If you are new to this program, please register with us by Friday prior to the session
In addition, the new link for the Golden West Council FMN Session is: https://home.kaplanlearn.com/portal/GoldenWest
Please Log-in at 8:55 AM to ensure polling questions are validated.
Note: To earn certification, one must be on for 50 Minutes and answer 3 of the 4 Polling Questions. Kaplan has become very strict.
Here are the February 2025 topics:
09:00 AM
Transforming Audits with Technology and AI
Field of Study: Auditing
Understanding the evolving role of AI and emerging technologies in audit processes is essential for firms aiming to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and client service. Jonathan Kraftchick, Partner & Innovation Leader, and Tara Edwards, Chief Transformation Officer at Cherry Bekaert, discuss how AI and emerging technologies are transforming audit planning, execution, and reporting. They highlight AI's role in anomaly detection, risk assessment, sampling precision, and continuous auditing, while emphasizing the importance of proper training, data security, and firm readiness. The conversation emphasizes professional skepticism, compliance, and strategic oversight for effective AI adoption.
10:00 AM
Tax Reform and Expiring Provisions: Navigating the 2025 Deadline
Field of Study: Taxes
It's no secret that elections are consequential for a variety of reasons. One key area that experts are watching in light of the 2024 election is tax policy. Kasey Pittman, Director of Tax Policy, at Baker Tilly, walks viewers through the provisions which are set to expire at the end of 2025. She provides her insights regarding potential avenues for tax reform, highlighting the reconciliation process and its limitations. Pittman delves into the impact of a Republican unified government and what that could mean for tax reform, such as in the state and local tax arena. She also explores the challenges that tax advisors and businesses may face in 2025 and how those advisors can best support their clients.
11:00 AM
Financial Forensics: Techniques for Fraud Detection and Prevention
Field of Study: Accounting
Understanding the complexities of financial statement analysis, fraud detection, and corporate governance is essential for accountants aiming to ensure accuracy and integrity in financial reporting. Tom Robinson, Chief Investment Officer at Robinson Global Investment Management, discusses key strategies for identifying financial irregularities, including analyzing inter-relationships among financial statements, distinguishing legitimate cash flows from reclassified transactions, and scrutinizing aggressive revenue recognition practices. He highlights critical metrics and red flags, such as accounts receivable growth relative to revenue, and emphasizes the importance of applying the fraud triangle framework to detect early signs of financial fraud.
12:15 PM
Foundations of TBM: Aligning Finance, Tech, and Business
Field of Study: Information Technology
Technology Business Management (TBM) aligns technology investments with business goals, optimizing costs and driving value creation. Jack Bischof, GM of the TBM Council, explains how TBM provides a standardized framework and taxonomy to improve cost transparency, streamline financial processes, and support informed decision-making across finance, technology, and operations. He highlights TBM's evolution beyond traditional IT Financial Management (ITFM) to address resource allocation, consumption trends, and unit economics, while also tackling emerging challenges from cloud computing, AI, and other technologies. TBM empowers organizations to achieve agility, predictability, and strategic alignment in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
Where?
Virtual from your home
Login to your Kaplan account to access the virtual classroom at:
https://home.kaplanlearn.com/portal/GoldenWest
When?
Date: Saturday - February 08, 2025
Time: 9:00 am to 1:15 pm