2025 Tax Update: Critical Issues Impacting Individuals: Part 1

Course Description

Western CPE’s Tax Update courses have been an industry staple for over 30 years. We’ll do a deep dive on everything that’s happening in the world of tax legislation that affects both individual and business returns. This is the most in-depth and engaging tax update course in the profession—often imitated, never duplicated.

In Critical Issues Impacting Individuals: Part 1, we’ll focus on critical topics affecting individual tax returns. These are expected to include—but are not limited to—the following:

• New Form 15620 for 83(b) election
• New Social Security identity verification requirements
• Inflation adjustment amounts
• What to know about the Disaster Relief Act of 2023
• Disaster relief for residents in multiple states
• Updates to the foreign earned income exclusion and foreign housing exclusion
• Much, much more

Other tax update courses are shorter, less in-depth, and designed for beginners. Western’s tax update courses are for tax professionals who expect more.

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Navigating Revenue Recognition: Key Insights for Accountants

Course Description

This comprehensive deep dive into ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, equips you with essential knowledge of one of the most transformative accounting standards in GAAP history. The standard’s principles-based framework replaces the previous rules-based approach, affecting virtually every entity reporting under GAAP.

Join industry expert Jeff Sailor, known for his engaging and distinctive presentation style, as he breaks down the complex framework into actionable insights.

You’ll learn to confidently navigate:

• The five-step revenue recognition model
• Contract identification and modification challenges
• Performance obligation identification and allocation
• Variable consideration determination
• Disclosure requirements and implementation strategies

Perfect for: Controllers, CFOs, accounting managers, and practitioners who prepare or audit financial statements under GAAP. Whether you’re just beginning implementation or refining your approach, this session provides critical guidance for compliance and financial reporting excellence.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Describe the core principles and structure of ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Apply the five-step revenue recognition model to common and complex contract scenarios. Identify and evaluate performance obligations and determine appropriate allocation methods. Assess the impact of contract modifications on revenue recognition. Calculate and apply variable consideration, including constraints on estimates. Interpret the disclosure requirements under ASC 606 and develop strategies for compliance. Implement effective revenue recognition practices that align with GAAP and industry-specific considerations.Close Course Details

Leading with Vision: Building Business Acumen for the Future

Course Description

This strategic course transforms technically proficient professionals into business-savvy leaders who understand the holistic nature of organizational success. Moving beyond departmental expertise, you’ll develop the ability to make quick, well-informed decisions that impact your organization’s strategic direction and growth.

Ed guides you through the interconnected ecosystem of business operations, revealing how financial metrics, market positioning, and organizational capabilities combine to create sustainable competitive advantage. Through interactive exercises and real-world scenarios, you’ll learn to view your organization through a leadership lens.

The session illuminates:

• Methods for assessing how your organization generates revenue and creates genuine value
• Frameworks for evaluating competitive positioning and industry differentiators
• Techniques for understanding the cascading effects of business decisions across departments
• Approaches for identifying and leveraging key financial drivers and metrics
• Strategies for balancing short-term results with long-term organizational health
• Risk management methodologies appropriate for different business contexts

Designed for: Rising leaders, departmental managers, and technical specialists preparing for broader organizational responsibilities. This course provides essential business acumen whether you’re transitioning to executive roles or seeking to become a more valuable contributor to strategic discussions within your current position.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Understand how different parts of an organization work together to create value and drive growth Analyze financial and market data to assess competitive positioning and business health Apply strategic thinking to make informed decisions with long-term impact Identify key business drivers and metrics that influence organizational success Develop risk management approaches aligned with business goals and environmentsClose Course Details

Entrepreneurial Strategic Management

Course Description

Bogdan Constantin will teach you how to apply entrepreneurial management strategies and tactics to your firm, team, or company. He’s committed to teaching the disciplines of entrepreneurial thinking that produce not just entrepreneurial inspiration but a strategic frame of mind. You’ll learn how to better measure success and reframe your priorities based on available business levers. You’ll see how your current business or industry environment can influence success or failure and what to do about it. You’ll learn how companies develop unique internal sources of competition to create advantages and thrive with disruptions in their marketplace or industry.

Learning Objectives

Upon completing this course, you will be able to:

• Cite and apply KPIs to measure business success
• Learn how to develop internal sources to create competitive advantages
• Discuss ways companies win with evolving business models and value propositions
• Apply growth strategies and tactics to survive and thrive during marketplace disruptions
• Learn how to create a sustainable, continuous improvement environment
• Identify and discuss ways to Manage commercialization challenges and market launches efficiently and effectively
• See beyond current paradigms in order to uncover innovation needs and to predict impact through strategic idea and concept development

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2025 Tax Update: Critical Issues Impacting Individuals: Part 2

Course Description

Western CPE’s Tax Update courses have been an industry staple for over 30 years. We’ll do a deep dive on everything that’s happening in the world of tax legislation that affects both individual and business returns. This is the most in-depth and engaging tax update course in the profession—often imitated, never duplicated.

In Critical Issues Impacting Individuals: Part 2, we’ll focus on additional topics affecting individual tax returns. These are expected to include—but are not limited to—the following:

• Updated Roth IRA catch-up changes
• 2025 inflation adjusted amounts for retirement plans
• The introduction of Form 1099-DA for virtual currencies
• The Competent Authority Arrangement between the U.S. and Switzerland affecting some pensions
• What’s new with partnerships and LLCs
• Related recent Tax Court cases

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Data-Driven Leadership: Essential Metrics for Controllers and CFOs

Course Description

This practical course reveals the powerful analytical tools that financial leaders rely on to make strategic decisions and monitor business performance. Moving beyond basic calculations, you’ll learn how to select, interpret, and leverage various financial and operational metrics to drive business improvement.

Through hands-on examples and case studies, the session unpacks the art and science of performance measurement, helping you transform raw financial data into actionable business intelligence.

The course explores:

• The strategic purpose of metrics and how to align them with organizational objectives
• Key distinctions between leading and lagging indicators, KPIs, and traditional ratios
• Practical calculation methods for essential financial metrics across different industries
• Common interpretation pitfalls and how to avoid them
• Techniques for presenting metrics effectively to non-financial stakeholders
• Building a balanced performance measurement system tailored to your organization

Ideal for: Controllers, CFOs, financial analysts, business advisors, and accounting professionals who need to evaluate business performance, identify trends, and support strategic decision-making. This course provides valuable insights whether you’re developing new metrics or refining your existing measurement approach.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Participants will be able to: Adjust financial statements for inventory methods, leases, and deferred taxes to enhance comparability Evaluate investment performance and determine return adequacy using established techniques Analyze operational efficiency through assessment of profit margins and asset utilization metrics Assess liquidity and solvency to evaluate an organization’s credit risk profile Evaluate supplier financial stability to identify and mitigate supply chain risks Apply comprehensive frameworks to assess overall financial health across various industries Extract actionable insights from financial reports to support informed business decisionsClose Course Details

Leading the Way: Advanced Strategies for Financial Executives

Course Description

This cutting-edge course addresses the evolving challenges faced by today’s financial leaders navigating turbulent economic conditions. Moving beyond traditional finance functions, you’ll develop the strategic mindset needed to identify existential threats and capitalize on hidden opportunities within your organization.

Through practical case studies and interactive discussion, you’ll learn to make decisive capital allocation decisions, plug revenue leaks, and uncover profitable business segments that may be obscured by broader financial metrics.

The program explores:

• Current economic trends reshaping financial leadership and their implications for your organization
• Flexible strategic frameworks that adapt to rapidly changing business environments
• Decision models for balancing profitability preservation against growth initiatives
• Advanced data visualization techniques that transform financial information into actionable insights
• Accountability systems that drive financial discipline throughout the organization
• Essential leadership competencies for finance executives facing unprecedented complexity

Ideal for: CFOs, Controllers, Finance Directors, and aspiring financial leaders who must simultaneously manage financial stewardship while driving strategic value. This course provides crucial insights for both seasoned executives and those preparing to step into more strategic financial leadership roles.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Analyze current economic trends and assess their impact on organizational financial strategy Apply flexible strategic frameworks to adapt financial leadership to rapidly changing business environments Utilize decision models to balance profitability preservation with growth and investment initiatives Employ advanced data visualization techniques to translate complex financial data into actionable insights Design and implement accountability systems that reinforce financial discipline across the organization Demonstrate essential leadership competencies required to navigate complexity and uncertainty in financial executive roles Identify and capitalize on hidden business opportunities while mitigating existential financial threatsClose Course Details

Driving Financial Performance with Power BI: A Practical Guide: Part 1

Course Description

This hands-on workshop plunges you into the world of Business Intelligence (BI), today’s most powerful approach for transforming raw data into strategic insights. As organizations increasingly recognize the competitive advantage of data analytics, professionals who can harness these tools are becoming invaluable assets to their teams.

Through guided exercises and practical demonstrations, you’ll progress from basic Excel-based dashboards to sophisticated Power BI visualizations that uncover hidden patterns and opportunities within your data. Rather than just learning theory, you’ll build actual BI solutions throughout the session.

The workshop covers:

• Creating interactive Excel dashboards that transcend traditional spreadsheet limitations
• Understanding when Excel-based solutions fall short and when to transition to more robust tools
• Implementing specialized Excel add-ins to enhance your analytical capabilities
• Leveraging Power BI’s advanced features for data transformation, modeling, and visualization
• Developing distribution strategies that make your insights accessible to stakeholders

Perfect for: Financial professionals, analysts, managers, and decision-makers who need to extract maximum value from organizational data. No programming experience required—just a willingness to elevate your data analysis skills beyond basic reporting to true business intelligence.

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2025 Tax Update: Critical Issues Impacting Individuals: Part 3

Course Description

Western CPE’s Tax Update courses have been an industry staple for over 30 years. We’ll do a deep dive on everything that’s happening in the world of tax legislation that affects both individual and business returns. This is the most in-depth and engaging tax update course in the profession—often imitated, never duplicated.

In Critical Issues Impacting Individuals: Part 3, we’ll focus on additional topics affecting individual tax returns. These are expected to include—but are not limited to—the following:

• New SECURE 2.0 provisions stated to begin in 2026
• The introduction of Form 1099-DA for virtual currencies
• WV disaster relief for federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax
returns
• Fascinating related Tax Course cases

Other tax update courses are shorter, less in-depth, and designed for beginners. Western’s tax update courses are for tax professionals who expect more.

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Cash Flow Confidence: Get it Right Every Time

Course Description

This eye-opening course addresses a concerning regulatory trend: widespread non-compliance with ASC Topic 230 in cash flow statement preparation. Recent analyses by the SEC and other regulatory bodies have uncovered numerous errors and inconsistencies that leave companies vulnerable to restatements, regulatory scrutiny, and credibility damage.

Through detailed case studies and practical examples, you’ll learn to identify and correct the most common cash flow statement errors before they trigger regulatory action. The session dissects real-world compliance failures and provides systematic approaches to ensure your statements fully align with ASC 230 requirements.

The course explores:

• High-risk classification areas frequently flagged in SEC comment letters
• Proper treatment of non-cash transactions and their disclosure requirements
• Common reconciliation errors between net income and operating cash flows
• Nuanced presentation requirements for specific industries and transactions
• Documentation techniques that demonstrate compliance with ASC 230
• Implementation strategies for enhanced review procedures

Ideal for: Financial reporting professionals, controllers, CFOs, accounting managers, and auditors responsible for preparing or reviewing cash flow statements under U.S. GAAP. This course provides vital knowledge for anyone seeking to strengthen compliance and avoid potentially costly reporting errors.

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Leading Through Disagreement: Conflict Strategies for Finance Professionals

Course Description

This practical course transforms workplace conflict from a destructive force into a catalyst for innovation and enhanced productivity. Financial professionals regularly face tension points—from performance evaluations to workplace changes—that can derail teamwork and diminish effectiveness if not properly managed.

Through scenario-based learning and interactive exercises, you’ll develop a comprehensive toolkit for addressing conflict at its earliest stages, before minor disagreements escalate into major disruptions. The session provides both informal and formal resolution frameworks adaptable to various workplace situations.

The program delivers:

• Diagnostic tools for identifying the root causes of workplace tension
• Communication techniques based on understanding different ego states
• A five-strategy approach for selecting the appropriate conflict response
• Intervention protocols for diffusing toxic situations before they escalate
• Specialized approaches for six distinct behavioral challenges
• Practical methods for maintaining productivity despite workplace dysfunction
• Strategies for handling difficult conversations with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders

Perfect for: Financial managers, controllers, accounting team leaders, and professionals in collaborative environments who need to maintain productive working relationships despite conflicting priorities and work styles. This course provides essential interpersonal skills that complement your technical expertise.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Diagnose the root causes of workplace conflict and tension within finance teams Apply communication techniques tailored to different interpersonal dynamics and ego states Select and implement appropriate conflict resolution strategies using a structured five-strategy framework Intervene effectively to defuse escalating conflicts before they disrupt productivity Adapt conflict management approaches to address six distinct behavioral challenges commonly encountered in finance environments Maintain team productivity and cohesion despite ongoing disagreements or workplace dysfunction Conduct difficult conversations confidently and constructively with colleagues, clients, and stakeholdersClose Course Details

Driving Financial Performance with Power BI: A Practical Guide: Part 2

Course Description

This hands-on workshop plunges you into the world of Business Intelligence (BI), today’s most powerful approach for transforming raw data into strategic insights. As organizations increasingly recognize the competitive advantage of data analytics, professionals who can harness these tools are becoming invaluable assets to their teams.

Through guided exercises and practical demonstrations, you’ll progress from basic Excel-based dashboards to sophisticated Power BI visualizations that uncover hidden patterns and opportunities within your data. Rather than just learning theory, you’ll build actual BI solutions throughout the session.

The workshop covers:

• Creating interactive Excel dashboards that transcend traditional spreadsheet limitations
• Understanding when Excel-based solutions fall short and when to transition to more robust tools
• Implementing specialized Excel add-ins to enhance your analytical capabilities
• Leveraging Power BI’s advanced features for data transformation, modeling, and visualization
• Developing distribution strategies that make your insights accessible to stakeholders

Perfect for: Financial professionals, analysts, managers, and decision-makers who need to extract maximum value from organizational data. No programming experience required—just a willingness to elevate your data analysis skills beyond basic reporting to true business intelligence.

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2025 Tax Update: Critical Issues Impacting Businesses: Part 1

Course Description

Western CPE’s Tax Update courses have been an industry staple for over 30 years. We’ll do a deep dive on everything that’s happening in the world of tax legislation that affects both individual and business returns. This is the most in-depth and engaging tax update course in the profession—often imitated, never duplicated.

In Critical Issues Impacting Businesses: Part 1, we’ll dig into a host of changes affecting business returns. These are expected to include—but are not limited to—the following:

• New R&D credit claim requirements
• Updates on commercial clean vehicle credits
• Recent cases involving hobby loss rules
• Updates to 1099K reporting thresholds for third-party settlement organizations
• FinCEN’s Geographical Targeting Order for certain Money Services Businesses
• Pivotal recent Tax Court cases

Other tax update courses are shorter, less in-depth, and designed for beginners. Western’s tax update courses are for tax professionals who expect more.

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Estimates, Contingencies, and Going Concern: Accounting for the Unknown

Course Description

This insightful course tackles one of accounting’s most challenging areas: properly treating and disclosing financial statement uncertainty. Financial reporting professionals frequently struggle with quantifying and communicating risk factors that could materially impact financial statements.

Through practical examples and authoritative guidance, you’ll develop a framework for evaluating, accounting for, and disclosing various types of financial uncertainty in U.S. GAAP-based financial statements.

The session addresses:

• Methodologies for identifying and assessing financial statement areas containing significant uncertainty
• Step-by-step application of loss contingency accounting under ASC 450
• Practical approaches to evaluating the adequacy of common accounting estimates and accruals
• Comprehensive guidance on going concern assessment and disclosure requirements
• Documentation strategies that support your professional judgment in areas of uncertainty
• Common pitfalls in disclosure and how to avoid them

Designed for: Accounting professionals responsible for preparing, reviewing, or auditing financial statements, including controllers, financial reporting managers, public accountants, and auditors. This course provides essential knowledge for anyone seeking to strengthen their understanding of uncertainty-related accounting and disclosure requirements under U.S. GAAP.

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The Power of People: Building and Leading Winning Teams

Course Description

Want to become the kind of leader people actually want to follow? This practical session shows you how to build trust, inspire your team, and create the positive culture that drives real results.

Ed shares concrete strategies for connecting with your team members as people, not just employees. You’ll learn the difference between just managing tasks and truly leading people—and when to use each approach based on what your situation needs.

You’ll discover:

• Seven essential skills that make managers people respect and want to work for
• Simple trust-building techniques that transform how your team responds to you
• When to switch between managing, coaching, mentoring, and leading roles
• Five practical ways to increase your influence without relying on your title
• How emotional intelligence helps you connect better with different personality types
• What actually motivates people (hint: it’s rarely just money)
• Common leadership mistakes that kill motivation and how to avoid them

Perfect for: Firm owners, managers, executives, and other people in leadership roles who want to move beyond technical expertise to become truly effective people leaders. Whether you’re building your first team or looking to revitalize an existing one, you’ll walk away with practical tools you can use right away to build stronger relationships and get better results.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Identify the seven core skills that effective and respected leaders consistently demonstrate Apply practical trust-building techniques to strengthen team relationships and communication Distinguish between managing, coaching, mentoring, and leading, and determine when each approach is most effective Increase leadership influence using methods that go beyond formal authority or job title Use emotional intelligence to connect with and lead individuals with diverse personality types Recognize key motivational drivers and implement strategies to inspire team performance Avoid common leadership pitfalls that undermine morale and engagement Build a team culture rooted in respect, connection, and accountability to drive resultsClose Course Details

Excel 2025 Deep Dive: Innovations for Accounting and Finance

Course Description

This dynamic course unveils the latest Excel innovations that can dramatically accelerate your productivity and enhance your professional trajectory. Moving beyond basic functionality, you’ll discover recently introduced tools and techniques that transform Excel from a simple spreadsheet program into a powerful business catalyst.

Through practical demonstrations and hands-on exercises, you’ll master time-saving features that automate repetitive tasks, visualize complex data, and deliver actionable insights. The session focuses on immediate application, ensuring you can implement these advancements the very next day.

The course showcases:

• Next-generation analytical functions that simplify complex calculations
• Modern data visualization techniques that communicate insights more effectively
• Advanced automation capabilities that eliminate hours of manual work
• Collaborative features that streamline teamwork and knowledge sharing
• Integration possibilities with other platforms to create seamless workflows
• Strategic applications that position you as a technical leader in your organization

Ideal for: Accounting professionals, financial analysts, managers, and Excel power users who want to leverage the latest advancements to increase their value to clients or employers. Whether you’re building a practice or climbing the corporate ladder, these cutting-edge Excel skills provide a significant competitive advantage in today’s data-driven business environment.

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2025 Tax Update: Critical Issues Impacting Businesses: Part 2

Course Description

Western CPE’s Tax Update courses have been an industry staple for over 30 years. We’ll do a deep dive on everything that’s happening in the world of tax legislation that affects both individual and business returns. This is the most in-depth and engaging tax update course in the profession—often imitated, never duplicated.

In Critical Issues Impacting Businesses: Part 2, we’ll focus on additional topics affecting business returns. These are expected to include—but are not limited to—the following:

• New issues critical to self-employed clients
• The latest updates affecting payroll
• What’s new with partnerships and LLCs
• Pivotal recent Tax Court cases

Other tax update courses are shorter, less in-depth, and designed for beginners. Western’s tax update courses are for tax professionals who expect more.

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The Fraud Battle Plan: Leveraging Internal Controls for Success

Course Description

This dynamic course bridges the critical gap between fraud mitigation strategies and robust internal control frameworks, equipping you with practical tools to safeguard your organization’s financial integrity. Through compelling case studies and real-world examples, you’ll discover why some companies continue to fall victim to fraud despite decades of well-documented lessons.

Explore how the revised COSO framework serves as your organization’s first line of defense against various fraud schemes, including emerging cyber threats that impact businesses of all sizes. You’ll examine high-profile internal control failures and their costly consequences, revealing how seemingly minor control weaknesses can create significant fraud opportunities.

Key areas covered include:

• Applying COSO principles to identify and address control vulnerabilities
• Understanding the evolving landscape of related party fraud and new regulatory standards
• Leveraging data analytics for more efficient, targeted control evaluation
• Recognizing cyber fraud risk indicators and implementing appropriate safeguards
• Developing cost-effective internal control strategies tailored to your organization’s risk profile

Perfect for: Controllers, internal and external auditors, compliance professionals, risk managers, and financial executives responsible for designing, implementing, or evaluating internal control systems. This course provides essential insights for both public and private companies seeking to strengthen their fraud prevention capabilities.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Apply COSO framework principles to identify and remediate internal control vulnerabilities related to fraud risk Recognize evolving types of related party fraud and understand the implications of new regulatory standards Utilize data analytics techniques to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of internal control evaluations Identify cyber fraud risk indicators and implement targeted safeguards to protect organizational assets Develop tailored, cost-effective internal control strategies that address specific organizational risk profiles Analyze case studies of internal control failures to extract lessons and best practices for fraud prevention Integrate fraud risk management within broader organizational governance and compliance efforts Communicate the importance of robust internal controls in mitigating fraud risk to key stakeholdersClose Course Details

The Art of Influence: Mastering Persuasion in Finance

Course Description

This compelling program transforms technical financial professionals into influential business partners whose guidance is actively sought and valued throughout the organization. Recognizing that expertise alone doesn’t guarantee impact, this session provides practical frameworks for building the relational capital essential for advancing initiatives and driving change.

Through interactive scenarios and practical applications, Ed demonstrates how emotional intelligence combines with strategic influence to elevate your organizational standing—whether you’re a CFO seeking board approval, a controller implementing new processes, or an emerging professional establishing credibility.

The course reveals:

• Seven core competencies that distinguish highly effective financial managers
• Trust-building methodologies that position you as a valued strategic advisor
• Distinct approaches for managing, coaching, mentoring, and leading—and when each is most effective
• Five influence “currencies” you can leverage to gain support for critical initiatives
• Emotional intelligence techniques that enhance professional relationships and team dynamics
• Strategic goal-setting frameworks aligned with organizational priorities
• Talent management approaches for both in-office and virtual team environments
• Relationship-building strategies that maintain engagement and retain top performers

Perfect for: Financial executives, firm owners, controllers, internal audit leaders, accounting managers, and professionals seeking to enhance their organizational influence. This course provides essential leadership skills that complement your technical expertise and position you as a strategic contributor.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Identify and apply seven core competencies that distinguish highly effective financial managers Use trust-building methodologies to position themselves as valued strategic advisors within their organizations Differentiate and utilize managing, coaching, mentoring, and leading approaches based on situational needs Leverage five key influence “currencies” to gain support for critical financial and organizational initiatives Employ emotional intelligence techniques to strengthen professional relationships and improve team dynamics Develop strategic goals aligned with broader organizational priorities to drive impactful outcomes Implement talent management strategies suitable for both in-office and virtual team environments Build and sustain relationships that enhance engagement and help retain top-performing team membersClose Course Details

Excel Powerhouse: Advanced Features for Accounting Success

Course Description

This immersive program elevates your Excel expertise beyond fundamentals to the sophisticated capabilities that distinguish true power users. Drawing from over twenty-five years of specialized Excel training for accounting and financial professionals, the K2 team delivers practical, immediately applicable techniques that transform your efficiency and analytical capabilities.

Through hands-on exercises using your own laptop, you’ll master advanced functionalities across six critical areas that directly impact your daily workflow and deliverables. Rather than theoretical concepts, each segment focuses on real-world applications specifically relevant to financial environments.

The program delves into:

• Strategic collaboration tools and security protocols that protect sensitive financial data
• Advanced table structures and data modeling techniques that reveal relationships across complex datasets
• Time-saving data query methods for importing and transforming information from diverse sources
• Formula mastery that harnesses specialized functions for financial analysis and reporting
• Sophisticated analytical approaches including data tables, subtotals, and PivotTable techniques
• Visualization strategies that communicate financial insights with clarity and impact

Tailored for: Experienced Excel users in accounting, finance, and related fields who need to process complex data more efficiently, produce more insightful analyses, and create compelling visualizations that drive decision-making. This course covers advanced features available in Excel 2019 and newer versions.

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2025 Tax Update: Critical Issues Impacting Businesses: Part 3

Course Description

Western CPE’s Tax Update courses have been an industry staple for over 30 years. We’ll do a deep dive on everything that’s happening in the world of tax legislation that affects both individual and business returns. This is the most in-depth and engaging tax update course in the profession—often imitated, never duplicated.

In Critical Issues Impacting Businesses: Part 3, we’ll focus on additional topics affecting business returns. These are expected to include—but are not limited to—the following:

• Tax legislation affecting S Corporations & C Corporations
• New updates to IRS practice and procedures
• Pivotal recent Tax Court cases

Other tax update courses are shorter, less in-depth, and designed for beginners. Western’s tax update courses are for tax professionals who expect more.

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From Theory to Practice: SSARS and Preparation Engagements

Course Description

This focused course demystifies the foundational elements of Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services (SSARS) that govern preparation, compilation, and review engagements. Delve into the critical general principles that form the backbone of all SSARS engagements, with special emphasis on preparation engagement requirements.

Industry veteran Jeff breaks down complex standards into practical guidelines, offering clear direction on how to implement SSARS provisions correctly in your practice. Through illustrative examples and interactive discussion, you’ll strengthen your understanding of when and how these principles apply to different client scenarios.

The session explores:

• The hierarchical structure of SSARS and how general principles influence specific engagement types
• Ethical considerations unique to SSARS engagements
• Documentation requirements and common implementation challenges
• Practical approaches to preparation engagements that ensure compliance
• Risk management strategies to protect both practitioners and clients

Designed for: Public accounting professionals who perform or supervise preparation, compilation, and review engagements. Especially valuable for practitioners looking to refine their SSARS methodology or those seeking clarity on preparation engagement requirements.

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The Five-Step Formula: Collaborative Problem Solving

Course Description

This practical workshop gives you straightforward tools to solve problems together—whether you’re dealing with difficult financial decisions, team conflicts, or strategic challenges. Instead of complex theories, Ed shares a five-step approach anyone can use to get better results with less frustration.

Through real-life examples and hands-on practice, you’ll learn how to use simple but powerful techniques like brainstorming and decision matrices that make problem-solving more effective and inclusive.

You’ll walk away knowing how to:

• Use five practical tools to break down even the toughest problems
• Present your ideas in ways that get people’s attention and support
• Really listen to others’ perspectives instead of just waiting to speak
• Evaluate options fairly when you don’t have all the information you’d like
• Make decisions with confidence, even when there’s no perfect choice
• Write up your thinking clearly so others understand your reasoning
• Adjust your approach based on who you’re working with

Perfect for: Anyone who needs to solve problems with others—whether you’re leading a team, working with colleagues, or trying to get stakeholders on the same page. This workshop gives you practical skills you can use immediately to turn challenging situations into opportunities for collaboration.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Apply five practical tools to systematically break down complex problems for collaborative resolution Use effective communication techniques to present ideas that gain attention and support Practice active listening to fully understand others’ perspectives and foster inclusive dialogue Evaluate multiple options fairly and make informed decisions despite incomplete information Make confident decisions when faced with imperfect or ambiguous situations Clearly document and communicate reasoning and decisions to ensure shared understanding Adapt problem-solving approaches based on the team dynamics and stakeholder needs Facilitate collaborative problem-solving sessions that encourage participation and constructive outcomesClose Course Details

Pivot Tables Pro: Unlocking Insights from Your Data

Course Description

This immersive workshop unlocks Excel’s most potent analytical tool—PivotTables—transforming this underutilized feature from intimidating to indispensable. While many financial professionals avoid PivotTables due to perceived complexity, this hands-on session reveals how they can slash analysis time while delivering deeper insights.

Your K2 instructor guides you through a progressive learning journey, beginning with fundamental concepts before advancing to sophisticated techniques that connect PivotTables to external data sources and financial systems. Through practical exercises using real-world scenarios, you’ll overcome common obstacles and discover time-saving shortcuts.

The workshop covers:

• Essential PivotTable architecture and the six key elements that drive functionality
• Strategic data grouping techniques, including fiscal period reporting solutions
• Custom calculation methods that extend beyond Excel’s standard formulas
• Advanced consolidation approaches for multiple data sources and ranges
• Enterprise-level applications using Power Query, Power Pivot, and Slicers
• Formatting strategies that maintain data integrity while enhancing readability
• Troubleshooting techniques for common PivotTable challenges

Perfect for: Accounting professionals, financial analysts, and business managers who work with large datasets but haven’t fully embraced PivotTables. Whether you’re a PivotTable novice or seeking to enhance existing skills, this course will dramatically improve your data analysis capabilities and efficiency.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Understand the core architecture and six key elements that power PivotTable functionality. Apply effective data grouping techniques, including those tailored for fiscal period reporting. Create custom calculations within PivotTables that go beyond standard Excel formulas. Consolidate and analyze multiple data sources using advanced PivotTable methods. Utilize Power Query, Power Pivot, and Slicers to enhance enterprise-level data analysis. Format PivotTables to improve readability without compromising data integrity. Identify and resolve common issues encountered when working with PivotTables.Close Course Details

Trust Tax Return Preparation

Course Description

This tax preparation CPE course is specifically tailored to address the complexities of preparing trust tax returns, a task that requires a nuanced understanding of both state law and individual trust agreements.

Participants in this tax CPE will benefit from an in-depth analysis of different types of trusts, gaining the ability to distinguish between simple and complex trusts effectively. This knowledge is fundamental in ensuring accurate tax filing for trusts. The taxation CPE course also focuses on the often-overlooked conflicts between income beneficiaries, ultimate beneficiaries, and fiduciaries/trustees, providing strategies to manage these relationships effectively and ethically. Understanding the Distribution Deduction is another key feature of this course, crucial for optimizing tax outcomes for trusts. Additionally, the online CPE for tax professionals offers comprehensive insights into allowable income tax deductions for trusts and their limitations, an area often challenging for those unfamiliar with trust taxation. By the end of the course, participants will not only have enhanced their knowledge and skills in trust return preparation but also gained the confidence to provide valuable assistance to clients managing estate or trust returns, ensuring both accuracy and compliance.

Learning Objectives

Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Analyze whether the trust is Simple or Complex
• Recognize the conflicts between the income beneficiary, the ultimate beneficiary and the fiduciary/trustee
• Determine the all-important Distribution Deduction
• Understand the allowable income tax deductions and their limitations

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World’s Liveliest Accounting Update: Part 1

Course Description

Jeff Sailor is unlike any other CPE instructor. Known for his signature video parodies and trademark sense of humor, he delivers deep industry insights in a way that keeps students entertained and reinforces critical elements of the material.

Sailor’s acclaimed annual “World’s Liveliest Accounting Update” equips accounting professionals with essential knowledge of current FASB updates, financial instruments, and emerging technologies in finance. It covers the latest GAAP updates, new credit loss provisions, and more.

Designed for: CPAs, financial managers, and accounting professionals who want to ensure they’re on top of the staggering amount of change in the accounting profession.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Apply the most pervasive accounting updates issued by the FASB Apply accounting standards for the more basic financial instruments Describe the basics of accounting for more complex financial instruments Describe the concepts of blockchain, cryptocurrency and NFTs Apply the new provisions for Credit Losses Identify and apply the most pervasive GAAP updates Cite the basics of the narrow scope GAAP updates Describe the Elements of Financial Statements under the FASB Concepts Describe proper presentation under the FASB ConceptsClose Course Details

The Succession Puzzle: Putting the Pieces Together

Course Description

This forward-thinking course addresses one of the most critical challenges facing accounting and financial firms today: developing a robust succession strategy that ensures organizational continuity and growth. Moving beyond theoretical concepts, this session delivers practical frameworks for identifying, developing, and retaining the next generation of leaders within your organization.

Through interactive case studies and implementation examples, you’ll learn to create succession systems that align with your firm’s strategic objectives while addressing the unique needs of key stakeholders. The session explores both planned transitions and unexpected departures, preparing you for various succession scenarios.

The course addresses:

• Comprehensive succession planning models tailored to accounting and financial service firms
• Talent assessment methodologies for identifying high-potential future leaders
• Leadership development strategies that prepare successors before transitions occur
• Valuation considerations and financial structuring options for partner retirements
• Client relationship transition approaches that maintain business continuity
• Implementation roadmaps for firms at different stages of succession readiness

Ideal for: Firm owners, partners, managing directors, and emerging leaders who need practical approaches to succession planning. This course provides essential guidance whether you’re planning your own transition, developing future partners, or building organization-wide succession systems.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Describe key succession planning models tailored to accounting and financial service firms Identify high-potential leadership candidates using structured talent assessment methodologies Apply leadership development strategies to prepare future successors for key roles Evaluate valuation methods and financial structuring options for partner retirements and ownership transitions Develop client relationship transition plans that support long-term continuity and trust Implement succession planning strategies that accommodate both planned and unexpected leadership departures Align succession planning efforts with the firm’s strategic goals and cultural values Create a phased succession implementation roadmap appropriate for the firm's current stage of readinessClose Course Details

Hot Topics (The Business of Medtech & Healthcare Innovation: Orlando Case Study)

Course Description

This course uses a real-world case study centered on the medtech and healthcare innovation sector in Orlando. Designed for CPAs and finance professionals, the session offers an opportunity to explore complex financial, operational, and strategic challenges unique to this rapidly evolving industry.

Participants will engage in critical analysis and discussion, interpreting financial data and assessing innovation-driven business decisions within a highly regulated environment. The course supports professional development and CPE credit requirements by focusing on practical application of insights to participants’ professional roles.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Analyze financial and operational challenges within the medtech and healthcare innovation industry Apply critical thinking to evaluate strategic decisions related to innovation and technology Interpret relevant financial and business data from the case study Understand regulatory and market dynamics impacting medtech and healthcare innovation Communicate analysis findings and strategic recommendations effectively Apply case study lessons to enhance decision-making in their professional practiceClose Course Details

Tax Concerns for Seniors: Part 1

Course Description

This online CPE course provides an in-depth exploration of key aspects of retirement planning, including Social Security, Medicare, working as a senior, retirement distributions, and essential tax strategies. Participants will learn to navigate the complexities of Social Security and Medicare, assess the financial implications of continued employment in later years, and develop tax-efficient retirement distribution plans. The CPE webcast equips attendees with the knowledge to create a comprehensive and secure retirement strategy tailored to their unique needs and circumstances.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the eligibility criteria and benefits of Social Security and Medicare to make informed decisions about retirement.
• Evaluate the financial and tax implications of continuing to work beyond traditional retirement age.
• Develop a tax-efficient retirement distribution plan that aligns with individual financial goals.
• Identify and apply key tax strategies to optimize retirement income and minimize tax liability.

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World’s Liveliest Accounting Update: Part 2

Course Description

Jeff Sailor is unlike any other CPE instructor. Known for his signature video parodies and trademark sense of humor, he delivers deep industry insights in a way that keeps students entertained and reinforces critical elements of the material.

Sailor’s acclaimed annual “World’s Liveliest Accounting Update” equips accounting professionals with essential knowledge of current FASB updates, financial instruments, and emerging technologies in finance. It covers the latest GAAP updates, new credit loss provisions, and more.

Designed for: CPAs, financial managers, and accounting professionals who want to ensure they’re on top of the staggering amount of change in the accounting profession.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Apply the most pervasive accounting updates issued by the FASB Apply accounting standards for the more basic financial instruments Describe the basics of accounting for more complex financial instruments Describe the concepts of blockchain, cryptocurrency and NFTs Apply the new provisions for Credit Losses Identify and apply the most pervasive GAAP updates Cite the basics of the narrow scope GAAP updates Describe the Elements of Financial Statements under the FASB Concepts Describe proper presentation under the FASB ConceptsClose Course Details

Time Management Skills to Rock your Performance and Roll your Productivity

Course Description

 

 

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Tax Concerns for Seniors: Part 2

Course Description

This online CPE course provides an in-depth exploration of key aspects of retirement planning, including Social Security, Medicare, working as a senior, retirement distributions, and essential tax strategies. Participants will learn to navigate the complexities of Social Security and Medicare, assess the financial implications of continued employment in later years, and develop tax-efficient retirement distribution plans. The CPE webcast equips attendees with the knowledge to create a comprehensive and secure retirement strategy tailored to their unique needs and circumstances.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the eligibility criteria and benefits of Social Security and Medicare to make informed decisions about retirement.
• Evaluate the financial and tax implications of continuing to work beyond traditional retirement age.
• Develop a tax-efficient retirement distribution plan that aligns with individual financial goals.
• Identify and apply key tax strategies to optimize retirement income and minimize tax liability.

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World’s Liveliest Accounting Update: Part 3

Course Description

Jeff Sailor is unlike any other CPE instructor. Known for his signature video parodies and trademark sense of humor, he delivers deep industry insights in a way that keeps students entertained and reinforces critical elements of the material.

Sailor’s acclaimed annual “World’s Liveliest Accounting Update” equips accounting professionals with essential knowledge of current FASB updates, financial instruments, and emerging technologies in finance. It covers the latest GAAP updates, new credit loss provisions, and more.

Designed for: CPAs, financial managers, and accounting professionals who want to ensure they’re on top of the staggering amount of change in the accounting profession.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Apply the most pervasive accounting updates issued by the FASB Apply accounting standards for the more basic financial instruments Describe the basics of accounting for more complex financial instruments Describe the concepts of blockchain, cryptocurrency and NFTs Apply the new provisions for Credit Losses Identify and apply the most pervasive GAAP updates Cite the basics of the narrow scope GAAP updates Describe the Elements of Financial Statements under the FASB Concepts Describe proper presentation under the FASB ConceptsClose Course Details

The Art of Change Management: Dancing Through the Storm

Course Description

This transformative course reframes organizational change from a threat to an opportunity, providing practical strategies for not just surviving industry disruption but thriving amidst constant evolution. Through customized content based on pre-session interviews, Ed addresses the specific challenges facing your industry and organization.

Rather than generic change platitudes, this session delivers concrete frameworks for embracing transformation while maintaining team cohesion and business momentum. You’ll develop both the mindset and tactical skills needed to lead confidently through periods of uncertainty.

The program delivers:

• Ten distinctive behaviors that distinguish high-performing professionals during periods of change
• Productivity maximization techniques that maintain focus despite disruptive environments
• Strategic planning methodologies for achieving consistent results amid shifting landscapes
• A comprehensive model for creating sustainable success regardless of external conditions
• Goal-setting frameworks paired with executable action plans for measurable outcomes
• Marketing strategies that enhance your professional brand during industry transformation
• Advanced approaches for selling complex solutions in changing markets
• Techniques for improving deal closure and attracting higher-value clients

Ideal for: Financial professionals navigating regulatory shifts, technological disruption, or organizational restructuring. This course provides essential strategies whether you’re leading change initiatives or helping your team adapt to evolving industry requirements.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Demonstrate ten key behaviors that distinguish high-performing professionals during times of change Apply productivity techniques to maintain focus and momentum in disruptive environments Use strategic planning methodologies to achieve consistent results despite shifting conditions Implement a comprehensive model for creating sustainable success amid ongoing transformation Develop goal-setting frameworks and actionable plans that deliver measurable outcomes Employ marketing strategies to strengthen their professional brand during industry change Utilize advanced sales approaches to effectively sell complex solutions in evolving markets Improve deal closure rates and attract higher-value clients through targeted techniquesClose Course Details

Winning the Talent War: Strategies for Recruitment and Retention

Course Description

Attracting and retaining top talent is one of the greatest challenges facing organizations today, and one of the most critical to long-term success. This course offers a strategic overview of modern recruitment and retention practices, with a focus on creating competitive advantages in a highly competitive labor market. Participants will explore key trends, innovative strategies, and practical tools for identifying, hiring, and keeping high-performing employees. Through real-world examples and actionable insights, attendees will leave with a strong foundation to support their organization’s talent strategy in an evolving workplace.

Perfect for HR professionals, business owners, and team leaders who are ready to strengthen their workforce and reduce costly turnover.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Identify key trends and challenges in today’s talent marketplace Apply modern strategies to attract top talent in a competitive hiring environment Describe best practices for improving candidate experience and employer branding Implement effective onboarding practices that support employee engagement and retention Recognize the role of compensation, benefits, and workplace flexibility in employee satisfaction Evaluate internal development and career pathing strategies to retain top performers Describe how company culture and leadership influence retention Identify key metrics for assessing recruitment and retention success Apply practical tools for creating a talent strategy aligned with organizational goalsClose Course Details

Retirement Plan Beneficiaries

Course Description

Retirement Plan Beneficiaries is an essential course for financial professionals seeking to enhance their advisory services in retirement planning. This estate planning course delves into the intricacies of beneficiary designations for retirement accounts, a critical aspect often overlooked or misunderstood by clients.

Participants in this estate and retirement planning CPE course will gain valuable insights into the importance of retirement plan beneficiaries, the strategic use of trusts as beneficiaries, and the distinction between Designated and Eligible Designated Beneficiaries. By mastering these concepts, professionals can offer their clients informed advice, ensuring optimal estate planning and tax efficiency. This personal financial planning course, updated with the latest proposed Secure regulations, equips attendees with the knowledge to guide clients through the complex process of beneficiary designation, ensuring their retirement plans align seamlessly with their estate planning goals.

 

Learning Objectives

Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Recognize the significance of the Retirement Plan Beneficiary,
• Determine the reasons a trust may be named as a beneficiary; and
• Learn the difference between a Designated Beneficiary and an Eligible Designated Beneficiary.

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Accounting Adventures: Navigating Financial Instruments

Course Description

This comprehensive overview untangles the often confusing world of financial instrument accounting under GAAP. Through a practical “good, bad, and ugly” framework, the course stratifies different instruments by complexity, giving you a clear roadmap for handling everything from straightforward investments to intricate derivatives.

You’ll gain clarity on where to find authoritative guidance for each instrument type, along with practical insights on proper valuation techniques, classification options, and disclosure requirements.

The session covers:

• Classification systems for various financial instruments and how they impact reporting
• Navigation techniques for locating relevant guidance in the FASB Codification
• Valuation methodologies across different instrument categories
• Presentation and disclosure requirements that satisfy both technical and practical considerations
• Real-world applications for common financial instruments encountered in practice
• Step-by-step approaches to tackling more complex instruments

Well-suited for: Financial reporting specialists, controllers, accounting managers, and practitioners who prepare or audit financial statements containing various financial instruments. This course bridges the gap between theoretical accounting concepts and practical implementation challenges encountered in financial reporting.

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Rainmaker Strategies: Winning New Business in a Dynamic Market

Course Description

This action-oriented course revolutionizes traditional approaches to business development by integrating complementary sales and marketing strategies into a unified system for client acquisition and retention. Rather than presenting disconnected tactics, Robinson delivers a comprehensive framework that creates predictable revenue growth regardless of economic conditions.

Through practical exercises and real-world examples, you’ll construct a customized business development approach that leverages your organization’s unique strengths while addressing its specific challenges.

The session delivers:

• A structured process for cultivating long-term, profitable client relationships
• Techniques for identifying your optimal marketing mix to ensure continuous business flow
• A systematic selling methodology that increases closing percentages while building trust
• Tools for setting measurable business development goals and implementing effective action plans
• Strategies for creating a proactive growth engine that functions in any market environment
• Over a dozen immediately applicable skills and processes to accelerate revenue generation

Designed for: Partners, principals, managers, and business development professionals seeking to enhance their rainmaking capabilities. This course benefits both seasoned professionals looking to refine their approach and those newer to business development responsibilities.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Implement a structured process to cultivate and sustain long-term, profitable client relationships. Identify and optimize the marketing mix best suited to their organization’s strengths and market conditions. Apply a systematic selling methodology that enhances trust and improves closing rates. Set measurable business development goals and develop actionable plans to achieve consistent growth. Build a proactive and adaptable business development engine that drives revenue in any economic environment. Utilize practical skills and techniques that accelerate client acquisition and retention immediately.Close Course Details

Smarter Tax Services with AI

Course Description

There has never been a greater opportunity to leverage technology tools to automate many aspects of your professional tax services. This  course will focus on the opportunity to leverage the power of AI tools in your tax planning and research services. This technology provides the opportunity for you to gain a competitive advantage through increased productivity and a higher quality of client service.

Highlights:

• Overview of AI technology and how it works.
• Opportunities to integrate AI into tax planning and research services
• Practical examples of how to integrate AI into your tax research
• Practical examples of how to integrate AI into your tax planning services
• Integrating AI into your client tax focused advisory services
• Tips for picking your AI tools

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the fundamentals of AI technology and its practical applications in tax services
• Identify specific opportunities where AI tools can be integrated into your tax services.
• Recognize how to utilize AI-powered tools such as ChatGPT and Microsoft 365 Copilot to enhance tax research, analysis, and client communication.

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IRA Withdrawals

Course Description

Before IRA Withdrawals, many tax, accounting, and finance professionals may find the array of rules and regulations surrounding Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) daunting. The complexity of managing different types of IRAs, understanding rollovers versus transfers, calculating distributions, and avoiding penalties can be overwhelming. This lack of clarity can lead to missed opportunities in providing optimal advice to clients, potentially resulting in financial penalties or suboptimal IRA management.

After completing this IRA withdrawals CPE course, participants will experience a significant shift in their understanding and ability to advise on IRA-related matters. The course bridges the knowledge gap by providing in-depth insights into the nuances of Rollover, Traditional, and Inherited IRAs. Participants will learn to accurately identify rollovers and transfers and their tax implications, calculate distributions that avoid penalties, and determine applicable penalties and avoidance strategies. Additionally, they will be updated on the latest changes brought by the proposed Secure Regulations and SECURE 2.0. Equipped with this comprehensive understanding, participants will be able to confidently guide their clients in making informed decisions about their IRAs, ensuring efficient and penalty-free IRA management.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify the difference between a rollover and a transfer and resulting tax implications,
• Learn to calculate distributions that avoid penalties; and
• Determine which penalties apply and how to avoid them.

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Data-Driven Leadership: Essential Metrics for Controllers and CFOs

Course Description

This practical course reveals the powerful analytical tools that financial leaders rely on to make strategic decisions and monitor business performance. Moving beyond basic calculations, you’ll learn how to select, interpret, and leverage various financial and operational metrics to drive business improvement.

Through hands-on examples and case studies, the session unpacks the art and science of performance measurement, helping you transform raw financial data into actionable business intelligence.

The course explores:

• The strategic purpose of metrics and how to align them with organizational objectives
• Key distinctions between leading and lagging indicators, KPIs, and traditional ratios
• Practical calculation methods for essential financial metrics across different industries
• Common interpretation pitfalls and how to avoid them
• Techniques for presenting metrics effectively to non-financial stakeholders
• Building a balanced performance measurement system tailored to your organization

Ideal for: Controllers, CFOs, financial analysts, business advisors, and accounting professionals who need to evaluate business performance, identify trends, and support strategic decision-making. This course provides valuable insights whether you’re developing new metrics or refining your existing measurement approach.

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Fraud’s Greatest Hits: A Playlist of Financial Crimes

Course Description

This innovative session transforms the study of accounting fraud from mundane to memorable through an examination of history’s most infamous financial scandals. Rather than a dry recitation of facts, Jeff delivers an entertaining and educational journey through the top ten accounting fraud cases, complete with custom song parodies that serve as mnemonic devices for each scandal’s key lessons.

Behind the engaging presentation lies serious content designed to sharpen your fraud detection skills. By analyzing these landmark cases, you’ll recognize recurring patterns and warning signs that could help you identify future schemes before they cause irreparable damage.

Throughout this high-energy session, you’ll:

• Uncover the psychological traits common among white-collar criminals
• Master the three-pronged framework for understanding fraud motivation and execution
• Discover practical techniques to detect financial statement manipulation
• Develop a more discerning approach to audit risk assessment
• Connect historical fraud patterns to present-day financial reporting risks

Perfect for: Auditors, financial statement preparers, internal control specialists, and accounting professionals who want to enhance their fraud detection capabilities while enjoying a uniquely entertaining learning experience. If traditional CPE puts you to sleep, this engaging approach will keep you alert and absorbing critical knowledge throughout.

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AI Revolution: The Big Picture

Course Description

Discover how artificial intelligence is transforming the accounting, tax and finance landscape. This course offers CPAs a comprehensive overview of AI technologies, with a special emphasis on generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini. Learn how these advancements are reshaping business operations and what they mean for your professional role.

This course is one of a four part series on AI technology for CPAs. We recommend you attend all five presentations to develop a complete understanding of AI and its potential in accounting, tax and finance.

Program Content:

• Overview of AI and its evolution in business
• Deep dive into generative AI and its applications
• Impact of AI on accounting, tax and finance sectors
• Future trends and opportunities for CPAs
• Preparing for the AI-driven business environment

Learning Objectives:
• Identify the different types of AI technology
• Recognize the potential of this powerful technology for CPAs

Who Should Attend: Anyone who wants to develop a foundational understanding of artificial intelligence and its impact on CPA professionals working in accounting, tax, and finance.

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Final 1040/First 1041

Course Description

Navigating the complexities of tax preparation after the death of a client is a critical skill for tax professionals. Final 1040/First 1041 provides a overview of the unique tax issues that arise when a client passes away. Participants in this income tax accounting course will learn how to accurately report income, deductions, and carryovers, as well as make informed decisions on tax elections. Additionally, the tax and accounting CPE course will cover the essentials of filing the first Form 1041 (U.S. Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts), including the various options available for managing estate income. By the end of this course, tax professionals will be equipped with the knowledge needed to handle these sensitive and complex tax situations with confidence and precision.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Recognize how the death of the client affects tax preparation
• Identify issues regarding reporting income, deductions, carryovers and tax elections
• Determine options available on the first Form 1041

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Audit Power-Up: Maximizing Analytical Procedures for Stronger Evidence

Course Description

Many audit findings point to the same issue: weak analytical procedures. This focused workshop shows you how to transform basic analytics into powerful audit evidence that satisfies peer reviewers while enhancing audit quality.

Instead of treating analytics as a documentation checkbox, you’ll learn to design procedures that actually provide meaningful assurance. Through practical examples and case studies, you’ll discover how to strengthen each phase of analytical testing—from preliminary planning to final review.

You’ll learn how to:

• Design analytics that provide genuine audit evidence rather than superficial comparisons
• Select the most appropriate analytical techniques for different audit assertions
• Establish expectations with proper precision levels and defensible rationales
• Evaluate data reliability to ensure your analytics rest on solid foundations
• Document your analytics in ways that clearly demonstrate professional judgment
• Determine when analytics can reduce detailed testing and when they cannot

Other topics covered:

• Common peer review findings related to analytical procedures
• Elements that transform weak analytics into strong audit evidence
• Documentation approaches that satisfy reviewers and regulators
• Techniques for investigating unexpected fluctuations more effectively
• Methods for integrating analytics throughout the audit process

Valuable for: Audit partners, managers, seniors, and staff looking to improve audit quality and efficiency. This workshop provides practical guidance on using analytics to enhance evidence while satisfying documentation requirements.RetryClaude can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.

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Next-Level Leadership: Strategies for Growth and Impact

Course Description

This high-impact program addresses one of the most critical challenges facing financial organizations today: developing a robust leadership pipeline that ensures continuity and drives innovation. Rather than offering theoretical leadership concepts, this practical session delivers actionable frameworks for identifying and nurturing future leaders within your team.

Through immersive exercises and targeted strategies, you’ll learn to distinguish between four crucial organizational roles—leading, managing, coaching, and mentoring—and master when to deploy each approach for maximum effectiveness. The program transforms leadership development from an abstract concept into a strategic advantage for your organization.

The session delivers:

• Clear criteria for identifying high-potential leadership candidates in your succession planning
• The four foundational characteristics that define exceptional leaders
• Seven core managerial competencies essential for operational excellence
• Five leadership capabilities that drive strategic growth and innovation
• Motivation techniques that inspire peak performance at every organizational level
• Empowerment methodologies that develop decision-making confidence in your team
• Recognition of different leadership styles and their situational applications
• Strategies for counteracting common demotivators that undermine leadership potential

Perfect for: Firm owners, directors, controllers, CFOs, accounting managers, and financial professionals responsible for developing teams and succession planning. This course provides essential leadership development tools whether you’re building your first leadership pipeline or enhancing an existing development program.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Identify high-potential leadership candidates using defined performance and potential criteria. Distinguish between leading, managing, coaching, and mentoring roles and apply each appropriately. Describe the four foundational characteristics of exceptional leaders. Apply seven core managerial competencies that support operational effectiveness. Utilize five leadership capabilities that foster innovation and strategic growth. Implement motivation techniques that sustain team engagement and productivity. Recognize and adapt leadership styles to meet situational demands. Apply empowerment strategies that build decision-making confidence and accountability in team members. Identify common leadership demotivators and implement strategies to overcome them.Close Course Details

Cyber Security Essentials 2025: Protecting Your Firm’s Data and Reputation

Course Description

Are you prepared to face the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape of 2025? Cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, putting sensitive data and financial assets at significant risk. This interactive and practical session is specifically designed for CPAs and CFOs, providing actionable insights to safeguard your firm from cybercrime without the need for advanced technical expertise.

 

You’ll learn to recognize common cyber threats, implement straightforward yet powerful security practices, and cultivate a strong culture of cybersecurity awareness within your organization. Walk away confident, equipped with practical tools and proven strategies to protect your firm’s data, reputation, and financial health.

 

Topics Covered:

• Understanding the crucial difference between data security and data privacy
• Today’s most common cyber threats targeting financial professionals:
  • Phishing and spear-phishing
  • Ransomware
  • Business Email Compromise (BEC)
  • Credential stuffing attacks
• Simple, cost-effective cybersecurity measures every CPA and CFO should implement
• Using the WISP (written information security program) as a roadmap
• Implementing password management into your ecosystem
• Protecting against the destructive impact of a ransomware attack
• Empowering employees as your first line of cybersecurity defense
• Understanding the role of cybersecurity insurance

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Recognize the key cybersecurity and privacy threats you and your organization face.
• Identify specific initiatives to enhance your cybersecurity and data privacy protection.
• Recognize the role an insurance policy can play in your cybersecurity protection.

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Advanced Trust Tax Return Preparation

Course Description

Managing fiduciary returns, particularly for simple trusts, often turns out to be a complex task, contrary to what the name suggests. Professionals tasked with preparing these returns face numerous challenges, from understanding the nuances of revocable trusts to effectively allocating expenses and determining distributions for income tax preparation. The intricacies of dealing with beneficiary levels, trustee fiduciary responsibilities, and the final return preparation can become overwhelming. Furthermore, making informed decisions about elections available on Form 1041, recognizing the differences between a trust and a probate estate, and understanding the separate share rule and trust situs issues require a depth of knowledge that many may not possess.

Advanced Trust Tax Return Preparation, led by Mary Kay Foss, CPA, provides an in-depth look into the complexities of preparing fiduciary returns for simple trusts. Participants in this trust tax return preparation course will explore the various conflicts inherent in dealing with beneficiary levels and the trustee’s fiduciary responsibility. The trust tax return preparation course offers guidance on understanding and utilizing the elections available on Form 1041, differentiating between a trust and a probate estate, and determining the applicability of the separate share rule and trust situs issues. Armed with this knowledge, professionals will be equipped to navigate the complexities of fiduciary returns, ensuring accuracy and compliance in their tax preparation processes.

Learning Objectives

Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Review the conflicts inherent in dealing with beneficiary levels and the trustee’s fiduciary responsibility 
• Understand the Elections available on Form 1041 and when to use them 
• Recognize the differences between a trust and a probate estate 
• Determine whether the separate share rule applies and trust situs issues 

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Simplifying the Complex: GAAP Alternatives for Private Companies

Course Description

This strategic course unveils the competitive advantages available exclusively to nonpublic entities through the FASB’s Private Company Council alternatives. Moving beyond mere technical explanations, this session helps you identify which GAAP simplifications deliver the greatest practical benefits for your organization or clients.

Through side-by-side comparisons and real-world scenarios, you’ll visualize how financial statements transform when these alternatives are applied, allowing you to make informed decisions about implementation timing and stakeholder impact.

The course thoroughly examines:

• The complete spectrum of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure options available to private companies under U.S. GAAP
• Cost-benefit analysis of each alternative to determine which provide meaningful relief
• Strategic considerations for timing the adoption of these alternatives
• Implementation approaches that minimize disruption to existing accounting processes
• Stakeholder communication strategies when adopting alternative accounting treatments
• Financial statement before-and-after comparisons illustrating the tangible effects of each alternative

Especially valuable for: Controllers and CFOs of private companies, accounting professionals who serve private company clients, and financial statement preparers seeking to streamline reporting while maintaining GAAP compliance. This course provides practical guidance for leveraging private company accounting advantages while satisfying user needs.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Identify the range of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure alternatives available to private companies under the FASB Private Company Council framework. Evaluate the cost-benefit trade-offs of various GAAP alternatives to determine which provide meaningful practical relief for private companies. Develop strategic plans for the timing and implementation of GAAP alternatives to optimize operational and reporting benefits. Apply best practices for minimizing disruption to existing accounting processes when adopting alternative treatments. Effectively communicate changes in accounting methods and their impact to stakeholders, including management and financial statement users. Analyze financial statement transformations through before-and-after comparisons to better understand the tangible effects of adopting GAAP alternatives.Close Course Details

The Remote Work Playbook: 12 Strategies for Managing Teams

Course Description

This transformative course tackles the unique challenges of leading teams through industry shifts and regulatory changes in today’s remote work environment. Instead of generic leadership platitudes, Ed delivers practical strategies grounded in real-world remote leadership experience.

Through interactive exercises and case studies, you’ll develop specific skills for motivating dispersed teams, establishing accountability without micromanagement, and fostering genuine connection despite physical distance.

The course is organized across three essential pillars:

• Remote leadership psychology and trust-building methodologies
• Time management and priority-setting frameworks for distributed teams
• Performance optimization techniques for virtual collaboration

Designed for: Managers and leaders navigating the complexities of remote team leadership during periods of significant organizational change. This course provides essential strategies whether you’re transitioning to hybrid work models or managing fully distributed teams through industry disruption.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Apply remote leadership techniques that build trust and accountability within distributed teams Identify psychological principles that influence engagement and motivation in virtual work environments Implement time management and priority-setting strategies tailored for remote and hybrid teams Develop performance management systems that support productivity without micromanagement Utilize tools and frameworks to foster effective virtual collaboration and communication Recognize and address common challenges in remote work culture and employee connection Adapt leadership approaches to meet the demands of organizational change and remote team dynamics Design workflows that align with team goals while maintaining flexibility across locations and time zonesClose Course Details

Basic Estate Planning

Course Description

The Basic Estate Planning is designed to provide finance professionals with an in-depth understanding of essential estate planning strategies, applicable to clients across various wealth spectrums. This estate planning CPE course covers the basics, including understanding key documents like wills and trusts, and more advanced topics such as the implications of portability in estate tax. The personal financial planning CPE course also addresses fundamental concepts like probate avoidance, fitting estate planning using trusts, and selecting deductions for transfers at death. By exploring these topics, participants will gain a nuanced understanding of estate planning, enabling them to offer well-rounded advice to their clients. This estate planning CPE course is more than just a theoretical exploration; it equips you with practical skills and up-to-date knowledge, enhancing your ability to guide clients through the intricacies of estate planning effectively

Learning Objectives

Upon completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Recognize basic estate planning documents and their use.
• Understand portability and when it should be elected
• Identify basis concepts such as probate avoidance and estate planning using fits
• Select appropriate deductions for transfers at death to a surviving spouse or charity

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Think Like an Auditor: Mastering Financial Statement Preparation

Course Description

This insightful course flips the traditional perspective by teaching financial statement preparers to adopt an auditor’s mindset. By understanding how external auditors approach financial statements, preparers can anticipate questions, strengthen controls, and create more robust financial reporting processes.

Through practical examples and interactive scenarios, you’ll learn to apply critical auditing concepts such as materiality, risk assessment, and professional skepticism to your financial statement preparation process.

The session delves into:

• Techniques for determining appropriate quantitative and qualitative materiality thresholds
• Methods for identifying financial statement components most scrutinized by users and auditors
• Strategies for evaluating fraud and error risk within your specific financial reporting environment
• Practical approaches to strengthening internal controls in high-risk areas
• Documentation practices that demonstrate sound professional judgment
• Communication strategies that facilitate smoother audit engagements

Well-suited for: Controllers, accounting managers, financial reporting specialists, and accounting staff who prepare financial statements and supporting documentation. This course is particularly valuable for professionals seeking to improve audit readiness, reduce audit adjustments, and enhance the overall quality of financial reporting.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Apply key auditing concepts such as materiality, risk assessment, and professional skepticism to the financial statement preparation process Determine appropriate materiality thresholds using both quantitative and qualitative factors Identify financial statement areas most likely to draw auditor scrutiny and user focus Evaluate the risk of fraud and error within the organization’s financial reporting environment Strengthen internal controls in high-risk reporting areas through practical techniques Document financial reporting decisions in a manner that reflects sound professional judgment Employ communication strategies that promote more efficient and collaborative audit engagements Enhance audit readiness by aligning preparation practices with auditor expectationsClose Course Details

The Future of Finance: The New CFO in the New Economy

Course Description

The role of the CFO is evolving rapidly in today’s dynamic economic environment. No longer confined to traditional finance functions, the modern CFO is a strategic leader who drives innovation, leverages advanced technologies, and navigates complex market forces to create value and competitive advantage.

This course explores the shifting landscape of finance leadership in the new economy, highlighting the expanded responsibilities and skills required for CFOs to thrive. Participants will examine emerging trends such as digital transformation, data analytics, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) considerations, and agile financial management. Through case studies and interactive discussions, you will gain insight into how CFOs can lead cross-functional teams, influence organizational strategy, and embrace change to future-proof their roles and organizations.

Ideal for current and aspiring finance leaders who want to understand and prepare for the CFO role of tomorrow.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Describe the evolving role of the CFO in the context of the new economy Identify key trends impacting finance leadership, including digital transformation and ESG initiatives Apply strategies to integrate advanced data analytics and technology into finance functions Evaluate the CFO’s role in driving organizational agility and strategic decision-making Demonstrate approaches for leading cross-functional collaboration and innovation Assess risk management and compliance challenges in an increasingly complex regulatory environment Develop skills to future-proof the finance function and adapt to ongoing economic disruptions Communicate the value of the finance team in supporting broader business objectives and sustainable growthClose Course Details

Cryptocurrency 15 Years Later: A Market Update

Course Description

Bitcoin, the original cryptocurrency, was released in 2009. After 15 years the cryptocurrency market consists of over 5,000 unique coins/tokens with a market capitalization of over 3 trillion as of 2024. This course will provide an update on the cryptocurrency market and the blockchain technology that supports it.

Program Content:

• Blockchain technology primer / update
• Cryptocurrency technology primer / update
• Update on the cryptocurrency marketplace
• Cryptocurrency exchanges – the good, the bad and the ugly
• Overview of cryptocurrency taxation regulations
• The technology behind cryptocurrency – Proof of stake, Layer 2, wallets and more

Learning Objectives:
• Recognize the current state of the cryptocurrency marketplace and the technology that
• Identify key developments in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology

Who Should Attend: Anyone who is interested in getting up to speed on the current state of the cryptocurrency marketplace.

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Qualified Plan Withdrawals

Course Description

In the ever-evolving domain of retirement planning, staying informed is key. This retirement planning CPE course offers an in-depth exploration of retirement account distributions, tailored for professionals in tax, accounting, and finance. This personal financial planning CPE provides a comprehensive understanding of how Qualified Plan provisions may diverge from the Internal Revenue Code, crucial for advising clients accurately. You’ll gain valuable insights into the mechanics of early withdrawals, including QDROs and hardship distributions, and understand the implications of employee loans. With content updated for the latest Secure regulations and SECURE 2.0 changes, the course ensures you’re equipped with the most current knowledge. This retirement planning CPE course is not just about learning; it’s about applying this knowledge in real-world scenarios, enhancing your ability to guide clients through complex financial decisions with confidence and expertise.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Recognize when the qualified plan document differs from provisions in the Internal Revenue Code,
• Understand early withdrawals benefits such as QDROs and hardship distributions; and
• Identify the effect of employee loans.

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Building Success: Mastering Construction Accounting

Course Description

This course covers the authoritative GAAP for construction contractors as found in FASB ASC 910 along with the guidance contained in the AICPA Guide for Construction Contractors. In this course, Jeff will cover the unique aspects of accounting in the construction industry and how the standards and guidance address those issues.

 

The course will also include many examples to aid in understanding. In addition to the exceptional material, Jeff will include his signature video parodies, which are designed to keep you awake and reinforce the material.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, the participant should be able to:

• Describe key issue related to construction accounting
• Apply revenue recognition for construction contracts using POC
• Apply revenue recognition for construction contracts using CCM
• Apply the standards for contract modifications
• Describe the issues related to contract costs and allocation
• Apply the provisions for various difficult issues

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Offshoring in Focus: Economic, Labor, and Strategic Benefits

Course Description

This insightful course examines offshoring as a strategic tool for businesses seeking competitive advantage in a global economy. Moving beyond cost-cutting clichés, it explores the nuanced economic, labor, and operational benefits that offshoring can offer when thoughtfully executed. You’ll gain a clear understanding of how to evaluate offshoring opportunities, mitigate risks, and align offshoring strategies with your organization’s broader goals.

Through real-world examples and case studies, this session highlights how companies leverage offshoring to access skilled labor markets, increase operational efficiency, and foster innovation. Whether you’re a financial executive, operations manager, or advisor, you’ll come away equipped to assess offshoring options and communicate their value to stakeholders effectively.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Analyze the economic advantages and cost structures associated with offshoring. Identify labor market factors that make certain regions attractive for offshoring. Assess strategic benefits including scalability, innovation, and market access. Recognize common risks and develop mitigation strategies for offshoring initiatives. Evaluate how offshoring aligns with organizational goals and competitive positioning. Communicate the value proposition of offshoring to internal and external stakeholders.Close Course Details

The Right & Wrong of AI: A CPA’s Survival Guide

Course Description

Explore the ethical implications of using generative AI. This course addresses potential risks and dilemmas, providing guidelines to ensure responsible and compliant integration. Learn how to balance innovation with ethical obligations to maintain trust and integrity.

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:

• Understanding ethical implications of AI
• Data privacy and security considerations
• Compliance with regulations and professional standards
• Developing ethical AI policies and procedures

After this course, you’ll be able to:

• Recognize the ethical implications and risks associated with the use of generative AI

• Identify specific methods you can put into practice to ensure the ethical and safe use of AI

Designed For: Anyone who wants to understand the ethical risks of using generative AI and how to mitigate them

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Recognize the ethical implications and risks associated with the use of generative AI in professional practice Identify data privacy and security concerns relevant to AI adoption and use Apply compliance requirements related to AI under current regulations and professional standards Develop and implement ethical policies and procedures for the responsible use of AI Evaluate the impact of AI on professional judgment, client trust, and public interest obligations Balance innovation with ethical responsibilities to maintain integrity in the accounting profession Identify practical strategies for mitigating bias, misinformation, and unintended consequences in AI toolsClose Course Details