CPE & Event Calendar

Technological disruptions are no longer limited to Silicon Valley. This discussion, featuring Lehman College Associate Professor, Dr. Sean Stein Smith; Surgent's VP of L&D, Jack Castonguay; and James Madison University Associate Professor, Dr. Nicole Wright, explores the evolving landscape of accounting following the advancement of generative AI (i.e., ChatGPT) and other emerging technologies. CPAs in audit and assurance will gain insights into both the potential risks and opportunities these technologies present. The session will cover the impact of AI on traditional audit functions, including automation of routine tasks, fraud detection, and data analysis, while also addressing concerns such as data security, accuracy, and ethical implications. Participants will engage in discussions about how AI can enhance efficiency and accuracy, but also the challenges of maintaining professional judgment and skepticism in an increasingly automated environment. The course will also touch on blockchain, robotics process automation (RPA), and other innovations that are reshaping the future of financial reporting and audit standards. Learners will leave with a clearer understanding of how to integrate these technologies while upholding the profession's core values. This is an essential course for CPAs looking to stay at the forefront of technological advancements in the field.

This course introduces accounting, auditing, and finance professionals to the emerging field of agentic AI: autonomous, goal-driven systems capable of planning, acting, and learning with minimal human intervention. Participants will explore how agentic AI differs from traditional automation (RPA) and generative AI, and how these agents are being deployed in finance and accounting. The course emphasizes foundational concepts such as the Perceive-Reason-Act-Learn (PRAL) loop and ethical decision-making frameworks. To ground abstract ideas in practice, participants will experience a brief agent simulation using basic ChatGPT, showcasing how natural language prompts can emulate agentic behavior, such as goal setting, clarification loops, and structured task execution. The course also highlights real-world agent platforms (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, IBM watsonx, and UiPath) to provide context on enterprise adoption trends and discusses emerging global regulations such as the EU AI Act and the U.S. Executive Order on Safe AI.

This course explores the ethical considerations of AI in accounting. Participants will examine the principles of AI data ethics, regulatory requirements, and strategies for ethical AI use.

The past two years have ushered in an explosion of ransomware attacks affecting businesses and individuals. Many of us read or hear about these attacks, but there is little understanding of how they occur, how a response is undertaken, and how the chances of experiencing one can be reduced. Join us to learn about these topics so you can be prepared with the best response and the knowledge to avoid common mistakes in a ransomware event.

Accounting and finance professionals have used different forms of automation over the years to improve the efficiency and accuracy of their work. So far, technology has not been able to replace the knowledge, experience, and decision-making of seasoned professionals. Times are rapidly changing. Today, systems easily exceed humans in accuracy and consistency. Artificial intelligence (AI) brings opportunities for accountants and finance professionals in the short term to improve efficiency and accuracy, while providing more value for businesses and customers alike. In the long term, AI will offer profound changes to how professionals work and process data. This course is designed to review where we are and where we are headed in the world of AI.

This course explores how autonomous agents are transforming internal and external audit functions. Agentic AI is redefining how auditors perform risk assessments, gather evidence, test controls, and issue reports. Participants will examine real-world examples, including audit bots from Big Four firms, and consider the impact on assurance quality, auditor judgment, and documentation standards. Key frameworks from the PCAOB, ISA, and AICPA will be discussed, along with governance strategies to ensure audit agents operate reliably, securely, and ethically. This redefines the CPA's role in ensuring the integrity and reliability of audit evidence when leveraging AI agents, impacting audit quality and professional skepticism.

This hands-on course introduces accountants, auditors, and finance professionals to agentic AI by simulating autonomous behavior using the basic version of ChatGPT. Participants will use role-play, prompt engineering, and guided interaction loops to create agents that simulate planning, decision-making, and communication workflows. No coding or advanced access is required. Participants will practice designing task-specific prompts, simulating agent autonomy using flipped interaction patterns, and evaluating agent output for risk and effectiveness. This course makes agentic AI accessible to all learners through practical, scenario-based exercises using tools they already have.

As organizations worldwide integrate artificial intelligence into their operations, ensuring ethical and responsible use is essential. This course provides finance and accounting and auditing professionals with the insights and practical tools needed to implement the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF). Participants will explore the framework's principles of accountability, transparency, and ethical AI, learning how to assess and manage risks unique to their field of practice. Using real-world case studies and interactive activities, attendees will develop strategies to mitigate bias, enhance data privacy, and ensure compliance while leveraging AI to drive innovation and growth.

This course focuses on implementing cybersecurity policies, controls, and risk management strategies tailored to financial environments. It emphasizes practical applications to mitigate threats and highlights global compliance standards, particularly their relevance and applicability to U.S. organizations.

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.

This course explores how generative AI is revolutionizing cybersecurity. It highlights opportunities, such as enhanced threat detection, and risks, including AI-driven phishing and malware, particularly in financial contexts.

This course explores generative AI (genAI) and prompt engineering and the relevance of these tools to accounting. The course will explain how generative AI differs from non-generative AI and help participants to understand current use, limitations, and risks associated with genAI integration in audits and financial reporting. The course will also explore best practices for writing prompts and common prompt engineering tools and techniques.

As accounting firms and financial institutions deploy agentic AI, they face significant governance challenges. This course focuses on cybersecurity, data governance, and risk management practices essential for the safe and effective use of autonomous systems. Participants will examine frameworks such as NIST AI RMF and the CSA's red-teaming guidelines, as well as case studies on AI-powered cyber incidents. The course equips professionals to assess agentic system vulnerabilities, implement controls, and integrate risk insights into enterprise compliance strategies. This course equips CPAs to fulfill their oversight responsibilities in safeguarding financial data and ensuring the reliability of autonomous systems within the enterprise's control environment.

Increased funding resulting from the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act will allow the IRS to target many more wealthy individuals and large businesses for audit. These efforts will become more intense over the next several years as the IRS employs artificial intelligence in more of its audits. This program discusses how and when the IRS's energized audit efforts will result in more audits of taxpayers and what attendees need to know to effectively represent clients that the IRS audits.

This course emphasizes the practical application of incident response frameworks through case studies of AI-related cyber incidents. It focuses on preparing financial professionals to effectively manage and learn from cybersecurity crises.

In today's interconnected world, safeguarding information systems is crucial. This course offers a deep dive into information security and privacy principles with a focus on modern cybersecurity threats tied to cloud environments, Internet of Things (IoT), and mobile technologies. The course will also cover data protection during application development. Taking this course will equip accounting professionals with the knowledge to lead in cybersecurity strategy.

This course introduces the foundational concepts of artificial intelligence (AI) and AI's relevance to accounting. Participants will explore various AI applications and understand the benefits, challenges, and future trends associated with AI integration in accounting. Case studies of successful AI implementation in accounting firms are included to enhance learning.

This course explores the data analytics aspects of AI in accounting. Participants will develop skills in leveraging AI tools for enhanced data analytics.

This course provides U.S.-based accounting and finance professionals with an in-depth understanding of the EU Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, the first comprehensive AI regulation in the world. It explores the Act's key provisions, including its risk classification framework, compliance requirements for high-risk systems, and transparency obligations. Participants will gain insight into how the Act affects organizations operating internationally and how to prepare for compliance challenges. Interactive activities are integrated throughout the course to reinforce key concepts.

Power BI Desktop is the authoring tool for the Power BI Ecosystem and is an essential component of the Power BI ecosystem. Power BI Desktop is a free application that is available for download. This one-hour course will demonstrate the capabilities of Power BI Desktop as your company continues its journey to increasing its data skills and data literacy.