Sessions from 2018
9:00 am ET
Blockchain Demystified and The Internet of Things for Accountants
Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge
Panelists: Jim Bourke, CPA.CITP, CFF, Managing Director Advisory Services
Withum
John Higgins, CPA.CITP, Strategic Technology Advisor, Owner and Co-Founder of CPA Crossings LLC
Kacee Johnson, MBA, Strategic Advisor, CPA.com
Dr. Sean Stein Smith, DBA, CPA, Assistant Professor, Lehman College
Blockchain demystified and The Internet of Things for Accountants: Emerging technologies connect objects and things to the Internet using inexpensive, networked sensors and devices. This is more than a trend: It’s a digital revolution of seismic proportions that is on track to transform IT, business processes, and whole industries including accounting. New methods of accounting for the IoT will necessarily emerge. In this session you’ll learn what you need to know and how to speak intelligently about this to your clients.
10:00 am ET
Life After Google
Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge
Sponsor: Sage
Panelists:
Ed Kless, Senior Director, Sage Accountants Solutions
Gary Boomer, CEO, Boomer Consulting, Inc.
Greg LaFollette, CPA.CITP, CGMA
Inspired by George Gilder’s 2018 book, Life After Google: The Fall of Big Data and the Rise of the Blockchain Economy, we delve into the theory that Google, the weird name that became a verb, has a life expectancy, and that the world created by Google is about to be transformed. In this session we’ll discuss the causes of Google’s potential demise, and what kind of world will exist when Google and the internet as a whole seem as primitive as DOS and landlines. Most importantly, we’ll discuss how accountants can expect to be impacted by this world of constant change.
11:00 am ET
Wayfair and the SALT Moment – Using SALT to differentiate your accounting practice
Field of Study: Taxes
Sponsor: Avalara and Peisner Johnson
Panelists:
Ray Bigley, Vice President Business & Corporate Development, Avalara
Andrew Johnson, Managing Partner, Peisner Johnson & Co.
Jason Parr, Partner & COO, Peisner Johnson & Co.
Laws change, clients expand their businesses in different directions, and sales tax is getting more interesting. It’s time to start using sales taxation to differentiate your tax/accounting practice and we’re going to show you how. Sales tax can be devastating for unsuspecting businesses, and it is your job as their advisor to make sure all bases are covered for your clients. By providing stellar sales tax services, you have an opportunity to simultaneously offer your clients year-round service and peace of mind. You only have to say you’re ready and you can easily grow your practice with sales tax services. What are you waiting for?
12:00 am ET
The Shared Economy and its Impact on Team Building/Talent Development
Field of Study: Personnel/Human Resources
Sponsor: Receipt Bank
Panelists:
Damien Greathead, Vice President, Global Accountants’ Programs, Receipt Bank
Bob Wang, CPA, CA, President & CEO, Legacy Advantage CPA Ltd.
Geni Whitehouse
The Shared Economy and its Impact on Team Building/Talent Development – sponsored by Receipt Bank
In this session we will learn about the latest trends and opportunities for accountants as a result of the popularity of the shared economy. In particular, we will address:
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The changing expectations of clients in the shared economy
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Structural and organizational changes impacting accountants
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Hiring and training the right mix of staff to work with your sharing economy clients
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How to best serve these clients efficiently and cost-effectively
1:00 pm ET
Defining and Achieving Practice Growth
Field of Study: Business Management and Organization
Sponsor: Xero
Panelists:
Tate Henshaw, Xero Ambassador
Ryan Watson, Xero Ambassador
Long-term and meaningful growth is the goal of every practice. To start, it’s important to define what growth means to you. So whether it’s a focus on revenue, clients, personal and team development, or a unique combination – knowing the goal greatly simplifies the path. Join us as a select panel draws on their own experiences and shares real-life examples, including how:
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Developing a mindset for growth starts with letting go of the past
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Technology adoption fits into growth strategy
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Previous growth initiatives have shaped their current approach
2:00 pm ET
Pain Points Found in Prep, Comp, and Review Services
Field of Study: Auditing
Sponsor: CPA.com
Panelists:
Greg LaFollette, CPA.CITP, CGMA, Strategic Advisor, CPA.com
Carl Peterson, Vice President, Small Firm Interests, AICPA
Matt Towers, Product Marketing Manager, CPA.com
Ensuring compliance of your prep, comp and review services can often be time-intensive. Many firms rely on manual processes for organizing data and spend extra time determining which procedures to apply. Communicating with clients and gathering necessary information can also present a challenge without an effective way to collaborate. During this session, we will discuss strategies to address these challenges and improve the quality of your engagements.
3:00 pm ET
Bridging the Generational Gap in your Firm
Field of Study: Personnel/Human Resources
Panelists:
Garrett Wagner, CPA, Founder, C3 Evolution Group
Geni Whitehouse, Countess of Communication, Brotemarkle, Davis & Co.
Lindsay Stevenson, CPA, CGMA, Vice President, 1st Financial Bank USA
Kelly Welter, CPA, Serl Keefer Welter
We are working in an unprecedented time of multiple generations sharing the same office space, and each younger generation bringing new skills to the table. If you haven’t had generational conflict in your firm, you haven’t had generational conflict yet. We have 10 killer tips guaranteed to help you navigate this complicated landscape in such a way that every member of your company will be better for the changes you make.
4:00 pm ET
Gadgets and Gifts – Latest Technology Trends
Field of Study: Information Technology
Panelists:
Jim Bourke, CPA.CITP, CFF
David Cieslak, CPA.CITP, CGMA, GSEC
Our technogurus have scoured the gadget universe to bring you the latest in technological wonders that can make your worklife and your homelife run more smoothly, or at least we’ll help you have lots more fun at work and home. We guarantee you’ll find some surprises here and will likely add a few things to your own wish list along with your gift-giving list this holiday season.
5:00 pm ET
Taking Advantage of the 2018 Tax Reform - TCJA
Field of Study: Taxes
Sponsor: Intuit ProConnect
Panelists:
Mike D’Avolio, CPA, JD, Senior Tax Analyst, Intuit
Jackie Meyer, CPA, CTC, Owner, Meyer Tax Consulting
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has presented tax advisors with a new opportunity to provide insights and guidance to clients. Both businesses and individuals are affected by the new law. In this session, we’ll discuss the nuts and bolts of the TCJA, how the law is impacting your clients, and tips for providing the best tax advice.
6:00 pm ET
Budgeting and Forecasting Beyond the Crystal Ball
Field of Study: Finance
Sponsor: Canopy
Panelists:
Elizabeth Adams, Managing Principal, Links Advisory, LLC
Marty McCutchen, Owner, Marty McCutchen, CPA
Byron Patrick, CPA.CITP, Managing Director, CPA Practice at Network Alliance
Make This a Revenue Generating Service in Your Firm. We hear a lot about accountants evolving from number-crunchers who report on the past to advisors to tell us what to expect in the future. But just how does that work? Accountants by their nature are cautious and not inclined to making predictions. But you can use the numbers from the past to your advantage and learn how to identify trends. Using your accounting expertise and modern technology tools, you can help your clients create a basic framework in which they can move forward with confidence. In this session we will discuss methods for reading the numbers, spotting trends, creating fluid budgets, anticipating change, and preparing your clients for the future.
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