CPE Catalog & Events

In today's rapidly changing world, finance professionals are required to wear many hats and are often the keys to the success of the organization. On one hand, they need to be abreast of the latest proven financial skills for making the best decisions, and on the other hand they need the best skills to motivate, manage, and lead people. Being pigeon-holed into one area or another is neither good for career building nor good for the organization. This reality has proven to be even more true with the advent of COVID-19. We'll cover the latest issues that all CFOs and controllers need to know about and provide how-to guidance to allow for immediate use in their organizations. The program is focused on organizational success and will concentrate on ways to manage risk and achieve greater productivity.

In today's rapidly changing world, finance professionals are required to wear many hats and are often the keys to the success of the organization. On one hand, they need to be abreast of the latest proven financial skills for making the best decisions, and on the other hand they need the best skills to motivate, manage, and lead people. Being pigeon-holed into one area or another is neither good for career building nor good for the organization. This reality has proven to be even more true with the advent of COVID-19. We'll cover the latest issues that all CFOs and controllers need to know about and provide how-to guidance to allow for immediate use in their organizations. The program is focused on organizational success and will concentrate on ways to manage risk and achieve greater productivity.

Budgets are the vehicle for allocating resources, measuring activities, and identifying needed changes and improvements. An organization's strategy is the primary driver of costs. To be effective, the budget must be linked to strategy and long-term plans. Numerous organizations have achieved a series of short-term targets (budgets) but failed longer term, demonstrating the lack of this necessary linkage. Forecasting, a critical part of any successful budgeting process, can be flawed by technical errors, organizational structure, or emotional forces. The establishment of a system to collect, process, and analyze big data can provide significant insights into the budgeting and forecasting process. An efficient system of incorporating big data and analytics into normal activities will improve management's decision-making. This brief program offers specific actions to improve your forecasting and budgeting activities. In addition, more advanced techniques are identified for the participant's further review, which can be applied throughout an organization. Good budgets effectively allocate resources, provide information for decision-making and serve as an early warning system for unforeseen events. A poor budgeting process fosters a false sense of security, provides inappropriate or inaccurate data, and reinforces the status quo. Budgets are about the organization's story, not just the raw numbers!

The role of financial professionals has and continues to change in organizations. The stereotype of collecting and reporting data has been replaced by a broader vision, which focuses on improving an organization's results today and preparing it for the future. This brief program offers specific actions that can be implemented by financial personnel to expand their role through improving their organization. The actions and techniques provided build upon and improve activities that exist in many organizations (measuring, budgeting, hiring, risk management, etc.), as well as providing insights into capital allocation, cash management, valuation techniques, variables that influence capacity levels, M&A activity and actions to increase efficiency and innovation. Updated to include the impact of tax regulations, additional examples of M&A, alliances and strategic spin-offs/splits, methods to improve efficiency from existing activities, and current organizational changes employed to manage and accelerate growth.

Mergers, acquisitions, and partnering have long been strategic vehicles to grow or change an existing organization. Corporate America has extensive experience in merging with or acquiring firms. However, its track record of being able to unify an acquired firm with the acquirer and provide a single organization with increased growth potential has been somewhat shaky. This session provides a roadmap including specific actions for financial professionals focused on improving the results of an acquisition, sale, formation of an alliance, and/or outsourced activities. This program continues to be updated based upon trends and recent events. In addition to traditional topics, it includes discussions on the impact of taxes, corporate structures to manage M&A and internal venture capital, strategic spin-offs/splits, issues concerning goodwill, and managing outsourced activities. The program expands the topics covered in the Controllership Skills Update Series. As with the other programs, this brief session is aimed at renewing and expanding participants' existing skills, by providing specific actions to improve an organization's results. Real-world examples are used throughout the session.

The most recent recession and its fallout, weather (look at 2017), process and product failures, and unethical behavior have again highlighted failures by numerous organizations in identifying and managing risk. The size and reputation of organizations proved not to be the key to success. Again, we saw that failures can result in areas/industries thought to be "under control" through their policies, practices and/or regulations. A core activity of financial management is to effectively protect the assets of their organizations, without significantly reducing new ideas and growth. This brief program provides insights and approaches to identify risk and manage the above noted trade-off. The course is designed for financial managers looking to quickly build upon their existing knowledge and experience, as well as to help to start the less experienced individual. It offers ideas that can be used immediately, as well as longer term approaches. Updated to include new information particularly in the areas of disaster planning, business continuity, and ethics, as well as a sample group exercise to test your current risk management systems.

Many consider taxation of construction contractors to be the most complex area of the Internal Revenue Code. Probably no other industry has so many elections and considerations that need to be considered and made in order to reduce or defer amounts owed. In this course, we will highlight these areas and discuss potential opportunities for practitioners and their clients. We will also discuss the impact of more recent legislation on construction taxation, including changes to net operating losses and the AMT rules. This is a critical presentation "tailor-made" for CPAs who either work for or represent construction contractors.

Many consider taxation of construction contractors to be the most complex area of the Internal Revenue Code. Probably no other industry has so many elections and considerations that need to be considered and made in order to reduce or defer amounts owed. In this course, we will highlight these areas and discuss potential opportunities for practitioners and their clients. We will also discuss the impact of more recent legislation on construction taxation, including changes to net operating losses and the AMT rules. This is a critical presentation "tailor-made" for CPAs who either work for or represent construction contractors.

In the past, entrepreneurs who sought investment capital for their start-ups were subject to the preferences and expectations of a small set of wealthy investors. These venture capitalists and angel investors often played the role of highly selective gatekeepers, denying countless potential business leaders the opportunity to bring their well-thought ideas to market. Much has changed. Today, crowdfunding disrupts many of the traditional models for start-up investing. Crowdfunding provides capital for new businesses by asking the general public for donations. The system works by entrepreneurs creating websites enabling internet users to view information, photos and promotional videos explaining why they seek funding. Instead of receiving equity in the company, investors are often rewarded for pledging their financial support for the start-up business. Investment revenue from crowdfunding has grown globally from $3.9 billion in 2017 to projected growth of $11.9 billion by 2023. Despite its incredible growth, crowdfunding remains underutilized by businesses. This course is intended to provide accounting and other professionals with a basic understanding of the crowdfunding process to better inform their clients and colleagues about this rapidly growing platform.

In today's rapidly changing world, finance professionals are required to wear many hats and are often the keys to the organization's success. On one hand, they need to be abreast of the latest proven financial skills for making the best decisions, and on the other hand they need the best skills to motivate, manage, and lead people. Being pigeon-holed into one area or another is neither good for career building nor for the good of the organization. This reality has proven to be even more true with the advent of COVID-19. This course is designed to give the CFO and controller the skills needed to lead their organizations into the rapidly changing decade, and also redesigned to concentrate on what we have learned from the pandemic. Another unique aspect of this course is its constant evolution. We know change is occurring at an exponential rate, and that has proven to be the case in all areas of finance, management, and leadership over the past year. The course deals with these new issues and will continue to be updated as necessary throughout the year.

Designed for accounting and attestation practitioners at all levels in both public accounting and business and industry, this course provides a detailed review of the multitude of FASB and AICPA standards issued over the past few years. The course also provides many hands-on examples and illustrations to help apply the guidance in practice and discusses other important A&A practice matters to be aware of, including an update on peer review and audit quality.

Designed for accounting and attestation practitioners at all levels in both public accounting and business and industry, this course provides a detailed review of SAS No. 145 and brings you up to date on FASB and AICPA standards issued over the past few years. The course also provides many hands-on examples and illustrations to help apply the guidance in practice and discusses other important A&A practice matters to be aware of, including an update on peer review and audit quality.

Data analytics and mining are the fastest growing disciplines in accounting and general management. Many organizations are either planning programs or have them already underway. Unfortunately, a number of these attempts fail due to poor planning/preparation and a lack of commitment, training, and clear vision of the program's goals. Today there is no shortage of data, but relatively few organizations have established an environment and ongoing process to isolate, capture, analyze, and convert data into actionable information. At times, even organizations that are employing leading-edge analytics are doing it with traditional, limited sets of data. This session explores how an organization can successfully become data driven. The discussion includes numerous examples demonstrating how accounting and financial professionals can build upon their current analytical skills to better perform traditional tasks and assume a role as a business partner with others in their organization. The program is aimed to assist those just beginning the journey, as well as those who want to test their current efforts or are considering the need for a restart. In addition to discussing a number of analytical tools, including available software, lists of reference books and next-level software are provided. This program continues to build upon the Controllership Update Series.

As the rewards from data continue to grow, companies must recognize the value of data to remain competitive in the current digital economy. Companies that use data in their business processes are outperforming those that do not. Data skills will become necessary in the next few years, and your employees will need them to perform their jobs. In this course, you will gain an understanding of how to transform your organization into a data-driven company. This understanding will increase your chances of successfully achieving your goal of implementing data analytics in your organization.

There is no shortage of data, but relatively few organizations have an environment and process to isolate, capture, analyze, and convert data into actionable information. Too often, we collect as much data as possible, continue to use historic measurements, and communicate data using traditional vehicles. Good decisions are not the result of the amount of data gathered, but of the quality and understanding of the information. The goal of this program is to explore a number of analytical tools and techniques and identify applications for them within an organization. Analytical techniques will be introduced throughout the discussion, and a significant amount of time will be spent addressing the steps needed to establish a data-driven environment and identifying and discussing potential/specific applications. In this way, participants get experience they can begin to use in their organizations. An expanded list of reference books and next level software is also provided.

Data security is a front-of-mind topic for most businesses because the risk and cost statistics are sobering. Each of us is in the crosshairs because a typical internet-connected computer faces a cyberattack every 39 seconds. Businesses of all sizes should be cognizant of the ethical issues that must be considered when planning their approach to privacy and data security. In this webinar, we will explore both the risks we have traditionally faced in the workplace personally, as well as the novel set of data privacy threats and compliance challenge issues employers face with a remote and mobile workforce.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 has had a tremendous impact on commercial real estate, including liberalizing the depreciation provisions. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) included several provisions that allow taxpayers to revisit projects completed in earlier, more profitable years, and generate even more value. In this course, we will explore the impact of these important laws on commercial real estate owners and delve into what Accounting and Financial Professionals need to know. We'll also examine these opportunities to "turn back the clock," including the retroactive correction of QIP's recovery period and the option to revoke electing-out of the business interest limitation. Finally, we will review other strategies that are crucial parts of a comprehensive tax plan this year and will discuss a strategic hierarchy for employing those strategies most successfully. Relevant Rev. Procs. and multiple real-life case studies will be reviewed.

This course provides an overview of the disclosure requirements for SEC Form 8-K, the broad form used to notify investors in U.S. publicly traded companies of certain events that may be important . This course provides an overview of the key disclosure requirements for several of the triggering events requiring the filing of a Form 8-K with the SEC. This course also provides information about how the Form 8-K requirements have evolved over time.

This course provides an overview of the disclosure requirements regarding risks and uncertainties. The disclosure requirements related to risks and uncertainties are prescribed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) in ASC Topic 275. For public business entities that file their annual and interim reports with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), there are also additional disclosure requirements required by Regulation S-K. This course focuses on general disclosure requirements outlined in U.S. GAAP. This course also provides illustrative examples from both the GAAP implementation guidance as well as actual SEC filings from public business entities.

As a byproduct of the audit, the auditor has a responsibility to communicate certain information to management and those charged with governance, primarily related to risk and internal control deficiencies. In some cases the auditor may be required to report outside the entity, for example, when fraud is identified. Some of these communications to management and those charged with governance occur at the beginning of the audit, others during the audit and at the end of the audit. Two-way communication is very important to meet professional responsibilities and also as a client service. This module will discuss the most significant of the required communications and explore how to make them more effective. (Please Note: This module is part of Surgent's Audit Skills Training: Level 5.)