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.
Surgent's Choosing the Right Business Entity
Available Until
On Demand Only
2.00 Credits
The business structure a client chooses influences virtually everything: day-to-day operations, taxes, how much of their personal assets are at risk, and more. For this and many other reasons, it is critical that a client choose a business structure that gives the right balance of legal protections and benefits. From a tax perspective, in terms of selecting an entity to do business in, the universe shifted with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted at the end of 2017. The tax rate for C corporations was lowered to 21% and the 199A deduction offered pass-through entities the chance to significantly lower the rate at which they are taxed. But how do all these options work and which option is best for what business? Those questions are at the heart of this webinar. In this program, we discuss whether there is a "best entity" for our clients. We all know that re-examining choice of entity determination is at the top of the agenda for client meetings during and after the 2022 tax season because clients continue to want reassurance that they have the most tax-efficient entity. This program will equip you with the knowledge and insights you need to lead those discussions.
Surgent's Client Advisory Services (CAS): A Guide to the Variety of Offerings Professionals Can Provide
Available Until
On Demand Only
2.00 Credits
According to a 2020 AICPA survey, advisory and consulting services were considered the greatest unmet needs of clients. The recent growth in Client Advisory Services (CAS) has led many to ask what is included in this broad category as well as how to develop the services for clients. With so much focus on the recent success of CAS offerings, now is the time to learn how the services differ from what you currently offer, which of your clients would benefit most, and what you need in place to add a quality CAS program to your firm's menu of services.
Surgent's Coaching Skills for Managers and Supervisors
Available Until
On Demand Only
4.00 Credits
This one-day course will teach effective skills for coaching and training employees. You'll learn how to identify the characteristics of effective coaches and develop coaching strategies to support and assist your team, with the goal of helping them improve morale, productivity and quality. And, you'll learn a five-step approach for giving constructive criticism while managing defensive reactions. (Please Note: This module is part of Surgent's Audit Skills Training: Level 5.)
Surgent's Comparing and Contrasting Retirement Plans for Small- and Medium-Sized Businesses
Available Until
On Demand Only
2.00 Credits
Clients often ask their tax advisors whether they have the "best" pension plan and whether they are using it to its maximum advantage. This program explains how various pension plans work and analyzes why a small or medium-sized business owner would choose one plan over another.
Surgent's Compilations, Review, And Attestation Engagements
Available Until
On Demand Only
2.00 Credits
Most CPA firms perform some level of compilation and review engagements. And some perform engagements under attestation standards. Building off what you learned in the training in Level 1, Module 4, this course offers builds provides a deeper dive into the most frequently missed issues in compilations and reviews engagements. We will also focus on attestation engagements and the various types of engagements an auditor can perform. (Please Note: This module is part of Surgent's Audit Skills Training: Level 2.)
Surgent's Compilations, Reviews, and Preparations: Engagement Performance and Annual Update
Available Until
On Demand Only
8.00 Credits
Specifically designed for preparation, compilation, and review practitioners, this course will provide you with 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 the additional guidance related to SSARS engagements through the issuance of SSARS Nos. 22-26 by the ARSC. In addition to SSARS 26, the entire suite of quality management standards is discussed. However, knowing the standards is not enough. You need to be able to effectively apply them. To support this, the course will review 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 SSARS requirements and guidance, but more importantly, it will provide you with practical examples and illustrations to help you effectively and efficiently perform these types of engagements. This course is intended to be your go-to reference for training your staff and managing your SSARS No. 21-26 services in compliance with professional, ethical, and technical requirements.
Surgent's Controller/CFO Update: Hot Topics Facing Today's Financial Professional
Available Until
On Demand Only
4.00 Credits
In today's rapidly changing world, finance professionals are required to wear many hats and are often the keys to the success of the organization. On one hand, they need to be abreast of the latest proven financial skills for making the best decisions, and on the other hand they need the best skills to motivate, manage, and lead people. Being pigeon-holed into one area or another is neither good for career building nor good for the organization. This reality has proven to be even more true with the advent of COVID-19. We'll cover the latest issues that all CFOs and controllers need to know about and provide how-to guidance to allow for immediate use in their organizations. The program is focused on organizational success and will concentrate on ways to manage risk and achieve greater productivity.
Surgent's Controllership Skills Update - Budgeting, Forecasting, and Big Data
Available Until
On Demand Only
2.00 Credits
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 Controllership Skills Update: Current Survival Skills
Available Until
On Demand Only
2.00 Credits
The role of financial professionals has and continues to change in organizations. The stereotype of collecting and reporting data has been replaced by a broader vision, which focuses on improving an organization's results today and preparing it for the future. This brief program offers specific actions that can be implemented by financial personnel to expand their role through improving their organization. The actions and techniques provided build upon and improve activities that exist in many organizations (measuring, budgeting, hiring, risk management, etc.), as well as providing insights into capital allocation, cash management, valuation techniques, variables that influence capacity levels, M&A activity and actions to increase efficiency and innovation. Updated to include the impact of tax regulations, additional examples of M&A, alliances and strategic spin-offs/splits, methods to improve efficiency from existing activities, and current organizational changes employed to manage and accelerate growth.
Surgent's Controllership Skills Update: Mergers, Acquisitions, and Alliances
Available Until
On Demand Only
2.00 Credits
Mergers, acquisitions, and partnering have long been strategic vehicles to grow or change an existing organization. Corporate America has extensive experience in merging with or acquiring firms. However, its track record of being able to unify an acquired firm with the acquirer and provide a single organization with increased growth potential has been somewhat shaky. This session provides a roadmap including specific actions for financial professionals focused on improving the results of an acquisition, sale, formation of an alliance, and/or outsourced activities. This program continues to be updated based upon trends and recent events. In addition to traditional topics, it includes discussions on the impact of taxes, corporate structures to manage M&A and internal venture capital, strategic spin-offs/splits, issues concerning goodwill, and managing outsourced activities. The program expands the topics covered in the Controllership Skills Update Series. As with the other programs, this brief session is aimed at renewing and expanding participants' existing skills, by providing specific actions to improve an organization's results. Real-world examples are used throughout the session.
Surgent's Controllership Skills Update: Risk Management
Available Until
On Demand Only
2.00 Credits
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, as well as a sample group exercise to test your current risk management systems.
Surgent's Corporate Bankruptcy Basics: Understanding the Reorganization and Liquidation Process
Available Until
On Demand Only
1.00 Credits
Corporate bankruptcies are complex proceedings involving multiple parties. Businesses file for bankruptcy to seek protection from creditors and to reorganize or liquidate debts. There are several reasons companies file for bankruptcy; however, the most common include excessive debt, a drop in demand, increased costs, lawsuits, and poor accounting practices. As trusted advisors, accounting and financial professionals should have a basic understanding of the bankruptcy process. This course provides an overview of corporate bankruptcy proceedings. Participants in this webinar will gain an understanding of how corporate bankruptcy proceedings begin and end, as well as learn about key issues that affect debtor and creditor rights during bankruptcy. This webinar provides information from the perspective of both debtor and creditor. Although bankruptcy concerns the debts of the debtor, the Bankruptcy Code provides substantial protections to creditors. Creditor rights, however, vary widely depending on the status afforded the creditor under the Bankruptcy Code. Do yourself, your clients, and your profit margin a favor, and sign up for this invaluable webinar.
Surgent's Critical Conversations: Having the "Hard to Have" Discussions
Available Until
On Demand Only
2.00 Credits
Silence isn't always golden. Problems don't solve themselves and as the engagement leader, it is your responsibility to proactively address and resolve issues, even if it means having challenging conversations. As uncomfortable as some of these conversations may be, keeping your silence won't resolve the issue and may in fact add to it. No matter which side of the table you find yourself in a "hard to have" talk, you can learn to manage the conversation. In this session, you'll learn how to recognize when a conversation becomes critical, how to plan effectively for the conversation and which communications strategies can help you create a win/win outcome. (Please Note: This module is part of Surgent's Audit Skills Training: Level 5.)
Surgent's Critical Issues Involving Taxation of Construction Contractors
Available Until
On Demand Only
4.00 Credits
Many consider taxation of construction contractors to be the most complex area of the Internal Revenue Code. Probably no other industry has so many elections and considerations that need to be considered and made in order to reduce or defer amounts owed. In this course, we will highlight these areas and discuss potential opportunities for practitioners and their clients. We will also discuss the impact of more recent legislation on construction taxation, including changes to net operating losses and the AMT rules. This is a critical presentation "tailor-made" for CPAs who either work for or represent construction contractors.
Surgent's Crowdfunding: A General Overview
Available Until
On Demand Only
1.00 Credits
In the past, entrepreneurs who sought investment capital for their start-ups were subject to the preferences and expectations of a small set of wealthy investors. These venture capitalists and angel investors often played the role of highly selective gatekeepers, denying countless potential business leaders the opportunity to bring their well-thought ideas to market. Much has changed. Today, crowdfunding disrupts many of the traditional models for start-up investing. Crowdfunding provides capital for new businesses by asking the general public for donations. The system works by entrepreneurs creating websites enabling internet users to view information, photos and promotional videos explaining why they seek funding. Instead of receiving equity in the company, investors are often rewarded for pledging their financial support for the start-up business. Investment revenue from crowdfunding has grown globally from $3.9 billion in 2017 to projected growth of $11.9 billion by 2023. Despite its incredible growth, crowdfunding remains underutilized by businesses. This course is intended to provide accounting and other professionals with a basic understanding of the crowdfunding process to better inform their clients and colleagues about this rapidly growing platform.
Surgent's Current Issues in Accounting and Auditing: An Annual Update
Available Until
On Demand Only
4.00 Credits
Designed for accounting and attestation practitioners at all levels in both public accounting and business and industry, this course provides an overview of recent FASB and AICPA activity, including recently issued and proposed Accounting Standards Updates (ASUs); the latest on the new lease accounting standard, Topic 842; other relevant ASUs. The course also reviews new auditing standards effective in 2021 and beyond and the latest on new standards related to SSARS engagements. The course will also discuss other important A&A practice matters you should be aware of, including an update on peer review and audit quality.
Surgent's Data Analytics Readiness Series: Advanced Formulas- Array Formulas and DAX Formulas
Available Until
On Demand Only
1.00 Credits
This one-hour data analytics course will introduce formula arrays and DAX formulas to users in Power BI and Excel. Users will learn the skills to create and evaluate array formulas and DAX formulas. An understanding of implicit or explicit intersections and measures within the formulas will be developed. Users will apply the understanding to data and work alongside the instructor to create calculated columns in Power Pivot using DAX formulas and array formulas. This course is one in a ten-part certification series, Core Data Analytics: Excel and Power BI Skills for Accounting and Finance Professionals, by Surgent IQ.
Surgent's Data Analytics Readiness Series: Artificial Intelligence- Basic Concepts in Excel
Available Until
On Demand Only
1.00 Credits
This one-hour course will serve as an introduction to artificial intelligence and how artificial intelligence is utilized in Excel. Users will be introduced to correlation and trend functions in Excel. The basics of linear regression and its application in Excel will be discussed. Specific attention will be given to artificial intelligence functions in Excel, including, but not limited to, forecasting, trend analysis, regression analysis, and predictive modeling. This course is one in a ten-part certification series, Core Data Analytics: Excel and Power BI Skills for Accounting and Finance Professionals, by Surgent IQ.
Surgent's Data Analytics Readiness Series: Calculated Columns and Dimensions
Available Until
On Demand Only
1.00 Credits
This one-hour course will focus on the use of Excel with Power BI and Power Query to organize and analyze data. Users will primarily work with calculated columns generated from existing data. They will walk through hands-on exercises to create calculated columns, add dimensions to existing data tables, and create hierarchies within the data tables. Special attention will be paid to Star Schema analytical modelling. To explore practical applications, users will apply the skills to journal entry testing. This course is one in a ten-part certification series, Core Data Analytics: Excel and Power BI Skills for Accounting and Finance Professionals, by Surgent IQ.
Surgent's Data Analytics Readiness Series: Data Extraction and Data Sources
Available Until
On Demand Only
1.00 Credits
This one-hour course serves as the introductory module to data analytics. Users of the course will learn the basic terminology used in performing data analytic-based tasks or working with data analytics. An understanding of the sources of data and importance in combining multiples sources will be developed. Users will be introduced to and will practice the basics of Microsoft's Power Query. This course is one in a ten-part certification series, Core Data Analytics: Excel and Power BI Skills for Accounting and Finance Professionals, by Surgent IQ.