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COURSE DESCRIPTION

The accounts payable function is changing at a dizzying pace. What worked yesterday may not work today. Given the current economy, mounting regulatory pressures, and the increased visibility and importance of the accounts payable function, best practices are something with which every professional needs to be conversant. Unfortunately, keeping up to speed these days can be like herding cats. While some best practices remain steadfast, others simply no longer work and are being replaced by new practices just now appearing. The talk will include a discussion of the newest best practice every organization should implement to ensure crooks don't get their hands on money or sensitive information. This is one session you might want to invite your colleagues in accounting, auditing, and payroll to so they implement appropriate best practices and are not bamboozled by some of the newest frauds.

The truth is that companies ignore accounts payable best practices at their peril and the impact is felt on your bottom line. It's that simple yet some organizations continue to turn a blind eye to the leakage that occurs due to the poor or inefficient processes in their AP operations. Don't be one of them!

Who Should Attend:

• All Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)

Qualifies and Approved with all State Boards of Accountancy and the following sponsorships:

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COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Business Combinations Topic provides guidance on the accounting and reporting for transactions that represent business combinations to be accounted for under the acquisition method (as described in paragraphs 805-10-05-4).

In addition, the Topic includes Subtopic 805-50, which provides guidance on transactions sometimes associated with business combinations but that do not meet the requirements to be accounted for as business combinations under the acquisition method.

Who Should Attend:

• All Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)

Qualifies and Approved with all State Boards of Accountancy and the following sponsorships:

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COURSE DESCRIPTION

AP Now statistics reveal that 85% of all companies had their accounts payable staff working remotely during the coronavirus crisis. For most, the transition from office to remote usually took place over a few short days and was anything but pretty or smooth. With the possibility of returning to the office at some point in the near future, organizations need to start planning for that event. Hopefully, we have all learned something from going through this episode. The return to a new normal will require additional efforts around the accounts payable function. Organizations will need to review what happened while working remotely and plan for the future. For the likelihood of this happening again is, unfortunately, high. The next time vendors are not so likely to be understanding about late payments and crooks will be even better situated to take advantage. Every organization needs to prepare. This session identifies 20 different steps every organization should take with regard to its accounts payable function. Its not hard, you just have to do it.

Learning Objectives:

After reading the course material, you will be able to:

• Identify potential weaknesses that may have facilitated fraud or led to duplicate payments.
• Pinpoint any responsibilities that may have fallen through the cracks during the crisis.
• Create new processes for the future so the next time the transition will not be so harsh.
• Evaluate interim policies that may need to be implemented as the country goes through the reopening process.
• Start the transition with motivated employees.

Who Should Attend:

• All Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)

Qualifies and Approved with all State Boards of Accountancy and the following sponsorships:

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COURSE DESCRIPTION

Many organizations take their accounts payable function (along with most others) for granted until suddenly, they cant get an invoice to a critical vendor paid. Or, as many are finding out the hard way, their accounts payable team cant get into the office to pick up all the paper invoices that need to be processed. This has happened for a few days in the past, mainly due to weather-related incidents. But they pass fairly quickly and its easy to play catch up. This time is different and it has highlighted the areas where the current process is not sufficient. This brand-new session was created by AP Nows founder, Mary Schaeffer, and is based on the real-life experiences of many of her readers, who are accounting and accounts payable professionals as well as interviews with experts. They shared practices that are working, those that are not, and lessons learned.

Learning Objectives:

After reading the course material, you will be able to:

• Identify areas where your current accounts payable function might need adjustment to deal with a crisis, like a coronavirus.
• Develop practices that will help handle the masses of paper invoices that many are still receiving.
• Manage staff and a management team working remotely.
• Convert many of your vendors to receiving electronic payments instead of paper checks.
• Create processes for those who must go into the office.
• Keep up the morale of staff not used to working remotely.
• Plan for future crises.

Who Should Attend:

• Accountants, controllers, accounting managers, auditors (internal and external), Treasurers, CFOs, CEOs, accounts payable professionals, procure-to-pay professionals, and travel managers.
• All Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)

Qualifies and Approved with all State Boards of Accountancy and the following sponsorships:

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COURSE DESCRIPTION

Alas, technology not only helps legitimate businesses become more efficient; it also assists crooks looking to defraud your organization. Getting money out of your organization's bank account is now easier than ever. Just ask the growing number of fraudsters snatching cash from unsuspecting organizations across the country. Unfortunately, every company is at risk and businesses do not have the same fraud protections as individuals. If you don't report the thefts within 48 hours, you will probably end up eating the losses which can be substantial. Those who think they're protected because they don't make electronic payments or because they use positive pay are flat out wrong. What's worse, it's not just the big guys who are getting hit. The crooks are also targeting smaller mid-sized companies, municipalities, schools, and not-for-profits. Avoiding electronic payments (ACH) is not the answer. You are still at risk; this is the fastest-growing payment fraud. But you can protect your company if you take the right steps. Please join us for this 60-fast paced minute session with an industry expert, AP Nows Mary S. Schaeffer. It contains expert advice about all the latest electronic payment frauds.

Topics include:

• How big a problem electronic fraud is.
• A description of how each of the electronic payment frauds can happen.
• A dialogue of best practices that will prevent each of these frauds.
• A discussion of some bank products that help stop electronic payment fraud.
• An overall discussion of practices every organization should use to protect against payment fraud.

Learning Objectives:

After reading the course material, you will be able to:

• Identify the types of ACH payments;
• Differentiate between the many different types of ACH payment fraud, including the two fastest-growing types;
• Navigate around the limited legal protections from your bank;
• Instruct your bank to use certain products to protect your company; and
• Implement best payment process practices that affect ACH payments to protect your organization.

Who Should Attend:

• All Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)

Qualifies and Approved with all State Boards of Accountancy and the following sponsorships:

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COURSE DESCRIPTION

With the complexity of a fast-paced business environment and continued emphasis by regulators on preventing and detecting improper financial reporting, it is important that CPAs remain current regarding the accounting guidance and regulations affecting their daily functions and professional responsibilities. This course will consider several areas of accounting and auditing guidance and resources.

The FASBs Accounting Standards Codification is the source of U.S. GAAP to be applied to nongovernmental entities. The content and organization of the Codification will be reviewed in order for CPAs to effectively access and research the proper accounting standards.

The sections of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act addressing oversight, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and internal controls over financial reporting will be reviewed along with the auditing standards issued by the PCAOB. The activities of the Private Company Council and the guidance issued by the Council will also be outlined.

Who Should Attend:

• All Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)

Qualifies and Approved with all State Boards of Accountancy and the following sponsorships: