CPE Catalog & Events

This final segment of our four-part Form 1041 series addresses the special income tax issues that arise on the grantor's death or the first spouse. The once docile revocable living trust ignored for income tax purposes now comes to life and requires attention. Trust administration is just as rigorous as probate administration, if not more rigorous. We will review the importance of an approach to Trust Administration and the important income tax tools available to the fiduciary. Be sure to register for all courses in this series: Form 1041 Advanced Series Part 1: Why Complex Trusts are Complicated Form 1041 Advanced Series Part 2: Cash & Property Distribution Issues Form 1041 Advanced Series Part 3: Sec. 199. Sec. 67(g) & Charitable Deductions Form 1041 Advanced Series Part 4: Post Mortem Considerations

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).

Ready to elevate your career as an Accountant, Controller, or CFO? This course helps you build the core competencies needed to excel in these roles—focusing on technical expertise, business acumen, leadership, people skills, and the integration of AI tools. Learn how to go beyond tracking financial results to analyze business dynamics, uncover insights, and drive strategic decisions with AI-driven analysis. Develop the vision and strategy to lead organizational growth, while honing leadership skills to inspire teams and navigate change. Strengthen your ability to communicate effectively, collaborate across departments, and influence key stakeholders, with a focus on using AI to enhance decision-making and operational efficiency. With a practical, real-world approach, this course empowers you to master the skills that make you a successful leader in finance.

Preparing Form 1041 is essential for tax professionals working with estates and trusts. This course provides a practical, step- by-step approach to completing the U.S. Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts, covering key issues such as distributable net income (DNI), income in respect of a decedent (IRD), and tax compliance for fiduciary entities. Participants will gain a clear understanding of Subchapter J of the Internal Revenue Code and learn how to apply tax rules to real world situations. Through case studies and line-by-line instruction, this course equips professionals with the skills needed to prepare Form 1041 accurately and efficiently. Additionally, it will include updates on any new legislation or IRS guidance introduced by the current administration and its impact on fiduciary taxation. *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

This course is designed for tax professionals seeking to understand and navigate the IRS collection process effectively. Participants will gain indepth knowledge of the various collection methods employed by the IRS, including liens, levies and wage garnishments. Additionall, participants will leand strategies to avoid or halt collection actions and the implications of the statute of limitations on tax collection. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Many small to medium sized companies do not properly address the risk that arises related to fraud because these organizations do not have the resources needed to mitigate this risk or because owners or those in top level management underestimate the scope of the issue. All organizations, regardless of size, must be aware of the risks associated with intentional fraudulent acts and know that a significant and effective fraud scheme could even create going concern issues for some entities. In this session, we delve into the reasons that fraud takes place. The material discusses the types of defalcations that are often executed against smaller entities and then explores measures that organizations can implement to help stop fraud activities and add security. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

How should internal auditors and finance team leaders use Agentic AI? What are the dos and do nots? When deployed properly AI is wonderful. Can AI help with SOX testing? We review how to avoid the common mistakes that eliminate the benefits that AI can provide. Join us to learn about those expensive lessons.   Agentic AI (‘Artificial Intelligence’) is rapidly being deployed by leading audit, compliance, and finance teams. While AI agents are not yet replacing all of today’s knowledge workers like auditors, accountants, and IT security professionals, the knowledge workers that effectively use Agentic AI may soon be replacing those knowledge workers who do not use these tools to drive high quality business growth and scale. AI is moving beyond automation to become a true teammate, especially in the governance, risk, and compliance processes. This session will show how supervised AI agents can work alongside accountants, auditors and IT security professionals to enhance efficiency, consistency, and assurance quality.  Of critical importance is training and supervision so that the AI agents accomplish their testing to mee the intended quality standards. Attendees will leave with a practical view of how AI-powered testing can be applied to both internal and external assurance. Be prepared and learn from others.

Stay current on key developments affecting governmental audits with this focused update on the 2024 revision of the Yellow Book. This course highlights significant changes related to quality management and updates affecting key audit roles, with an emphasis on how these revisions impact audit planning and execution. The course also addresses the GAO's implementation delay and its implications for 2026 audit planning. Participants will gain context around recent leadership changes at the U.S. Government Accountability Office and what those transitions may signal for future guidance and oversight priorities. In addition, the course includes an overview of recent updates to the Green Book, helping auditors understand changes to internal control guidance that may affect governmental entities and Single Audit engagements. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

As financial and tax professionals well know, information overload is a constant struggle we face because things change quickly, and the sheer number of changes being made on a daily basis is enormous. Of great importance to small and medium tax and advisory firms is differentiating between changes that are relevant to our practice and our clients and changes that are new but totally irrelevant. Distinguishing between the two is difficult and time-consuming. Mike Tucker and a team of experts are pleased to present a weekly series designed to eliminate the clutter and get you what you need to stay up-to-date and perform for your clients. Mike and his co-presenters will dispense news on current events impacting taxes, finance, and industry. The subject matter will differ each week and intermittently include topics such as Social Security and Medicare. The panelists will discuss personal and corporate tax matters as well as other late-breaking news related to practitioners' personal finances and those of their clients. Every financial professional will benefit from this series. This is a cost-effective way for accountants to fulfill their compulsory continuing education because this weekly series will include almost 40 one-hour presentations. Sign up today — your clients and your bottom line will thank you.

Are you running around with a fire extinguisher permanently strapped to your back? Do everyday crises run your life, both at work and at home? Do you find yourself consistently taking care of your customers, your family, and your friends, and you are left with no time to take care of yourself? In this session, we will explore controlling your chaos and managing your energy. Make no mistake, this isn't your parent's time management class. It's an energy management class developed on behalf of and with tired, frustrated, and burned-out Professionals like yourselves! If you find yourself drained and drinking far too much coffee and approaching burnout, this is the session for you!

This is Part 5 in our series of Emerging Risks and Resilience - How Accountants and Finance are Leading the Way The rapid evolution of technology, globalization, and regulatory frameworks has introduced a range of emerging risks that are transforming the fields of accounting, finance, and auditing. Innovations such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and big data analytics are redefining traditional business models while creating new challenges related to data integrity, cybersecurity, and ethical decision-making. In accounting and finance, the growing reliance on automated systems raises concerns about vulnerabilities, algorithmic bias, and the potential for misinformation. Auditors face heightened expectations for real-time assurance, transparency, and adaptability to new reporting standards, including sustainability and ESG disclosures. Geopolitical instability, economic volatility, and evolving regulatory pressures add layers of uncertainty to financial reporting and audit quality. This five-part seminar series explores these emerging risks, analyzes their implications for professionals and organizations, and highlights proactive strategies for risk management, continuous learning, and technological competency.  

Learn the basic skills new staff need to hit the ground running and efficiently complete assigned tasks, including what new auditors are expected to know and do, including the nature, timing, and extent of common audit procedures. Focus on why certain procedures are performed and perform typical procedures.

Many entities prepare their financial statements using non-GAAP frameworks, such as tax and cash basis. Participants who attend this course will learn the unique reporting and disclosure requirements when preparing non-GAAP financial statements commonly referred to as special purpose frameworks (SPFs) or other comprehensive basis of accounting (OCBOA) financial statements. 

Strategic Planning for SMEs

The IRS has recently increased the pressure on how to calculate and report partner and shareholder basis. Changes in the forms reflect these developments. This program provides a detailed analysis of the calculations related to determining tax basis for a partnership interest and S corporation shareholder shares and loans. How to use the Form 1065, Schedule K-1 and Form 1120S, Schedule K-1 information for basis determination. Illustrated examples with filled in forms will demonstrate how the process works and their many potential pitfalls. *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

This course covers recently issued accounting and financial statement reporting standards from the Financial Accounting Standards Board. Key implementation challenges and experiences from public company filings will be identified. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

By far, the biggest contributing factor that leads to a profitable, yet high quality, financial statement audit is the proper identification, evaluation, and response to assessed risk of material misstatement. When designing your detailed audit plan, how and where you decide to spend your time is largely a matter of professional judgment. The proven tips and techniques for critically rethinking how you plan and design your audit taught in this course will help auditors enhance audit quality and manage profitability in all engagements.

The newest evolution of AI technology is Agentic AI. This technology enables you to deploy AI agents to take action on your behalf and execute tasks. Agentic AI is the key enabler to using AI technology to automate your workflows. Learning how to take advantage of AI agents provides a substantial competitive advantage. This course will teach you the fundamentals of agentic AI and how you can put them to work in your firm or business. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Effective governance is the cornerstone of any nonprofit organization. This course delves into the foundational elements of nonprofit governance, emphasizing fiduciary duties, board responsibilities, and best practices for board operations. Participants will explore key compliance requirements, risk management strategies, policy development, and regulatory obligations. By the end of the session, you'll be equipped with practical tools and insights to confidently navigate the complexities of nonprofit governance.

Have you ever found yourself wondering why people won't just listen to you? Or maybe you have found yourself surrounded by people that make your jaw clench...you know the people...the challenging people. Leaders walk a tightrope of being strong, but not aggressive, polite, but not a pushover. It is exhausting! In this session, you will uncover the secrets to working with (and overcoming) challenging people derived from the decades of experience Summer brings from her time on the frontlines and as an HR Professional working with companies such as Walt Disney World, H-E-B and even a dude ranch.