CPE & Event Calendar

Award winning discussion leader Mark Hugh discusses both nexus basics and new developments in the dynamic, ever changing world of state income and sales tax nexus. This valuable course answers your frequently asked questions, reviews key factors in examining potential nexus consequences, takes a tour through the rules in states comprising 50% of the US, and identifies free, online multistate resources.  *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 provides tax and accounting professionals with a focused overview of Trump Accounts and their practical application in client planning. Participants will examine eligibility requirements, contribution rules, tax treatment, and reporting considerations. Through practical examples, the course emphasizes evaluating suitability, identifying planning opportunities, and avoiding common compliance pitfalls when incorporating Trump Accounts into client strategies. *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  

Auditors and financial professionals must understand how to integrate AI responsibly while maintaining professional skepticism, audit quality, and compliance with regulatory expectations. However, the use of AI also introduces new governance, ethical, and regulatory considerations that organizations must carefully manage. This course explores how AI is currently being used in audit and financial reporting, the benefits and risks associated with its adoption, and how organizations can establish appropriate governance, controls, and oversight.  

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.  

Whether a financial statement preparer or user is more familiar with IFRS or U.S. GAAP, it is important to be familiar with the important differences between the two financial reporting frameworks. This course will highlight some of the more significant differences between the standards.

Governmental accounting differs significantly from other forms of accounting and requires a distinct approach to financial reporting. This course introduces the foundational principles of governmental accounting, including fund accounting concepts and the modified accrual basis of accounting. Participants will explore the structure and purpose of governmental fund financial statements and government-wide financial statements, gaining clarity on their objectives, layouts, and key elements. The course also addresses essential topics such as component units, the role and structure of Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A), and the preparation and significance of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). Designed for those new to governmental accounting—or those seeking a refresher-this course provides a solid foundation for understanding and applying governmental financial reporting principles. The course has been updated to reflect recent guidance issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, including GASB Statements 101-105.  

A CPA is challenged in today’s work world to not only serve his/her client or employer but also to protect the public interest by ensuring that there is transparency in financial reporting or there is fair administration of the tax laws.  In balancing the two interests, a CPA may find him or herself in an ethical dilemma. This course covers not only basic ethical frameworks, but also specific rules governing CPA practice and responsibilities. It concludes with a section on how a CPA can put his or her ethics into action. Speaker and author, Allison M. McLeod, LL.M., CPA, will educate and inform CPAs not just on what is the right thing to do according to the Texas Rules of Professional Conduct but how to put your values into action!   As part of this course, we will also look at various schools of ethical thought and walk through real world examples of individuals and companies faced with moral dilemmas.   Designed to Satisfy the Ethics Requirements of §523.130 for the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy.

Many finance departments spend considerable time managing cash, particularly if the organization is highly leveraged or cash rich.  Many opportunities exist to reduce your financing costs or increase short-term cash returns if you manage cash effectively.  This session will cover a wide variety of day-to-day cash management tools.  

Data security and privacy issues persist as a significant concern for businesses of all sizes. No matter where you look, the numbers are bad - really bad! But that doesn't mean you can't take steps to reduce these risks. In this session, you will learn about the key security and privacy risks facing businesses today and the steps you can take to mitigate these risks. This session begins with a review of how cybercriminals target businesses of all sizes and the associated costs of these attacks. From there, you will progress to discussions of practical tools, policies, and other solutions that can be used to mitigate cybersecurity risks to prudently acceptable levels. This is a "must-see" session for all concerned about data security and how to mitigate threats to sensitive and confidential data.

AU-C Section 315 requires the auditor to gain an understanding of the entity and its environment and the entity's internal controls in order to design appropriate audit procedures. This course will review the key requirements of COSO which is one of the most widely used internal control frameworks. We'll also review the limitations of internal controls. Additionally, this course will introduce the risk assessment process and the various audit procedures to evaluate controls and to determine whether to test the operating effectiveness of controls. 

In an era of unrelenting technological disruption-where cyberattacks, AI-driven risks, and digital transformations collide-resilience is no longer a luxury; it's a strategic imperative. This session will explore how organizations can build digital resilience, leveraging technology not just to survive disruptions but to emerge stronger and more adaptive.

You only have one chance to make a good first impression.  In the fast paced world we live in, being able to create immediate rapport and a sense of trust with people is more important than ever.  Fortunately, this is an easily learnable skill that can serve you in both business and in life.  People who can master the one minute relationship end up making more money, being better liked, and enjoying their clients more.  

Professional Codes of Conduct make Ethics seem easy and clear cut. However, this is not so in real life. This session discusses five cases where the ethics is not so clear cut.  What should be considered?  We will explain how you can be more diligent and maintain awareness of ethical issues to become more effective and enhance the reputation of the profession.    

Sampling is an important method for determining the extent of testing controls, testing compliance, and tests of substantive details. It allows the auditor to apply procedures to less than 100% of the population yet extend results to project likely conclusions about the entire population. This module will describe the proper process for both attribute testing and variable sampling in financial statement and compliance audits.

Step into the heart of the Cretaceous Conservatory for an unforgettable inventory observation adventure! In this immersive simulation, you'll travel to a remote island where the inventory isn't just vast, it's alive. As an auditor responsible for ensuring accuracy in the company's dinosaur-development operations, you'll face wild risks, navigate complex inventory procedures, and confront the unexpected. Through hands-on scenarios, you'll learn to identify misstatements, evaluate unique inventory challenges, and apply standard observation techniques all while staying one step ahead of potential disaster. Can you survive the wilds of the Cretaceous and emerge as the ultimate inventory explorer, or will the risks prove too much to handle?  

Applying Topic 606 in an environment of uncertainty can be especially challenging. This course will discuss the proper application of the revenue recognition model when facts and circumstances are changing.

You and I have a responsibility to our organizations and to the public to be ethical. We cannot forget this responsibility and this responsibility is constant. One lapse can cause profound issues that last. Ethics and trust are intertwined, no one follows a ‘leader’ who is not trusted. We will not focus on the negative and show the problems caused – rather, we focus on what and how to set the example for others to follow. This seminar outlines the seven components of trust, and how we should use these components daily.

Appreciation isn’t a soft skill—it’s a strategic advantage. In today's competitive professional landscape, your ability to express appreciation effectively can be the difference between retaining top talent, building strong client relationships, and creating a thriving team culture—or not. This course introduces a powerful, research-backed framework for understanding how appreciation works—and how to use it to fuel performance, loyalty, and engagement across your firm, practice, or department. Based on the work of Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Paul White, you’ll explore the four core "languages of appreciation" and learn how to recognize and use them in a way that resonates with clients, colleagues, and team members. The truth is, everyone wants to feel valued—but not everyone receives appreciation the same way. In this hands-on session, you’ll discover your own appreciation style, learn to spot others’, and develop practical tools to build a more energized, connected, and committed workplace.  

AI (‘Artificial Intelligence’) has already reshaped the way we work, offering immense opportunities alongside serious ethical and organizational challenges. How should we use AI responsibly without slowing innovation? Is using AI ethical? Is it right? Is not using AI ethical? The goal is to make better use of the power of AI, in a sustainable and ethical way.

Strategic Planning for SMEs