out a presentation with a roadmap order. Discuss the types of presentations, including the good and the bad. Tips on the right considerations in being effective in virtual presentations.

Types of IRS letters: General notices, audits, collections, return requests, and errors. Deadlines for responding to IRS correspondence. Communication best practices for dealing with the IRS. Avoiding escalation and penalties through proactive responses. Ensuring compliance when addressing IRS correspondence. Real-world examples of successful IRS communications. Common pitfalls in handling IRS letters and how to avoid them.

Principles of visual design for dashboards and reports. Chart design for rapid understanding. Table design for efficiency. Effective use of commentary. Strategic layout techniques. Trend analysis methods. Developing organizational design standards. Excel application techniques. Critical review skills. Best practices for data presentation.

Professional skepticism - Creating a mindset for finding fraud and error. Audit documentation basics - Creating workpapers that pass review. The audit risk model - Understanding the foundational principles. Internal control fundamentals - Satisfying the requirements for evaluating the design and implementation of internal control over financial reporting.

DA and BI relationship to accountant value. Current trends in BI and DA, including the emergence of AI tools like ChatGPT. The changing accountant roles: data analyst, data scientist, and data storyteller, with an emphasis on how ChatGPT can be utilized in these capacities. Obtaining datasets to compare and contrast with their organization's data, and how ChatGPT can assist in analyzing and interpreting this data. BI tools and the inclusion of AI technologies such as ChatGPT to streamline processes and improve analytical capabilities.