Section 1031 exchanges allow real estate investors to defer taxes when exchanging investment property, but the rules governing these transactions are complex and often misunderstood. This course provides CPAs with a practical overview of both the foundational rules and advanced planning considerations involved in like-kind exchanges.

Participants will review key terminology, tax considerations in real estate transactions, and the core requirements of a 1031 exchange, including like-kind property standards, the role of the qualified intermediary, and the critical 45-day identification and 180-day completion timelines. The course also explores advanced exchange structures such as reverse and improvement exchanges through practical case studies.

Additional discussion addresses depreciation recapture, debt replacement and mortgage boot, Form 8824 reporting, partnership and entity-level pitfalls, Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs), and the role of 1031 exchanges in estate planning. The program concludes with common IRS audit risks and best practices CPAs can use to help clients structure compliant exchanges and avoid costly mistakes.

Section 1031 like-kind exchanges allow taxpayers to defer taxes when exchanging investment real estate, but the rules and timelines governing these transactions can be complex. This course introduces the core concepts CPAs need to understand when advising clients involved in real estate exchanges.

Participants will review key terminology, the taxes involved in real estate sales, and the fundamental requirements of a 1031 exchange, including the like-kind standard, qualified intermediary involvement, and the critical 45-day identification and 180-day completion timelines. The course also covers depreciation basics, the interaction with the Section 121 primary residence exclusion, and how tax deferral works when “boot” is received.

Through practical examples and case studies, participants will examine common exchange structures—including delayed, reverse, and improvement exchanges—and review basic reporting considerations, including Form 8824. By the end of the course, practitioners will have a clear understanding of how a typical 1031 exchange works and where CPAs must be involved to help ensure transactions are structured correctly.

Stay informed—and ahead of the curve—with this VBOA-approved ethics course tailored to meet Virginia’s annual ethics requirement while bringing you the latest updates from the AICPA’s Professional Ethics Executive Committee (PEEC). The pace of change in ethics regulation has accelerated, and PEEC has been especially active with new interpretations, revised guidance, and key modernization projects.

In this interactive session, we’ll unpack the most significant developments shaping the profession today, including new standards on recruiting, CPE programs, and tax advisory services. You’ll gain practical clarity on how these changes affect both public practitioners and industry professionals.

We’ll also take a forward look at projects on PEEC’s horizon, giving you early insights into what’s coming next—and how to position yourself for compliance success in a rapidly evolving ethical landscape.

Stay informed and ahead of the curve with this timely update on ethics and independence developments from the AICPA Professional Ethics Executive Committee (PEEC). The pace of change in ethics regulation has accelerated, and PEEC has been especially active with new interpretations, revised guidance, and significant modernization initiatives.

In this interactive course, we’ll walk through the most important recent developments shaping ethical requirements for the profession, including updates affecting recruiting practices, CPE programs, and tax advisory services. Participants will gain practical clarity on how these changes impact both public practitioners and professionals in industry.

The course also looks ahead to proposed and ongoing projects on PEEC’s agenda, providing insight into potential future changes and what they may mean for compliance planning in an evolving ethical landscape.

Yellow Book or Other Classification: YB56

Stay current on the latest accounting developments affecting not-for-profit organizations with this timely GAAP update. This course reviews recently issued Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Updates (ASUs) impacting NFP financial reporting, along with standard-setting projects currently in the FASB pipeline.

The course also introduces the International Non-Profit Accounting Standard (INPAS)—the first comprehensive global accounting framework designed specifically for non-profit organizations, launched in October 2025. Participants will gain perspective on the purpose and structure of INPAS and how it compares conceptually to U.S. GAAP requirements for NFPs.

This course is designed to help practitioners, financial leaders, and auditors of not-for-profit organizations understand both current GAAP requirements and emerging global developments shaping the future of nonprofit financial reporting.

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Stay current on key developments affecting governmental audits with this focused update on the 2024 revision of the Yellow Book. This course highlights significant changes related to quality management and updates affecting key audit matters, with an emphasis on how these revisions impact audit planning and execution.

The course also addresses the GAO’s implementation delay and its implications for 2026 audit planning. Participants will gain context around recent leadership changes at the U.S. Government Accountability Office and what those transitions may signal for future guidance and oversight priorities.

In addition, the course includes an overview of recent updates to the Green Book, helping auditors understand changes to internal control guidance that may affect nonprofit and governmental entities, including some Single Audit engagements.

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Sampling is often identified as a common audit deficiency in peer review. This course will review when is sampling applicable and basics of planning a sample. We'll then focus on the application of sampling in financial statement audits with a look at sampling for substantive procedures. We'll look at the use of monetary unit sampling and tools that can be leveraged to reduce bias in sampling.

Building on Part 1, this course will review the application of sampling in financial statement audits with a focus on sampling for tests of controls. We'll also review the requirements for sampling in Single Audits with a focus on tests of controls and tests of compliance. 

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) has become a hot topic among standard setters. This session will look at the work of the FASB, GASB, and AICPA in the areas of ESG. We’ll also look at the types of engagements CPAs can provide to entities who want assurance around their ESG reporting.

Cryptocurrency continues to evolve rapidly, bringing new accounting and auditing considerations for CPAs and auditors. This course provides a practical overview of the accounting and auditing issues associated with cryptocurrency, with an emphasis on recent standard-setting developments and their implications for practice.

The accounting portion of the course focuses on ASU 2023-08 and related developments, including recent FASB Board discussions, the FASB’s Invitation to Comment, and the addition of cryptocurrency-related topics to the FASB’s research agenda. Participants will work through a practical case study to apply the guidance in ASU 2023-08, building confidence in accounting for cryptocurrency transactions and balances.

The auditing portion of the course addresses key audit considerations related to cryptocurrency, including implications for engagement acceptance and continuance, risk assessment, and the design and performance of audit procedures. The course also references the AICPA’s Accounting for and Auditing of Digital Assets practice aid to help bridge authoritative guidance and real-world application.

Software-related transactions continue to evolve, requiring careful analysis under U.S. GAAP. This two-credit course examines the accounting treatment of software costs, with a primary focus on internal-use software and emerging guidance.

Participants will walk through capitalization and expense recognition, amortization, and impairment considerations. The course includes a focused review of ASU 2025-06 and its impact on accounting for internal-use software.

Additional topics include accounting for website development costs, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) arrangements, and other cloud computing arrangements (CCAs), including implementation and hosting considerations. The course also addresses accounting for external-use software, including technological feasibility, capitalization thresholds, and related revenue considerations.

Through practical examples and case-based scenarios, participants will strengthen their ability to interpret authoritative guidance and analyze the financial reporting implications of software-related transactions.

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The Enhancing Audit Quality Initiative has identified inadequate or nonexistent audit documentation as one of the most significant issues facing the profession today. Over half of the engagements reviewed by the AICPA failed to meet the requirements of AU-C 230, highlighting a critical need for improvement.

This course addresses common misconceptions about audit documentation and provides actionable strategies to overcome these deficiencies. Attendees will learn best practices to ensure compliance with professional standards, enhance audit quality, and mitigate risks associated with poor documentation. Whether you are an experienced professional or new to auditing, this course will help you strengthen your documentation practices and uphold the highest standards of the profession.

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Fraud is constantly in the news. Whether its employee retention credit mills, FTX, the City of Dixon, it appears like fraud is everywhere. We'll start this session with a review of the common fraud schemes as identified in the 2024 Report to the Nations. We'll also review the commonalities of fraudsters. We'll then look at methods of prevention. We'll close with a look at the auditor's responsibility for the consideration of fraud in AU-C 240.

Maintaining independence and adhering to strict ethical standards are essential for professionals in governmental auditing. The Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) Yellow Book sets the benchmark for ethics and independence in this field, forming the foundation of professional compliance. This course provides a focused review of key principles and independence requirements, equipping participants with the tools to identify and mitigate common risks of noncompliance. Through practical guidance and real-world examples, attendees will learn to uphold the highest ethical standards and ensure independence in governmental auditing.

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Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, telework in state and local government was not often embraced as a form of employment. As the pandemic continues, governments are beginning to experience the benefits of remote work and are reevaluating hiring practices to offer more telework and hybrid work options, not simply as a result of an emergency. This course will review various telework options and best practices for success.

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Obligating Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) by December 31, 2024 is essential to ensure a recipient does not have to return funds to the Treasury. There are a number of requirements to properly obligate SLFRF funds and opportunities to make changes to projects after the obligation deadline. In this course, we will define what an obligation is under SLFRF, review guidance from the Treasury, learn how to meet the SLFRF obligation deadline in multiple areas, and identify when changes can be made to estimates, contracts, and subawards after the obligation deadline.

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AU-C Section 230 requires that auditors maintain sufficient audit documentation throughout the engagement. Audit documentation is essential, as it serves as the evidence that auditors performed appropriate procedures to support their opinion on the financial statements. This course will cover the basis and best practices of audit workpapers and proper audit documentation, as well as the common deficiencies in audit documentation. 

This course will serve as an introduction to conducting effective walkthroughs to gain an understanding of the client's transaction processes as well as identifying internal controls within each process. This course will review the procedures, questions to ask, and documentation requirements of walkthroughs. It will also include real-world examples of the red flags that may arise while executing a walkthrough.

This course explores the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in accounting and auditing, highlighting its vast potential while addressing the associated risks and ethical considerations. Participants will discover how to harness AI tools to enhance efficiency and innovation, while mitigating challenges such as overreliance, data security vulnerabilities, and ethical dilemmas. Through case studies and interactive discussions, you'll gain practical skills to navigate AI complexities, ensure trustworthy outputs, and uphold ethical standards in today's fast-paced digital environment.

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This course provides a comprehensive overview of SOC 1 reports in the context of employee benefit plan audits. The course covers the evaluation and documentation of SOC 1 reports, understanding control objectives, complementary user entity controls (CUECs), and best practices for efficient SOC 1 review processes. Special attention is given to practical tools and templates that can streamline the review process while maintaining audit quality.

Discover critical insights from the latest Department of Labor studies on employee benefit plan audits and tackle the pressing issue of audit deficiencies head-on. This course dives deep into the most common errors undermining audit quality and explores the underlying causes of these issues.

Through practical strategies, engaging case studies, and regulatory guidance, participants will learn how to close gaps in compliance, enhance audit execution, and protect plan participants and beneficiaries. Whether you're an experienced auditor or new to benefit plan audits, this course will equip you with the tools needed to elevate audit quality and ensure regulatory compliance.

While SSARS 21 has been around for nearly a decade, preparation, compilation and review engagements continue to be a hot topic for peer review. This course will concentrate on the most common peer review findings with a focus on how to comply in an efficient but practical perspective. This course will discuss the root cause of noncompliance so that overall engagement quality increases.

Key Topics:

*  Compilation and review engagements

*  Peer review

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This course will review focus areas for peer review of Single Audits and Yellow Book engagements. We discuss the requirements for major program determination, testing compliance, testing internal controls over compliance, sampling, and reporting for Single Audits. We also address Yellow Book CPE and independence requirements. In addition to providing an overview of the common deficiencies and key trends identified by the AICPA, this course will also provide best practices for how entities can properly perform procedures in these areas. 

This course provides an in-depth exploration of AU-C 240, Consideration of Fraud in a Financial Statements Audit. Participants will gain practical insights into identifying, assessing, and responding to fraud risks within the context of financial statement audits. Through engaging lectures, real-world examples, and case studies, the course examines the nature and characteristics of fraud, including fraudulent financial reporting and misappropriation of assets. It also delves into the auditor's responsibilities under AU-C 240 for planning and performing audits with fraud considerations, techniques for identifying fraud risk factors and assessing risks of material misstatement, and methods for designing and implementing effective audit procedures. Additionally, participants will explore best practices for communicating and documenting findings related to potential or identified fraud. Ideal for auditors at all experience levels, this course equips attendees with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate fraud-related complexities and maintain audit integrity.

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This course will review common deficiencies identified by the AICPA and state boards of accountancy. It features discussion on a variety of topics, including analytical procedures, sampling, group audits and risk assessment. We will review the areas of concern and how you can overcome them by employing best practices.

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Effective governance is the cornerstone of any nonprofit organization. This course delves into the foundational elements of nonprofit governance, emphasizing fiduciary duties, board responsibilities, and best practices for board operations. Participants will explore key compliance requirements, risk management strategies, policy development, and regulatory obligations. By the end of the session, you’ll be equipped with practical tools and insights to confidently navigate the complexities of nonprofit governance.

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Leadership is not one-size-fits-all. Effective leaders understand that different situations, team dynamics, and organizational cultures require different approaches. This course introduces ten distinct leadership styles and examines how each can influence team performance and organizational success.

Participants will explore the characteristics, strengths, and potential limitations of each leadership style. The course encourages self-reflection to help leaders recognize their own tendencies while identifying opportunities to adapt their approach when circumstances require it. Emphasis is placed on practical strategies for engaging teams, strengthening communication, and building leadership capacity across the organization.

Designed for current and emerging leaders, this course provides tools to better align leadership approach with team needs and organizational objectives.

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This Virginia Board of Accountancy–approved ethics course begins with the 2026 Virginia ethics updates required by the Virginia Board of Accountancy. The course then expands to examine the ethical principles established in Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book) issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

Participants will review core ethical principles applicable to governmental auditors, including serving the public interest, maintaining integrity, objectivity, and professional behavior. The course emphasizes practical application of these principles, with focused discussion on independence requirements, maintaining objectivity, and identifying and avoiding conflicts of interest.

Designed for auditors performing governmental and Yellow Book engagements, this course reinforces ethical decision-making and supports compliance with both Virginia-specific ethics requirements and broader professional standards governing governmental audits.

Accounting professionals often face sustained workload demands that require efficient task management and strong organizational systems. This course introduces practical technology tools and applications designed to streamline workflows, automate routine tasks, and improve overall productivity.

Participants will explore digital solutions that support time management, focus, and workload prioritization. The course emphasizes practical implementation—how to select tools, integrate them into daily processes, and establish boundaries that promote sustainable performance.

Designed for professionals seeking to improve efficiency without increasing hours worked, this course provides actionable strategies to better manage workload demands and leverage technology to support long-term effectiveness.

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