Financial Management Network Webinar

In addition, the new link for the Golden West Council FMN Session is: https://home.kaplanlearn.com/portal/GoldenWest

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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 May 2025 topics:

09:00 AM
The Future of Firm Ownership: BDO’s Trailblazing ESOP Transition
Field of Study: Management Services
In an exclusive interview, Wayne Berson, CEO of BDO USA, shares why the firm made the bold move to adopt an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)—becoming the first major accounting firm to do so. He offers insights into how the ESOP strengthens employee engagement, supports retention, and aligns with BDO's purpose-driven culture — offering every employee a stake in the firm's success and future.

10:00 AM
SSAE 19 Key Changes, Applications, and Best Practices
Field of Study: Auditing
Entities relying on agreed-upon procedures engagements must understand key enhancements in SSAE No. 19 to better tailor reporting, broaden distribution, and address evolving subject matters. Michael Manspeaker, CPA, CGMA, of SEK CPAs & Advisors explains how removing the need for pre-specified parties, allowing general-use reports, and enabling CPAs to develop procedures helps smaller entities optimize cost-effectiveness while ensuring independence, high-quality documentation, and pertinent findings.

11:00 AM
Breaking the Busy Season Cycle: How Smart Scheduling Transformed Our CPA Firm
Field of Study: Business Management & Organization
CPA firms are adopting advanced scheduling to alleviate "busy season" stress, reduce burnout, and enhance client satisfaction. CPAs Ann Irons and Brenda Cannon highlight how structured workflows, client education on extensions, and efficient internal processes significantly improve profitability and retention. They also emphasize consistent communication, ample scheduling "cushion," and technology-based automation to ensure balanced workloads and sustainable work-life integration.

12:15 PM
Mastering Budgeting and Forecasting for Financial Success
Field of Study: Finance
Companies seeking robust financial health must adopt collaborative budgeting, three-statement forecasting, and dynamic scenario analysis. In this FMN Plus segment, Megan Schoeps, Director of CFO Advisory at Wiss, highlights the necessity of balance sheet and cash flow projections for true financial insight, emphasizing agile budgeting models, cross-departmental communication, and the strategic role of AI-driven tools—ultimately supporting better decision-making and fostering resilience amid economic uncertainties.

Where?
Virtual from your home

Login to your Kaplan account to access the virtual classroom at:
https://home.kaplanlearn.com/portal/GoldenWest