CPE & Event Calendar
For details about the CPE and event categories below, please click here.
Surgent's Audits of 401(k) Plans: New Developments and Critical Issues
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Virtual
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $299
One of the most favored employee benefit plans, the 401(k) plan, provides unique challenges for auditors. Through this course, auditors will obtain an understanding of the rules and regulations unique to employee benefit plans and obtain practical guidance on applying them. Auditors will enhance their knowledge of the performance and reporting requirements through real-world examples, best practices, and efficient audit techniques that can be utilized in various audit engagements. Make sure your audits don't trigger a DOL inspection by conforming to all applicable rules and regulations.
Surgent's Data Analytics Toolkit - Tools and Applications
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $99
There is no shortage of data, but relatively few organizations have an environment and process to isolate, capture, analyze, and convert data into actionable information. Too often, we collect as much data as possible, continue to use historic measurements, and communicate data using traditional vehicles. Good decisions are not the result of the amount of data gathered, but of the quality and understanding of the information. The goal of this program is to explore a number of analytical tools and techniques and identify applications for them within an organization. Analytical techniques will be introduced throughout the discussion, and a significant amount of time will be spent addressing the steps needed to establish a data-driven environment and identifying and discussing potential/specific applications. In this way, participants get experience they can begin to use in their organizations. An expanded list of reference books and next level software is also provided.
Surgent's Mastering the Basics of Inventory Accounting
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Virtual
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $159
While many entities maintain inventory, they are often challenged when applying the complexities of inventory accounting. The goal of this course is to provide a detailed overview of inventory accounting concepts that can be applied to a variety of inventory types. The course will cover the basics of inventory capitalization, for both book and tax, as well as the basic inventory valuation methods, LIFO, FIFO, weighted average, and specific identification. Then the course will give a more detailed review of the LIFO and retail methodologies. It will cover the topics of inventory obsolescence reserves and other issues related to inventory accounting, including a discussion of how COVID-19 has impacted these accounting considerations. This course will be the one-shop stop to get you up-to-speed on the accounting for this critical, revenue-producing asset.
Government Accounting & Auditing Committee Meeting: April
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Virtual
1.00 Credits
Join us for our next monthly Government Accounting & Auditing Committee meeting! All MassCPAs members are welcome and you don't have to be a member of the committee to attend a meeting. CPE credit: In order to verify your attendance, you must log into Zoom with the same email address you used to register for this event. This email address should also be linked to your MassCPAs profile. To review or update your account, please click here. Join the committee! By joining the committee roster, you'll have special access to the Government Accounting & Auditing Committee Online Community on The HUB-an exclusive space for committee members to connect, post messages and access meeting resources. If you have any questions, contact Melissa at MNystedt@masscpas.org
Surgent's Introduction to Forensic Accounting
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Virtual
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $159
Forensic accounting encompasses fraud investigation and prevention, as well as a wide variety of functions in litigation. Forensic accountants provide services ranging from serving as an expert witness, to litigation consultant and bankruptcy trustee. As our economy grows more complex, the need for forensic accountants grows as well. One critical role of the forensic accountant is exposing and examining financial fraud. Technology expands the way companies conduct business; however, technology also provides greater opportunities for those willing to commit fraud. Forensic accountants rely on their skills in accounting, coupled with their investigative skills, to explain to clients, courts, and jurors how fraudulent schemes occur and the effect caused by fraud. Forensic accountants also provide expert opinions in calculating damages in litigation and administering bankruptcy estates, as well as a host of other services.
Surgent's Mastering Accounting for Income Taxes
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Virtual
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $159
Since its inception nearly 30 years ago, many have continued to struggle with applying the current model for accounting for income taxes, ASC 740. But this does not have to be you. This course will provide you with the basic knowledge necessary to understand the complexities of this challenging topic. Through discussions and use of exercises, this course will analyze the authoritative literature to provide a thorough understanding of such topics as deferred taxes, income tax expense, uncertain tax positions and other classification and disclosure requirements related to income taxes. We will also explore some specialized areas of income tax accounting, such as intra-period allocations of income tax expense and accounting for changes in tax laws and rates, and we will review proposed updates to ASC 740 disclosures on which the FASB is contemplating. In summary, this course is the place to be to enhance your accounting for income taxes IQ.
Surgent's The CMA's Guide to Project Management
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $99
A significant number of projects fail to achieve their initial goals and/or are not completed within budget and their original timetable. As a team member, a CMA has a unique skill set and experiences to assist in project management. In addition to their analytical training and knowledge of budgets and controls, they typically have ongoing contacts with other professionals from a variety of backgrounds. Familiar analytical tools/techniques can be applied to managing projects. This brief program is designed to aid both experienced and less experienced participants in increasing their knowledge of, and comfort with, the steps and skills needed for success.
2025 Accounting & Auditing Update for Small Businesses
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Virtual
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $149
For many small businesses, the standards issued by the FASB may have little to no effect as they impact topics that do not reflect the type of transactions that these entities most frequently experience. This class will focus on the Accounting Standards Updates (ASUs) that are most likely to impact small businesses with a focus on ASUs initiated by the Private Company Council (PCC). We'll then look at alternative reporting options to GAAP including FRF for SMEs and IFRS for SMEs for entities who don't necessarily need to prepare GAAP financial statements but want to use accrual accounting. Finally, we will transition to audit standards that small business auditors will need to implement. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.
Surgent's Guide and Update to Compilations, Reviews, and Preparations
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Virtual
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $159
Specifically designed for preparation, compilation, and review practitioners, this course provides a comprehensive review and hands-on application for performing financial statement preparation, compilation, and review engagements. You will learn the ins and outs of applying SSARS No. 21, Clarification and Recodification, as well as additional guidance related to SSARS engagements through the issuance of SSARS Nos. 22-27 by the AICPA's Accounting and Review Services Committee (ARSC). The course also reviews recent peer review feedback on SSARS engagements, providing insights on how to successfully apply this guidance. Not only will this course bring you up to date on SSARSs requirements and guidance, but more importantly, it will provide you with practical examples and illustrations to help you effectively and efficiently perform compilation, preparation, and review engagements.
Surgent's Controllership Skills Update: Risk Management
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $99
The most recent recession and its fallout, weather (look at 2017), process and product failures, and unethical behavior have again highlighted failures by numerous organizations in identifying and managing risk. The size and reputation of organizations proved not to be the key to success. Again, we saw that failures can result in areas/industries thought to be "under control" through their policies, practices and/or regulations. A core activity of financial management is to effectively protect the assets of their organizations, without significantly reducing new ideas and growth. This brief program provides insights and approaches to identify risk and manage the above noted trade-off. The course is designed for financial managers looking to quickly build upon their existing knowledge and experience, as well as to help to start the less experienced individual. It offers ideas that can be used immediately, as well as longer term approaches. Updated to include new information particularly in the areas of disaster planning, business continuity, and ethics, as well as a sample group exercise to test your current risk management systems.
Surgent's Perplexing Financial and Economic Issues for the CFO/Controller
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Virtual
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $279
For CFOs and Controllers, the emergence of regulatory, fiscal, and monetary policy directly impacting their organizations' costs, competitiveness, and financing options, are causing them to understand the effect of shocks well outside of their control. The Dodd-Frank Act, health care reform, shortfalls in Social Security, unfunded pension liabilities, and deficit spending will all be explored relative to their impact on the CFO/Controller and your organization.
Surgent's Current Issues in Accounting and Auditing: An Annual Update
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Virtual
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $159
Designed for accounting, auditing, and attestation practitioners at all levels in public accounting and business and industry, this course provides a detailed review of the multitude of FASB and AICPA standards and reports issued over the past few years, including a discussion of the FASB's Stage 3 PIR report on ASC 606. It also provides an overview of recent PCAOB inspection report findings and SEC rulemaking activity. Through hands-on examples and illustrations, this course will help you apply the guidance in practice. We further discuss other important A&A practice matters to be aware of, including an update on the quality management standards and soon-to-be-effective requirements for engagement quality reviews.
Accounting & Auditing Committee Meeting: April
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Virtual
1.00 Credits
Join us for our next monthly Accounting & Auditing Committee meeting! All MassCPAs members are welcome and you don't have to be a member of the committee to attend a meeting. CPE credit: In order to verify your attendance, you must log into Zoom with the same email address you used to register for this event. This email address should also be linked to your MassCPAs profile. To review or update your account, please click here. Join the committee! By joining the committee roster, you'll have special access to the Accounting & Auditing Online Community on The HUB-an exclusive space for committee members to connect, post messages and access meeting resources. If you have any questions, contact Melissa at MNystedt@masscpas.org
Nonprofit Accounting & Auditing Committee Meeting: April
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Virtual
1.00 Credits
Join us for our next monthly Nonprofit Accounting & Auditing Committee meeting! All MassCPAs members are welcome and you don't have to be a member of the committee to attend a meeting. CPE credit: In order to verify your attendance, you must log into Zoom with the same email address you used to register for this event. This email address should also be linked to your MassCPAs profile. To review or update your account, please click here. Join the committee! By joining the committee roster, you'll have special access to the Nonprofit Accounting & Auditing Committee Online Community on The HUB-an exclusive space for committee members to connect, post messages and access meeting resources. If you have any questions, contact Melissa at MNystedt@masscpas.org
Surgent's Avoiding Deficiencies in Peer Reviews: Focus on Engagement Quality
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Virtual
4.00 Credits
Member Price: $159
With the AICPA's heightened focus on enhancing audit quality, increased oversight of the peer review process and the auditor's overall responsibility to provide high quality services, the focus on compliance with professional standards has never been greater. Add to that the requirement to implement the revised risk assessment standards (SAS 145) and it's easy to see why it's more important than ever to ensure that auditors have a good understanding of the requirements and comply with documentation standards. Recent peer reviews have indicated that auditors are often failing to perform and/or document certain critical components of an audit such as the auditor's assessment of risk and linking the results of the assessment to substantive procedures performed. In addition, auditors are not adequately documenting their consideration of fraud, expectations in analytical procedures and the appropriate level of work needed to understand an entity's internal control. The AICPA issued its Quality Management Standards in 2022. Firms are required to implement the standards by December 15, 2025. And the firm's evaluation of the System of Quality Management is required within one year after that. This is not just a matter of tweaking the firm's existing QM document, the standard requires a risk assessment process to identify risk. The objective of the course is to provide the insights necessary to help auditors and accountants improve not just the quality of their work but also the perception of the accounting profession as a whole. We will focus on the most significant items resulting in deficiencies identified in the peer review process. We will also discuss the applicable audit standards, documentation requirements, and best practices. We will address the new QM standards.
Surgent's Controllership Skills Update - Budgeting, Forecasting, and Big Data
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $99
Budgets are the vehicle for allocating resources, measuring activities, and identifying needed changes and improvements. An organization's strategy is the primary driver of costs. To be effective, the budget must be linked to strategy and long-term plans. Numerous organizations have achieved a series of short-term targets (budgets) but failed longer term, demonstrating the lack of this necessary linkage. Forecasting, a critical part of any successful budgeting process, can be flawed by technical errors, organizational structure, or emotional forces. The establishment of a system to collect, process, and analyze big data can provide significant insights into the budgeting and forecasting process. An efficient system of incorporating big data and analytics into normal activities will improve management's decision-making. This brief program offers specific actions to improve your forecasting and budgeting activities. In addition, more advanced techniques are identified for the participant's further review, which can be applied throughout an organization. Good budgets effectively allocate resources, provide information for decision-making and serve as an early warning system for unforeseen events. A poor budgeting process fosters a false sense of security, provides inappropriate or inaccurate data, and reinforces the status quo. Budgets are about the organization's story, not just the raw numbers!
Surgent's The Accountant as the Expert Witness
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $99
As litigation becomes more complex, attorneys are relying more on accountants to serve as consulting experts or expert witnesses at trial. Serving as an expert witness is not as difficult as you might expect. Accounting experts educate lawyers and jurors on issues such as valuation, tax liability, and forensics. Learn how accountants become expert witnesses, the role they play during pre-litigation through to trial, and the techniques experts employ to avoid challenges from opposing counsel.
Surgent's Lessons Learned from Successful Companies
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Virtual
2.00 Credits
Member Price: $99
Why do some companies fail while others grow and succeed for generations? Common perceptions often attribute organizational success to great leadership, timing, or unique ideas. Although these traits certainly play a role in helping companies grow, research shows that corporate success often hinges on whether a company is value driven. Such companies have core ideologies that drive almost every major decision. In this course, we look at empirical data on why some companies succeed while others fail. By looking at companies that were created prior to 1950 (e.g., Disney, Marriott, or 3M), we can understand why certain organizations have been able to grow and achieve exceptional success through many different eras in the American economy. The lessons learned from these visionary companies can be broadly applied to organizations of all sizes, including accounting and financial service firms.
Surgent's A Complete Guide to the Yellow Book
Available Until
Virtual
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $199
If you work with governments and not-for-profits, a thorough understanding of the Yellow Book is essential. This course will equip you with a comprehensive knowledge of the Yellow Book requirements and increase your confidence and proficiency in performing Yellow Book audits. The course materials utilize a highly illustrative and innovative format including over 20 focused exercises on key practice issues.
Surgent's A Complete Guide to the Yellow Book
Available Until
Virtual
8.00 Credits
Member Price: $159
If you work with governments and not-for-profits, a thorough understanding of the Yellow Book is essential. This course will equip you with a comprehensive knowledge of the Yellow Book requirements and increase your confidence and proficiency in performing Yellow Book audits. Updated for the 2024 Yellow Book revision, the course materials utilize a highly illustrative and innovative format. Over 20 focused exercises are included to provide an enhanced knowledge of the Yellow Book.