For TSCPA members and those ineligible for membership but would like to attend

For TSCPA members and those ineligible for membership but would like to attend

For TSCPA members and those ineligible for membership but would like to attend

Christine Spray

Even the most successful business leaders find running a business more challenging than they expected. Eventually, most grapple with one (or more) of the following challenges: 

Lack of Control – over time, the market, or the company

People – employees, customers and vendors that just don’t seem to listen or follow through

Profit – simply put, there’s not enough of it

Growth – the company just can’t break through to the next level

Magic Pills – lots of remedies and quick fixes have come and gone but the wheels are still spinning

Christine Spray delivers an engaging and interactive program that helps business executives start seeing their business differently. 

Spray helps financial executives add value to their organization so everything will start working harmoniously, and the leadership team will be able to remove or solve all problems, obstacles, and frustrations.

This holistic system will provide simple, time-tested tools that can be immediately used to achieve the company’s goals and objectives. 

Participants gain simple, effective tools that can be immediately used and put into action.

They will learn how to help drive financial performance to a new level. 

Finally, participants will learn how to get a pulse on their business and gain immediate

traction to achieve the results they desire.

Ash Noah, CPA, FCMA, CGMA

Technology is fundamentally reshaping business models, reinventing how business is done and redesigning how customers interact with your companies. Most importantly, instead of process driving technology, innovative technology is driving best practice requiring reengineering legacy processes.

Furthermore, Data and digitization have strategic implications that impact the future viability of the organization. Thus, whether your enterprise survives and thrives depends on a successful digital transformation.

Join Ash Noah, to explore the IMPERATIVES FOR THE FINANCE FUNCTION 2020, Where he will discuss how the role of the CFO, the shape of the Finance Organization and the competencies and mindset of finance professional is changing in response to this evolving digital landscape based on the research conducted by the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants.

Cheryl O'Brien, CPA, CGMA

So what is new in the not for profit world? This is the session to attend to find out the answer! We will address upcoming changes in the regulatory world and also discuss how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 has impacted not for profit entities.

Stephanie McCasland, CPA

We are in a constant state of disruption as the accounting profession is faced with new technologies. As the digital age expands, the accounting profession must develop/align our processes in response to this revolution.

The course will introduce current data extraction, preparation, and analytic tools in the market place and how these can be incorporated in the audit process or day to day operations. We will explore various market tools such as Audit Accelerator, ASAP Utilities, IDEA, MindBridge, etc.

Tim Phillips

This presentation imparts practical and easy to use professional negotiation techniques and best practices empowering participants to start getting what they want now and stop settling for just what they need.  

Participants will receive and learn to use:

• 3 stage negotiation process
• 7 steps to win
• Techniques to recognize and neutralize deceptive tricks and tactics
• Communication skills to get what they really want with specific words and phrases

This presentation is not theory. It delivers knowledge, skills and best practices from a seasoned professional negotiator with over 30 years practical experience. Participants are guaranteed a powerful and transformative experience to start getting what they want instead of just settling for what they need in all areas of professional and personal life.

Kate Warne, Ph.D., CFA

Kate will discuss the investment environment, including our

outlook for the economy, interest rates and the markets. She will also provide

perspective on current issues and their potential impact, and some

recommendations for how investors can position for the road ahead.  

Kate D. Skol, MCT

• Using Flash Fill
• Turn All of Your Data into Tables
• Creating and Using Charts to Visualize Your Data
• Analyze Your Data with Pivot Tables

Warren Barhorst

Ms. Kate Skol, MCT

• Navigate in Power BI Desktop
• View and Understand Data Models
• Create Reports using Data Model Data
• Use DAX Functions
• Create Measures
• Create Tables, Matrices and Charts
• Create Basic Dashboards

Bruce Saxton

What causes employee engagement?

Let's start with what does not cause employee engagement.

Bonuses, Benefits and Pats on the Back.

Learn in this session the Four Contributing Factors to employee engagement that have all do to with YOU, not them.

Richard Nevins, CPA

Frustrated about insurance? Confused about what is covered? Wondering if there is an easier way? At this presentation, we will discuss the mistakes employers make and the keys to providing a good coverage for your employees. And, what the future may hold for insurance especially as the election draws near.

Dave Kerr, CPA

Experience a 9 round all out battle between these two accounting cloud Titans.  During this 90 minute session you will witness a detailed comparison and a back and forth demo between these two SAAS powerhouses.  Each will provide their best punches for Dashboards, Financials, Budgeting, Manufacturing, Payroll, Warehouse Management, Workflow Approvals, Pricing and Reporting. Participants will be asked to score each round with the final winner determined by the will of the crowd.

Carol A. Cooper, PC

This session provides a glimpse at "practices" used for increasing personal performance as well as organizational performance through communication while distinguishing context, effective requests, interpretation and various other distinctions.

Danielle Cheek Supkis, CPA, CFE, CVA

According to the Kroll Global Fraud 2017/2018 report, 84% of US Companies suffered at least one type of fraud in the last year. This session will cover preventative steps that you can take to protect your organization.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify common fraud risks at your organization.
• Learn common controls that mitigate risks as well as think about how to design controls specific to your organization.

Blake Oliver, CPA

Unemployment for accountants and auditors is at historic lows, and the talent shortage is just going to get worse. So how is a controller or CFO expected to recruit and retain top talent? T

The answer is remote work.

Across every age group what accountants want — and increasingly demand — is the flexibility to work how, when, and where they want. And smart controllers & CFOs are finally coming to understand that what’s good for their staff is good for them.

Join this session to learn how accounting leaders leverage cloud technology and modern leadership skills to enable and empower their distributed teams to work from home and/or on flexible schedules — without sacrificing work output or quality.

Jack Wisdom, Attorney

Human beings are complex and amazing. We are capable of artistic brilliance (consider, for example, George Jones) and low-down ridiculousness (consider, for example, George Jones). As employers and employees, we are capable of turning personal foibles into federal lawsuits. This presentation will offer no artistic brilliance, but it will feature true stories of low-down ridiculousness, all for educational purposes. We will discuss real cases from the last 12 months, and we will try to learn (and possibly be entertained by) other people’s mistakes.

Rick Garcia, EnCE

This session will cover the following topics:

• Uses and practical applications of digital forensics
• Tips for selecting the appropriate expert (IT v Forensics Expert)
• Case Examples: GPS/Location-based data, IP data exfiltration, spoliation, cloud-storage, instant messaging, etc

Donny Shimamoto, CPA, CITP, CGMA

Artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and big data are being heralded as the end of the accounting profession. This is definitely not true. These emerging technologies will actually increase the value of the services provided by accountants by removing the need to perform mundane transactional and basic compliance work. Accounting firms and finance departments need to develop an innovation strategy to transcend these emerging technologies and prepare their staff for the changes that are coming...and they are coming sooner than you think!

Learning Objectives:

-Understand how emerging technologies are going to impact the accounting profession

-Identify the key considerations for enhancing your firm’s/department's service offerings

-Identify the training that your staff need to be ready to use emerging technologies and deliver enhanced services

Danielle Cheek Supkis, CPA, CFE, CVA

The accounting profession continues to evolve and the role that women play in our profession has become more relevant over the years. But the question we should be asking is whether women in leadership roles have progressed in our profession at an acceptable rate. Are women taking their place at the executive levels, and if not, how can we make that happen? We will look at the current gender trends in our profession and explore challenges and strategies to further the goal of women in leadership.

Blake Oliver, CPA

Smartphones. Free 2-day shipping. Cloud computing. These days, we demand everything immediately and in the palm of our hands. So why are most accounting teams stuck in their cubicles, closing the books like it’s 1999?

In today’s fast moving business environment, Controllers and CFOs need to adapt quickly to changing conditions and new challenges, such as the looming talent crunch. The good news is, with the proper process and technology, you too can close the books faster and more accurately without the need to micromanage, freeing you up for more strategic work, and allowing you to scale up accounting operations without adding to headcount.

Join this session to learn:

• Why the status quo won’t cut it anymore when it comes to closing the books
• How to close the books faster and more accurately by connecting your people, process, documents, and reconciliations in the cloud
• Tactics for creating transparency and accountability on your accounting team to improve hiring and retention of top talent

Deana Sullivan, CPA, CIA, CFE, CGMA, CRMA

According to a recent Gallup Poll, only 3 out of 10 workers are engaged in the work that they do. This means that in the typical organization, 7 out of 10 employees, managers, etc., are doing just enough to get by. No more, no less. Lack of engagement seems to be the zombie in the room everyone is ignoring. What about your organization and your own team. Are they pedaling at the front of the bicycle or coasting in the back. Don’t let these zombies curtail your

success.

Steven J Tillinger, CPA

Discussion will focus on new code section 199A, the passthrough deduction, enacted by the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act. In this session, Steve will give an overview of the code section. If this subject is important to you, Steve encourages you to attend both sessions.

David Cieslak, CPA.CITP, CGMA

Gizmos and gadgets have become an indispensable part of our digital lives – ever transforming the way we work, play and live. From cloud computing, mobile and hybrid devices to entertainment, home automation and the Internet-of-Things – every aspect of our

days are impacted by the latest technology offerings. Join Inspector Gadget as he shares cutting edge tech trends and the hottest gear that every user will want to consider in the months ahead.  

Stephen King, CPA CGMA

Most

CEOs use some kind of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and management reports

to measure their business, but which ones really help you make "Data Drive

Decisions" that drive performance and profitability? Join Stephen King,

CPA, and a dynamic repeat Inc. 500 speaker, as he presents "How to Make

Data Driven Decisions - KPIs That Will Help Grow Your Business."

Steve will share the Core Four decisions every CEO needs to make to increase profits,

along with walking through the drivers of those decisions. Then he’ll show the

data you need at your fingertips to make data driven decisions that increase

profits. He’ll share over 30 years’ experience helping businesses improve

performance, profitability and growth by having actionable financial

intelligence.

You’ll also walk away with 6 new KPIs you can use to improve your business

performance; a step by step "CEOs Guide to Keeping Score" eBook and

an Excel Template you can use to create your own KPI scorecard. 

Steve will take you on a journey inside the mind of a strategic CEO and help you:

 • Learn the Core Four decisions you need to

make to increase profits.

• Define the drivers of your decisions.

• Understand how to use leading and lagging indicators and

Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) trends to see the true economics of your

business.

• Discover 6 KPIs that help you increase

profits.

• Implement your own KPI scorecard to improve

management performance.

Steven J Tillinger, CPA

Discussion on new code section 199A will continue. In this session, Steve will focus on the final income tax regulations, which provide computational, definitional and anti-abuse guidance. If this subject is important to you, Steve encourages you to attend both sessions.

David Cieslak, CPA.CITP, CGMA

Every day, the headlines herald one sensational data breach after the next – each

seemingly bigger and more damaging than the last. But beyond the amazing

stories, what are the prudent steps each of us should take in response? 

This session presents a pragmatic and practical approach for keeping your

critical systems and data secure in today’s volatile, work-from-anywhere,

world. Topics covered will include personal and corporate considerations,

security hardware and software, mobile, cloud, identity theft, secure

connectivity, encryption and multi-factor authentication. You will know how to:

• Prioritize where to apply resources based on highest levels of risk

• Distinguish between measures that work and those no longer effective

• Identify three things you should do right away to dramatically lower your risk

of compromise

Donny Shimamoto, CPA, CITP, CGMA

?Too often organizations focus their budgeting and planning efforts around only the financial aspects of an organization.However, most operations people and business managers operate in a world where revenues and expenses is only a small part of their actual work.By incorporating non-financial metrics into their budgeting and planning process, organizations can improve the effectiveness of their planning process and utilize measures of success other than profit in their performance management and compensation plans.

Key Takeaways & Insights:

See how budgeting & planning can be expanded to include non-financial metrics

Learn to identify non-financial business drivers that drive financial results

Learn to incorporate non-financial metrics into budgeting & planning models

William (Bill) Reeb CPA, CITP, CGMA

Fueled by rapid technological innovation, the world is changing at unprecedented speed – with significant implications for the accounting profession. Cybersecurity, blockchain, artificial intelligence and cognitive technologies all have the potential to transform our work. AICPA Chair Bill Reeb, CPA, CITP, CGMA, provides insight on the forces shaping the future of accounting and the numerous AICPA initiatives to keep the profession ahead.

Steven R. Goodman, CPA, CFP

Tax efficiency can be one of the most overlooked and underutilized opportunities relating to one's personal financial planning. Tax efficiency in how one saves, invests, and funds retirement distributions can be the difference between investment success and a well-funded retirement, possibly with a legacy for one's children, versus financial stress in one's retirement years. Tax efficiency is something to consider now.

Bryan Smith, CPA.CITP, CISA, Virtual CIO

At last count there were over 20 unique applications available in the Office 365 bundle. These range from the traditional Office desktop applications such as Excel, PowerPoint, Word, etc., to a whole new generation of cloud-based applications such as OneDrive, SharePoint, Yammer, Delve and more. These newer cloud-based applications will help you transform to a digital business model.

This course will provide a round robin review of all of the Office 365 applications available so that you will understand where they fit into your overall strategy to create digital business processes and collaborate via the cloud. This will also provide you with the appropriate knowledge necessary to determine which subscription plans are appropriate for your team members.

Learning Objectives:

• Upon completion of this course you will be:Aware of all the Office 365 apps that are available
• Realize the role that the apps can play in your organization.
• Be prepared to determine what subscription plans are best suited to your individual team members

Deana Sullivan, CPA, CIA, CFE, CGMA, CRMA

Why do good people do bad things? Would we have made the same choice? This interactive and thought-provoking session provides a look into both our personal and professional ethics and discusses the values upon which our choices are based. Ethical behavior is more than mere knowledge of right and wrong but making the right choices for our profession and organization. The public looks to us as a standard of ethics and integrity and the Texas State Board holds us accountable for protecting the CPA brand. Are we meeting these obligations?

CPE: 4.0 hours. This course is designed to meet the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy’s (TSBPA) Ethics Course Requirement for Licensees for four hours of continuing education. It also satisfies the annual ethics requirement for the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA).

Instruction Type: Classroom

Course Objectives:

In this interactive and thought-provoking session participants will have the opportunity to:

• Explore the foundations and philosophies of ethics
• Understand the Texas State Board’s Rules of Professional Conduct and the core values of our profession
• Practice applying ethical judgment in making choices appropriate for the profession and the public
• Identify the components and red flags of fraud
• Determine improvement opportunities for protecting the brand

Session Topics:

•     Ethical Principles and Values

•     Study of Why Good People Do Bad Things

•     Ethical Reasoning and Dilemmas

•     Overview of the TSBPA Rules and Responsibilities

•     Research on Unethical Behavior in the Workplace

•     Components and Red Flags of Fraud

•     Steps for Creating a More Ethical Environment

•     Upholding the Standards of a Texas CPA

Prerequisite:  None

Who Should Attend:

While this course will meet the annual license requirements for CPAs, CIAs and CFEs, it is for anyone who wants a better understanding of personal, professional and organizational ethics. Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about why people make the choices they do and what can be done to influence those choices.

Shehan Chandrasekera, CPA

Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and ether are two trending topics in the fin-tech world. Yet, few business professionals can grasp the intricacies, opportunities and challenges posed by this new technology. This course intends to give you a thorough understanding of the history of the blockchain, properties of blockchain, limitations of blockchain, major cryptocurrencies (bitcoin & Ethereum) how to buy & sell cryptocurrencies, how tokens get value, special terms associated with the blockchain and the taxation of common blockchain related transactions. The course should prepare you to take on clients in blockchain related businesses, communicate effectively with them and implement best tax practices.

Andrew Brorsen, CPA

This session is not intended to scare - just to help you be cyber aware and prepare.* Who are the malicious actors in the digital world and what do they want from you and / or your business?* How do malicious actors use social engineering and technology to steal and sell your personal, financial, and health information or company data such as Intellectual Property, customer data, or tax returns?

* What can you do to identify the threats, protect yourself at home and work, and recover if your assets are breached?

Jackeline Velez

Just like the clients you serve - your accounting practice is a business itself. Tracking your workflow, time and billing is critical to having a smooth operating practice.

Running an accounting practice presents many challenges:

• Tracking and controlling deadlines
• Balancing distribution of workload and its ongoing status
• Handling emergencies as they arise
• Collecting, tracking and storing clients’ documents
• Managing leads, invoicing clients, and more

Isn’t there an easy way to manage all of this? Wait… there is!

Please join Xero and Donny Shimamoto for a discussion on Workflow Management and recommended solutions.

Halen Phan, GCFA, GASF

Manager of Forensics and eDiscovery | Pathway Forensics

Madhu Maganti, CPA, CISA

Director | IT Advisory & Cybersecurity Group

Andrew Brorsen, CPA

Senior Partner and Founder | Cirrus Cybersecurity Group

Frank Barbella

Founder and CEO | SOLV Risk Solutions

Donny Shimamoto, CPA, CITP, CGMA

Going through another grueling budget season?Could there be an easier way to prepare your budget?Are you utilizing all of the budgeting best practices?Come to this seminar to learn about the leading practices in budgeting and planning and hear about the technologies that can help turn those theories into practice.Through these best practices, you can improve your organization’s performance, change the role of your finance department into a value-add, and turn your budgeting and planning process into a competitive advantage.

Key Takeaways & Insights:

- Learn about the leading practices for effective budgeting and driver-based planning

- See how better planning and management reporting can lead to better decision-making and competitive advantage

- Understand the technologies available to support budgeting and reporting processes