Accounting & Auditing Virtual Conference
Begins: Ends:
(Check-In 8:30am EST)
Virtual
8.00 Credits
Member Price $359.00
Non-Member Price $519.00
Overview
MassCPAs is excited to offer our Accounting & Auditing Conference this spring! Based on feedback from our members, this year’s conference will be presented virtually over two half-days and is ideal for corporate accountants and practitioners who perform audit, attest and assurance services.
Sponsored by:
Tuesday, June 17
General Session
- Welcome and Opening Remarks
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- Audit and Attestation Standards Update
Michael Westervelt, CliftonLarsonAllen LLPMichael Westervelt
Mike Westervelt, CPA, is a principal at CLA with over 30 years of experience and serves as chair of the AICPA’s Accounting and Review Services Committee (ARSC). He is also a past chair of the AICPA’s PCPS Technical Issues Committee (TIC). As a national assurance principal and construction industry assurance leader, Westervelt specializes in thought leadership, financial reporting, client service and accounting consulting for U.S. and international clients. He has managed relationships across the construction, manufacturing, hospitality, commercial service and healthcare industries. In addition to his professional roles, he volunteers as a mentor for American Corporate Partners (ACP).
In this session, we’ll cover updates to the Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services (SSARS), focusing on changes to review, compilation and preparation engagements. We’ll also highlight recent updates to the Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAEs) and summarize the latest revisions to auditing standards, including new requirements and best practices for maintaining audit quality and compliance. You’ll receive a concise update on the current standards landscape to ensure you stay informed and prepared.
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- Achieve Best-in-Class Internal Controls
Leah Donti, Advantage Montreal Seminars Inc.Leah Donti
Leah Donti, CPA, CMA, MBA, is the founder and president of Advantage Montreal Seminars Inc. An internationally recognized seminar leader and speaker in accounting and auditing, she has been conducting seminars full-time for 34 years through her seminar business, including in-house training at CPA firms and various multinationals. In addition, Donti offers CPE courses through CPA state societies and speaks at conferences across North America annually. She covers hot topics, including FASB updates, private company GAAP developments, accounting and auditing updates, SEC and PCAOB updates, revenue recognition, leases, business combinations, compilation and review, fair value accounting, ESG, cryptocurrency, blockchain, cannabis, data analytics, digital transformation and agile finance. She also provides proprietary prep seminars for the IQEX reciprocity exam where foreign accountants obtain the U.S. CPA credential. Furthermore, Donti has received the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Outstanding Discussion Leader Award for 12 years for her passion, energy and ability to speak at all levels of the CPA profession.
Whether you work for a small or large entity, internal controls are a work in progress. In this session, we’ll provide practical tips on evaluating and improving internal controls at small-and-mid-sized entities – including IT general controls.
This session is available to registrants only.
Breakout Session
- Deep Dive into Sampling
Jaclyn Veno, Galasso Learning Solutions LLCJaclyn Veno
Jaclyn Veno, CPA, is a learning and development specialist with Galasso Learning Solutions. Before joining Galasso Learning Solutions, she was an auditor for two top 10 CPA firms and has extensive experience developing both staff and interns, including the onboarding of overseas staff. Veno has completed dozens of acquisition audits for growing clients and holds certificates in adult learning, instructional design and training and facilitation from the Association for Talent Development (ATD).
Sampling is often identified as a common audit deficiency in peer review. In this session, we’ll review when sampling is applicable and the basics of planning a sample. We’ll then focus on the application of sampling in financial statement audits with a look at sampling for substantive procedures. We’ll also look at tools that can be leveraged to reduce bias in sampling.
This session is available to registrants only.
- Top Three Disruptors Facing CPAs
Leah Donti, Advantage Montreal Seminars Inc.Leah Donti
Leah Donti, CPA, CMA, MBA, is the founder and president of Advantage Montreal Seminars Inc. An internationally recognized seminar leader and speaker in accounting and auditing, she has been conducting seminars full-time for 34 years through her seminar business, including in-house training at CPA firms and various multinationals. In addition, Donti offers CPE courses through CPA state societies and speaks at conferences across North America annually. She covers hot topics, including FASB updates, private company GAAP developments, accounting and auditing updates, SEC and PCAOB updates, revenue recognition, leases, business combinations, compilation and review, fair value accounting, ESG, cryptocurrency, blockchain, cannabis, data analytics, digital transformation and agile finance. She also provides proprietary prep seminars for the IQEX reciprocity exam where foreign accountants obtain the U.S. CPA credential. Furthermore, Donti has received the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Outstanding Discussion Leader Award for 12 years for her passion, energy and ability to speak at all levels of the CPA profession.
The top disruptors facing the CPA profession are robotic process automation (RPA), artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics. In this session, we’ll explore how these technologies are transforming the work of CPAs in both industry and public practice. We’ll share how organizations are using intelligent automation to reshape traditional finance processes, driving efficiency and providing valuable insights in today’s fast-paced business environment.
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- FASB Update
Kenn Heaslip, Kenn Heaslip Seminars, LLCKenn Heaslip
Kenneth Heaslip, CPA, MBA, MS, is a seasoned accounting educator and industry leader who has served as vice president, trustee, chapter president and committee and task force chair for the NJCPA. He has extensive experience teaching all levels of accounting, auditing and related practice areas. Heaslip currently serves on the NJCPA professional conduct committee and is a director at Cullari Carrico LLC, a regional CPA firm in Northern New Jersey. He has taught at several universities, including Seton Hall—where students twice named him “Educator of the Year”—and in the Executive MBA program at Rutgers. He also served as national director of the Becker CPA Review.
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- Closing Remarks
This session is available to registrants only.
Wednesday, June 18
General Session
- Welcome and Opening Remarks
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- Common Peer Review Deficiencies
Thomas Groskopf, Barnes Dennig & Co LtdThomas Groskopf
Thomas Groskopf, CPA, CVA, MBA, is a director at Barnes Dennig and is a service line leader for the firm’s accounting and audit practice. A nationally recognized authority on accounting and auditing topics, he has been selected by his peers to serve on numerous national and international standard-setting committees. In addition, Groskopf was named one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting” by Accounting Today, an honor recognizing his leadership of the Center for Plain English Accounting, a key program of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He is also a member of the inaugural Private Company Council, which works with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) to determine if and how U.S. GAAP should be adapted for private companies.
In this session, we’ll review common peer review findings and provide guidance to help your firm avoid similar mistakes. You’ll learn the common findings found by peer reviewers during the most recent cycle of peer reviews, including findings related to risk assessment and compliance with required financial statement disclosures.
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- Accounting for Uncertainty – Focus on Estimates, Contingencies and Going Concern
Jennifer Louis, Emergent Solutions Group LLCJennifer Louis
Jennifer Louis, CPA, is president of Emergent Solutions Group LLC and has over 25 years of experience designing and instructing high-quality training programs on a variety of technical and “soft skills” topics needed for professional and organization success. In 2003, she founded Emergent Solutions Group, which is dedicated to meeting organization’s professional training needs on a project or part-time basis. Louis serves a wide variety of clients, including public accounting firms, state CPA societies, private industry corporations and public sector agencies. Her prior experience includes roles at Surgent Professional Education, AuditWatch, Inc., AARP and Deloitte LLP.
Understanding the proper accounting for and reporting of financial statement areas containing uncertainty can be challenging, especially ensuring adequate disclosure of risk to the financial statement users. In this session, we’ll provide critical considerations when evaluating the proper treatment of accounting estimates, loss contingencies and going concern in U.S. GAAP-basis financial statements.
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- Private Company Council – An Overview Current Practical Expedients and Potential Future Changes
Jennifer Louis, Emergent Solutions Group LLCJennifer Louis
Jennifer Louis, CPA, is president of Emergent Solutions Group LLC and has over 25 years of experience designing and instructing high-quality training programs on a variety of technical and “soft skills” topics needed for professional and organization success. In 2003, she founded Emergent Solutions Group, which is dedicated to meeting organization’s professional training needs on a project or part-time basis. Louis serves a wide variety of clients, including public accounting firms, state CPA societies, private industry corporations and public sector agencies. Her prior experience includes roles at Surgent Professional Education, AuditWatch, Inc., AARP and Deloitte LLP.
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) formed the Private Company Council to provide certain alternatives in U.S. GAAP that are only available to nonpublic business entities, with limited exceptions for certain nonprofits. In this session, we’ll share insight into when adopting the accounting and financial reporting alternatives would be to the advantage of eligible nonpublic entities.
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- Deep Dive into Quality Management
Peter Zender, Galasso Learning Solutions LLCPeter Zender
Peter Zender, CPA, is an accounting and audit training facilitator at Galasso Learning Solutions with extensive experience in auditing and technology. His expertise in auditing healthcare companies, employee benefit plans and private companies with complex transactions makes him a key contributor to technical accounting training programs. Before joining GLS, Zender worked at a Big 4 firm, specializing in auditing healthcare companies in both public and private sectors. He later transitioned to an internal audit role at a Fortune 500 company before returning to public accounting at a national firm, where he focused on audits involving business combinations, asset acquisitions, GAAP to IFRS conversions and technology implementations. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with learning and development teams to design and facilitate training on both technical accounting and soft skills. Zender also has experience designing, overseeing and leading weeklong training programs and producing CPE-eligible accounting podcasts.
Quality management will have a big impact on CPA firms. This session will explore SQMS 1, with an overview of SQMS 2 and related standards (SAS 146 and SSARS 26). Attendees will learn about the new risk-based approach to quality management and the need for documented information and communication processes. With SQMS 1 required by December 15, 2025, this session will provide key insights to help you begin the implementation process and stay compliant.
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- Closing Remarks
This session is available to registrants only.
- Joshua Adler - Leonard, Mulherin & Greene PC (Braintree, 02184)
- Michael Aniceto - Treeful Damaso Aniceto Inc (Walpole, 02081)
- My Ardon - Treeful Damaso Aniceto Inc (Walpole, 02081)
- Christopher Barrett - Barrett & Scibelli, LLC (Winchester, 01890)
- Bruce Benoit - Bridgwood Benoit & Co PC (Middleboro, 02346)
- Norman Bitsoli - Greenberg, Rosenblatt, Kull & Bitso li, P.C. (Worcester, 01608)
- Sharon Blazejowski - MP P.C. (Springfield, 01144)
- Pamela Brooks - Boston Mutual Life Insurance Co (Canton, 02021)
- James Burokas - Leonard, Mulherin & Greene PC (Braintree, 02184)
- Elise Caputi - KLR (Boston, 02110)
- Linda Carr
- Anthony Caruso - Worthington, Hughes & Hoar PC (Woburn, 01801)
- Paul Cerrone - Cerrone, Graham & Shepherd, PC (Worcester, 01608)
- Gerardo Ciampa - Coles & Bodoin, LLP (Needham, 02494)
- Felix Cincotta - Felix G. Cincotta CPA & Consultants (Newton, 02458)
- Steven Cohen - Withum (Braintree, 02184)
- Kevin Costello - LGA, LLP (Woburn, 01801)
- Nicholas Czernicki - Greenberg, Rosenblatt, Kull & Bitso li, P.C. (Worcester, 01608)
- Nicole Davie - Leonard, Mulherin & Greene PC (Braintree, 02184)
- William Debler - King McNamara Moriarty LLP (Norwood, 02062)
- Michael Fascione - Shaheen Pallone & Assoc PC (North Andover, 01845)
- David Fine - Cohen Cohen & Company A Professional Corporation (Boston, 02110)
- William Ford - Grandstream Networks (Boston, 02215)
- Richard French - PKF JND, P.C. (Boston, 02109)
- George Gillmore - Greenberg, Rosenblatt, Kull & Bitso li, P.C. (Worcester, 01608)
- Tony Hajjar - PKF JND, P.C. (Quincy, 02169)
- Julie Harris - Peck Associates PC (Wellesley Hills, 02481)
- Timothy Harrison - Borgatti Harrison & Company (Framingham, 01701)
- Karen Hodge - Foundation for Neurological Diseases (Newburyport, 01950)
- David Irwin - Adelson & Company PC (Pittsfield, 01201)
- Sarika Jain - Greenberg, Rosenblatt, Kull & Bitso li, P.C. (Worcester, 01608)
- Shiqi Jin - Coles & Bodoin, LLP (Needham, 02494)
- John Keegan - Lombardi & Keegan (Pittsfield, 01201)
- Rachel LaMarche - Greenberg, Rosenblatt, Kull & Bitso li, P.C. (Worcester, 01608)
- Giacomo Leibe - Leonard, Mulherin & Greene PC (Braintree, 02184)
- Gengyun Ma - Treeful Damaso Aniceto Inc (Walpole, 02081)
- Kevin MacDonald - Baumann & Baumann CPAs LLP (Wellesley Hills, 02481)
- Sheryl Manning
- Gary Marini - Peck Associates PC (Wellesley Hills, 02481)
- Michele McGunagle - Leonard, Mulherin & Greene PC (Braintree, 02184)
- Sheila McKinley
- Michael Minton - PKF JND, P.C. (Quincy, 02169)
- Thomas Moretti - PKF JND, P.C. (Boston, 02109)
- Joseph Moriarty - King McNamara Moriarty LLP (Norwood, 02062)
- Brooke Munafo - Mazars USA LLP (Boston, 02109)
- Christopher O'Brien - Leonard, Mulherin & Greene PC (Braintree, 02184)
- Chelsea O'Donnell - Treeful Damaso Aniceto Inc (Walpole, 02081)
- Kendra O'Halloran - Yale Appliance and Lighting (Hanover, 02339)
- Philip Pacino - Philip B Pacino CPA LLC (Brighton, 02135)
- Mark Preziosi - Leonard, Mulherin & Greene PC (Braintree, 02184)
- Christina Reale
- Robert Rice - Robert G Rice PC (Stoneham, 02180)
- Filomena Scibelli - Barrett & Scibelli, LLC (Winchester, 01890)
- Briana Silveira - Leonard, Mulherin & Greene PC (Braintree, 02184)
- Cheryl Souza - Dias Lapalme and Martin LLP (North Dartmouth, 02747)
- Michele Summa - Robert G Rice PC (Stoneham, 02180)
- Jose Tarrio - PKF JND, P.C. (Boston, 02109)
- Ann Marie Taylor - Ann M. Taylor, Certified Public Acc ountant, P.C. (Quincy, 02171)
- Kevin Tobias - Coles & Bodoin, LLP (Needham, 02494)
- Helena Tran - Greenberg, Rosenblatt, Kull & Bitso li, P.C. (Worcester, 01608)
- Lucia Walker - New England Interstate WPCC (Lowell, 01852)
- Jeff Wheeler - Baker Newman Noyes (Manchester, 03101)
- Theodore Wilhelm - Smith Watson & Company LLP (North Adams, 01247)
- Daniel Will - Leonard, Mulherin & Greene PC (Braintree, 02184)
- Brooke Williams - MP P.C. (Springfield, 01144)
- Thomas Wolf - Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency dba MassHousing (Boston, 02108)
- Amanda Wolfe - PKF JND, P.C. (Quincy, 02169)
- Kevin Worthington - Worthington, Hughes & Hoar PC (Woburn, 01801)
- Steven Zuidema - PKF JND, P.C. (Boston, 02109)
Non-Member Price $519.00
Member Price $359.00