CPE Catalog+Events

Join us for an immersive conference designed to guide you through the intricate world of governmental accounting and auditing. The information and insights you’ll gain throughout this event will light the way and help you navigate the most complex paths of AI integration, breach solutions, evolving auditing standards, and fraud prevention strategies. Our attendees rank the ability to connect with LLA staff as one of the biggest benefits of attending this conference, however, we will also broadcast the sessions online for those who are unable to attend in person. Conference Agenda DAY 1: Thursday, November 7    7:30 – 8:00 am Registration & Continental Breakfast  8:00 – 8:50 am Legislative Auditor Update Michael J. “Mike” Waguespack, CPA • Louisiana Legislative Auditor • Baton Rouge, LA Diane Allison, CPA, CGMA, CGFO • Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office • Baton Rouge, LA Mike Waguespack and Diane Allison will discuss hot topics in governmental accounting and auditing, including state and national trends, LLA initiatives and reporting requirements, and more..  8:50 – 10:00 am Single Audit and Yellow Book Updates  Becky Hammond, CPA, CISA, CITP, CGAP • Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC • New Orleans, LA  10:00 – 10:20 am Break/Visit Exhibitors  10:20 – 11:20 am GASB Update Dean Michael Mead, CGFM• Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC • Enterprise, AL  11:20 am – 12:10 pm  Cybersecurity and Technology Update Les Nettleton • Retired IT Director - Bourgeois Bennett, LLC • Metairie, LA  12:10 – 1:10 pm  Lunch/Visit Exhibitors  1:10 – 2:50 pm The Fraud Course J. Michael Inzina, CPA, CGFM, CGMA • Altec, Inc. • Monroe, LA  2:50-3:10 pm Break/Visit Exhibitors  3:10 – 4:20 pm Risk Assessment:  Are You Compliant with SAS 145 Standard? Kurt Oestriecher, CPA • Oestriecher & Company • Alexandria, LA 

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Join us for an immersive conference designed to guide you through the intricate world of governmental accounting and auditing. The information and insights you’ll gain throughout this event will light the way and help you navigate the most complex paths of AI integration, breach solutions, evolving auditing standards, and fraud prevention strategies. Our attendees rank the ability to connect with LLA staff as one of the biggest benefits of attending this conference, however, we will also broadcast the sessions online for those who are unable to attend in person. Enjoy LCPA's discounted rate at the Hilton Baton Rouge when you reserve your room by October 21. Conference Agenda DAY 1: Thursday, November 7    7:30 – 8:00 am Registration & Continental Breakfast  8:00 – 8:50 am Legislative Auditor Update Michael J. “Mike” Waguespack, CPA • Louisiana Legislative Auditor • Baton Rouge, LA Diane Allison, CPA, CGMA, CGFO • Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office • Baton Rouge, LA Mike Waguespack and Diane Allison will discuss hot topics in governmental accounting and auditing, including state and national trends, LLA initiatives and reporting requirements, and more..  8:50 – 10:00 am Single Audit and Yellow Book Updates Becky Hammond, CPA, CISA, CITP, CGAP • Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC • New Orleans, LA 10:00 – 10:20 am Break/Visit Exhibitors  10:20 – 11:20 am GASB Update Dean Michael Mead, CGFM• Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC • Enterprise, AL  11:20 am – 12:10 pm  Cybersecurity and Technology Update Les Nettleton • Retired IT Director - Bourgeois Bennett, LLC • Metairie, LA  12:10 – 1:10 pm  Lunch/Visit Exhibitors  1:10 – 2:50 pm The Fraud Course J. Michael Inzina, CPA, CGFM, CGMA • Altec, Inc. • Monroe, LA  2:50-3:10 pm Break/Visit Exhibitors  3:10 – 4:20 pm Risk Assessment:  Are You Compliant with SAS 145? Kurt Oestriecher, CPA • Oestriecher & Company • Alexandria, LA Single Audit and Yellow Book Updates Becky Hammond, CPA, CISA, CITP, CGAP • Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC • New Orleans, LA   DAY 2: Friday, November 8  7:30 – 8:00 am Registration & Continental Breakfast  8:00 – 9:30 am Real Life Situtations: Lessons Learned Becky Hammond, CPA, CISA, CITP, CGAP • Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC • New Orleans, LA  9:40 – 10:00 am  Break/Visit Exhibitors  10:00 – 10:50 am Auditing Standards Update J. Michael Inzina, CPA, CGFM, CGMA • Altec, Inc. • Monroe, LA  10:50 – 11:40 am AI Chatbots: The New Excel  Steven Kraemer • Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office • Baton Rouge, LA In this session, you will discover how AI chatbots, like Excel, can become an indispensable tool in government accounting and auditing. Imagine having a smart assistant that helps you write letters and emails, draft audit findings, conduct research, brainstorm ideas, prepare for presentations, clean and analyze data, and even write Excel formulas and code. Through practical examples, you will see how integrating AI chatbots into your work can make you more efficient and effective.  11:40 am – 12:40 pm Lunch/Visit Exhibitors  12:40 – 1:30 pm Legal Update: Hot Topics & Interesting Cases Jenifer Schaye, JD, CFE • General Counsel – Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office • Baton Rouge, LA This presentation will focus on public laws that affect political subdivisions in Louisiana. There will be a special emphasis on significant changes in the Open Meetings Law, Public Bid Law, Lawrason Act, fiduciary responsibilities, and issues surrounding fiscal administration and dissolution.  1:30 – 2:20 pm  Overcoming Bank Breaches Frances Dufrene • Bonvenu Bank • Bossier City, LA Dawn Bastarche • Bonvenu Bank • Bossier City, LA  2:20 – 2:40 pm Break/Visit Exhibitors  2:40 – 3:30 pm Clarity and Compliance: Enhancing Auditor-Client Communication Diane Allison, CPA, CGMA, CGFO • Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office • Baton Rouge, LA Tiffani M. Dorsa, CPA • Eisner Amper • Baton Rouge, LA Auditing standards require certain communications between the auditor and client, but, when all is said and done, does the client really?understand its findings, financial position, results of operations, and other results of the annual audit? Has the message been effectively communicated and received? This session will include a review of communications required by the auditing standards as well as principles of effective communication with the goal of?providing tips to enhance communication skills so that the client truly understands, on their level, the results of the annual audit.  3:30 – 4:20 pm Comprehensive Overview of the Uniform Sales Tax Collection Schedule and the Judicial System Funding Schedule Barry Kelly, MBA, CIA• Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office • Baton Rouge, LA This presentation explores the essential elements of the Uniform Sales Tax Collection Schedule (Act 669) and the Judicial System Funding Schedule (Act 87). Attendees will acquire a comprehensive understanding of how to complete these schedules. The session will also address the significant updates to the Act 87 schedules.  

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Join us for an immersive conference designed to guide you through the intricate world of governmental accounting and auditing. The information and insights you’ll gain throughout this event will light the way and help you navigate the most complex paths of AI integration, breach solutions, evolving auditing standards, and fraud prevention strategies. Our attendees rank the ability to connect with LLA staff as one of the biggest benefits of attending this conference, however, we will also broadcast the sessions online for those who are unable to attend in person. Conference Agenda DAY 1: Thursday, November 7    7:30 – 8:00 am Registration & Continental Breakfast  8:00 – 8:50 am Legislative Auditor Update Michael J. “Mike” Waguespack, CPA • Louisiana Legislative Auditor • Baton Rouge, LA Diane Allison, CPA, CGMA, CGFO • Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office • Baton Rouge, LA Mike Waguespack and Diane Allison will discuss hot topics in governmental accounting and auditing, including state and national trends, LLA initiatives and reporting requirements, and more..  8:50 – 10:00 am Single Audit and Yellow Book Updates Becky Hammond, CPA, CISA, CITP, CGAP • Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC • New Orleans, LA  10:00 – 10:20 am Break/Visit Exhibitors  10:20 – 11:20 am GASB Update Dean Michael Mead, CGFM• Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC • Enterprise, AL  11:20 am – 12:10 pm  Cybersecurity and Technology Update Les Nettleton • Retired IT Director - Bourgeois Bennett, LLC • Metairie, LA  12:10 – 1:10 pm  Lunch/Visit Exhibitors  1:10 – 2:50 pm The Fraud Course J. Michael Inzina, CPA, CGFM, CGMA • Altec, Inc. • Monroe, LA  2:50-3:10 pm Break/Visit Exhibitors  3:10 – 4:20 pm Risk Assessment:  Are You Compliant with SAS 145? Kurt Oestriecher, CPA • Oestriecher & Company • Alexandria, LA   DAY 2: Friday, November 8  7:30 – 8:00 am Registration & Continental Breakfast  8:00 – 9:30 am Real Life Situtations: Lessons Learned Becky Hammond, CPA, CISA, CITP, CGAP • Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC • New Orleans, LA  9:40 – 10:00 am  Break/Visit Exhibitors  10:00 – 10:50 am Auditing Standards Update J. Michael Inzina, CPA, CGFM, CGMA • Altec, Inc. • Monroe, LA  10:50 – 11:40 am AI Chatbots: The New Excel  Steven Kraemer • Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office • Baton Rouge, LA In this session, you will discover how AI chatbots, like Excel, can become an indispensable tool in government accounting and auditing. Imagine having a smart assistant that helps you write letters and emails, draft audit findings, conduct research, brainstorm ideas, prepare for presentations, clean and analyze data, and even write Excel formulas and code. Through practical examples, you will see how integrating AI chatbots into your work can make you more efficient and effective.  11:40 am – 12:40 pm Lunch/Visit Exhibitors  12:40 – 1:30 pm Legal Update: Hot Topics & Interesting Cases Jenifer Schaye, JD, CFE • General Counsel – Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office • Baton Rouge, LA This presentation will focus on public laws that affect political subdivisions in Louisiana. There will be a special emphasis on significant changes in the Open Meetings Law, Public Bid Law, Lawrason Act, fiduciary responsibilities, and issues surrounding fiscal administration and dissolution.  1:30 – 2:20 pm  Overcoming Bank Breaches Frances Dufrene • Bonvenu Bank • Bossier City, LA Dawn Bastarche • Bonvenu Bank • Bossier City, LA  2:20 – 2:40 pm Break/Visit Exhibitors  2:40 – 3:30 pm Clarity and Compliance: Enhancing Auditor-Client Communication Diane Allison, CPA, CGMA, CGFO • Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office • Baton Rouge, LA Tiffani M. Dorsa, CPA • Eisner Amper • Baton Rouge, LA Auditing standards require certain communications between the auditor and client, but, when all is said and done, does the client really?understand its findings, financial position, results of operations, and other results of the annual audit? Has the message been effectively communicated and received? This session will include a review of communications required by the auditing standards as well as principles of effective communication with the goal of?providing tips to enhance communication skills so that the client truly understands, on their level, the results of the annual audit.  3:30 – 4:20 pm Comprehensive Overview of the Uniform Sales Tax Collection Schedule and the Judicial System Funding Schedule Barry Kelly, MBA, CIA• Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office • Baton Rouge, LA This presentation explores the essential elements of the Uniform Sales Tax Collection Schedule (Act 669) and the Judicial System Funding Schedule (Act 87). Attendees will acquire a comprehensive understanding of how to complete these schedules. The session will also address the significant updates to the Act 87 schedules.  

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When you need to create a simple survey or form to capture data online, the Microsoft 365 Forms app can be just the right solution. You can use it for simple forms such as a client information form or client service evaluation form. You can create more sophisticated forms, such as a client tax organizer. All responses can remain confidential and can be viewed in Excel format for further analysis or to prepare the form data for import into another application. This course will take you through the step-by-step process for creating, distributing, compiling and analyzing digital forms and surveys. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.Speaker - John Higgins, CPA.CITP

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Artificial Intelligence is real, it is ready, and now is the time to begin taking advantage of perhaps the most exciting new technology to appear in over fifty years. Today’s mainstream generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Bard, and Copilot, are all ready for prime time in business settings to help you get better results in far less time than you may have imagined possible. We invite and encourage you to participate in K2 Enterprises’ Accountant’s Artificial Intelligence Conference to learn how you can benefit from AI immediately.The Conference is scheduled for June 20th and will be presented virtually so you can learn from the convenience and comfort of your home, office, or other location of your choice. During this eight-hour event, you will learn how to get started with AI, and how to harness the power of ChatGPT, Bard, and Copilot. You will also learn about potential privacy and security issues – along with solutions – associated with AI, and some of the ancillary issues associated with AI, such as quantum computing. Importantly, you will learn from practical, real-world illustrations demonstrating how you can take advantage of perhaps the most exciting and transformative technology of our time!

This session will provide a basic overview of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (“ESOPs”). It will specifically address what companies are well suited for establishing an ESOP, how ESOPs are implemented, and how employees and departing owners alike can benefit from them. The session is intended to provide business and tax advisors with talking points about how an ESOP may be used as a succession planning strategy. Speaker - Mindi Johnson, Amanda Dernovshek

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Target setting can drive breathtaking positive results, the moonlandings, the eradication of smallpox or the repair of the ozone layer, for example.  They can also have a dark side that can put executives in jail, bring global businesses to their knees and even cause wholesale loss of life.  Using practical examples and case studies, this course walks you through the steps you need to follow to design robust, effective and credible targets for your organization. Speaker - Bernie Smith

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This course provides a concise overview and non-technical explanation of the Omniverse and Metaverse - a shared virtual space that integrates various virtual, augmented, and actual realities. While futurists have been predicting and describing this concept for decades, interest and investment in this platform have recently exploded. Facebook has changed its very name to Meta - as in Metaverse - to reflect its pivot from a social media company to a virtual space company. Other tech companies, big and small, have announced ambitious plans to enable people to access digital environments and experiences through different devices. While sometimes perceived as science fiction, the metaverse is no entertainment gimmick. A growing consensus is that it will be the successor to the mobile Internet, and fundamentally transform the Internet, and perhaps even reality itself. You'll walk away with a foundational understanding of how the metaverse is transforming the modern business world, and how accountants can position themselves for success in this emerging economic digital dimension. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.Speaker - Garrett Wasny, MA, CMC, CITP/FIBP

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We all know that measuring performance and pricing your services based on time isn't ideal. Pricing and billing based on time doesn't allow you to capture the full value or risk of your work, and automation and increased efficiency could lead to an unintended consequence of reducing firm fees. Yikes! Yet changing this fundamental business-model construct can seem overwhelming and it's hard to know where to start. In this session, we'll examine five "P" elements needed to make the gradual, but definite, move away from the outdated time-based paradigm and move toward a truly results-based model.Speaker - Jennifer Wilson & Tamera Loerzel

CPA's are responsible for understanding (1) the presence of fraudulent activity, (2) that financial reports are complete and accurate, and (3) applying the going concern principle to a business. Appropriate cybersecurity controls, processes and oversight directly impact these three areas. Fraud Bad actors can exploit systems with weak security controls to perform fraud. The increasing prevalence of hacked systems reflect this. Bad actors are stealing data, intellectual property, financial assets, and other information. Digital fraud is becoming more prevalent and can be substantially more damaging than historical types of fraud. Not only can digital fraud result in financial loss, but it can subject companies to expensive lawsuits, damage reputations and can even put a company out of business. Complete & Accurate Financial Reports Having cybersecurity controls on systems and networks is critical to ensure information reported in financial statements is complete and accurate. Data residing in financial reports is processed, stored and transmitted using IT Systems. It is important for CPA's to understand the required cybersecurity controls to prevent or detect inaccurate data in financial reports. Going Concern With an increasing volume of system hacks (e.g. Target, Experian, Sony, and most recently the US Government), it is no longer "if" you're going to get hacked, it is "When." If organizations do not have appropriate cybersecurity controls in place to protect against an attack, then a malicious hack can put them out of business. An organization's cybersecurity posture should be a factor in evaluating the Principle of Going Concern. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.Speaker - Petrina Youhan, CPA, CISSP/Dr. Kenneth W. Cooper, DCS,

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Fraud Risk - Complying with Minimum Audit Requirements will highlight the audit procedures most effective in identifying, assessing and responding to fraud risk. The financial statement auditor's overall responsibility is to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to provide reasonable assurance as to whether the financial statements are materially misstated due to fraud or error. The difficulty is that there are inherent limitations related to detecting fraud due to deliberate schemes to conceal the intent to deceive, such as collusion. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.Speaker - Jennifer F. Louis, CPA

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The field of accounting is undergoing rapid evolution in response to a complex interplay of technological advancements, regulatory reforms, economic fluctuations, and shifting societal dynamics. In this course, we will explore the major challenges and opportunities currently facing accountants, and we will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in this dynamic environment.

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This is a two-part series that discuss new trends and concepts the financial controller should begin to execute in order to truly become a valued member of the senior leadership team. The rapid pace of the evolving technological landscape has promoted changes in how accountants and financial professionals focus attention on strategy and modernize their roles to leverage digital technology. There is increased demand for enhancing flexibility into finance cycles and initiating real-time reporting and insights. These are the core attributes that will assist in transforming the work that controllership function performs. Is the financial controllership prepared to meet future business demands? The IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants) and Deloitte’s Center for Controllership aimed to better understand the current state of controllership and expectations of future demands for controllers and accounting professionals. They conducted a survey in late 2022 and identified several trends. The survey takes a look at how prepared controllership is to meet future business demands. It also highlights some insights for leaders to consider that may increase their preparedness. It also identified areas of additional insight and questions to answer on the controllership transformation journey. In this segment, we will go through numerous concepts in detail.   Speaker - Lynn Fountain

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The course helps the forensic accountant prepare to perform a fraud investigation. We discuss occupational fraud schemes and their characteristics, and how to spot a fraud in progress. You will learn the skills a fraud investigator needs for successful investigations, as well as how to plan and prepare for a fraud investigation. This is the most practical fraud investigation course you will ever take. Rather than learning only the theory of fraud, you will learn how a forensic accountant actually investigates fraud from the beginning to the end. We focus on forensic accounting techniques used in the field to prove what happened, who was involved, how much money was stolen, and where the money went. Becoming a Fraud investigator is Part 1 of a series of four courses on fraud investigations. Each course is a stand-alone class that may be taken individually. For comprehensive instruction on completing a fraud investigation from start to finish, take all four. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.Speaker - Tracy L. Coenen, CPA, CFF

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Join our course on Multistate Taxation – Issues and Planning Opportunities designed for financial professionals. Learn about crucial topics like nexus implications, state taxable income calculations, and audit defense strategies. Gain practical insights to integrate these considerations into client financial plans effectively. From deciphering complex formulas to understanding state-specific regulations, this course equips you with actionable knowledge to excel in finance. Explore multistate business activities, choice of business entity, and interstate commerce clauses. By course completion, you'll be ready to identify common pitfalls, mitigate risks, and ensure compliance with multistate taxation. Join us and navigate the complexities of finance confidently. **Please Note:  If you need credit reported to the IRS for this IRS approved program, please download the IRS CE request form on the Course Materials Tab and submit to kori.herrera@acpen.com. Speaker - Arthur Werner

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Spear phishing. Ransomware. Malware. Like the threats your business faces, the cybersecurity lexicon is constantly evolving. This comprehensive presentation imparts practical privacy and data security know-how and creates fluency with the latest terminology. Learn best practices for cybersecurity safety, as well as tailored training for those in positions responsible for implementing security policies. It is just as important to be diligent, safe, and well-versed in the attacks that we face in our personal lives.

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Every organization in the world will fall victim to fraud. This course will cover the means and methods available to reduce the prevalence of fraud. We will also discuss the controls that victim organizations employ in order to seek improvements for our own organizations.

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Attracting and retaining staff is critical to an organization's success, especially in the age of the millennial worker who will change jobs multiple times in the course of a career. This course will focus on best practices for nurturing the human element of your organization, especially millennial workers who comprise a growing percentage or the workforce. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.Speaker - Jennifer F. Louis, CPA

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Depending on your version, Excel has over 500 functions already built in and ready to use. How many of those do you incorporate into your spreadsheets? After this course, you will learn some powerful functions that will take your calculating power to the next level. In this webinar, we will focus on Financial, Statistical and Math functions. In the Financial functions section, you will learn how to use the financial functions to build better amortization schedules. In the Statistical and Math functions sections, you will learn how to use various statistical functions to analyze your data. This session is presented using Excel 2013. Regardless of the version you are using, ALL concepts covered in this course apply to ALL versions of Excel. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.Speaker - Bryan L. Smith, CPA.CITP, CISA

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Best Practices for Identifying and Evaluating Audit Risk - Linking Risk to the Detailed Audit Plan will emphasize the key concepts and best practices that drive a thoughtful risk-based approach to forming an opinion on the financial statements. Properly identifying, assessing, and responding to risk through a detailed audit plan is critical to an effective and efficient financial statement audit. Note: This course is recommended as a part of a 16-hour audit skills curriculum for experienced staff, while it is also appropriate for anyone who has the need to better understand how to link risk assessments to the detailed audit plan. This event may be a rebroadcast of a live event and the instructor will be available to answer your questions during the event.Speaker - Jennifer F. Louis, CPA

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