CPE Catalog+Events
Our comprehensive, easy-to-search list of all LCPA-sponsored courses helps you find exactly what you're looking for, or even a course on a new topic to expand your competencies. TIP: When doing multiple searches for different events, be sure to clear filters between searches.
How Culture Affects Risks
June 22, 2021 10:00am - 11:00am
Online/Webcast
1.00 Credits
How Culture Affects Risks - defining and understanding the importance of an organization's culture, and its impact on risk management, is essential to improve and maintain a successful risk management process. All organizations develop a culture. Unfortunately, a culture can be good or bad.The longer it's in-place the more difficult it becomes to change. The material contains a discussion of core values and key steps to building a good(positive) culture. The A, B, C model (Attitudes, Behavior, Culture) is explained as a technique to improve a risk management culture. The importance of hiring and onboarding and techniques to improve results are covered.Participants are introduced to the process of behavioral based interviewing(STAR method). Techniques including GAP analysis and the use of surveys are included throughout the discussion. Speaker - Bruce Shepard
Linking Risk Management to Strategy
June 22, 2021 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Online/Webcast
1.50 Credits
Linking Risk Management to Strategy and Strategic Planning -integrating risk management into your strategic planning is essential for its success. However, as showed by the included surveys, only about 20% of companies have integrated their ERM activities into strategic planning. The material provides several surveys identifying top risks as described by executives. The uneven impact of Black Swan events (9/11, Great Recession and Covid-19)among industries and companies within industries is discussed. For example, in retail bricks and mortar firms suffered lost business, as companies with a strong e-commerce base grew during Covid-19. The changed role of financial professionals to help bring about a better understanding of the organization's business model, as a means to add significant value is part of the over all discussion. The use of the Balanced Scorecard as a tool to reduce the number of measurements and focus on key metrics (KPIs) is demonstrated. By cascading linked measurements throughout the company risk management and overall strategy become part of every activity. Other techniques such as strategy mapping areused in the discussion and in exercises. An executive summary of The State ofRisk Oversight (2018), co-sponsored by AICPA and North Carolina StateUniversity, is included to aid the participants as they implement the processof linking ERM activities with strategic planning efforts. Speaker - Bruce Shepard
Power BI - Introduction to MS Power BI Tools
June 22, 2021 10:00am - 12:00pm
Online/Webcast
2.00 Credits
Excel is a popular data analysis tool, yet most users have never learned the basics of data analysis using Excel or the tools that Excel offers to help with data analysis. Those that learned to analyze data using PivotTables, soon learned there were many weaknesses in PivotTables that resulted in elaborate calculations in order to perform simple tasks.In 2010, after much development and little hype, Microsoft released Power Pivot, a new data analytic tool that removed the weaknesses of PivotTables. This single product took Excel from a low-end data analytic tool to one of the most sophisticated and comprehensive tools. Since 2010, Microsoft has continued their development of end-user data analytic tools. This entire suite of products is called Power BI. During this webcast we will provide an overview of the various Power BI tools and discuss Microsoft's Power BI Strategy. We will begin by explaining the challenges faced by many accountants when it comes to analyzing data in Excel. You will learn how each Power BI tool reduces the challenges and improves your data analytic skills. You will also gain a complete understanding of when to use which tool. This is an overview of the various Microsoft Power BI tools and should be your first step in learning the complete set of Power BI tools. As an overview, we will not be teaching the details of each tool but you will receive a thorough understanding of what each tool can accomplish. This series is presented using Excel 2019/Office 365. Regardless of the version you are using, most concepts covered in this webcast series apply to all versions of Excel.Speaker - Bryan Smith
Power BI - Prepare Your Data Efficiently for Excel Analysis
June 22, 2021 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Online/Webcast
2.00 Credits
Before you can analyze data, you first must get the data. This webcast focuses on getting data into Excel using different data sources. Whether your data is text, comma delimited (CSV), reports, Excel, databases, web, applications and/or many others, Excel provides the ability to access that data. You will learn about tools that have been added to Excel that will make accessing that data even easier, such as data models and Power Query (Get and Transform). After this webcast you will finally be able to get the data you need to perform data analysis. This series is presented using Excel 2019/Office 365. Regardless of the version you are using, most concepts covered in this webcast series apply to all versions of Excel. Speaker - Bryan Smith
Risk Assessment During the Recovery
June 22, 2021 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Online/Webcast
2.00 Credits
The Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has presented new and heightened risks for businesses, making the audit risk assessment all the more important. The key to high-quality audit engagements is rooted in appropriately identifying and responding to the risks of material misstatement. However, more than a decade after the Risk Assessment Standards were issued, the AICPA Peer Review team found that nearly half of the engagements reviewed failed to comply with AU-C Sections 315 or 330.In this webcast, you will learn about the most pervasive risk assessment issues the Peer Review team has uncovered and how to avoid them in your practice. You will also learn how to properly assess risk affecting clients during the COVID-19 pandemic.Speaker - Bob Dohrer, Carl Mayes
Roles and responsibilities in Risk Management
June 22, 2021 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Online/Webcast
1.00 Credits
Roles and Responsibilities in Risk Management - identifiesthe skills/traits of an anticipatory leader and the vital role they play in anorganization. These leaders are strategic thinkers, capable of aligning theorganization with a balanced risk and reward approach. They are part futurist,strategist and integrator. Work by Robert Greenleaf (servant leadership) isreferred to in this discussion. The use of the 80/20 Rule (Pareto analysis) tofocus your efforts and maximize results is incorporated into the conversation.The need to understand the different responsibilities for risk management ofthe levels within an organization is discussed in detail. These levels startwith board members and go through staff levels, and even to part-time employeesand partners (suppliers, customers, etc.). Everyone has a role if riskmanagement is going to be part of everything an organization does. Lists ofimportant questions are provided to assist your journey to establishing andmaintaining an effective risk management process. Speaker - Bruce Shepard
Surgent's Annual Accounting and Auditing Update
June 22, 2021 10:30am - 6:30pm
Online/Webcast
8.00 Credits
Designed for accounting and attestation practitioners at all levels in both public accounting and business and industry, this course provides a comprehensive review of recent standard setting activities of the FASB and AICPA. In addition to providing a status update on implementation of Topic 842, Leases, this course will bring you up to date on FASB and AICPA standards issued over the past few years. The course also provides many hands-on examples and illustrations to help you apply the guidance in practice. In addition to a financial accounting update, the course will discuss what you will need to do differently as you adopt new audit standards 134-140 for your 2021 audits, including a detailed review of the new audit requirements related to audits of employee benefit plans which are found in SAS 136. The course will also cover the key changes accountants will need to implement as they adopt SSARS No. 25 on their upcoming review, compilation, and preparation engagements as well as focus on key aspects of audit quality, such as frequent peer review findings and what you can do to avoid them. In summary, the course is your go-to source for all things A&A and will prepare you for your upcoming engagements throughout the rest of the year.Speaker - Richard Daisley, CPA
Surgent's Annual Update for Defined Contribution Plans
June 22, 2021 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Online/Webcast
2.00 Credits
This course will provide a general understanding of the current and prospective reporting and disclosure requirements for employee benefit plans. Participants will be provided with an insight into the common errors and mistakes made by auditors and plan administrators. Results from the Department of Labor's ("DOL") Criminal Enforcement initiative and audit quality study will be discussed and reviewed. An update will be provided on the issues associated with the peer review process and failure of firms to include employee benefit plans. This material will provide auditors and plan administrators with up-to-date information regarding defined contribution plans auditing, reporting and disclosure requirements.Speaker - Melissa Critcher, CPA, PC
Surgent's Employee Stock Options: What Financial Professionals Should Know When Advising Their Clients
June 22, 2021 9:00am - 11:00am
Online/Webcast
2.00 Credits
Companies often offer stock options as an additional form of compensation to attract and retain the best talent. Used appropriately, stock options can generate significant wealth. Yet many employees are unfamiliar with how stock options work and why options serve as a valuable opportunity for employees to establish and grow their wealth. Unfortunately, employees who receive stock options are often unaware of their inherent risks. Research has shown that over 75% of employees have never exercised their stock options. Almost half of these individuals (48%), say they held off on selling their options due to fear of making a mistake. This course provides accounting and financial professionals with a broad overview of employee stock options. The webinar is designed to help participants better understand the fundamentals behind these investments and in turn, better advise their clients.Speaker - Jason Cornell
Surgent's Key Current Financial and Economic Issues Facing the Financial Executive
June 22, 2021 8:00am - 4:00pm
Online/Webcast
8.00 Credits
The course explores the challenges of the current economic trends and analyzes their impact on you as the financial executive in areas of human resource management; credit markets and banking; risk management and pandemic style disruptions; cash flow planning strategies; debt and equity mix impacts in uncertain markets; globalization of the market in times of uncertainty; retirement planning and social security funding; and acquiring distressed companies and assets. Specific recommendations and insights will be offered to you to deal with the challenges.Speaker - Frank Ryan, CPA
Surgent's What CPAs Should Know About Trust Instruments
June 22, 2021 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Online/Webcast
2.00 Credits
This is a survey course on the intergenerational transfer of property -- focusing on what the CPA should know about trust instruments. It will cover a broad number of topics ranging from the fundamental legal principals necessary for the trust and estate practitioner to understand, to the ability of language in the trust instrument to accomplish a certain tax result.Speaker - Bob Keebler, CPA/PFS, MST, AEP (Distinguished), CGMA
The Best Individual Income Tax Update Course by Surgent
June 22, 2021 9:00am - 5:00pm
Online/Webcast
8.00 Credits
This highly informative course comprehensively covers all the latest tax law developments. The focus is on individual taxation and discussion of the planning opportunities practitioners need to understand to help clients respond effectively. You will come away from the course with the up-to-date knowledge to educate your individual tax clients and implement tax-saving ideas that will serve their ever-evolving needs. Continually updated for items regarding tax reform, including 2021 stimulus bill(s).Speaker - Bob Lickwar, CPA
Impact of GASB Activities on State and local Government
June 23, 2021 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Online/Webcast
3.00 Credits
Don't let recent developments slip by you. Understand the latest on governmental accounting with this fast-paced interactive course that analyzes the GASB requirements for governments. Speaker - Melisa F. Galasso
Interpreting the New Revenue Recognition Standard: What All CPAs Need to Know
June 23, 2021 9:00am - 1:00pm
Online/Webcast
4.00 Credits
The effective date of FASB ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers is upon us! Do you know which contracts are within the scope of the standard and when revenue should be recognized at a point in time of over time? This course answers those questions by providing a basic understanding of the five-step process for recognizing revenue under FASB ASC 606. Supported by practical examples, this course addresses core princi-ples that all CPAs need to know. Recent updates to this course include the latest guidance from FASB, industry-specific examples taken from the AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide Revenue Recognition as well as disclosure illustrations. Speaker - Renee Rampulla
Surgent's Advanced Trust Issues: A Roadmap for Success in An Increasingly Complex Area
June 23, 2021 12:00pm - 3:30pm
Online/Webcast
4.00 Credits
Trusts are not cookie-cutter documents. In fact, they can be rather unwieldy, especially in explaining the functions to a client and then having the client comply with the trust terms. This course delves into best practices. Given common scenarios, what are the best trusts to use? And how can the client be best protected?Speaker - Ciro Poppiti, Esq.
Surgent's Fundamentals of Public Charity Taxation and Form 990
June 23, 2021 12:00pm - 3:30pm
Online/Webcast
4.00 Credits
If you work for or with not-for-profit entities and have questions about the IRS Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax, and the related schedules, this is the course for you! The program focuses on common issues that professionals will likely encounter when they prepare the Form 990 and additional tax rules applicable to not-for-profits.Speaker - Ian Redpath, J.D., LLM
Surgent's Individual and Financial-Planning Tax Camp
June 23, 2021 10:30am - 6:30pm
Online/Webcast
8.00 Credits
Each year brings its own set of tax planning challenges, and this year is no exception. This course aims to arm tax planners with planning strategies and ideas that wealthy clients, middle-income clients, and closely held business owners need to consider right now to take advantage of present opportunities and plan for future tax advantages. Learn strategies that can really have an impact on client lives, while also bringing value to you and your firm. Continually updated for items regarding tax reform, including 2021 stimulus bill(s).Speaker - Bob Lickwar, CPA
Webcast: 2020 Professional Ethics for Louisiana CPAs - Non-Public (ETHIWC1221)
June 23, 2021 1:00pm - 3:40pm
Online/Webcast
3.00 Credits
Developed and delivered by award-winning instructors Mike Inzina and Kurt Oestriecher, this course will fulfill the State Board’s 3-hour ethics requirement for 2020. We will first focus on the Rules of the State Board of CPAs of Louisiana (from Chapter 17 of the Rules of the State Board): General rules applicable to licensees Other responsibilities and practices of licensees Any recent changes to the Rules and relevant laws and regulations The remaining content will address Section 2 (Members in Business) of the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, providing an overview of the online Code, as well as its structure and application, the Principles of Professional Conduct, and definitions. The course will include a comprehensive discussion on the format and use of the Conceptual Framework for members in business, including identification of the various types of threats to compliance with the Rules, the use of safeguards to eliminate or reduce identified threats, as well as suggested documentation of the licensees’ application of the process. Each category of threats will be discussed, including examples of threats to all rules of conduct with suggested safeguards that can be applied. The remainder of the materials will address each of the Rules of Conduct applicable to members in business in turn, with a discussion of each of the Interpretations relative to each rule. It is expected that the largest portion of the discussion will focus on the Integrity and Objectivity Rule, as it constitutes a substantial portion of Section 2 of the Code of Professional Conduct, with special attention devoted to areas that may be troublesome, such as the Conflicts of Interest interpretation, and the importance of recognizing potential conflicts, Gifts and Entertainment interpretation, Knowing Misrepresentation in the Preparation and Presentation of Information interpretation, Subordination of Judgment interpretation, Obligation of a Member to His or Her External Accountant interpretation, and Pressure to Breach the Rules interpretation. Likewise, the Acts Discreditable Rule and its Interpretations will consume an appropriate amount of time and material, since many of the rules otherwise applicable to members in public practice are interpreted under this rule for members in business. Special attention will be devoted to the interpretations covering Negligence in the Preparation of Financial Statements or Records, and Confidential Information Obtained from Employment or Volunteer Activities. A general discussion of the less complex rules and their interpretations for members in business include: General Standards Rule Compliance with Standards Rule Accounting Principles Rule Case studies and illustrative examples will be provided throughout the materials to enable licensees to understand how the rules are applied to real-life circumstances. In addition, you can expect the instructors to provide anecdotal illustrations from their experience.
Webcast: 2020 Professional Ethics for Louisiana CPAs - Public (ETHPWC1221)
June 23, 2021 1:00pm - 3:40pm
Online/Webcast
3.00 Credits
Developed and delivered by award-winning instructors Mike Inzina and Kurt Oestriecher, this course fulfills the State Board’s 3-hour ethics requirement for 2020.This course will first focus on the Rules of the State Board of CPAs of Louisiana (from Chapter 17 of the Rules of the State Board): General rules applicable to licensees Other responsibilities and practices of licensees Any recent changes to the Rules and relevant laws and regulations The remaining content will address Section 1 (Members in Public Practice) of the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, providing an overview of the online Code, as well as its structure and application, the Principles of Professional Conduct, and definitions.The course will include a comprehensive discussion on the format and use of the Conceptual Frameworks, including identification of the various types of threats to compliance with the Rules, the use of safeguards to eliminate or reduce identified threats, as well as suggested documentation of the licensees’ application of the process. Each category of threats will be discussed, including examples of threats to all rules of conduct with suggested safeguards that can be applied.The largest portion of the discussion will focus on the Independence Rule, as it constitutes a substantial portion of Section 1 of the Code of Professional Conduct, with attention devoted to areas that may be troublesome in practice, such as the assessment of management’s skill, knowledge, and experience necessary to accept responsibility when the licensee provides non-attest services. The course will provide explanations of key concepts applicable to independence such as: What is a covered member? What are the classes of covered members? Who are immediate family members? Who are close relatives? What is the period of the professional engagement? The remainder of the discussion will address each of the Rules of Conduct in turn, with a discussion of each of the Interpretations relative to each rule.A substantial amount of time will be devoted to the Integrity and Objectivity Rule and its Interpretations, in particular, the Conflicts of Interest interpretation, and the importance of recognizing potential conflicts. Likewise, the Acts Discreditable Rule and its Interpretations will consume an appropriate amount of time and material. A general discussion of the less complex rules and their interpretations include: General Standards Rule Compliance with Standards Rule Accounting Principles Rule Fees and Other Types of Remuneration Rule Advertising and Other Forms of Solicitation Rule Confidential Information Rule Form of Organization and Name Rule Case studies and illustrative examples will be provided throughout the materials to help you understand how the rules are applied to real-life circumstances. In addition, you can expect the instructor to provide anecdotal illustrations from their experience.
Yellowbook and Single Audit Update
June 23, 2021 8:00am - 10:30am
Online/Webcast
2.50 Credits
Change is inevitable and at times overwhelming if you are unprepared. Ensure you are current in governmental and not-for-profit auditing. This update course is designed to prepare you for the latest single audit and uniform guidance developments affecting governments and not-for-profits. Speaker - Melisa F. Galasso