Designed to make the practitioner comfortable with “high traffic” issues, this program enables participants to discuss and handle individual tax essentials. The course examines and explains the practical aspects of return preparation and individual planning, bridging the gap between theory and application. Significant new developments are summarized with emphasis on tax savings ideas. Practical applications and illustrations are used to systematically explore tax deferral, reduction, and elimination opportunities accompanying return preparation. For example, the analysis of gross income is discussed together with income splitting techniques; property transactions are examined alongside like-kind exchanges and involuntary conversions. The result is an extraordinary blend of the latest developments affecting individual returns and their related planning ideas.

Designed to make the practitioner comfortable with “high traffic” issues, this program enables participants to discuss and handle individual tax essentials. The course examines and explains the practical aspects of return preparation and individual planning, bridging the gap between theory and application. Significant new developments are summarized with emphasis on tax savings ideas. Practical applications and illustrations are used to systematically explore tax deferral, reduction, and elimination opportunities accompanying return preparation. For example, the analysis of gross income is discussed together with income splitting techniques; property transactions are examined alongside like-kind exchanges and involuntary conversions. The result is an extraordinary blend of the latest developments affecting individual returns and their related planning ideas.

This comprehensive course gives you every sales and financial forecasting formula and modeling techniques you need to analyze your operation both as a whole and by segment. You will be provided with proven techniques that help you identify and fix problem areas, analysis techniques that help you evaluate proposals for profit potential, proven methods that improve the accuracy of your short- and long-term forecasting, analysis tools that help you better manage working capital, cash, and accounts receivable, plus much more. You also receive dozens of worked-out models and modeling techniques that simplify your most difficult business decisions, and are easy to adapt to any computer spreadsheet program. This course supplies company accountants, treasurers, CFOs with all the forecasting techniques needed to financially analyze a business as a whole or a segment. Includes analysis techniques, methods for improving forecasting accuracy, analysis tools for managing capital, and more.

The purpose of this course is to inform the reader of the various changes affecting accounting, compilation and review, and auditing engagements including newly issued FASB and FASB statements, new statements issued by the Auditing Standards Board, changes in compilation and review, and more.

Financial markets represent the lifeblood of our global economy. These mechanisms promote greater economic efficiency by transferring funds from individuals, businesses and governments with an excess of available funds to those with a shortage. Funds are transferred in the financial markets through the purchase and sale of financial instruments (such as stocks and bonds). Short-term financial instruments are available in money markets, while longer-term financial instruments are purchased and sold in the world’s capital markets. Many financial markets have been in existence for hundreds of years; however the modern era has brought along many new innovations such as securitization and the derivatives market.

This course provides an introductory overview of the world’s largest financial markets, including the money, bond, stock, mortgage, foreign currency and derivatives markets. This course reviews the various types of financial risk that impact these markets, as well as the economic variables that influence market activity (such as interest rates and monetary policy).

The New Controller Guidebook describes each responsibility of the new controller and shows you how to manage each one as efficiently as possible. Topics also include the financial statements, closing the books, budgeting, and computer system selection.

This course covers what everything business people and managers need to know about accounting and finance. It is directed toward the businessperson who must have financial and accounting knowledge but has not had formal training in finance or accounting-perhaps a newly promoted middle manager or a marketing manager of a small company who must know some basic finance concepts. The entrepreneur or sole proprietor also needs this knowledge; he or she may have brilliant product ideas, but not the slightest idea about financing. The goal of the course is to provide a working knowledge of the fundamentals of finance and accounting that can be applied, regardless of the firm size, in the real world. It gives nonfinancial managers the understanding they need to function effectively with their colleagues in finance.

During 2008, 2009, 2010 and early 2011, Congress produced massive legislation to “jumpstart” the economy. This course presents the main tax provisions of seven Congressional Acts passed and enacted during this critical time. Included in these Acts are provisions for agriculture, conservation, energy, housing, and individual and business tax credits and deductions. These Acts impact taxation of individual taxpayers, farmers, servicemen and women, small business owners, and large corporations. No one is left out of this package!

While tax reform visions have changed the tax on profits realized from the disposition of real estate, investors still seek escape hatches from the capital gain tax. Tax-deferred exchanges permit the disposition of property often with the taxpayer receiving significant cash but without the payment of any tax. Functionally, an exchange is a bridge over the normally taxable event of moving from one property to another. This course alerts the practitioner to the different planning opportunities that surround exchanging. Participants will be able to identify, analyze, and handle effectively the complex tax problems that arise under 1031. This understanding will be directly applied to the structuring and audit survival of multi-party and delayed exchanges.

Just the facts maam; just the estate planning facts. Designed to give a quick overview of estate planning essentials, this course surveys wills, living trusts, gifts, marital property, and probate avoidance with an Internet flair. Will and trust types are examined in the context of general estate and gift taxation. Designed to eliminate estate problems and death taxes, the emphasis is on practical solutions that are cost effective. Talk about having it all in an overview course - there is even a quick review of immediate postmortem death tax planning and filling out the Form 706.

The purpose of this course is to inform the reader of the various changes affecting accounting and financial reporting including newly issued FASB statements, various industry developments, and more.

Closing the Books: An Accountant’s Guide demonstrates how the accounting systems summarize information into financial statements, how to close the books efficiently, how to construct financial statements, and the controls and record keeping systems needed to close the books.

Payroll Management describes how to properly manage the payroll department with a variety of efficiency techniques, procedures, and controls. It also shows how to comply with an array of payroll regulations, deposit taxes, account for payroll transactions, and issue payroll reports. It also addresses such special topics as payroll recordkeeping systems and whether to outsource payroll processing.

The course entitled Healthcare Reform: Pre-Existing Conditions, Benefit Limits, Rescission & Patient Protection Rules provides important information for insurance agents and other advisers who are counseling clients on certain requirements imposed on group health plans and individual insurance coverage by the Act and Regulations. The course begins with a discussion of “grandfathered” health plans, their definition and the implications of grandfathered status for the timing and applicability of the Act’s provisions.

The requirements of the Act and Regulations addressed in this course are those relating to ensuring patient protections—specifically, protections related to their ability to choose healthcare professionals and the provision of emergency services—and the ability of health plans to:

• Exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions;
• Impose annual and lifetime benefit limits for essential health benefits; and
• Rescind health coverage.

This course discusses all of the important authoritative pronouncements on GAAP for specialized industries. This course addresses accounting principles, financial reporting presentation requirements, required and recommended disclosures for such industries as, banking, broadcasting, cable television, computer software, franchising, insurance, motion picture, record and music, government contracts, oil- and gas-producing, real estate, not-for-profit, finance, and mortgage banking industries. Each citation in this course will have its ASC topic number and description, ASC citation (XXX-YY-ZZ-PP), and traditional GAAP hierarchical format shown in parentheses; for example, ASC 718, Compensation— Stock Compensation (ASC 718-10-15-3) (FAS-123(R)).

Budgeting: The Comprehensive Guide shows how to create a budget, whether there are variations on the traditional budgeting concept that may work better, and how to operate without any budget at all. The discussion also covers capital budgeting, flexible budgeting, zero-base budgeting, and all of the procedures, controls, and reports needed for a functioning budget system.

This course is designed to provide you with a deep understanding of the applications and importance of Project Management. You will learn how to assess a project with respect to time, costs, and resources in order to effectively and efficiently reach your goals. You will become familiar with the five processes involved in Project management – Initiating, Planning, Executing, Controlling, and Closing on time and within budget-- Project Integration, Project Scope, Project Time, Project Cost, Project Quality, Project Human Resources, Project Communications, Project Risk Management, and Project Procurement – that are essential to being an expert Project Manager. This course follows for the most part the framework within the Project Management Institute’s Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). The material, however, places a financial focus on projects as a way to accomplish desired changes in the enterprise in a coordinated and predictable way for favorable outcomes. Topics covered include economic feasibility study, life-cycle costing, target costing, and earned value analysis. Through better project management, you can reduce or eliminate failed projects and reduce the costs associated with successful ones, increasing enterprise effectiveness in providing the maximum value to shareholders.

This course covers the more basic aspects of QuickBooks Pro 2010, teaching the student how to

• Set up a QuickBooks company file
• Work with preferences, items, lists, and forms
• Work with the Fixed Asset Item List and the Loan Manager
• Create purchase orders, accounts payable transactions, and automated and manual checks
• Create customer invoices, and receive payments and make deposits
• Process payroll transactions and create payroll checks
• Modify forms to create a customized appearance
• Create journal entries and understand when they are needed
• Reconcile bank accounts
• Create, modify, and export reports
• Maintain QuickBooks company data files

A derivative is a financial product that derives its value based on an underlying asset, liability or other variable (such as an interest rate, foreign currency or commodity price). Derivatives have become very popular tools for hedging (i.e. reducing) financial risk; they have also become an increasingly standard item on big companies balance sheets. Yet understanding how they work, what they are used for and how they can affect the bottom line of a business has proven to be a significant challenge for the accounting and auditing industries.

This course provides an -accountant-friendly- overview of financial risk management and derivative instruments. This overview focuses on the various types of risk that impact financial markets today, as well as the four major categories of derivatives commonly used to hedge these risks (i.e. forwards, futures, swaps and options).

This course covers all of the cost accounting topics that a practicing accountant is likely to deal with, including how to create an inventory valuation, how to use the various costing methodologies, and which cost analysis tools to use. It also provides valuable examples about the extent to which you should incorporate costs into the determination of product prices, and which methods to use for transfer pricing between subsidiaries. The course describes how to incorporate target costing into a product development system, so that you always create products that have a predetermined level of profitability. Further, it examines the interaction of costs and constraints in arriving at various decisions about profit maximization, and extends this concept into the analysis of capital budgeting proposals.

Fixed Asset Accounting addresses both the GAAP and IFRS accounting for all aspects of fixed assets, including their initial purchase, impairment, revaluation, and disposal. The course also covers the disclosure of fixed asset information, as well as related controls, measurements, record keeping, and policies and procedures.

International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) represents the future of financial accounting and reporting in the United States. Most of the world already communicates with investors and stakeholders about corporate financial performance in the language of IFRS. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and their U.S. equivalent (the FASB) have made commitments towards the convergence U.S. GAAP and IFRS and are working to eliminate as many differences between the two Standards as possible. The Securities and Exchange Commission has endorsed the outright adoption of IFRS in the United States. This growing acceptance of IFRS as a basis for U.S. financial reporting represents a fundamental change for the U.S. accounting profession.

This course provides an introductory overview of International Financial Reporting Standards, including detailed discussions of the impact that IFRS will have on U.S. businesses. This course also includes comprehensive reviews of the IASB structure and its standard-setting process, the basic framework that serves as the foundation for IFRS and the differences that exist between U.S. GAAP and IFRS.

This course covers the more basic aspects of QuickBooks Pro 2009, teaching the student how to

• Set up a QuickBooks company file
• Work with preferences, items, lists, and forms
• Work with the Fixed Asset Item List
• Create purchase orders, accounts payable transactions, and automated and manual checks
• Create customer invoices, and receive payments and make deposits
• Process payroll transactions and create payroll checks
• Modify forms to create a customized appearance
• Create journal entries and understand when they are needed
• Reconcile bank accounts
• Create, modify, and export reports
• Maintain QuickBooks company data files

A refresher course on the basic concepts and tools of business. Every functional aspect of business is covered. Topics covered are management, organization, human resource management, purchasing, production/operations, accounting, finance, marketing, quantitative methods, legal environment, information technology, business ethics, and international business.

In technical terms, social media refers to a variety of Web-based applications (such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, et al) that facilitate (1) communication and collaboration amongst users of the Internet and (2) the creation of “user-generated content” in the form of words, pictures, audios and videos. However social media represents much more than this simple definition; social media signifies nothing less than a revolution in the ways that people communicate, consume media and conduct business. Many businesses are rethinking entire marketing strategies in order to focus on this new world known as “Web 2.0”. Social media tools such as social networks, blogs and podcasts are now commonly used to market products and services to consumers.

This course provides an overview of social media and its impact on the marketing process. This overview includes descriptions of the various forms of social media and profiles of the most popular social media websites. This course also introduces the concept of social media marketing and discusses how you can use social media to market your business, promote your brand and influence your potential customers. Finally, this course provides a step-by-step guide for CPA’s and other professionals to utilize when launching a social media marketing campaign.

This course is designed to assist accountants, both in industry and in public practice, with identifying the most likely places where fraud will occur, and providing a guide toward reducing the opportunities for fraud to occur in the future. The course utilizes case studies and independent research to highlight what issues and financial statement accounts are most likely to result in fraud. While the rules and expectations of the users of financial statements are presented, the emphasis of this course is on the detection and prevention of fraud, not compliance with a set of standards. Both Enron and Arthur Andersen had Codes of Conduct that became “best sellers” on amazon.com.

Over the years, the users of financial statements through political and legislative pressure and through judicial decisions have refined and modified the level of assurance that they believe accountants should possess. In SAS 99 – Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statement Audit - the profession redefined in some detail the role of the accountant and in particular, the responsibilities auditors have for the consideration of fraud. But in today’s litigious society, the detection of fraud is not limited to auditors. Boards of directors, bankers, attorneys, and accountants who merely perform oversight, provide advice, bookkeeping or tax services are not exempt from responsibility when issues related to fraud come to their attention. Regulators or the courts may decide that they knew or should have known that these improper activities were going on. Anyone who becomes aware of a possible fraudulent situation ignores the implications at their own peril.

This course covers the process to be used when the CPA firm adds the service of Financial Planning for their clients. It encompasses the areas of expertise needed by the CPA to be a professional Financial Planner. Coverage of the areas of the financial plan is provided through basic discussion of the concepts, theories, and definitions involved in the financial planning process. Guidelines are provided for the CPAs implementation of the financial planning process from the data gathering through the implementation of the financial plan to the periodic reviews.

This basic course covers the overall approach by the individual to the financial planning process. It encompasses the areas of expertise needed by individuals to do the process or to know when they need a professional financial planner. Coverage of the areas of the financial plan is provided through basic discussion of the concepts, theories, and definitions involved in the financial planning process. Guidelines are provided for the individuals implementation of the financial planning process, from the data gathering, risk management, investment selection, through the implementation of the financial plan, and to periodic reviews.

IFRS Learning Modules are a series of courses that provide in-depth overviews of various topics related to International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). IFRS represents the global accounting principles that provide the foundation for most of the world’s financial reporting. These Standards establish the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure requirements for transactions and events reflected in IFRS financial statements.

The growing acceptance of IFRS as a basis for U.S. financial reporting represents a fundamental change for the U.S. accounting profession. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and their U.S. equivalent (the FASB) have made commitments towards the convergence of U.S. GAAP and IFRS and are working to eliminate as many differences between the two Standards as possible. In addition, the Securities and Exchange Commission has endorsed the outright adoption of IFRS in the United States. Therefore it is clear that IFRS represents the future of financial accounting and reporting in the United States.

Module 1 of the IFRS Learning Module series provides a “deep dive” into the principles governing the presentation of financial statements under IFRS. This includes a review of the IASB’s Framework, which addresses the concepts underlying the information presented in IFRS financial statements. It also includes detailed discussions of the IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements and IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows. Finally, this course provides an in-depth look at the joint IASB/FASB project that will result in sweeping changes to financial statement presentation in the near future.

IFRS Learning Modules are a series of courses that provide in-depth overviews of various topics related to International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) . IFRS represents the global accounting principles that provide the foundation for most of the world’s financial reporting. These Standards establish the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure requirements for transactions and events reflected in IFRS financial statements.

The growing acceptance of IFRS as a basis for U.S. financial reporting represents a fundamental change for the U.S. accounting profession. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and their U.S. equivalent (the FASB) have made commitments towards the convergence of U.S. GAAP and IFRS and are working to eliminate as many differences between the two Standards as possible. In addition, the Securities and Exchange Commission has endorsed the outright adoption of IFRS in the United States. Therefore it is clear that IFRS represents the future of financial accounting and reporting in the United States.

Module 7 of the IFRS Learning Module series presents an overview of IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment, the accounting standard for classifying and measuring property, plant and equipment (also known as ‘fixed assets’) in IFRS financial statements. The course also discusses the IASB’s and FASB’s efforts towards achieving convergence in fixed assets reporting.

Personal Life Insurance Planning is divided into six lessons that include the following:

1. An Introduction to Human Life Value and Needs Analysis
2. Gathering Client Information
3. Identifying & Calculating Lump-sum Needs at Death
4. Social Security Survivor Benefits
5. Identifying Survivor Income Needs at Death
6. Calculating Survivor Income Needs at Death

In this course, we will define ethics and provide you with reasons you should be encouraged to continue educating yourself with the goal of achieving the highest standards of ethical conduct.

The course will then discuss ethical reasoning and its application to common dilemmas that you may experience.

Next, we will review the core values of the CPA profession (integrity, objectivity and independence).

Throughout this course, you will be provided with case studies that demonstrate the application of ethical principles, values, and ethical reasoning.

In conclusion, this course will recap the key requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct.

This course uses practical examples to provide an overall understanding of time value of money concepts and to illustrate time value of money functions in Microsoft Excel. The course covers present and future values of both single sums and annuities as well as computing the rate, periodic payment and number of periods in accounting and financial planning scenarios. Also included is the creation of an amortization table, Excel CUMIPMT and CUMPRINC functions, capital budgeting and the use of data tables. Written for Excel 2007, the course is intended for intermediate to advanced Excel users.

IFRS Learning Modules are a series of courses that provide in-depth overviews of various topics related to International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). IFRS represents the global accounting principles that provide the foundation for most of the world’s financial reporting. These Standards establish the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure requirements for transactions and events reflected in IFRS financial statements.

The growing acceptance of IFRS as a basis for U.S. financial reporting represents a fundamental change for the U.S. accounting profession. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and their U.S. equivalent (the FASB) have made commitments towards the convergence of U.S. GAAP and IFRS and are working to eliminate as many differences between the two Standards as possible. In addition, the Securities and Exchange Commission has endorsed the outright adoption of IFRS in the United States. Therefore it is clear that IFRS represents the future of financial accounting and reporting in the United States.

Module 4 of the IFRS Learning Module series presents an overview of IAS 2 Inventories, the accounting standard for classifying and measuring inventories in IFRS financial statements. This module also discusses the IASB’s and FASB’s efforts towards achieving convergence in this area of financial reporting.

This course is designed to encourage the accounting professional to look for ethical situations which they might not ordinarily recognize as potential problems and to look at ethical dilemmas as they might be viewed with hindsight or might be perceived by others.

The primary goal of this course is to challenge the accounting professional to recognize that the situations they will confront will not always be black and white violations of the rules and regulations.

The course will provide tools to the user in ethical decision making through the discussion of ethical principles and the use of case studies.

This course provides instruction on the uses of Excel Solver to solve complex business problems. Through the use of examples, an overall understanding of the following will be achieved:

• Optimization of a target cell
• The use of constraints
• The use of binary constraints to make choices
• Ideas for spreadsheet design
• The SUMPRODUCT function

This mini-course integrates federal taxation with overall financial planning. The course explores tax strategies relating to the central financial tactics of wealth building, capital preservation, and estate distribution. The result is a unified explanation of tax-economics that will permit the tax professional to locate, analyze, and solve financial concerns. Designed to improve the quality of services to clients and the profitability of engagements, this program projects the accountant into the world of financial planning.

IFRS Learning Modules are a series of courses that provide in-depth overviews of various topics related to International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). IFRS represents the global accounting principles that provide the foundation for most of the world’s financial reporting. These Standards establish the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure requirements for transactions and events reflected in IFRS financial statements.

The growing acceptance of IFRS as a basis for U.S. financial reporting represents a fundamental change for the U.S. accounting profession. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and their U.S. equivalent (the FASB) have made commitments towards the convergence of U.S. GAAP and IFRS and are working to eliminate as many differences between the two Standards as possible. In addition, the Securities and Exchange Commission has endorsed the outright adoption of IFRS in the United States. Therefore it is clear that IFRS represents the future of financial accounting and reporting in the United States.

Module 6 of the IFRS Learning Module series presents an overview of IAS 33 Earnings per Share; this overview includes a detailed discussion of the processes for calculating and reporting earnings per share measurements in IFRS financial statements. The course also discusses the IASB’s and FASB’s efforts towards achieving convergence in EPS reporting.

IFRS Learning Modules are a series of courses that provide in-depth overviews of various topics related to International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). IFRS represents the global accounting principles that provide the foundation for most of the world’s financial reporting. These Standards establish the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure requirements for transactions and events reflected in IFRS financial statements.

The growing acceptance of IFRS as a basis for U.S. financial reporting represents a fundamental change for the U.S. accounting profession. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and their U.S. equivalent (the FASB) have made commitments towards the convergence of U.S. GAAP and IFRS and are working to eliminate as many differences between the two Standards as possible. In addition, the Securities and Exchange Commission has endorsed the outright adoption of IFRS in the United States. Therefore it is clear that IFRS represents the future of financial accounting and reporting in the United States.

Module 5 of the IFRS Learning Module series presents an overview of IFRS 8 Operating Segments; this overview includes a detailed discussion of the processes for identifying, aggregating and reporting operating segments in IFRS financial statements. The course also discusses the IASB’s and FASB’s efforts towards achieving convergence in segment reporting.

“15 Quick Tips on Becoming a GREAT Consultant” is intended for:

1. CPAs, accountants, IT professionals and others who want to learn new skills to become amazing consultants.
2. Students and others who want to learn more about the subject.
3. Consulting firms, and firms that are conducting training programs for consultants.

The course is easy to use and should assist the student in becoming aware of non-technical issues that are very important to any consultant. This course is designed to give students practical considerations and ideas to use in any consulting project. Each one of the five chapters presents three tips to improve your consulting experience and to make you one of the best professionals out there.

How can someone become a great consultant? Read on…

Arrays are a powerful Excel tool that few people know about. It allows you to take multiple steps and consolidate them into one.

• If you are doing and IF statement in a separate column and then copying it down and then summing or averaging the results - an array will let you do it all in one step.
• Do you sit there and delete error values in a column so that you can sum them? This will show you a more efficient way
• Do you need to compare 2 lists and see what is different on one from the other?... Yes an array simplifies the process.

MATCH, ABS, SUMPRODUCT,SUMIF, NESTED IFs are briefly discussed and used in the Ebook.
The manual walks you slowly through each process referencing Excel 2007. The manual is 42 pages.

The current litigation explosion has created tremendous interest in asset protection. Not only does this area have financial and estate aspects but it directly impacts tax planning.
This mini-course is designed to survey opportunities for asset protection that can arise during tax planning and to determine how to properly report such transactions.

IFRS Learning Modules are a series of courses that provide in-depth overviews of various topics related to International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). IFRS represents the global accounting principles that provide the foundation for most of the world’s financial reporting. These Standards establish the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure requirements for transactions and events reflected in IFRS financial statements.

The growing acceptance of IFRS as a basis for U.S. financial reporting represents a fundamental change for the U.S. accounting profession. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and their U.S. equivalent (the FASB) have made commitments towards the convergence of U.S. GAAP and IFRS and are working to eliminate as many differences between the two Standards as possible. In addition, the Securities and Exchange Commission has endorsed the outright adoption of IFRS in the United States. Therefore it is clear that IFRS represents the future of financial accounting and reporting in the United States.

Module 2 of the IFRS Learning Module series presents an overview of IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors and discusses the IASB’s and FASB’s efforts towards achieving convergence in these areas of financial reporting.

IFRS Learning Modules are a series of courses that provide in-depth overviews of various topics related to International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) . IFRS represents the global accounting principles that provide the foundation for most of the world’s financial reporting. These Standards establish the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure requirements for transactions and events reflected in IFRS financial statements.

The growing acceptance of IFRS as a basis for U.S. financial reporting represents a fundamental change for the U.S. accounting profession. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and their U.S. equivalent (the FASB) have made commitments towards the convergence of U.S. GAAP and IFRS and are working to eliminate as many differences between the two Standards as possible. In addition, the Securities and Exchange Commission has endorsed the outright adoption of IFRS in the United States. Therefore it is clear that IFRS represents the future of financial accounting and reporting in the United States.

Module 3 of the IFRS Learning Module series presents an overview of IAS 10 Events after the Reporting Period (a topic commonly referred to as “subsequent events” under U.S. GAAP) and discusses the IASB’s and FASB’s efforts towards achieving convergence in this area of financial reporting.

The comparison of actual revenue or margin amounts to either budget or prior year results will generally result in a variance. This course demonstrates mathematical formulas to compute the amount of that variance that is attributable to pricing decisions, unit volume and product mix. In the case of margin variances, the calculation for product cost is an additional component. This method is an important tool to clearly and concisely explain revenue and margin variances to marketing, operations and executive personnel. Specific topics covered are the calculation of the price, volume, mix and cost components as well as an explanation of the concept of product mix. Applicable to CPA’s working in the manufacturing or distribution industry as well as CPA’s in public accounting who serve these industries.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Acts of 2010 represent the most sweeping and controversial public health care program since the creation of Medicare. Overhauling a healthcare industry that accounts for over one sixth of the national economy while adding coverage for 32 million Americans, these Acts make extensive use of the Internal Revenue Code to reform health insurance. In fact, they contain more than $400 billion in revenue raisers and new taxes. This course overviews these major tax law changes and their affect on individuals, businesses, and healthcare providers.

Spreadsheets have become pervasive in most companies and have many uses. Those that are used in the financial reporting process are of most concern to the assessment of the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting mandated by Sarbanes-Oxley. This course discusses how to evaluate spreadsheets under the rules of Section 404 and Auditing Standard No. 5 as well as what specific compensating spreadsheet controls are supported by Excel 2007.

ETHICS FOR TAX PROFESSIONALS-ENROLLED AGENTS is a course intended for:

1. Enrolled agents, CPAs, accountants and other professionals who need an understanding of Ethics, as it relates to the IRS. This course may not qualify for the Ethics requirements for CPAs in many States; however, CPAs can get CPE credits for it.
2. Students and others with a basic understanding of business, who want to learn more about the subject.
3. Businesses, tax office staff, and any organizations conducting training programs.

The course is easy to use and should assist the user in gaining a basic understanding of Ethics as it relates to IRS rules. This course is based on Circular No. 230, (Rev. 8-2011) published by the IRS and available for free or for download at www.irs.gov . Since this course is only 2 hours in length, it will concentrate on selected items. Students could get a more in-depth knowledge of the subject by getting the circular and reading it.

As with anything these days, rules change and some of the information contained in this course may become obsolete.

This course will be updated with new information as soon as it becomes available.

Bernard Madoff Investment Securities LLC was the source of the largest financial fraud in US history. Madoff perpetrated a simple Ponzi scheme whereby older investors were paid with newer investor funds, thus providing the impression of actual investment returns. The extent of the losses related to Madoff’s Ponzi scheme has been estimated at $50 - $65 billion.

Many are astounded to hear that Bernard Madoff Investment Securities LLC was audited by a CPA. Unfortunately, Madoff’s CPA apparently did not subscribe to the AICPA Code of Conduct as most of the rules contained in the code were ignored. What follows is a case study examining the conduct of Friehling & Horowitz CPA’s P.C., the CPA firm that audited Bernard Madoff Investment Securities LLC, within the context of the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct.