CPE Catalog & Events

CFO & Controller Critical Skills: Budgeting & Forecasting

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Overview of budgeting toolsOverview of difference between budgeting and forecastingExamples of various budgeting and forecasting techniques

Surgent's Controllership Skills Update: Current Survival Skills

Changing Role of Financial Professionals: Priorities Change in mission Valued-added actions Strategic Measurements: Common errors and guidelines for improvement Balanced scorecard Strategy development and implementation Budgeting basics and next steps Risk Management: Recent lessons, including Black Swan events Defining Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Implementation Developing a Financial Leadership Pipeline: Changing employment environment Retaining the right employees Compensation Hiring process Capital Projects: Types of projects Factors affecting capacity Valuation techniques Cash management M&A Activity: Current environment Controller’s role Strategic questions Sample transactions Due diligence Implementation Introducing Improvements/Innovation: Getting started Establishing an environment Potential first projects Organizational structure

Surgent's Top 20 Effective Strategies for Avoiding RMD Mistakes and Penalties

How to determine when an individual is subject to an RMD Coverage of RMD changes under SECURE Act 2.0 What is the required minimum distribution for an account owner? What is the required minimum distribution for a beneficiary IRA? Key explanations of RMD regulations The types of accounts that are subject to the RMD rules The parties that are subject to the RMD rules Exceptions and special considerations for RMDs Rollover and transfer rules in an RMD year The various responsibilities of interested parties Qualified charitable distributions and how they are coordinated with RMDs and IRA contributions How the 10-year rule works for beneficiaries

Microsoft 365: Save More Time, Make More Money

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Appreciate the full potential of Microsoft 365 to drive efficiency in your businessLearn best practices for harnessing the power of Microsoft 365 Design your Teams app setup to meet the unique attributes of your businessUse SharePoint and OneDrive to organize your files and share them securely internally and externallyOrganize your thoughts, meeting notes and other content centrally in OneNoteManage your projects, large and small, with the Planner appDeploy the Stream app to document processes efficiently and effectively Bonus Content: Understand how to harness the power of AI with Microsoft Copilot

Will Your Ethics Be Burned by Burnout?

The major topics covered in this class include:Explore the effects of crisis and burnout on ethical decision-makingDefine the stressors, pressures, and biases that can lead good people to make less than optimal choicesDiscuss ways to offset the pressures, ways to reduce stress on ourselves and on our team, and ways to support our teamsLearn how to recognize when an individual or an organization is heading in the wrong direction and how to stop sliding down the slippery slope

Become a Data Analysis Expert

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:Data Analysis Process Flow: An introduction to the Data Analysis Process Flow and how it is your pathway to becoming a Data Analysis Expert.Data Modeling: A comprehensive discussion of building a data model and calculating metrics.Data Visualizations: An understanding how visualizations can present data in a more insightful and impactful manner.

QM Conversations: Standards - Documentation

Ethics: IRS Behavioral Insights for Accountants

Behavioral insights (BI) PrimerHow and why BI are used by the IRSIRS and individual decision-makingIRS and environmental and design considerationsIRS and social normsIRS "top of mind" issues BI and Implementation of tax reform legislation BI and private debt collectionBI and online taxpayer accountsBI and taxpayer rights in "real" vs. "unreal" auditsBI and the tax-exempt approval processBI and passport renewal and revocationHow to use BI to more mindfully interact with the IRS to improve outcomes

Recruit. Retain. Engage. Mastering LinkedIn for HR Success

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:How to pro-actively find, identify, and connect with new candidates from various sources within LinkedIn.Best practices for organically attracting candidates to your company and team.Strategic talent networking opportunities.Essential considerations of employee advocacy and brand building using LinkedIn.Retention strategies such as promoting a positive work environment, and expanding employee recognition and engagement strategies.

Fraud & Embezzlement: Case Studies from the Trenches

The major topics that will be covered in this class include:How organizations can find themselves defrauded due to lax oversight and weak internal controls.How the existence of the "trusted advisor" creates situations where CPAs can drop their professional skepticism.Illustrations of the issues companies should look for in preventing fraud and embezzlement.

Surgent's Guide and Update to Compilations, Reviews, and Preparations

SSARS No. 21, Clarification and Recodification, and updates to SSARS No. 21 due to the issuance of SSARS No. 23, Omnibus Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services SSARS No. 22, Compilation of Pro Forma Financial Information SSARS No. 24, Omnibus Statement on Standards for Accounting and Review Services -- 2018 SSARS No. 25, Materiality in a Review of Financial Statements and Adverse Conclusions Sample comprehensive engagement work programs for preparation, compilation, and review engagements

Operations Level Internal Control

The major topics covered in this course include:An overview of controls that drive proceduresConsiderations for procedural control developmentUnderstanding and controlling risk that arises when organizations change

Comprehensive Update: FASB, AICPA (SAS, SQMS, SSARS & Ethics) 25-26

ASU effective in 2024 and beyond Recent SAS Selected ethics interpretations

Living Trust Administration Workshop 25-26

The steps in Trust Administration Delaware Tax Trap -its unique use Change of the exemption in 2026 and its impact Whether to file a 706 for portability election and/or Q-Tipping the Credit Trust Preparation of trust accountings Trust administration of Medi-Cal Trusts, QPRT, GRAT and IDGTs

2025 Annual Update for Accountants & Auditors

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Technology Hot Topics for Audits.Accounting Standard UpdatesProjects identified by the FASB's Invitation to Comment: Agenda Consultation.Year 2 considerations for leases including modification accounting.The impact of the changes to auditing group auditsThe status of the AICPA's quality management project management.The current work of the ASB. 

Surgent's Partnership and LLC Core Tax Issues From Formation Through Liquidation

Reporting requirements for Schedules K-2 and K-3 Capital account reporting requirements Schedule K-1 reporting for §743 adjustments Schedule K-1 reporting for §704 gains and losses Comprehensive case on partnership/partner application of the business interest deduction Section 704(b) basis versus tax basis for capital accounts Detailed rules of §704 for preventing the shifting of tax consequences among partners or members Unreasonable uses of the traditional and curative allocation methods Layers of §704(c) allocations Treatment of recourse versus nonrecourse debt basis How to calculate basis limitations and the implications on each partner’s own tax return How §179 limitations affect partnership/LLC basis Regulations for handling basis step-ups under §754 elections and mandatory adjustments under §743 and §734 for partnerships that have not made a §754 election Subsequent contributions of property with §754 adjusted basis to another partnership or corporation Capital account adjustments in connection with admission of new members Special allocations and substantial economic effect LLCs and self-employment tax to members Distributions – current or liquidating, cash or property, and the substituted basis rule Termination and liquidation of an LLC

Microsoft 365 Application Lightning Round Review-Updated

The major topics covered in this course include:Lightning round review of the following apps, with an explanation and demonstration of what each of them offersTeams - the foundation of all that you do in Microsoft 365SharePoint / OneDrive - secure cloud storagePower BI - the new financial reporting modelStream - the YouTube for your organizationBookings - streamline your appointment scheduling OneNote - get your content organized for quick retrieval Lists - create custom list tracking reportsTo Do - consolidate all your Outlook, Planner and general "to do's" in one appPlanner - manage simple and complex engagements and projects in an intuitive appA quick look at many of the remaining apps

S Corporations: Calculating Shareholder Basis

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:Discuss the calculation of basis when the entity is formed including the impact of contributed propertyExplain the importance of shareholder loans to the entityUses a comprehensive example to illustrate the mechanics of the basis determination processSchedule K-1 Basis and Form 7203Discuss how basis is impacted by distributions of corporation propertyExplain how basis is impacted by sale/or liquidation of the S corporation interestDiscuss how S corporation losses impact Form 1040 Schedule E reportingShow how to get from the Schedule K-1 information to the basis calculations

Surgent's Marijuana: A Generalized Business Viewpoint

An overview of current state and federal laws governing marijuana A review of state boards of accountancy regarding marijuana How some financial professionals are capitalizing on the marijuana industry Providing auditing and tax services within the marijuana industry How accountants and other financial professionals can manage risk within this industry IRC Section 280E’s prohibition of deductions involving controlled substances A summary of various state taxation laws on marijuana Ethical issues for accountants who work in the marijuana industry Relevant banking regulations Growth projections

Surgent's Reducing a Business Owner Client's Exposure to Social Security and Self-Employment Taxes

Section 1402(a)(1) exclusions from the definition of self-employment income Application of the SE tax to members of limited liability companies Taking a self-employed owner's health insurance deductions against self-employment tax How using the S corporation and the MMLLC treated as a partnership can help reduce an individual's exposure to self-employment tax How hiring a spouse and/or child helps reduce self-employment tax Differentiating between income treated as self- employment income and income that is not self-employment income