CPE Catalog & Events

The most difficult concepts to master when dealing with flow-through business entities are the basis and distribution concepts. Major error and malpractice issues occur if the CPA does not fully understand the impact of these rules. This course is designed to focus on the practical applications of these rules.

The most difficult concepts to master when dealing with flow-through business entities are the basis and distribution concepts. Major error and malpractice issues occur if the CPA does not fully understand the impact of these rules. This course is designed to focus on the practical applications of these rules.

Health savings account optimization allows individuals with a high deductible health plan to contribute money into a tax-advantaged medical savings account. Individuals receive the tax deduction in the year of contribution, the HSA account stays with that individual (not with an employer) for as long as they want, and they can then use that money to pay future or current medical expenses tax free! Learn about this strategy for tax firms and the steps you need to take for your clients that could save an average of a couple thousand dollars per family, per year!

There are numerous federal laws that restrict what businesses can do in terms of hiring and firing employees. Many of these laws impose significant penalties if employers violate them. Accordingly, it is crucial that all employers and their professional advisors understand these laws and apply them to their employment practices.

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.

While the effective date for ASC 606 is past for most entities, the challenges of applying the new revenue recognition guidance will undoubtedly continue for a while. In this course, we'll review both issued and proposed ASUs related to ASC 606 and review the disclosure requirements for non-public business entities under ASC 606. Next, as many entities made changes to their policies and approaches to revenue recognition as a result of COVID-19, we'll review some of the common accounting challenges that companies face as a result of these changes. Lastly, we'll explore ways that many companies have improved their revenue recognition process as a result of ASC 606 adoption.

This course will discuss what to do if you suspect fraud within your organization. The HealthSouth fraud case is presented as a means of understanding how the fraud was committed, and ways in which it could have been prevented. This is the second of five 2-hour courses in Surgent's Fraud Certificate Program. This program includes a combination of lectures, animated videos, and live interviews with white-collar offenders and whistle-blowers. Each course is designed to be engaging and informative and will enhance your understanding of fraud.

This course is designed to help you proceed and succeed in applying the requirements found in ASU No. 2018-08, Clarifying the Scope and the Accounting Guidance for Contributions Received and Contributions Made. Learn the thought process used in evaluating and recording contribution transactions.

This course provides an overview of the accounting for internal-use software. The accounting and reporting requirements related to internal-use software can be found within ASC Topic 350-40. The primary information addressed within this ASC Topic relates to the development costs that should and should not be capitalized, how those costs are amortized, how they are tested for impairment, as well as presentation and disclosure requirements.

Federal estate and gift taxes currently affect few clients, but there are many other issues involved in settling an estate or administering a trust. Clients who are beneficiaries of a trust or estate often turn to their financial advisors to understand the administrative process and its effect on their interests. This course enables the accountant to cut through the jargon to understand the legal concepts, communicate a real-world explanation to clients, and serve, in some instances, as an advisor to them. After taking this course, practitioners will feel more confident to serve in a fiduciary capacity. Updated for developments relative to estate taxation.

This course discusses the legal issues in probating and contesting a will, plus the practical issues involved when settling an estate - marshaling of assets, payment of creditors, and distribution and accounting to beneficiaries. Inventory of estate assets is also discussed.

This program provides an essential and engaging introduction to the internal audit profession, a primer on current, major internal audit guidance / standards for staff level personnel, and a value adding refresher and reinforcer for more seasoned personnel and management. Designed for internal audit professionals at all levels, consultants providing internal audit outsourcing or co-sourcing services, and external auditors (CPAs) who also provide such services and/ or place significant reliance on the work of internal auditors during the conduct of audit engagements. This course acts as a launching pad for Surgent's comprehensive internal audit curriculum, equipping participants with a critical internal audit reference foundation for ongoing growth! It is crucial for internal auditors to develop a balanced, big picture AND detail-oriented understanding, perspective, and approach to their work. This session is instrumental in helping internal audit professionals do just that!

A highly effective internal audit group's value to an organization is directly related to its independence and competence in fulfilling its charter. To function optimally, an internal audit group needs unrestricted access to the subject matter it is reviewing, a clear reporting path to an independent overseer, and must possess the essential skills and capabilities required of this ever demanding and evolving profession. In this course, we'll review the optimal structure(s) of high performance internal audit departments, including the major roles and responsibilities of the group and its key members, as well as, its critical reporting authority within an organization. The course will also address how an internal audit group's charter, other governing documents, and practices, define the nature of its value adding services, and establish a sound administrative framework to support its ongoing functional activities and growth, including but not limited to, all level personnel training and development.

The definition of Internal Auditing promulgated by The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) speaks to the critical areas of value adding coverage and services Internal Auditors can and must bring to their organizations. These include the key areas of: governance, risk management, and (internal) control (GRC). Internal auditors play vital assurance and consulting roles for organizations and their stakeholders. The significant reliance placed on internal auditors by organizational management teams, boards of directors/audit committees, external auditors, regulators, and other key stakeholders, cannot be overstated. An integral component in supporting these roles are the knowledge foundations that auditors bring to the fore in applying their technical and analytical skills when assessing core areas of organizational governance; risk management (including fraud related risk management); compliance; and (internal) control (GRC). This course lays the critical foundation for strengthening the knowledge base of auditors at all levels in these critical areas of organizational GRC processes and performance.

The "name of the game" in virtually any business (or profession), and most certainly for Internal Auditors, is adding the greatest possible value to and for all stakeholders of that business/profession. Internal Auditors serve a wide variety of stakeholders who place major reliance on their work. Maximizing IA value in terms of assurance levels expected by and relied on by its stakeholders is critical and can only be achieved through optimal assurance coverage execution and highly effective stakeholder communications and reporting. By exploring the many roles and services through which an internal audit group can add value throughout any organization, this course provides a roadmap for Internal Auditors in their quests to maximize value for all stakeholders, both internal and external, of their organizations.

The value adding capacity of an overall IA activity's program begins with the foundational risk assessment and planning process. This activity is undertaken annually at an enterprise level, and functionally at an individual engagement level. The alignment and integration of these critically linked processes is essential for ensuring the effective and efficient deployment of IA resources and optimum assurance coverage. This course provides an essential primer on IA risk assessment and planning processes, supported by key related Professional Standards guidance and practical application strategies. In addition, this session also serves in building a vital bridge which connects high quality IA activity level attributes with ongoing maximum impact performance level implementation.

While risk assessment and planning lay the foundation for IA engagement programs, it is the effective execution of the program that ultimately determines the success of the IA activity in serving and adding value to its stakeholders. The results of IA engagements are derived from the critical fieldwork processes initiated and completed by audit teams and the underlying documentation developed, gathered, and maintained in support thereof. Internal Auditors must possess sound technical, analytical, organizational, and communication skills to effectively discharge their duties as key relied-upon assurance professionals for organizations. This course provides an in-depth conceptual and practical application bridge linking crucial fieldwork fundamentals with workpaper preparation and documentation essentials in promotion and development of these vital skill areas for IAs.

Proper planning and execution of an audit program at the overall activity and individual engagement level requires highly effective management and administration to promote, support, and ensure maximum value adding assurance for organizational stakeholders. This course helps Internal Auditors at all levels better understand the practical and required engagement managerial responsibilities involved with the IA function at both the department and engagement level. The course will also review the required detailed, ongoing administrative aspects of successfully managing each. From planning to resource allocation and management, supervision, review, communications and reporting, monitoring and follow up, this session provides the keys to highest level quality and impact IA administration and management.

A commitment to excellence requires dedication toward self-improvement in whatever endeavor we choose, including being Internal Audit (IA) professionals. Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi once said: "The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their field of endeavor." And Aristotle, speaking some 2,500 years earlier, has been paraphrased as follows: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit." The consistent and ever-growing integration of quality and excellence in performance for IA activities is what this program is all about. From developing a sound understanding and application of IA standards regarding Quality Assurance and Improvement Programs (QAIPs) to moving far beyond compliance to highest-level quality and impact IA functioning, this capstone course provides a vital roadmap to assist IA activity practitioners in their ongoing quests to tap more fully into and unleash their unlimited potential in better serving and adding value to all organizational stakeholders!

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.