CPE Catalog & Events

The budgeting process can be a time consuming and frustrating process for accountants.  The constraints and pressures can lead to poor decisions in both the technical and human components.  This series will offer solutions to the budgeting woes from both the big picture and in the details.    Understanding and Preventing Budget Calamities 2 Hours - Accounting •    Most of us lead or participate in the budget process at least annually.  Inherent flaws exist in the standard budget building process that you can solved by recognizing them and committing to solutions.   Building Flexible Budgeting Models: Walking Through and Crunching The Numbers 2 Hours - Accounting •    We can all learn from others and improve our budgeting process by listening to our colleagues’ wisdom and experience.  This session takes a unique review of the fundamental budget issues faced by all and walks through a detailed modeling process intended to generate discussion and best practices to improve your organization’s financial planning.  Avoiding Budget People Issues:  Managing Budgeting’s Soft Side 2 Hours - Accounting •    Financial plans have a technical component and human component.  We can resolve some of our budget issues by exploring the process’ human aspect.  This session includes a case study that measures an individual’s personality type and then explores how to use our strengths and weaknesses to create to a better plan.   Budgeting:  Presenting and Communicating your Numbers 2 Hours - Accounting •    Now that the budget is complete, how we communicate our plan is critical.  this session reveals some key guidelines in budget presentation and will identify key problems in how people often communicate financial plans.   

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.

For accounting and tax professionals, understanding the inner workings of blockchain and cryptocurrency is no longer just an advantage—it’s a necessity. This course provides an in-depth look into the mechanics of digital currencies and revolutionary blockchain technology, equipping attendees with the knowledge to navigate benefits and risks effectively. Special emphasis is placed on the tax implications for both individuals and estates, ensuring that attendees can confidently advise on these issues, which are becoming increasingly relevant in financial planning and asset management. This offering is more than just a learning experience; it’s an investment in one’s professional growth. By understanding the tax complexities and estate planning challenges posed by digital assets, participants will be able to offer valuable insights and strategic solutions. They will emerge from this course not just with theoretical knowledge but with actionable skills that can be applied immediately. In a landscape where digital assets are becoming commonplace, this is the education that will differentiate the exceptional from the average. Join today and step into a role as a leader in finance for the digital age. **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.

CPAs face many complex and challenging ethical issues. This course addresses the ethical and professional obligations CPAs have to their clients, employers, colleagues, regulators, and to the public.  Explore trends in business and professional ethics, along with the specific rules and requirements applicable to CPAs outlined in Florida Statutes, the Rules of the Florida Board of Accountancy, and the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct. The course fulfills the biennial ethics requirement for Florida CPAs. If you are attending MEGA 2025, please register for Ethics as part of your MEGA registration. MEGA Registration Page

CPA financial planners have never been more in-demand with personal financial planning projected to grow two times faster than tax compliance services alone. An AICPA survey of high-income and high-net-worth consumers revealed that two out of three seek advice on tax and financial planning topics from a CPA. That presents CPA financial planners with an opportunity to understand their clients' entire financial picture and to help them plan comprehensively. The FICPA, in partnership with CPAlliance (a division of CPS Investment Advisors) is offering this unique boot camp to help CPAs who offer tax, retirement, estate, risk management and investment planning services to become CPA financial planners. To help CPAs launch a successful financial planning practice, the full-day program covers: Becoming a Financial Planner  The CPA Financial Planner Playbook  Financial Planning and Investments 101  Building and Integrating Your CPA Financial Planning Practice It concludes with veteran and new practitioners sharing how they successfully incorporated financial planning into their thriving practice.  CPE Credit  This conference qualifies for up to 8 hours of Technical Business CPE credit, and is subject to change. CPE credit is subject to approval by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The type of credit earned depends on concurrent breakouts chosen. Please indicate choice of breakouts on the registration form. $tack the $avings!  In addition to FICPA member and early registration discounts, you can save up to 15% when registering groups of five or more from the same organization. Contact FICPA Member Services at MSC@ficpa.org or 850-224-2727, ext. 1 for details. FICPA Members save even more. Not a member? Join today at ficpa.org/JoinToday. Social Media Follow the FICPA on Linked in, Facebook, Instagram and X and share news about this conference using the hashtag #FICPAMEGA.  

The FICPA’s premier annual event, MEGA, is the largest education and networking event for accounting and finance professionals in Florida. MEGA is where the brightest minds from the business community “Explore the Possibilities” during subject-matter led sessions and in-person collaboration.  Why make your way to MEGA? Tackle the latest trends and emerging topics, including cybersecurity, ESG, risk management, talent pipeline and more. Knowledgeable partners and exhibitors will help you navigate the complexities of accounting today. Connect with FICPA leadership (staff, Board and Council members) and share your unique member insights and build valuable relationships. MEGA features four days of start-to-finish activity beginning on June 9 with free career-inspiring 15-minute Learning Labs offering up to 4 hours of CPE. Sign up during registration to secure your seat. “Ethics: Protecting the Integrity of Florida CPAs” is offered in conjunction with MEGA to allow you to fulfill your four required biennial ethics CPE credits.  Separate registration is required.  MEGA special events include a CPA Personal Financial Planning Boot Camp , a Women’s Leadership Summit, a Newly Certified Ceremony, an exclusive MEGA Evening Social, and our FICPA Reception. Universal’s Loews Sapphire Falls Resort is conveniently located a hop, skip and a jump from Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay and CityWalk with early park admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  CPE Credit  This conference qualifies for up to 24 hours of CPE credit including a variety of AA, TB and BH, and is subject to change. CPE credit is subject to approval by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The type of credit earned depends on concurrent breakouts chosen. Please indicate choice of breakouts on the registration form. IRS CE Credit IRS Continued Education Credit can be awarded for attending the State Tax track of this conference. CE credit is reported to the IRS on the registrants behalf. You must select you wish to earn IRS CE from the sessions menu during the registration process and provide the FICPA with your PTIN within 10 days of the conclusion of the conference for the FICPA to report your CE credits. Registrants can provide their PTIN by emailing cpe@ficpa.org. CLE Credit CLE credit is awarded by The Florida Bar and eligible for attending the State Tax learning track of this conference. You must select you wish to earn CLE from the sessions menu during the registration process and provide the FICPA with your FL BAR number to receive your CLE course codes for self reporting. $tack the $avings!  In addition to FICPA member and early registration discounts, you can save up to 15% when registering groups of five or more from the same organization. Contact FICPA Member Services at MSC@ficpa.org or 850-224-2727, ext. 1 for details. FICPA Members save even more. Not a member? Join today at ficpa.org/JoinToday. Social Media Follow the FICPA on Linked in, Facebook, Instagram and X and share news about this conference using the hashtag #FICPAMEGA. Cancellation Policy We love to see you commit to the annual MEGA conference early, but know sometimes life forces schedules to change. If that happens, you have options. Please let our member services team know which option you select below: Receive a full refund to your original payment method, transfer your balance to a future event, or place money on account by canceling before May 9th, 2025. Call or email MSC at msc@ficpa.org or call 850-224-2727. Receive a partial refund to your original payment method, transfer your balance to a future event, or place money on account, minus the event cancellation fee of $150 by canceling on or after May 9th, 2025. Call or email MSC at msc@ficpa.org or call 850-224-2727. Please review the FICPA CPE Policies for additional information: CPE Policies  

*** Save 15% on this event when you use the code SPRING25 at checkout ***Clients think that estate planning only applies to the very rich. In truth, there are many issues of critical concern for which the middle-income client needs to plan. This course is a must-attend for all Accounting and Financial Professionals who work with middle-income clients and are looking for ways to provide additional quality services. Updated for developments relative to estate tax changes.

Auditing entities that hold or transact digital assets and use service organizations Although the use of digital assets is rapidly expanding, guidance on how to effectively account for and audit digital assets has not kept pace. This is where the AICPA can help. Based on the AICPA Practice Aid Accounting for and Auditing of Digital Assets, this webcast can help you determine what to do when your client uses a service organization to help transact in, safeguard, or account for its digital assets. You'll discover: How to identify whether a service organization is present, including how to determine the nature of the services provided Key considerations when a service organization provides services related to digital assets, including the role of a SOC report in understanding the control environment The risks, challenges and factors to consider when performing audit procedures when service organizations are being utilized

Literally thousands of individual taxpayers may have increased deductions or exclusions from gross income as a result of the Disaster Relief Act of 2024! Casualty provisions of the Act are retroactive to December 19, 2019 through early 2025. Both low and high income taxpayers may benefit from the Act through exclusions of payments received as compensation for wildfire damages - retroactive to 2014! This course will review the provisions of this new act. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

There's a perfect storm going on. We've got the new economy, a new generation coming online, and we have LinkedIn pulling people away from us and bringing them to us. Also, there are ethical issues. All of these issues surround and apply to the issue of diversity. Simply put, diversity is the mix of people you have in an organization, Inclusion is how you integrate and manage them. In the "New Normal" world of the modern economy, having a culture that encourages the full participation of all people on the team is a real competitive advantage. This fast-paced course updates one's strategic view of the world of Diversity and Inclusion and applies it to the specialized world we work in.

Prior to the original SAS No. 82 on Consideration of Fraud In A Financial Statement Audit (now codified as SAS No. 122, AU 240), the word fraud never appeared in a single SAS, nor was it described anywhere.  SAS No. 82 stated that auditors failed to detect fraud for two reasons:  1) They did not know what it looked like and 2) They had not been trained to look for it.  Although the SASs did not provide any guidance, auditors have always been responsible for the detection of anything that would cause a material misstatement of the financial statements whether caused by error or irregularities.  (They would not even say the word fraud until it appeared in SAS No. 82) The standards were replete with guidance on the detection of an error but silent on how to detect irregularities.  Now auditors are required to document in every financial statement audit their process of determining the risk of financial misstatement due to fraud. This presentation is designed to focus on frauds that were missed by the auditors and, in some cases, why it was missed.  There will also be discussion as to what the auditor must do in order to improve their track record on detecting fraud.  As reported on the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Occupational Fraud 2022: A Report to the Nations, only 4% of frauds were initially discovered by the external auditor.  It was reported that more frauds were discovered by accident, (5%) then was discovered by the external auditor.

This session will expand on methodologies to employ when owner-employee compensation is at issue. The session will focus on determinations of reasonable replacement compensation for individuals who both provide services to a closely held business or professional practice and also have an ownership stake in the enterprise. Executive Compensation in the form of options and restricted stock will also be covered in the context of marital dissolution proceedings. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Transforming how you use Excel with engaging and expert-led instruction Designed for you to work alongside an expert and complete the same exercises, you'll dig deeper into topics, including: Benefits of using named references for faster navigation Increased versatility and efficiency withing your Excel workbooks Excel Tables special properties and Error reduction for greater productivity. Mastering Excel functions Excel mastery involves understanding how to create functional and efficient workbooks. The instructor will guide you through Tables, named references, and more as you build on basic Excel skills and use critical functions, such as: Excel conventions Critical shortcuts Efficient navigation techniques Automatic formula updating *Session 1 is one of eight sessions that is available as an individual session. Each session builds on the prior sessions, so you'll want to consider watching [Session 2: Data Validation and Conditional Formatting] (https:// https://www.aicpa-cima.com/cpe-learning/webcast/excel-for-accounting-professionals-session-2--data-validation-and-conditional-formatting) to further prepare to tackle real-world issues and build powerful workbooks.*

Even though the current transfer tax exemption is extremely high to the point that few decedents have a federal estate tax liability, administering an estate is a burden for many family members. In many cases, the family members will look to their professional advisors for help in estate planning and administering an estate. The purpose of this program is to discuss those issues that practitioners with clients involved in estate planning administration need to know to advise those clients. Lack of planning and preparedness in estate issues can cost the heirs time and money upon a decedent's death.

The Inflation Reduction Act increased the IRS budget. As a result, the IRS continues to replenish its audit workforce. The IRS trains its audit workforce by examining the tax returns of individuals and small businesses. Now, more than ever, Accounting, Tax and Financial Professionals need clients to understand the need for documentation and procedures to substantiate what IRS examiners are pursuing. Learn the high audit risk areas and ways to help clients survive an IRS audit with little or no change. It is critical for Accounting, Tax, and Financial Professionals in public accounting to understand the risk to clients and to themselves in tax return preparation and planning since the IRS continues to increase its audit coverage and is examining more taxpayers than it has in the recent past.

To make more money in less time, all accountants need to learn to market themselves effectively to their clients or their firm. For better or worse, promotions and more money go to those who are the best marketers, rather than the most competent accountants.  In this fascinating and fun workshop, participants will learn seven key ways to get more clients and/or promotions through the art of marketing.

Professionals learn about business property-related timing issues and planning opportunities that can lead to tax savings.

This course is designed for accountants in public practice and industry who focus on nonprofit and governmental entities. We will cover the basics needed to understand what makes nonprofit and governmental accounting & auditing unique. The course starts with the key financial reporting differences for governmental and nonprofit entities and then switches focus to review the fundamentals of Yellow Book and Uniform Guidance audits. This foundational course is perfect for those getting started in the nonprofit and governmental arena and those looking for a refresher. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Specifically designed for preparation, compilation, and review practitioners, this course will provide you with a comprehensive review and hands-on application for performing financial statement preparation, compilation, and review engagements. You will learn the ins and outs of applying SSARS No. 21, Clarification and Recodification, as well as the additional guidance related to SSARS engagements through the issuance of SSARS Nos. 22-26 by the ARSC. In addition to SSARS 26, the entire suite of quality management standards is discussed. However, knowing the standards is not enough. You need to be able to effectively apply them. To support this, the course will review recent peer review feedback on SSARS engagements, providing insights on how to successfully apply this guidance. Not only will this course bring you up to date on SSARS requirements and guidance, but more importantly, it will provide you with practical examples and illustrations to help you effectively and efficiently perform these types of engagements. This course is intended to be your go-to reference for training your staff and managing your SSARS No. 21-26 services in compliance with professional, ethical, and technical requirements.

This highly informative course comprehensively covers all the latest tax law developments. The focus is on individual taxation and discussion of the planning opportunities practitioners need to understand to help clients respond effectively. You will come away from the course with the up-to-date knowledge to educate your individual tax clients and implement tax-saving ideas that will serve their ever-evolving needs. This course is continually updated to reflect enacted legislation. Please Note: Due to content overlap, it is recommended that this course NOT be taken together with BFTU.