David Holt – CPE COURSE TOPICS

by David W. Holt, CPA, CFE

(For CPE Sponsor – Professional Accounting Seminars, Inc. dba David Holt Seminars & various “in-house or “Chapter sponsored” seminars)

8 hrs of CPE per topic (Except Governmental & Nonprofit Updates are usually 4 hours, each) All topics (except Ethics) are “accounting and auditing” (A&A / Technical Content) courses and include:

Live instruction format, based on the provided course material
No prerequisites or advanced preparation required
Intermediate or update level content (but flexible)

(AAU) Accounting & Auditing Standards Update (New for 2012)

This year’s primary topics include:

All significant Accounting Standard Updates (by FASB)
The status of International GAAP convergence & IFRS
The status of GAAP for Private Companies
The new Clarity & Convergence audit standards (by AICPA)

(ANT) Anti-Fraud Protocols for Managers, Owners & Accountants (New 2011-2012)

This fraud session provides the most effective tools & procedures to reduce fraud in the workplace. We will also address any “problems” or “successes” experienced by the participants, relevant to occupational fraud. Primary topics include:

Video interviews with former employees (felons) & other fraud experts
How to anticipate (risk assessment), identify, & reduce the “most popular” occupational frauds (for specific industries, transactions, & assets); using the 2010 Report to the Nation on Occupational Fraud & Abuse (ACFE)
Improving “fraud ownership” in small & large organizations
Case studies regarding “how to prevent” specific types of misappropriations (including cash)
Learning objectives: discuss & understand contemporary procedures, resources, & techniques for safeguarding organizational assets

(ORW) OCBOA Reporting Workshop (Updated for 2012)

This course will devote most time to critical accounting & reporting issues for statements prepared as Other Comprehensive Bases of Accounting (OCBOA). The interactive
workshop format will enable attendees to understand and resolve numerous (sometimes difficult) professional judgment issues. Key topics will include:

A brief review of AICPA rules for tax & cash basis statements
Estimating federal income tax (expense)
Related party transactions & disclosures
Avoiding disclosure deficiencies

(ET) Ethics for Florida CPAs

(4 hours of Ethics CPE) + Preparing Financial Statements with Integrity (4 hours of A&A CPE) = 8 hr. of CPE (entire day)

(Approved Florida Ethics course # 5874, Updated for 2012)

(You may attend either or both topics for the same fee. CPE certificates {4 hours each} will be issued for each topic. The Ethics topic is the morning session & CPE certificates will be available at the lunch break.)

This 4-hour seminar will devote substantial time to reviewing the Code of Ethics in Florida. However, the primary learning method will be the interactive discussion and solution of practical application problems. This fast paced course will hold your attention and help improve your understanding of the ethical requirements for Florida CPAs.

This seminar has the following learning objectives:

To learn the Florida rules and statutes that relate to CPAs today.
To examine topics such as confidentially, advertising and solicitation contingent fees, commissions and referral fees, as well as the disciplinary action that can be taken when we fail to comply with the standards.
To spend time examining independence and the various ways that independence can be impaired. We shall use practical problems to apply the independence rules.
We shall examine the Florida Statutes that relate to CPAs in industry, government & public accounting.

The session on Preparing Financial Statements with Integrity (4 hours A&A CPE) will focus on making financial reporting & disclosure “decisions” that enhance the value of the information for all intended users. We will engage in numerous case studies & discussion questions for situations common to most preparers of financial statements. Issues addressed will include:

AICPA Ethics Interpretations & Rulings
Actual “ethical” decisions that are frequently faced when preparing & presenting financial statements
Lessons learned through numerous, well-publicized “fraudulent” (unethical) financial statements

Governmental Accounting & Auditing Update (New for 2012 – 4 hours of CPE)

New guidance from the 2012 Governmental Auditing Standards (GAO) for Yellow Book Audits
All recently-issued (& proposed) GASBs
The effect on Governmental entities of the new AICPA Clarity & Convergence audit standards

Compilations & Reviews (Updated 2012)

Cover the basic AICPA performance & reporting requirements (SSARS)
Discuss the Recodified Compilation & Review standards created by SSARS #19
Practical guidance on independence & ethics (including all existing & proposed AICPA rules & interpretations)
Learning objectives: review “old” & “new” SSARS necessary to perform compilations & reviews; discuss practical engagement implementation & reporting “problems”

Nonprofit Organizations Update – 4 hours of CPE

This seminar will take a look at some of the more challenging new issues that must be addressed by directors, management, accountants, and auditors of Nonprofit Organizations (NPOs). We will consider accounting, auditing & internal control matters that are unique to the NPO environment. We will also discuss practical & effective ways to resolve “problems” experienced by entities with “limited resources”.

Learning objectives include a basic understanding (overview) of:

Recently-issued accounting (FASB) & auditing (AICPA) standards and the expected implications for NPOs
Difficulties & changes necessary in response to internal control deficiencies (SAS 112) and the “more rigorous” Risk Assessment Audits (SAS 104 – 111)
New guidance for internal control improvements for Board members & management of NPOs
A brief review of the most recently-issued OMB A-133 Compliance Supplement

Ethical Business Decisions by Texas CPAs (Updated for 2012 / 2013) (4 hours of required Texas ethics CPE)

This State Board approved course, will cover not only the “rules” of professional conduct, but also realistic workplace situations often experienced by CPAs in industry, government & public accounting. The session will include:

A lively, interactive format, with substantial group discussions
Coverage of the Ethics Rules and how they help CPAs make valuable, long-term professional decisions
Quizzes and case studies, to affirm and illustrate the proper application of “the rules”

Learning Objectives include:

Understanding of & compliance with the Texas Ethics rules.
Discussing the spirit & intent of the rules, as the primary focus of resolving ethical decisions.

The course is a group, live format, with no prerequisites or advanced preparation required.

(SAP) Solving Common Accounting & Disclosure Problems – Module 1 (2011)

This session will update & refresh attendees’ knowledge regarding various accounting & disclosure topics, based on the FASB Codification. These GAAP refresher seminars will be presented as a series of separate training modules. Module 1 includes:

Related party transactions
Reporting contingencies & law suits
Determining & reporting fair value for certain investments, property & equipment, and other assets, in a variety of situations & circumstances

Learning objectives: Go over applicable GAAP rules & discuss a variety of implementation issues.

(AFD) Advanced Fraud Detection Skills

Finally, based on repeated requests, we are offering a fraud detection seminar “not for beginners”. This session will primarily include multiple “hands-on” cases that are discussed and “solved” by the attendees, in a small group (workshop) format. We will contemplate some advice from experts, but this course contains much less lecture and statistics than our other
topics. Key areas of emphasis will be:

Using extractive software to identify fraudulent disbursements
Enhancing your whistle blowing program
Monitoring your employees (legally & effectively)
Dealing with bribery and kickbacks

Learning objectives include:improving your ability to detect fraud & abuse, where you work and becoming aware of how (and when) to use the most effective tools & techniques. The seminar is a live, interactive group format. No advanced preparation is required, but a basic knowledge of occupational fraud is a prerequisite.

The following section includes additional CPE Topics for 2012, that are available for In-house or Chapter CPE Seminars:

IFRS (SME version) for Private Companies

The AICPA has approved the use of IFRS (SME version) as an alternative source of GAAP for Private Companies. These new accounting rules will be essential knowledge for accountants & auditors for small businesses. Information addressed in this session will include:

Learning the fundamental “rules” for SME accounting & reporting
Comparing & contrasting SME (GAAP) to FASB & OCBOA standards
Discussing a variety of implementation issues

Learning objectives: Inform attendees regarding the new rules for IFRS reporting by small businesses (SME version)

CSI for CPAs – Analyzing Actual Fraud Cases

We’ll look at a variety of real occupational fraud cases and identify the evidence that could be used (where you work or where you audit) to detect fraud & abuse of corporate assets. We devote substantial time to the latest techniques
necessary to solicit information from employees & potential suspects.

This “hands-on” workshop approach includes 6 case studies and dozens of discussion questions.

Learning objectives include:

Improving your interviewing skills, assisted by a video that demonstrates critical issues using real fraud suspects
Learning a variety of effective fraud detection techniques & tools

Performing Risk Assessment Audits for Small Businesses & Nonprofits

This session will help you improve your efficiency & effectiveness for smaller audit clients, with “limited” accounting personnel & “simple”
internal controls.

Learning objectives include:

How to document SAS (AICPA)
compliance, without using complex or inefficient “programs” (Example
memos are included in course material)
Understanding the risk assessment audit “mindset”, in contrast to the
former “cookie cutter” & “canned audit program” audit approach
Using “real world” audit case studies to demonstrate “how to do it right” (compared to “how we used to do it”)
Considering how to identify “significant” accounts & transactions & how to audit “significant” assertions (for those accounts & transactions)

Governmental & nonprofit courses normally qualify for Yellow Book CPE credit. Other topics may also qualify for “audit proficiency” GAO CPE credit.

Most topics can be modified, combined or offered in shorter CPE presentations (e.g. 2, 4, or 16 CPE hours). Additional seminar topics & information may be obtained from:

David Holt, CPA, CFE

830-608-1313

david@holtcpe.com