Small Firm Practitioners Conference Webinar

• Evaluate the age old leadership dilemma of EQ or IQ and how to balance competence and likeability.
• Examine IRS Publication 4557 and how to apply it to your firm.
• Discuss issues surrounding going concern reporting and agreed upon procedure services

All times listed are Eastern Time Zone

Day 1

8:30am - 8:40am - Welcome & Announcements

8:40am - 9:30am

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Overcoming the Competency-Likeability Challenge (1-hour Personal Development - Non-Technical)

Research shows that people with strong emotional intelligence (EQ) are more likely to succeed than those with high IQs or relevant experience, even in the financial sector. Learn how to walk the line between competency and likability by taking advantage of your personal strengths and partnering with others to overcome the challenges that all leaders face.

Dorothy Deremo, FACHE - Principal Partner & CEO, The Deremo Group, Northville

9:40am - 10:30am

Talent: The Strategic Imperative for Business Sustainability (1-hour Personal Development - Non-Technical)

The talent wars are only going to intensify. Retaining and growing internal talent is an essential strategic business imperative for small and large companies to ensure their sustainability. Today’s leaders need to use a different set of competencies and shift from being a "Boss" to being a "Coach" in their approach to direct reports. We dig into the latest research on managing talent today that will improve business outcomes of profitability, increased retention, and quality.

Dorothy Deremo, FACHE - Principal Partner & CEO, The Deremo Group, Northville

10:40am - 11:30am

8 Simple Steps to a Better Firm (1-hour Business Management & Organization - Non-Technical)

The hardest part of starting something new is taking the first step, but the path to Membership-Based Subscription Business is clearer than you think! Following these eight steps will give you the tools necessary to avoid many of the expensive lessons many must learn the hard way.

Chris Picciurro, CPA - Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Integrated CPA Group, Franklin, TN

11:40am - 1:30pm - Break for Lunch

1:30pm - 2:20pm

Uncovering Opportunities in Qualified Improvement Property and Form 3115 (1-hour Taxes - Technical)

Explore how the CARES Act provides immediate cash flow benefits and relief to taxpayers, especially those in the retail, restaurant, and hospitality industries who improved real property since the 2017 TCJA. Maximize bonus depreciation and discover favorable IRS procedural guidance and the methodology for correcting the class life of qualified improvement property constructed in 2018, 2019 or 2020.

Craig Miller, CPA, CGMA, CCSP - President and Managing Partner, Duffy+Duffy Cost Segregation, Novi

2:30pm - 3:20pm

Best Practices for Working with Cognitively Impaired Clients and Families (1-hour Specialized Knowledge - Technical)

As the average lifespan continues trending near or more than 100, professionals are increasingly faced with the prospect of discerning if their aged client has sufficient capacity to make their own decisions. Know what must be done if you suspect your client has become vulnerable to financial exploitation and gain understanding of the nuances of power of attorney and trust documents.

Doug Chalgian, JD, CELA - Partner, Chalgian & Tripp Law Offices, East Lansing

3:30pm - 4:20pm

Valuation Matters: SSVS Application & Best Practices (1-hour Accounting - Technical)

Like many areas within accounting, valuations were not spared from COVID-19 pandemic implications. Gain insight into these lingering impacts, how and when to apply the Valuation Services 100 standard, and how the Statement on Standards for Valuation Services (SSVS) relates to other reporting standards.

James Sullivan, CPA - CEO, ATS Advisors, A CPA Firm, Plymouth

4:30pm - 5:20pm

A Practical Application of IRS Publication 4557 (1-hour Information Technology - Technical)

Data security is a growing concern, and the IRS 4557 guidelines were created to specifically address data security requirements among tax preparers. Learn why accountants are becoming prime targets for cyber criminals and how to apply the IRS 4557 guidelines to your practice to prevent both penalty and, worse, a breach itself.

Jon Melloy - Head of Growth, Practice Protect, Brisbane, Australia

5:20pm Day 1 Adjourns

Day 2

8:30am - 8:40am Welcome & Announcements

8:40am - 9:30am

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: The Potential in Fearing Less (1-hour Personal Development - Non-Technical)

Are there underlying fears preventing you from reaching your greatest potential? The negative effects of fear impact success and act as a barrier to living a purposeful life. Explore the limitless possibilities of success when leading with courage, both personally and professionally! Learn and discover strategies to recognize, overcome and transform fear to fuel personal growth, service, and leadership.

Dichondra R. Johnson, MBA, MPA, CBSP - Founder & Executive Consultant, DRJ & Associates, LLC, Metro Detroit

9:40am - 10:30am

What to Do when Clients Attempt to Fudge the Numbers on their Tax Returns? (1-hour Behavioral Ethics - Non-Technical)

To believe or disbelieve... that is the question often faced by CPAs. For tax practitioners, this question is especially nettlesome when clients attempt to overstate their business gifts, entertainment, auto expenses, etc., on their income tax returns. This ethics workshop offers "talking points" for accountants whose clients sometimes insist on fudging the numbers.

Albert Spalding, JD, PhD, CPA/CFF - Associate Professor Emeritus, Wayne State University, Detroit

10:40am - 11:30am

Going Concern Reporting and Understanding Agreed Upon Procedure Services (1-hour Auditing - Technical)

This session will dive into management's and auditor/accountants' responsibilities of reporting on going concern reporting; including indicators and mitigating factors. The session will also explain agreed upon procedures which can be services offered as an alternative to audits.

Brad Muniz - Partner, SobelCo, Livingston, NJ

11:50am - 12:40pm

One Size Doesn't Fit All: Retirement Plans in a Competitive Market (1-hour Specialized Knowledge - Technical)

SEP, Profit Sharing, Defined Benefit Plan, SIMPLE IRA, 401(k) and Safe Harbor 401(k) - there isn't a 'one size fits all' solution for employer sponsored retirement plans. In order to attract and retain the quality personnel needed to grow and maintain a successful business, regularly reviewing the scope and state of these plans is necessary to ensure competitiveness. Find out what major considerations should be weighed when choosing the appropriate plan options for closely held businesses.

Lou Melone, CFP - Managing Partner, Melone Private Wealth, Auburn Hills

12:40pm - 2:40pm Break for Lunch

2:40pm - 3:30pm

Determining the Small Firm Approach to Quality Management Standards (1-hour Auditing - Technical)

All CPA firms are responsible for managing its own system of quality management for accounting and auditing processes. Find out everything small firms need to know about establishing and maintaining this process under the current applicable standards.

G. Alan Long, CPA, CITP, CGMA – Managing Member, Baldwin CPAs, Richmond, KY

3:40pm - 4:30pm

Demystifying the UIA Financial Audit Process (1-hour Specialized Knowledge - Technical)

Being selected by the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) for an audit can be an intimidating prospect for employers. Gain a better understanding of the UIA audit process, common mistakes employers make when setting up their UIA account plus a walkthrough of the Employer Fraud section.

Sam Hodges, CPA, CGMA - Principal, Sam Hodges & Associates, Bloomfield Hills

Danene Test - State Administrative Manager, Unemployment Insurance Agency, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity

4:40pm - 5:30pm

The Big A&A Update for Small Firm Practitioners (1-hour Auditing - Technical)

It's been a busy couple of years for standards, but what do recent Statements on Auditing Standards (SAS) and Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services (SSARS) mean for small firm practitioners? Find out with this overview of all the most relevant updates and pronouncements making waves in 2022.

Duane Reyhl, CPA, CGMA - Audit and Accounting Partner, AHP, Midland

5:30pm Day 2 Adjourns