AICPA Town Hall

Dec 6, 2022 3:00pm ‐ Dec 6, 2022 4:00pm

Identification: DCPA2225

Live from Digital CPA, the AICPA Town Hall Series is the profession’s resource for timely and critical information which includes real-time interpretation and analysis, along with a broader discussion on strategies and capabilities to drive long-term success. It is a high-impact, award-winning news broadcast series that delivers accounting and finance professionals with the latest news, analysis, and insights, and practical guidance to help them understand and respond to the most pressing issues facing the profession. This special edition of the Town Hall will feature Erik Asgeirsson, Barry Melancon, Lisa Simpson and guests – streamed live from the 2022 Digital CPA conference. Awarded by Accounting Today magazine as the top education tool for 2022.

Learning Objectives:
  • Recognize the most pressing issues and latest news facing the profession
  • Identify overall stakeholders and process related to PPP implementation
  • Recall the fundamentals of various programs/tax provisions and recent AICPA recommendations
  • Identify key issues and technical analysis
  • Recognize the AICPA resources and tools

Keynote: Digital CPA Update

Dec 7, 2022 8:00am ‐ Dec 7, 2022 8:50am

Identification: DCPA2227

Erik Asgeirsson, president and CEO of CPA.com, will provide an environmental scan of today’s circumstances while exploring the new business models that have been ushered in from the pandemic. Along with speeding up the adoption of new technology, the events of the past two years accelerated the role of CPAs and allowed firms to demonstrate and solidify their trusted advisor status, offering proactive, forward-thinking support.

Joined by innovative practitioners and subject matter experts, Erik will lead a discussion on how exponential change is advancing technologies faster than ever, forcing rapid integration and a higher reliance on the technology ecosystem that serves the profession.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify emerging technologies impacting the profession
  • Recognize top trends and growth projections in client advisory services (CAS)
  • Identify CAS best practices and new opportunities to serve clients

Overcoming Change Obstacles Through Change Leadership

Dec 7, 2022 9:00am ‐ Dec 7, 2022 9:50am

Identification: DCPA2228

In our changing world, leadership requires that we push through the fear and uncertainty and look for the opportunities. In this session, we will identify obstacles to change management and define specific steps you can take to capitalize on the change that we are leading through right now. We must communicate, collaborate and commit in all-new ways.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify the big obstacles of change in our world today and how to overcome them, as well as identify change opportunities and how they will help shape your firm of the future.
  • Apply a specific plan for showing your team that change is natural, positive and a normal part of your culture.
  • Analyze the leadership ladder and how to move to a higher level to lead through change in a different and more effective way.

Enabling Insights Through Agile Finance

Dec 7, 2022 9:00am ‐ Dec 7, 2022 9:50am

Identification: DCPA2229

Modern finance is quickly moving away from a traditional process like month-end close (MEC) towards Agile Finance with a continuous close process. In this session, it will explore the pitfalls, risks, and opportunities around a continuous closing model and its impact on finance & FP&A.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify who is moving towards a continuous business cycle and the types of businesses who appear to be moving first.
  • Recognize why Agile Finance is so important and how the continuous business process can improve operations, create higher level of collaboration, and create ownership of data at various levels within an organization.
  • Distinguish what’s in it for the CEO/Board, CFO, Operation Leads and staff accountants. We will also discuss the difference between client accounting teams and internal finance teams.
  • Recall how to change the mindset within your organization and for clients of CAS firms to prepare for a continuous business cycle.

De-Commoditizing Audit and Tax Services

Dec 7, 2022 9:00am ‐ Dec 7, 2022 9:50am

Identification: DCPA2230

Ensure the services you provide standout from those of other firms and adds the value clients are looking for. Learn about techniques on how to provide additional deliverables and services to your clients with data analytics and strategic automation. Find opportunities to build out services, such as KPIs and ESG, while following current independence standards. Add personalization to solidify the need for your services. Intelligence, speed, and client personalization, while also applying independence, are key to your clients' satisfaction.

Learning Objectives:
  • Recognize ways to position your services to standout and properly message the value added to clients.
  • Identify new services and how to deliver with intelligence, speed, and client personalization
  • Apply current independence standards to services provided

Implementing Client Facing FP&A Tools

Dec 7, 2022 9:00am ‐ Dec 7, 2022 9:50am

Identification: DCPA2231

As client expectations shift toward more forward-looking insights, financial planning and analysis (FP&A) is now a core pillar of CAS practices. Firms can streamline their FP&A advisory services and help clients through the digital transformation by using a modern technology stack that provides real-time business insights and non-financial metrics.

In this session, we’ll cover how to make this a business process and not another tedious Excel task for the team.

Learning Objectives:
  • Determine the advantages of modern FP&A tools vs Excel
  • Distinguish the right balance of the client-to-staff ratio
  • Identify realistic timelines for your clients and your firm
  • Apply the use of technology to productize advisory through

How to Maintain Culture in a Remote World

Dec 7, 2022 10:10am ‐ Dec 7, 2022 11:00am

Identification: DCPA2232

Remote work offers talent a greater opportunity to have the work life balance they have been hungry for while maintaining productivity levels. With firms making remote, or blended, work environments a permanent option, leaders are struggling with how to maintain their firm culture. In this panel discussion, we’ll discuss real world successful strategies that you can use to create a culture of connectedness, belonging and meaningful engagement with your most valued asset, your people, from firms and organizations of different sizes.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify how to maintain your firm's culture in a remote world.
  • Distinguish how a remote work culture is different from a traditional work environment.

Leveraging Project Management Best Practices to Enhance Client Service

Dec 7, 2022 10:10am ‐ Dec 7, 2022 11:00am

Identification: DCPA2233

Successful client service requires effective client and project management. Experienced professionals learn techniques and tricks to track the workflow and monitor the status. Applying project management is an art and science. It offers a set of tools that are applicable and relevant to producing a quality client experience. Project management techniques uncover inefficiencies and gaps in current processes, as well as, planning and forecasting needed to drive necessary changes for future success. In this session, hear ways to incorporate project management best practices that can enhance your client service through greater organization and efficiency in your team.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify project management best practices to gain control of your processes and short-term projects
  • Identify ways to uncover causes of inefficiencies and how to combat them

Upskilling Professionals to Deliver CAS 2.0

Dec 7, 2022 10:10am ‐ Dec 7, 2022 11:00am

Identification: DCPA2234

In this session, we will discuss the roles and related skillset to deliver CAS 2.0 services.  We will touch on the skills needed and how they differ from CAS 1.0.  We will review some core competencies for each level and discuss ways to educate team members to be prepared for the latest iteration of CAS.

Learning Objectives:
  • Identify roles and related skillsets for CAS 2.0
  • Differentiate the education of team members to be prepared for the latest iteration of CAS

Digital Marketing: Incorporating Marketing Strategy and Analytics

Dec 7, 2022 10:10am ‐ Dec 7, 2022 11:00am

Identification: DCPA2235

Now more than ever, technology is making it possible for us to understand more about clients’ and prospects’ behaviors, interests and interactions with an organization. By incorporating data and analytics into your firim’s marketing strategy, you can ensure you’re delivering the right message to the right audience at the right time. Join us to learn how your firm can harness the power of digital marketing to support your organization’s growth strategy. Presented in partnership with the Association for Accounting Marketing (AAM).

Learning Objectives:
  • Recall the fundamentals of digital marketing & how it can be used to support your firm’s growth strategy
  • Identify digital marketing best practices, including New KPIs marketers are using to track progress
  • Indicate how other firms have successfully used digital marketing strategies
  • Recognize modern approaches to staffing a firm’s marketing function