CPE + Events Catalog

This introductory course provides a clear, concise, step-by-step example of the fundamentals of how to import data into Alteryx, how to select and configure its tools to transform that data according to your needs, and how to export the cleaned-up version to an Excel workbook for further CPA-related calculations. It also introduces those new to Alteryx to frequently used technical terms and concepts, as well as how you can use Alteryx as a powerful complement to Excel to turbocharge your ability to produce CPA work products. In addition, this course covers the purposes and functionality of the various sections of Alteryx's main screen, including the Canvas, the Tool Palette, the Configuration Window and the Results window. This and other foundational knowledge taught in the course will increase your ability to confidently and expertly use the program's software tools. Finally, we'll share numerous insights and commentary that pertain directly to CPAs and the kind of work we do. If you've wanted to learn about Alteryx and how it can boost your productivity and advance your career, this course is for you!

Managing and growing a successful practice requires that you have good people providing exceptional service at the right price. That was once done by the hour, but in today's world, when tech can perform work faster than people, the billable hour no longer works. Your price should reflect the value you provide, improve the service provided to customers, and create a better work environment for your team. Yes, the right price can do all that! In this session, we'll explore how a radical approach to your pricing can lead to a stronger firm with greater profits. This course is from The Elevate Forward series, which continues the conversations started at the annual Elevate: Women's Leadership Forum.

A thorough knowledge of financial statements and company reports is crucial to becoming a world-class financial analyst. In this course, learn how to read and understand financial statements. We use real company annual reports and financial statements to better understand and analyze the financial strength of a company and help us make more informed decisions.

David Livitt, founder of Livitt & Associates, discusses the evolution of global mobility from a transactional function to a strategic contributor to business and talent outcomes. He examines how mobility supports market expansion, leadership development, and workforce planning, and highlights the skills, governance considerations, and performance measures needed to run effective mobility programs.

Tax preparer regulation is a controversial topic among policymakers, the Internal Revenue Service, and certification providers. Proponents claim that regulation protects taxpayers from incompetent preparers, while opponents assert that regulation increases costs and discourages preparers from attaining higher qualifications. Following longstanding regulations in Oregon and California, the IRS implemented the Registered Tax Return Preparer program in 2012, which was unexpectedly invalidated in just its second year. Using this quasi-experimental setting and a unique dataset of all U.S. tax preparers obtained from the IRS, we test the effect of regulation on tax preparer qualifications. We find that tax preparer regulation is positively associated with the proportion of highly qualified tax preparers. We also find that regulation increases (decreases) the likelihood that a market entrant (exiter) is highly qualified. In additional analysis, we find some evidence that tax preparer regulations are associated with increased fees and better tax return quality.

The regulatory environment drives an entity's financial reporting and external audit requirements. Finance professionals in management accounting should gain a full understanding of the regulatory environment in which their organisation operates and how to apply the requirements of laws, standards, and guidelines.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of essential topics, including tax proposals, valuation discounts, and trusts, facilitating a clear understanding of the intricate relationships between real estate and estate and trust planning. By the conclusion, you will have a solid grasp of key concepts that are vital for effective planning in these areas.

1099s are getting messier'are you ready - With multiple 1099 forms now merged into one mega-report for clients and the IRS, it's no wonder fixed income reporting feels more confusing than ever. This course breaks it all down'how the information provided to IRS differs from the backup material in the form, and how to report it all correctly'to help you make sense of the chaos and keep your filings clean.

This course provides a practical overview of reserves planning and its critical role in supporting nonprofit financial stability and mission success. Participants will learn why reserves are important, how to determine an appropriate reserves target based on organizational risks and needs, and the key components of reserves, including working capital, risk reserves, and general reserves. The course also highlights best practices for aligning reserves planning with strategic and financial goals, helping nonprofit leaders and finance professionals make informed, balanced decisions in an evolving environment.

This course offers an in-depth look at retirement needs models, their flaws, and ways to overcome associated drawbacks. You'll explore holistic retirement planning while reviewing threats to a successful retirement. You'll also hear about recent retirement planning changes, including the elimination of the "Stretch IRA" by the SECURE Act and the new SECURE Act 2.0 changes. We'll address key questions to plan a comfortable retirement and discuss strategies to draw down retirement assets over an extended period. Last updated 2026.

Retirement accounts may be the largest financial asset your client has. Learn to provide valuable retirement planning input rather than mere RMD calculations. Congress has been changing things: witness Secure and Secure 2.0. Beneficiary rules changed in 2019 but final regulations are not effective until 2025. Retirement benefits will be paid to beneficiaries much earlier than was required for pre-2020 deaths. Improper choices and faulty distribution calculations can result in penalties or unnecessary taxes. Retirement plans may be overhauled based on recent legislative changes and IRS interpretations; this effects the self-employed and employees. Course materials contain regulations governing plan distributions and copies of appropriate IRS forms and rulings, updated with the latest cases, rulings, regulations and legislation.

Taking money from a retirement plan before age 59-1/2 or failing to withdraw funds after age 73 leads to penalties. Plan beneficiaries have a separate set of rules as well. There are penalty exceptions and waivers, but some issues have no possible resolution. A withdrawal from a retirement plan is taxable unless it's returned to a plan within 60 days. Some withdrawals cannot be returned and there are some ways to make a late rollover tax-free. Early and late distribution penalties and 60-day rollover failures are prevalent issues that tax preparers must handle despite the size of the firm or the wealth of their clients. Learn the rules of the road in this class. Note: This class presents an in-depth discussion of issues presented in the instructor's class Retirement Distributions: Planning Options.

Big changes are here for retirement plan distributions. On July 19, 2024, t he IRS dropped new Final and Proposed Regulations'and they're a major shift from what we saw in 2022. Join Michael Gray, CPA, as he breaks down what's new, what's changed under SECURE 2.0, and how it all impacts estate planning and post-death retirement account management'especially for surviving spouses and other beneficiaries.

Revenue recognition continues to be a top compliance and advisory issue for CPAs in the construction industry. This session will dive into the complexities of ASC 606, including common pitfalls in contract modifications, variable consideration, and performance obligations. Real-world case studies will illustrate best practices for implementation and ongoing management. This session was recorded on March 25, 2025 for CalCPA's Construction Management Conference.

Revenue involves significant risks that warrant special consideration during audits. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has issued a new standard - "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" that replaces most industry-specific revenue recognition requirements in US GAAP. A new principles-based, five-step revenue recognition model now applies. Recent disclosures of qualitative and quantitative information, significant judgments, and changes in judgments are also required. New systems, processes, and controls may be needed. Poor design or implementation may pose heightened risks of material misstatement, including those due to fraud.

In this course, we will explore how auditors identify and assess the risks of material misstatements by gaining a comprehensive understanding of privately owned companies and their unique challenges. Key questions we will address include: Are identifiable controls in place? Do owners and managers actively promote compliance with company policies? Have they documented these controls and effectively communicated them to staff? Are these controls observable and testable for operating effectiveness? Additionally, do owners and managers monitor employee performance and evaluate the effectiveness of the controls implemented?

Economic Value Added, EVA, is a powerful yet often overlooked tool for risk management. Many accountants focus on EVA for performance measurement but miss its potential for identifying and mitigating risks. Alan Gorlick, CEO of Gorlick Financial Strategies, explains how EVA can optimize resource allocation, align investments with value creation, and reduce operational risks. With practical insights on dynamic metrics, bonus plans, and tools like Monte Carlo simulations, this segment equips financial leaders to turn uncertainty into opportunity and drive long-term profitability. Please note that this product will expire either on 03/31/2027 or one year from the date of purchase (whichever occurs first). Educator discounts do not apply to this product.

Robotic process automation (RPA) possesses several features that may give rise to similar but also new adoption effects (both benefits and challenges) relative to other information technology (IT) implementations. This study adds to the accounting and emerging technologies literature by examining the beginning-to-end process through which RPA is implemented in the accounting function. We adopt an exploratory and case-centered research methodology based on a mature RPA implementation in an accounting setting. We further corroborate it with interviews with subject matter experts and compare it with another case study of an early-stage RPA implementation. We identify five themes related to RPA adoption in accounting functions: workforce, IT governance, privacy and security, system sustainability, and the measurement of RPA success. We'll also present key takeaways that may support effective RPA adoption in accounting.

Robotic process automation (RPA) provides organizations numerous benefits in achieving efficiency and effectiveness, but not without risks. Without proper management, the risks posed by RPA may outweigh its intended advantages. RPA risk management has received little attention in prior accounting research and practice. We'll discuss risks and control considerations important to achieving the return on RPA investment and maintaining the integrity of the automated processes, substantiated by interviews with RPA and risk professionals. Our interviewees suggest that RPA risk management provides incremental value in addition to risk management of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, that the skillset needed for RPA risk management may be missing among risk professionals, and that existing risk and control frameworks must evolve for RPA risk management.

This advanced financial modeling course will teach you how to perform Excel sensitivity analysis with a focus on practical applications for professionals working in investment banking, equity research, financial planning & analysis (FP&A), and finance functions. The tutorial goes step by step through all the formulas and functions required to perform the analysis in Excel from scratch. By the end of this course, you will have a thorough grasp of how to build a robust sensitivity analysis system into your Excel financial model. Form and function are both critical to ensuring you can handle quick changes and information requests when you're working on a live transaction.