CPE Catalog & Events

"What were they thinking"— Why do business leaders sometimes make decisions that severely damage themselves and their organizations" It is tempting to attribute poor choices to a leader's assumed incompetence, inexperience, bad character or low intelligence — but reality is much more complex. Understand what factors really cause the most blunders. When business decisions go badly wrong, financial professionals usually find themselves deeply involved. This seminar provides conceptual and case study material to better equip you for the challenge.

This program makes sense of the controversial lease standard. The subtleties of the standard make it difficult to implement and monitor. There will be a detailed discussion on what constitutes a lease, how to monitor them, and ongoing challenges.

Embark on a journey to master Power BI, a powerful tool for data analysis and business intelligence, in our comprehensive course, "Get Started with Power BI." This course is meticulously designed for professionals who seek to understand the full spectrum of Power BI capabilities, including its integration with Excel's Power BI features like Power Pivot and Power Query, and its comparison with standalone Power BI tools such as Power BI Desktop, Power BI Service, and Power BI Report Server. In the first part of the course, participants will be introduced to the fundamentals of Power BI. This includes an overview of Power BI's interface, key features, and its seamless integration with Excel. The course will cover Excel's Power BI tools - Power Pivot, for advanced data modeling, and Power Query, for efficient data transformation and preparation. This segment is essential for understanding how Power BI extends and enhances the data processing and analytical capabilities of Excel. The second section of the course delves into the standalone Power BI tools. Here, participants will explore Power BI Desktop for creating complex data models and sophisticated reports, Power BI Service for cloud-based collaboration and sharing, and Power BI Report Server for on-premises report deployment. This part of the course will focus on the unique features and strengths of these standalone tools, providing attendees with the skills to leverage Power BI in a variety of business contexts. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

In today's workplace, employees are faced almost daily with customers or teammates that may have needs or concerns that we are forced to handle. Though many of these situations are easily dealt with through simple communication skills, others may become heated and, in some instances, violent. Today we will discuss healthy ways to de-escalate a wide variety of potential issues.

Good judgment works well in handling most employee relations matters. However, there are special situations where legal requirements dictate specific handling to avoid significant personal and employer liability. This course provides practical knowledge and scripts for responding to requests for accommodation regarding religious practices or disabilities, confronting employees in substance-abuse situations, and handling disclosures of contagious infections so that individual is properly helped, and the health of your workforce is protected.

This program will address the complex rules for partnership distribution of property with a focus on liquidation of a partner’s interest, Section 751, and how to complete the Form 7217. OBBBA of 2025 update for property distributions is included.   *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  

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. 

Information becomes influential when it is structured. In this 1-CPE session (Professional Development), participants explore narrative frameworks presented in the course materials, including situation-complication-resolution and hero-based narrative arcs. Using business-oriented examples, the session demonstrates how structured storytelling enhances clarity and impact without sacrificing rigor. Participants will examine how to define context, introduce tension, present evidence, and guide audiences toward resolution. The emphasis is on logical flow and disciplined narrative construction rather than dramatization. The course concludes with application of a structured storytelling model to a professional scenario. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Sometimes the vernacular of accounting seems more challenging than technical aspects. This session offers suggestions for translating the foreign language of taxation into tangible terms for non-accountants. We explore techniques for simplifying the complexity of taxation terminology. This course will equip you with tools for demystifying tax technicalities so you can help clients and other non-tax professionals grasp fundamental concepts.

This course will examine certain qualities a leader must exhibit to set an ethical tone from the top.

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.  

Companies reporting under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) continue to face a steady flow of new standards and interpretations. The resulting changes range from significant amendments of fundamental principles to some minor changes from the annual improvements process. The changes will affect different areas of accounting, such as recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure.  It can be time-consuming and confusing to keep up-to-date on the resulting impact on financial statements and disclosures. This course will provide an executive summary of recent IFRS updates with current and upcoming effective dates.  

What does fraud look like? It depends. What may appear to be an indicator of fraud in one client’s operation could be normal in another, making it critical to understand your client and the transactions you expect to see. Look for what should be present but isn’t—and for what is present but shouldn’t be. This course emphasizes the importance of professional skepticism, which has no on/off switch—it must be applied continuously. As auditors, our role is to independently verify, yet too often we rely on client representations without sufficient validation, increasing the risk of missing fraud. Many auditors recognize, in hindsight, that they have encountered fraud indicators but failed to identify them at the time. This session will provide you with the tools to recognize those indicators and strengthen your ability to detect fraud—so you are better prepared for what you may find.

Introduction to Amplified Management Practice (AMP) is a high-impact, 120-minute crash course designed for leaders tired of juggling chaos, burnout, and broken systems. Whether you're an HR professional, executive, or manager, this session equips you with a practical, repeatable framework to lead with clarity, align your team with purpose, and build momentum without losing your mind, through the core AMP mindsets—Respect, Curiosity, Transparency, and Stewardship—and its three pillars—Vitalizing, Conducting, and Reinforcing—you’ll learn how to connect customer needs, strategy, and operations while inspiring innovation and meaningful change. Perfect for busy professionals, this course delivers quick wins and lasting impact, helping you lead smarter, not harder.

Enter the complex world of elder planning with this comprehensive course tailored for financial professionals. Gain invaluable insights into estate and financial strategies designed specifically for older clients, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to address their unique needs and challenges. Throughout the course, participants will explore a wide range of topics, from understanding the complexities of Medicare and various life insurance types to navigating Social Security considerations and exploring Medicaid planning details. With a focus on practical application, attendees will learn to customize estate planning strategies, explore housing and care alternatives, and address gifting complexities relevant to older clients. By the end of the program, you'll develop expertise in executing specialized planning requirements for mature clients, ensuring you're well-prepared to provide informed counsel and support in this important aspect of financial practice. Join us and enhance your knowledge in estate and financial planning for the older client today. *Please Note:  If you need credit reported to the IRS for this IRS approved program, please download the IRS CE request form on the Handouts Tab and submit to kori.herrera@acpen.com

Risk-based factors are becoming exponentially important considerations for accountants in both public practice and industry. We examine the nature of risks for today's enterprises while exploring the role of internal controls for mitigating business risks. We also explore SAS 145 and other guidance aimed at risk considerations for professional engagements. Public and private accountants will enhance their capabilities for assessing and addressing risks faced by today's organizations. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Unlock the power of multigenerational teams to future-proof your firm. Today’s workplace is more generationally diverse than ever—spanning five, soon to be six, distinct generations. And while this mix can create miscommunication and friction, it also holds untapped potential for innovation, connection, and resilience. This dynamic course helps professionals in accounting, law, banking, insurance, and financial services understand and harness generational dynamics. You'll explore how shared formative experiences shape values, communication styles, and expectations at work—from the frugality of the World War II generation to the digital fluency of Gen Z and the up-and-coming Generation Alpha. Rather than getting stuck in generational stereotypes, you’ll learn to lead, collaborate, and connect more effectively across ages. With insights drawn from workplace psychology, sociological research, and real-world examples, this course equips you with practical tools to bridge the gap—so you can build stronger client relationships, more collaborative teams, and a culture people want to stay in.  

Technology adoption often comes with resistance, but it's possible to transform this challenge into an opportunity for growth. This course explores the journey from resistance to resilience in embracing new technologies, focusing on overcoming barriers and ensuring successful implementation. Participants will examine cutting-edge audit technologies, including AI, data analytics, and automation, and learn how to align these innovations with both organizational and personal goals. Through case studies, insights into the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and practical discussions, participants will gain the tools and strategies to foster acceptance, driving seamless integration of new technology into both individual tasks and team workflows. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Discusses the Functional Approach to Employee Benefit Plan design and provides HR professionals with a clear blueprint on how to develop a benefits strategy that is aimed at addressing employee needs. The unit will also identify pathways to develop communication strategies to ensure employees view benefit programs as compensation. The end of the unit will introduce some of the different medical plan types and how they vary in terms of how total rewards are delivered.

The Sarbanes Oxley Act (SOX) continues to pose challenges with compliance. Companies must continue to evaluate whether they have designed and implemented an adequate system of internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR). This course will address the best practices that ensure an effective and efficient approach to SOX compliance.