CPE & Event Calendar

For the ambitious female finance professional, working hard and going above and beyond are necessary for success. Sadly, taking time to care for themselves can be seen as counter-productive to meeting their career goals. Over ninety percent of women executives are feeling significantly higher levels of stress that they attribute to increased responsibilities and priorities outside the workplace compared to life before the pandemic. Burnout is a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that causes exhaustion, negativity toward one's job and reduced professional efficacy. It has become so pervasive that it's now recognized as an occupational phenomenon by the World Health Organization. To reignite your enthusiasm at work, you don't necessarily need to find a new job or time for a spa day or bubble bath. You need concrete strategies to invest in your mental health without compromising your ability to rise to the next level in your career. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

How much can clients contribute to a Roth IRA, Roth 401(k), Roth SEP IRA, or Roth SIMPLE IRA? When do enhanced (super) catch-up contributions apply, and when must those catch-up contributions be made on a Roth basis? How does a Roth distribution qualify as tax-free? How did SECURE Act 1.0 and SECURE Act 2.0 fundamentally change Roth funding and distribution rules? These are among the core Roth questions advisors must be able to answer with confidence. As Roth accounts continue to play an increasingly central role in retirement savings strategies — and as contribution rules become more layered and complex — Roth proficiency is no longer optional. In addition, new rules governing age-based enhanced catch-up contributions and the Roth mandate for certain higher-income participants have added a new level of coordination between tax planning, payroll, and retirement plan design. In this course, Denise Appleby simplifies the critical rules that govern Roth funding and Roth distributions across Roth IRAs, Roth 401(k)s, and related employer plans. Emphasis is placed on understanding how the rules interact, where advisors commonly make mistakes, and how recent legislative changes affect real-world planning.

Do you love PivotTables? Of course, we all do! Traditional PivotTables are incredible, but they do have limitations. If you have ever encountered one of these limitations, you'll be excited to learn that by using the Data Model as the source for PivotTables, you'll be able to bypass many of the restrictions that exist with traditional PivotTables. The data model (also referred to as Power Pivot) is included in Excel 2016+ for Windows and available as a free download for previous versions (excluding Excel for Mac). Using the data model enables you to build PivotTables that were previously not practical. If you frequently build PivotTables and would like to do more with them, you'll want to understand how to use the data model (Power Pivot) to enhance your reports. Note about Excel versions: Power Pivot is not available in all versions of Excel, including Excel for Mac. If you would like to see if Power Pivot is available in your version of Excel, visit the Microsoft site.

This program compares and contrasts the financial and tax accounting differences of partnerships, LLCs, and S corporations, as well as discuss the tax accounting for these entities. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

You could pay $0 for this course!Part one of a five-course series, address common issues new staff members face. Focus on strategies to improve efficiency and quality control, build technical skills, and make valuable contributions to a company. Dive into the fundamentals: workpaper techniques, analytical procedures, compilation and review services, tax recognition and research techniques, understanding audit objectives, and auditing and reviewing selected accounts. Per NASBA's rules effective January 1, 2024, participants are required to be on camera and participate in the full and small group discussions to earn CPE credits for this Group Live - Virtual course. As such, please make sure you are set up properly with reliable internet (hard wired is best), a working camera, and a working microphone. This course qualifies for reimbursement through the state’s Workforce Training Express Fund. Firms/companies with fewer than 50 staff can be reimbursed up to 100% of the cost of training and firms/companies with 50-100 employees can be reimbursed up to 50% of the cost of training. You must register for the course and apply for reimbursement through the Workforce Training Express Fund website a minimum of three weeks prior to the start of the course. The course code for this program is C-3314. To learn more, click here or contact Julia Ekelund at jekelund@masscpas.org

Discover the power of Office Scripts, the game-changing feature that lets you automate tasks in Excel and other Office applications effortlessly. Unlike VBA, which is limited to Windows, Office Scripts run on any platform and device that supports Office on the web. With its modern and intuitive interface, you can easily create, edit, and share your scripts, all stored securely in the Cloud. Office Scripts seamlessly integrate with Office Online apps and Power Automate, enabling you to streamline processes and boost productivity like never before. Say goodbye to repetitive tasks and hello to efficiency with Office Scripts in Excel and beyond!

This course is a refresher of the more significant SSARS requirements for preparation, compilation and review engagements. Includes discussion of SSARS 26 and SSARS 27.

In this continually revised course, tax advisors will be fully updated on the most recent enacted legislation and IRS guidance, as well as major trends on the horizon with a view toward planning considerations. This update course is designed for all practitioners, both those working in public accounting as well as those in private industry, who need the latest information on tax changes. Please Note: Due to content overlap, it is recommended that this course NOT be taken together with BITU.

Are you managing your cash, or is your cash managing you" Can you effectively project cash position a week, month or year from now" This seminar demonstrates how to develop long and short-term cash management processes, allowing for productive days and restful nights. This session provides timeless cash management techniques and strategies.

In an age where our workplaces have seen a rise in incivility and we are dealing with rising conflict, it's important for HR professionals to know when to recognize conflict before it explodes and how to resolve it moving forward. This presentation will address the root causes of conflict in the workplace, how to spot it, and how best to address it in a way that keeps your workplace a place where employees want to be.

This program provides in-depth coverage of SAS 145, a major standard that helps auditors enhance risk assessment procedures through improved techniques for identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement. This session is essential for CPAs that perform audits. The discussion will also be insightful for auditees and other professionals who want to maintain awareness of current auditing guidance.

Generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot, are available to everyone and offer great promise for enhanced productivity. Learn how you can begin to take advantage of these tools by participating in this session.

This webinar presents a variety of time-saving ideas, shortcuts, and tips that are sure to boost personal productivity. We discuss better summing, address one of the biggest pitfalls that Excel users have faced over the past 25 years, present the most important keyboard shortcuts, demonstrate a better alternative to hiding rows or columns, illustrate how to quickly navigate to other workbooks and files, and demonstrate using Excel with styles.

With the largest overhaul of the federal income tax code in 30 years and the repeal of the physical presence nexus standards for sales tax in the Wayfair case, the states are working fast and furious to overhaul their tax laws. As some states scramble to fund their budgets, they continue to look for additional forms of revenue. Plan to attend this fast-paced class that covers developing topics in state taxation, ranging from individuals to pass-through entities to corporate taxpayers. This class will focus on issues of small and middle-market companies and offer guidance for minimizing tax liability and negotiating the treacherous waters of compliance.

This program is an in-depth analysis of the Section 754 election and the two adjustments associated with the election under Section 743(b) and Section 734(b). The 754 election is a highly technical provision that provides great tax benefits to the owners of the partnership, and particularly in the case of Section 743(b), a new partner. This course covers the most common questions encountered by practitioners in their daily practices. The program includes a number of examples that provide insights into the mechanics of the two adjustments that follow upon a Section 754 election.

Inventory observations are often a right of passage for audit staff. This course will cover the basics of auditing inventory, including the related audit assertions, risks, & threats to inventory. During this course, we will also highlight the various substantive auditing procedures that staff should perform, and also walk through how to conduct a physical inventory observation. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Cryptocurrency continues to evolve rapidly, bringing new accounting and auditing considerations for CPAs and auditors. This course provides a practical overview of the accounting and auditing issues associated with cryptocurrency, with an emphasis on recent standard-setting developments and their implications for practice. The accounting portion of the course focuses on ASU 2023-08 and related developments, including recent FASB Board discussions, the FASB's Invitation to Comment, and the addition of cryptocurrency-related topics to the FASB's research agenda. Participants will work through a practical case study to apply the guidance in ASU 2023-08, building confidence in accounting for cryptocurrency transactions and balances. The auditing portion of the course addresses key audit considerations related to cryptocurrency, including implications for engagement acceptance and continuance, risk assessment, and the design and performance of audit procedures. The course also references the AICPA's Accounting for and Auditing of Digital Assets practice aid to help bridge authoritative guidance and real-world application.

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.

Organizations are challenged with identifying, evaluating, and responding to a wide variety of risks. This course will discuss tips and best practices for enterprise-wide risk management for accounting and finance professionals. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.

Here's a more detailed look at the controller's role in AI: 1. Data Integrity and Quality: •    Controllers are responsible for ensuring the quality and integrity of data used to train and inform AI models.  •    They work to establish data governance frameworks, implement data quality initiatives, and ensure data lineage (tracking data from source to downstream systems).  2. Risk Management: •    Controllers assess potential risks associated with AI implementation, including inaccuracies, vulnerabilities, and ethical considerations.  •    They help define and implement risk management frameworks for AI, ensuring that AI systems are used responsibly and ethically.  3. Compliance:  •    Controllers stay informed about relevant regulations and ensure AI systems are compliant with those regulations. •    They monitor AI systems to ensure they are not violating any laws or policies. 4. Transparency and Auditability:  •    Controllers work to ensure that AI decisions are transparent and auditable. •    They establish processes to review AI decisions and identify potential biases or errors. 5. Collaboration and Training:  •    Controllers work with IT and business teams to understand AI's capabilities and limitations. •    They provide training to teams on how to use and manage AI tools effectively. 6. Value Creation: •    Controllers can leverage AI to identify areas for automation, improve efficiency, and gain real-time insights into financial operations.  •    They can use AI to make more informed decisions and create more strategic recommendations for action.  7. Emerging Role: •    The role of the controller is evolving with the rise of AI, with controllers becoming more hands-on throughout the implementation process.  •    They are increasingly seen as catalysts for AI-enabled transformation, helping to identify potential use cases and build confidence in the technology This course will explore many of these topics.