Topic Descriptions

Sales-Leaseback of Real Estate Transactions
In the current credit and liquidity crisis, as companies face difficulty in obtaining financing, they may sell and lease back real estate properties to improve their liquidity and improve balance sheet ratios. Deal terms may include various forms of continuing involvement, such as repurchase options or guarantees, which may present accounting issues. An understanding of the terms of sale-leaseback transactions, as well as knowing the appropriate literature to apply, is critical when determining the appropriate accounting.

Are You Compliant? AICPA Valuation Standards
This session will answer the most-asked questions about the new standard: when does it apply? As CPAs deliver services to clients – from estate and gift tax compliance to tax and financial planning – at what point do practitioners “cross the line” and find themselves, perhaps unintentionally and unknowingly, preparing a valuation?

Attorneys’ Responses to Audit Inquiries: Weighing Auditor’s Need for Information Against the Client’s Need to Preserve the Attorney-Client Privilege
Sarbanes-Oxley presents new issues and tensions with the attorney-client privilege. This session highlights those issues and offers an overview of the purpose of audit inquiries as part of the procedure that GAAS requires.

Board Responsibility & Internal Controls
Through examples of problem areas, this session will highlight responsibilities and minimum requirements that boards are involved with regarding internal control policies and procedures for the organizations they represent.

CIRA Update
Master the essentials – learn the ins and outs that have the biggest affect on the CIRA industry, including GAAP, audit issues and compilation and review problems. Highlights include changes to Florida Statutes 718, 719, 720 and 721, including reserve and financial reporting issues of homeowners’ associations as they relate to changes to F.S. 720.

Circular 230/More Likely than Not
Practical examples and interactive discussion are the highlights of this session, which covers tax ethical developments focusing on Circular 230; federal rules governing practice before the IRS; and section 6694, preparer penalty rules. Key topics also include disclosure of positions on tax returns, due diligence, use of estimates, discovery of an error, providing oral and written tax advice, and definition of “preparer.”

Clergy Taxation
Participants will be made aware of the correct methods to handle clergy salaries, allowances, and living expenses. Other issues with self-employment and self-employment taxes will be explored. Clergy itemized deductions and the housing or parsonage allowance will be dealt with.

Client Representation with the IRS
Learn the ins and outs of representing your clients before the IRS. This session covers all tax controversies from audits, appeals and collection matters.

Effective Communication Techniques
Learn a variety of communication techniques: one on one, within your organization and to the outside world.

Electronic Archiving and Data Retention
Learn how to efficiently and cost-effectively store, retrieve and use information. Focusing on usability, security and regulatory compliance, this session covers policies and procedures to ensure you maintain retention periods and protect information from disaster or unauthorized access.

Electronic Data Discovery: Know Where You Are Going With Where Your Client's Data Has Been
Last year, rules regulating the discovery of electronic data broadened what items can be considered as electronic evidence. Are you prepared for your role in handling electronic evidence in support of litigation? When is forensic vs. active file review appropriate? Come learn the intricacies of handling electronic data in support of litigation and make sure you are prepared.

Emerging Issues
This session highlights today's issues in governmental accounting. 

Employment Law Update
Increasing legislation and litigation under employment laws means employers must be proactive to avoid liability. This session covers key areas such as hiring and firing, writing policies, determining exemptions, creating limitations for leave, and other key employment law matters impacting their workplace and the workplace of their clients.

Ethics: Protecting the Integrity of Florida CPAs
The course focuses on real-life ethical issues. Through lecture and class discussion, the course addresses internal and external issues CPAs face — professional standards, ethical conduct, client communication and independence. The course complies with the ethics requirements for Florida CPAs as set forth by the Florida Board of Accountancy.

Fair Value Accounting
This session will provide an overview of what you need to know about the latest financial pronouncements that impact fair value accounting, particularly SFAS 157, Fair Value Measurements and SFAS 141r, Business Combinations. Highlights include: Overview of professional pronouncements related to fair value accounting, latest trends that affect fair value accounting, the latest on the concept of what is fair value, and reviewing the work of a valuation specialist.

FASB Update
With a concentration on FASB’s high-level projects, this session covers it’s recently completed projects as well as what FASB expect to finish over the next year.

Federal Tax Update
Not just another update. The session focuses on the past year of huge changes – including tax legislation in response to difficult economic times; new political priorities; and a growing list of expiring provisions. Meanwhile, the IRS struggles to bring order to hastily enacted legislation through the regulations and standardized examination procedures. This session will review the past year and look forward at Federal tax changes in the coming years.

Fiduciary Accounting
Pick up practical applications to everyday practice in fiduciary accounting for Florida, including proposed legislation and recent court decisions.

FIN 48
The FIN 48 discussion will address the FASB’s prescribed recognition threshold and measurement attributes for financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in tax returns. Guidance will also be provided on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties and financial statement disclosure.

Following the Money
Using real-life examples of divorces and business ownerships, this course introduces you to procedures you should use to follow the money trail.

Forensic Investigations of Financial Statement Fraud: A Case Study
Financial statement fraud and accountants’ investigations have become more complex. Learn through case examples what recent trends are in forensic accounting and how to get ready for what’s next.

Fraud Case Studies in Govt/Educational Institutions
After a short review of the fraud triangle and the consideration of fraud in governmental and educational institutions, this session will review cases of fraud and abuse and what the organization could have done including appropriate audit procedures, to better protect itself.

GASB Update
Overview and update of current issues and pronouncements relating to accounting and financial reporting issues to the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.

Got a Review of My Compilation?
“I give it a 42, but I can’t dance to it!” In American Bandstand style, attendees will review the new AICPA releases SSARS No.15, 16 & 17, which update the required procedures and reporting for compilations and reviews.

Grant Compliance Testing – Adding Speed and Efficiency to the Single Audit Act
Focusing on The Single Audit Act, attend this course and learn ways to add speed and efficiency to the single audit process, including communicating documentation; time and timing requirements; and training audit staff.

Heads Up on the IRS Construction Audit Guide
Review this guide before initiating an audit and learn how examiners use it to conduct audits in the construction industry. It also offers information to taxpayers and practitioners associated with the construction industry.

How to Increase the Value of a Small Business
Building value is essential to all businesses. Learn the concepts of building enterprise value in the areas of human capital, intangible assets/intellectual property, and the goodwill value of the going concern.

IFRS and XBRL: Changing Worldwide Financial Reporting
Using practical examples, this session illustrates how International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), in conjunction with XBRL, are changing the way financial and business reporting is prepared and consumed. Already, IFRS have been applied in more than 100 countries.

Implementing the Risk Assessment Standards
Attend this session and find out how the new risk assessment standards will affect a “standard” audit performed in accordance with GAAS. Highlights include the information-gathering process; increased documentation requirements; risk assessment process; internal control issues, including transaction walkthroughs; and increased communication requirements with management.

Investigative Trends & Techniques
Learn about the computer tools most widely used by professionals who search for and investigate fraud. Discover the three phases of fraud examination, the best tools to use in each phase, and why.

International Taxation
A review of the more relevant U.S. income tax concepts applicable to U.S. Persons doing business abroad including a review of the choice of entity rules, foreign tax credit considerations, the benefit of deferral, the application of the anti-deferral tax regimes, incorporation of foreign subsidiaries and other entities, and exit strategies.

IRA Planning
This session surveys retirement plans and the critical legal and tax issues associated with plan holders such as the components distribution rules, associated taxes, and potential penalties of many familiar plans with a focus on IRAs.

IRS Hot Topics
Find out about new IRS programs as well as existing ones such as examination, collection, criminal investigation and Circular 230. Handy practice aids will assist you in your practice before the IRS and with tax-return preparation.

Life Insurance: What CPAs Need to Know
This course focuses on real-world life insurance fundamentals, including business and estate planning. Learn about life insurance your clients may have, how to determine what they really need, and what someone else may be trying to sell them.

Malpractice Risks: Navigating the New Frontier
Discover proactive strategies to manage risks in the accounting profession in the 21st century as CPAs in public practice face significant challenges: staff shortages, accelerating retirements, the onslaught of new professional standards and regulations, and more demanding clients.

Media Outreach as a Marketing Tool
Media relations are a powerful tool in the marketing kit to supplement your brandbuilding and business-development efforts. Learn how to incorporate outreach into your overall marketing efforts, develop a communications plan, conduct media training for your spokespersons, create a media kit, and pitch the media.

Minimizing the AMT
What can an individual taxpayer do to minimize exposure to the AMT? For those who live in high-tax (income and property) states, there may be no way to avoid it, but proper planning may help to minimize the AMT burden.

Mobile and Remote Computing
Covering technologies such as tablet PCs, PDAs and wireless tools like Bluetooth, WiFi and WiMax, this session will show users how to securely connect to key resources anytime, anywhere.

New Charitable Requirements
Some of the provisions related to charitable contributions and the reporting responsibilities of charitable organizations have been changed with the Pension Protection Act of 2006. The rules related to the substantiation of charitable contributions can be complex depending on the amount or value of the contribution, type of property contributed, and its intended and ultimate use by the organization. This session will provide an overview of the substantiation requirements for both the donor and the organization.

Not for Profit Update
With a practical review of developments and trends in accounting and auditing affecting Not-for-Profit organizations and their CPAs, this session focuses on issues in the application of new and not-so-new standards to Not-for-Profit organizations.

Panel - International Convergence in Financial Reporting
Addressing the short-term implications of XBRL on reporting and compliances – including internal and external reporting, analysis, auditing and risk-management process implications – this session will show CPAs what they can do now to benefit.

Pension Protection
This session covers legislative and regulatory updates, notices and pronouncements on the Pension Protection Act of 2006, which offers beneficial provisions for taxpayers and businesses.

Privacy Management
Phishing, spyware and security breaches are making headlines every day. Learn from an IT expert about the practical, everyday things you can do to protect your privacy and identity, your firm’s intellectual property and your firm’s client information.

Redesigned Form 990
Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax, for tax year 2008, was redesigned on three guiding principles: 1) enhancing transparency; 2) promoting tax compliance; and 3) minimizing the burden on the filing organization. This session covers the redesigned Form 990, including the significant changes, new reporting obligations and instruction highlights.

Retirement Planning Strategies to Accentuate Wealth
Highlighting tax benefits of qualified retirement plans and their role in creating wealth for retirement, this session compares defined contribution and defined benefit pension plans as a model for maximum savings through qualified retirement plans.

SAS Update on Auditing Standards
Find out about the recent activities of the Auditing Standards Board, including a discussion of the Clarity Project, which will rewrite all of the auditing standards.

SEC - Interactive Data
This session spotlights this emerging XBRL standard and how interactive data concepts allow companies to present their financial information in an electronic format that investors, analysts and others can use to more easily locate and analyze desired information.

Single Audit Act Compliance & Quality Issues
Join this session to learn about risk-based standards as they apply to single audits; risk defined relative to program compliance requirements; and how to evaluate deficiencies, fraud and abuse.

Small Business Internal Controls
As a company grows, it must begin to consider internal controls and internal control systems. Often entrepreneurs think of internal controls as a requirement for big business. This session will discuss the steps to be taken to prevent fraud, limit financial losses and reduce errors and omissions on the part of key employees.

 State Tax Update
Latest tax developments in Florida, focusing on recent cases, rules of the Florida Department of Revenue, the tax impact of the 2008 Legislative Session and a discussion of the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission’s work and recommendation highlight this session.

Tax & Divorce
Understand the complicated aspects of income taxation surrounding property settlements, alimony and children.

Tax Efficient Investing: Learn the Secrets of Warren Buffett and Passive Investing
Learn the latest academic information reflecting superior investment performance using passive index funds coupled with a buy-and-hold strategy using individual securities.

Tax Issues in Representing the Failing Business Enterprise
As the economy falters, clients are being squeezed. Chief among their problems may be unpaid payroll and sales taxes. Learn how to properly represent these clients to minimize personal exposure for such taxes and to avoid malpractice!

Tax Research
Refresh the fundamentals of primary and secondary tax authorities that practitioners rely on when they’re advising their clients.

The Accountants Role in Valuation Engagements
Get the facts on the critical role internal and external accountants play in the business valuation process, from providing necessary financial information to the valuation analyst to reviewing the report for reasonableness.

The Evolving Standards for Tax Practice – A Status Report
This course offers an enlightening update of current standards for tax practice – including AICPA Statements on Standards or Tax Services, Section 6694, Circular 230 and the AICPA Statement on Standards for Valuation Services. Attendees also will touch on ethical issues they encounter on-the-job.

The New Millennium of Estate Preservation
High net-worth families need a combined approach of traditional estate-planning solutions and financial products to gain the very best results. Learn how to create balanced estate-tax-planning techniques, merging no-product and product solutions that greatly benefit your clients.

Think Like a Thief
Bill Stewart covers common and not-so-common ways people find to bilk employers, spouses and partners. His presentation will provide on and off-line resources to make you a one-person forensic shop.

Top 10 Mistakes Business Owners Make and How to Fix Them
Discover field-tested strategies on leading a better life by running a better business. Learn the essential secrets that seriously happy entrepreneurs use to create wildly successful businesses.

Understanding the Crux of Energy Tax Credits
Find out how to make the most out of Energy Tax Credits by learning the latest IRS-publishing guidelines. This session will help you create financial solutions that result in the best tax strategies for real estate clients who have investment holdings.

Understanding the Revised 990 and Its Impact on Not For Profit Organizations
The revised Form 990 for tax year 2008 requires a fast dissection of the new core form and schedules! Brand-new sections require additional information you and your client should be considering now. Find out about planning opportunities you can offer your clients. The revised form’s key features include: new governance section about governing body; policies; disclosure; expanded sections for executive compensation and fringe benefits; lobbying and political activities; and foreign activities. 

Whistle Blowing
The establishment of intake processes and effectively addressing whistle-blower complaints strengthen an entity’s internal control environment.  The discussions will focus on the installation and management of “whistle blower hotlines” with an emphasis on the University of Florida experience.

Yellow Book Revisions
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a revised version of Yellow Book changes as of July 27, 2007. This session covers the changes and open items existing with the Yellow Book, what lies ahead and potential dangers facing government entities concerning pension and retirement issues.