CPE Catalog & Events

With so much of significance going on currently in the world of A&A today, you need to be able to make sense of the key drivers of our profession. In this course, we will review the key aspects of the events that are impacting practitioners and financial statement preparers alike. Specifically, because technology is rapidly transforming our profession, we'll review current trends and risks related to technology. Next, while many COVID-19 accounting considerations have passed, the issue of going concern is likely to last for the next several accounting periods. We'll review the disclosure and reporting issues related to this complex topic. With the private company implementation date for ASC 842 now here, we'll review the new lease accounting guidance. Then, we'll wrap up the course with a discussion of peer review findings and engagement quality initiatives.

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Professional standards are changing with the times and the desire of the AICPA to move the profession into a new era where use of technology will play a key role in an audit and professional skepticism, independence, and quality are emphasized. We are seeing changes already as the AICPA has issued 15 new standards since 2019. This program will discuss SASs 134 through 149.

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Quality should be the primary focus of all engagements. Since initiating its Enhancing Engagement Quality initiative in 2014, the AICPA has been using its peer review program as a way to assess the improvement in engagement quality. In this course, we'll review the latest results from the peer review program, identify areas of focus for both 2020 and 2021 peer reviews, and identify common findings in recent peer reviews of audits as well as SSARS engagements.

During the audit of the financial statements, an auditor will obtain evidence from many sources to support the account balances, transactions, and events that occurred during the period, as well as the financial statement disclosures. This course discusses the use of management's specialists, the auditor's specialists, inventory counting services, pricing services and internal audit. (Please Note: This module is part of Surgent's Audit Skills Training: Level 5.)

With the effective date of ASC 842, Leases, right around the corner, companies are running out of time develop their implementation plans. In this one-hour overview course, we'll review the key accounting aspects of ASC 842, primarily from a lessee's perspective. The course will review lease classification, measuring and recording lease liabilities and related assets, and subsequent accounting for both finance and operating leases. The course will also discuss transition accounting for ASC 842 and provide examples of the new disclosures required under the new standard. This course is the one-stop shop to get all the basic information about this standard before it's too late.

Not-for-profits enter into leases for many types of assets. This course is designed to help you understand the core components of not-for-profit lessee accounting under FASB ASC 842, Leases. You will learn the important definitions involved, the key decision points involved in applying the standard, and how to think through those decision points.

Governments enter into leases for many types of assets. This course is designed to help you understand the core components of governmental lease accounting under GASB No. 87, Leases. You will learn the important definitions involved, the key decision points involved in applying the standard, and how to think through those decision points.

This course will discuss the psychology behind white-collar crime. It will conclude with a conversation with Abby Ellin, author of Duped. This is the third of five 2-hour courses in Surgent's Fraud Certificate Program. This program includes a combination of lectures, animated videos, and live interviews with white-collar offenders and whistle-blowers. Each course is designed to be engaging and informative and will enhance your understanding of fraud.

If you perform Yellow Book audits and/or single audits, it is a given that a peer reviewer will be looking at your work on those engagements! Why fret and sweat about what peer reviewers are going to be looking for? In this course, we will explore the key audit requirements that peer reviewers focus on, how the auditor complies with those requirements, and common pitfalls seen in Yellow Book and single audits. This course will help you proceed and succeed in your Yellow Book and single audits!

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Audit Documentation - Creating Workpapers That Pass Review is an important foundational course. Proper documentation is essential to a high-quality audit and other assurance services, as auditors are required to prepare and maintain documentation to demonstrate that sufficient and appropriate audit evidence was obtained to support the auditor's opinion. It is critical for workpapers to provide a clear understanding of the nature, timing and extent of procedures applied, the results of those procedures, source of evidence obtained, and conclusions reached. Both audit effectiveness and efficiency are directly impacted by the nature and extent of audit documentation.Speaker - Jennifer Louis

This intensive two-hour course addresses the critical need for accuracy and efficiency when developing spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel. Recognizing that even minor errors can have significant implications, this course delves deep into strategies and skills required to detect and correct errors in Excel. By the end of this course, participants will have a comprehensive understanding of how to efficiently identify and correct errors in Excel spreadsheets, enhancing their overall productivity and accuracy in their professional roles.Speaker - Bryan Smith

The term "artificial intelligence" (AI) has become mainstream and while most have a layperson's understanding of AI, few know the depth and breadth of this technology's capability. AI is affecting just about everything in business and in people's personal lives. The operation of an internal control system is also changing because of this incredible advancement. This session explains what AI is and how it works and then goes into detail about how it can be applied to a system of internal control. The material speaks about changes occurring in today's world as well as what's coming in the not-too-distant future.Speaker - Karl Egnatoff

The term "artificial intelligence" (AI) has become mainstream and while most have a layperson's understanding of AI, few know the depth and breadth of this technology's capability. AI is affecting just about everything in business and in people's personal lives. The operation of an internal control system is also changing because of this incredible advancement. This session explains what AI is and how it works and then goes into detail about how it can be applied to a system of internal control. The material speaks about changes occurring in today's world as well as what's coming in the not-too-distant future.Speaker - Karl Egnatoff

New Technology, the move toward telecommuting, the widespread adoption of electronic documentation, and a wide range of other factors have significantly and forever changed the way business is conducted. It should go without saying that changes in tools and methods lead to upheaval in any organizations internal control system. In this session, we look at all the changes that are occurring and discuss what's coming in the not too distant future. The material then looks at how internal controls have been affected and what other updates are on the horizon. Anyone trying to use controls to keep their organization efficient and secure should consider this session because the rate of change to both operational methods and control processes has been and will continue to be incredible.Speaker - Karl Egnatoff

Professional Skepticism - Creating a Mindset for Finding Fraud and Error is a critical skill for audit and other attest services. The public places a high value on assurance services provided by an external public accountant, as the CPA's involvement directly enhances the degree of confidence intended users can place on the financial statements to make economic decisions. A proper mindset, including professional skepticism, is a critical feature of a high-quality audit or other attest service. Professional skepticism is an essential attitude that enhances the ability to identify and respond to conditions that may indicate possible material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.Speaker - Jennifer Louis

This session will identify the progress of the AICPA Enhancing Audit Quality Initiative and evaluate whether audit quality is improving. Analyze the trends that are contributing to audit quality and recall the major issues identified and the related resources issued by the AICPA to improve practice quality.Speaker - Allison M. Henry, CPA, CGMA

Recall lessons learned and practical implementation challenges and complexities with the FASB's Accounting Standard Update for Leases (ASC Topic 842). Identify key differences between ASC Topic 842 and ASC Topic 840, Practical Expedients, remeasurement-triggering events. Session will go beyond the basics and will apply to specific examples.Speaker - Allison M. Henry, CPA, CGMA

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) has become a hot topic among standard setters. This session will look at the work of the FASB, GASB, and AICPA in the areas of ESG. We'll also look at the types of engagements CPAs can provide to entities who want assurance around their ESG reporting.Speaker - Melisa Galasso

Unless you expect your organization to be stable in the short, medium and long term, you need to understand how to create long-term balance sheet and cash flow projections. Growing organizations must know whether they will have the resources to execute their business plan. Struggling organizations need to know if they will have the cash to survive. This session will increase your organization's ability to see its future and increase the confidence that your CEO, Board and bank have in you.Speaker - John L. Daly, MBA, CPA, CMA, CPIM

Fraud activities can be executed from within an organization, by parties outside an entity, or by both. Importantly, as the business world becomes more technological, the way fraud is carried out is changing. There must be an increased focus on understanding where new fraud vulnerabilities exist. In this session, we delve into the reasons that both internal and external intentional defalcations take place. The material discusses the new ways fraud is being actuated and looks at the factors driving those that undertake fraud. We spend time examining measures that can be implemented in order to stop fraud via the deployment of added security across the enterprise.Speaker - Karl Egnatoff