cs professional suite - more than 98 to choose from · 2014. 8. 20. · • use best practices to...

ABOUT THE WORKSHOPSMORE THAN 98 TO CHOOSE FROM

INSTRUCTIONS:STEP 1: DEVELOP YOUR CONFERENCE AGENDAUse the Workshop Descriptions and the Workshop Schedule to develop your agenda. We recommend that you first select “must-have” workshops; then make your other selections around those. Sessions run for 50 or 100 minutes; however, some sessions span more than one time slot (e.g., 150 or 200 minutes).

STEP 2: REGISTER FOR YOUR WORKSHOPSRegister online at CS.ThomsonReuters.com/SYNERGY.

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONSAll workshops are presented live in a workshop setting, and many of the most popular workshops are offered more than once. Some workshops have prerequisites or proficiency levels. Please note these requirements as you’re selecting your workshops, and ensure you have the appropriate prerequisites completed.

Use the legend at right to help select the workshops you’d like to attend:

• Level = basic, intermediate, or advanced

• Format = lecture, panel, or hands-on (laptop provided)

• Length = duration

• Instructor = our users who’ve built highly successful practices, nationally recognized experts in specialized areas of the accounting profession, and our talented Thomson Reuters staff

• Session # = day, time, and length (e.g., C8) from Workshop Schedule

• Firm Size = most workshops are appropriate for any size firm; however, some are best suited for small/medium firms or large firms

• CPE Field of Study = you can earn one CPE credit for each 50-minute time slot and two CPE credits for each 100-minute time slot (see CPE Credit details)

• New Workshops = brand new topic or content updated for 2014

NEED HELP? For help with registering or for more information regarding administrative policies, such as cancellations or refund requests, call 800.968.0600.

SYNERGY 2014WHERE TAX & ACCOUNTING MEET TECHNOLOGY

New workshops

Hands-on class

Any firm

Small/Medium

Large

Specialized Knowledge

Taxation

Management

LEGEND

APPROPRIATE FIRM SIZE

CPE FIELD OF STUDY

http://cs.thomsonreuters.com/SYNERGY/agenda.aspx

http://cs.thomsonreuters.com/SYNERGY/registration.aspx

2 Pre-Conference Workshops

SYNERGY 2014 WHERE TAX & ACCOUNTING MEET TECHNOLOGY

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5

PRICINGThe cost is $150 for one half-day session

SCHEDULEWEDNESDAY AFTERNOON 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

PRE-PM1—Practice CS® Setup Essentials

PRE-PM2—Managing Workload In Practice CS®

PRE-PM3—Accounting CS® Essentials: Accounting Services

PRE-PM4—UltraTax CS® Individual

PRE-PM5—UltraTax CS Corporations / Partnerships

Note: The code (e.g. PRE PM1) represents the workshop number, which is needed for registration. A half-day session earns 3 CPE credits.

DESCRIPTIONS PRACTICE CS SETUP ESSENTIALS Practice CS is a powerful and flexible practice management tool that lets you manage all your firm’s key processes from one centralized location. This hands-on workshop will help you recognize the concepts involved in setting up your Practice CS database and identify the recommended procedures to implement Practice CS efficiently and effectively. Join us and discover how to set up Practice CS to suit your firm’s needs. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Design and navigate the revolutionary digital dashboards

• Quickly access real-time information about your firm

• Set up Practice CS at the system, firm, office, activity, client, and staff levels

Level: Basic (3 Hours) Instructor: Justin Matthews, Thomson ReutersSession: PRE-PM1

MANAGING WORKLOAD IN PRACTICE CS Gain in-depth knowledge of the on-screen management tools and reports available in the Project Management and Staff Management modules of Practice CS. Participants should have a working knowledge of Practice CS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• View staff schedules and report on staff workload

• Assign work to staff using multiple methods

• Examine how many hours of work have been assigned to a staff and where load-balancing can be done based on targets

Level: Intermediate (3 Hours) Instructor: Andre McQueen, Thomson ReutersSession: PRE-PM2

PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS

3 Pre-Conference Workshops


ULTRATAX CS CORPORATIONS / PARTNERSHIPS This advanced workshop will show you how to get the most out of the UltraTax/1120C, 1120S, and 1065 software. Prerequisites include a working knowledge of UltraTax/1120 & 1065 and/or successful completion of UltraTax/1120 & 1065 Essentials 1. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Integrate with Accounting CS, prepare Schedule M-3, enter multi-state apportionment, accrue federal and state income tax, calculate book versus tax depreciation

• Enter NOL data, dispose of an asset through the Like-Kind Exchange Installment method, prepare a short year return and a consolidated return

• Enter shareholder change of ownership, section 1377 election, review shareholder basis, dispose of an asset with section 179 expense, calculate built-in gains, and analyze Form 1120S, Page 4 and 5 calculation

• Enter a partner change of ownership and transfer of capital, use the interim closing of books method, file a 754 election, renumber partner and specially allocate items to partners, use the partner’s basis worksheet, and datashare the Schedule K-1 into the partner’s return

Level: Advanced (3 Hours) Instructor: Tony Francetic, Thomson ReutersSession: PRE-PM5

ACCOUNTING CS ESSENTIALS: ACCOUNTING SERVICES We’ll focus on the basics of Accounting CS in this workshop. You’ll learn processes and workflow options to help make your firm more efficient and reduce the time spent on each client. You’ll leave with new knowledge of client setup and navigation through the software. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Navigate the program

• Update the Accounting CS database with new client setup items

• View and modify the trial balance

• Advance the accounting period

• Execute various types of data entry

Level: Basic (3 Hours)Instructor: Mark Wiseman, Thomson ReutersSession: PRE-PM3

ULTRATAX CS INDIVIDUALThis advanced workshop will show you how to get the most out of the UltraTax/1040 software. Prerequisites include a working knowledge of UltraTax/1040 and/or successful completion of UltraTax/1040 Essentials 1. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Data share demographic and financial information from the Source Data Entry utility, Form 8615 “kiddie tax”, and Schedule K-1 data

• Enter tax return information for SE Health insurance deduction from K-1’s, state allocations, supplemental business expenses, and vacation/rental home activities

• Complete IRA conversion and recharacterization, HSAs, education expenses, QTP distribution, and entering FAFSA

• Use the Filing Status Optimization Tool, prepare

estimated tax payments, file extensions

• Amend a tax return and enter Net Operating Losses

(NOLs)

Level: Advanced (3 Hours) Instructor: Jeremiah LaRue, Thomson ReutersSession: PRE-PM4

4 Workshop Descriptions


WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONSPRODUCTS AND SERVICES ACCOUNTING & AUDITING

TRANSITION FROM CSA TO ACCOUNTING CSThis workshop is your first step toward successfully transitioning your accounting and payroll services to Accounting CS from CS Professional Suite® Accounting (CSA). Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Manage the conversion process as well as locate transition resources and reports for post-conversion client data verification

• Differentiate the key differences in workflow processes between CSA and Accounting CS


• Review reporting capabilities in order to modify standard reports and financial statements

Level: Basic, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Mark Wiseman, Thomson ReutersSession: A6, E6, or H6

ACCOUNTING CS ESSENTIALS: ACCOUNTING SERVICES We’ll focus on the basics of Accounting CS in this workshop, and you’ll learn processes and workflow options to help make your firm more efficient and reduce the time spent on each client. You’ll leave feeling comfortable with new client setup and navigation through the software. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:


• Design the Accounting CS database with new client setup items

• View and modify the trial balance

• Advance the accounting period

• Execute various types of data entry

Level: Basic (200 minutes)Instructor: Brittany Yandura, Thomson ReutersSession: A1 & B1 or G1 & H1

ACCOUNTING CS ESSENTIALS 2: ACCOUNTING SERVICES We’ll go beyond the basics to demonstrate the powerful, more intricate features of Accounting CS. Participants should have attended the Accounting CS Essentials: Accounting Services workshop or have equivalent knowledge. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Set up transaction templates and automatic calculations

• Integrate with UltraTax CS and Fixed Assets CS®

• Consolidate clients

• Set up complex chart of accounts on clients with department/location needs

Level: Intermediate (150 minutes)Instructor: Lisa Grimes, Thomson ReutersSession: C1 & D1

ACCOUNTING CS: ADVANCED ACCOUNTING SETUP AND INTEGRATION This lecture style workshop is intended for experienced Accounting CS users that fully leverage all services and features of the accounting platform. We’ll cover a wide range of tips and tricks relevant to delivering all types of accounting services. We’ll also highlight advanced features and integration procedures. Prior to taking this workshop, participants should have a working knowledge of Accounting CS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Import a spreadsheet of transactions

• Set up firm in an efficient way

• Complete source data entry

• Set up security options needed for your firm’s staff

• Set up event tracking

• Review integration options

• Transfer a ToolBox CS® amortization schedule

Level: Advanced, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Dan Rodrigues, Thomson ReutersSession: G13



WHAT’S NEW IN ACCOUNTING CSJoin members of our product development team to learn about recently added features in Accounting CS and get a head start on preparing your staff and customers for the new abilities and changes. In this workshop, you’ll learn of recently added enhancements, as well as insight into future development. If you currently use Accounting CS or are considering it, this workshop is for you. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Review Chart of Accounts enhancements: mass segmentize, edit multiple accounts, delete inactive accounts

• Display client checkbook adjustments

• Look at new spreadsheet ability to import AR/AP

• Make consolidations of payroll tax forms

• Review the payroll tracking portlet

• Review many more enhancements

Level: Basic, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Louie Calvin, Thomson ReutersSession: B6 or G6

ACCOUNTING CS REPORT DESIGNER - FORMATTING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Find out the basics of financial statement preparation with this hands-on workshop. We’ll focus on financial statements and gain familiarity with the Accounting CS report designer, and you’ll get a good overview of the design components for modifying financial statements. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Insert text and variables

• Use cell and row properties

• Prepare financial ratios

• Create a departmental and location-based income statement

• Build a formula

Level: Basic (150 minutes)Instructor: Lisa Grimes, Thomson ReutersSession: E1 & F1

ACCOUNTING CS ESSENTIALS: PAYROLL SERVICES This hands-on workshop will focus on the payroll capabilities of Accounting CSTM Payroll. You’ll be provided with a solid foundation, leaving you feeling confident in your ability to provide payroll services with Accounting CS Payroll. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Navigate payroll-specific setup

• Update the Accounting CS database with new client and employee data

• Perform payroll check entry

• Review the payroll tax return process

• Use best practices to make payrolls more accurate

Level: Basic (200 minutes)Instructor: Adam Bodine, Thomson ReutersSession: A2 & B2 or G2 & H2

ACCOUNTING CS PAYROLL ESSENTIALS 2 This workshop will focus on the more advanced topics of providing payroll services with Accounting CS Payroll. Participants should have attended the Accounting CS Essentials: Payroll Services workshop or have equivalent knowledge. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Set up a client for direct deposit and impounding

• Verify payroll totals accurately

• Process W-2, 1099, 94X, and other tax compliance forms

• Create an invoice from the setup of billing items

• Increase efficiency when processing payroll forms

Level: Intermediate, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Brent Cyr, Thomson ReutersSession: C6

LEVERAGING ENGAGEMENT CS® THROUGHOUT YOUR PRACTICE This advanced training will help you leverage the power of using Engagement CS for all types of engagements. Prerequisites include a working knowledge of Engagement CS trial balance and workpaper management. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Streamline initial set up

• Arrange your engagements to find improvements in quality control

• Manage a tax-based trial balance view to include M-1/M-3 entries

• Use the integration options, including tax export

Level: Advanced, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Chris Lillis, Thomson ReutersSession: B16



ENGAGEMENT CS AND PPC SMART INTEGRATION This workshop will focus on the deep-level topics of integrating Engagement CS with PPC’s SMART Practice AidsTM products. Prerequisites include a working knowledge of Engagement CS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Set up, manage, and process your audit guidance from within Engagement CS

• Conduct quality control processes for integrating step-signoff diagnostics and practical considerations

• Print research from Thomson Reuters Checkpoint® into your engagement

• Perform a synchronized roll-forward

Level: Intermediate, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Jesse LaJoye, Thomson ReutersSession: C16

WORKPAPERSTM CS SETUP & PROCESSING ESSENTIALS This workshop is focused on setup and processing with Workpapers CS. No advanced preparation is required. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Navigate the firm, security, staff, and client setup areas

• Set up client templates

• Import a chart of accounts, which includes account balances and mappings

• Define the workpapers dashboard and portlets

• Process a trial balance by using the available reports

• Print a set of financial statements

Level: Basic (150 minutes)Instructor: Dan Rodrigues, Thomson ReutersSession: C2 & D2

WORKPAPERS CS: STREAMLING YOUR TAX WORKFLOW This workshop is provided to assist you with using Workpapers CS to gather, manage, and process your tax workpapers and trial balances. No advanced preparation is required, however it will be advantageous to have a working knowledge of Workpapers CS or have attended the Workpapers CS Setup and Processing Essentials workshop. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Use the source document processing (OCR) feature

• Review workpapers digitally, including signing off and annotating on those workpapers

• Prepare a proforma of your workpapers

• Integrate your workpapers with Microsoft® Excel® and Word

Level: Basic, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Jason Phelps, Thomson ReutersSession: A11 or H12

INTRODUCTION TO ADVANCEFLOWTM In this workshop, we’ll explore AdvanceFlow, Thomson Reuters new web-based engagement application that has been developed on the GoFileRoomTM platform specifically for large audit practices. In AdvanceFlow, you’ll see an overview of the web-based workspace in AdvanceFlow’, security features, trial balance, collaboration tools, workpaper management, and integration points with MS Office and PPC SMART Practice Aids suite. Attendance is strictly limited to firms with more than 35 professionals. Firms of this size, currently using GoFileRoom version 11, are strongly encouraged to attend.

Level: Overview, Lecture (50 minutes)Instructor: Takoradi Harris, Thomson ReutersSession: F15



CLIENT ACCOUNTING

ACCOUNTING CS CLIENT ACCESS: SETUP ESSENTIALS This workshop will focus on the setup required to deliver Accounting CS Client Access to your clients. You’ll become familiar with the critical steps needed in Accounting CS and NetClient CS®. Participants should have a working knowledge of Accounting CS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Set up firm security

• Set up client’s staff

• Identify the client’s view where transactions (checks, deposits, A/P, A/R, and journal entries) are processed

• Use client source entry to allow for adjustments and report printing

Level: Intermediate, Lecture (50 minutes)Instructor: Brent Cyr, Thomson ReutersSession: D11

CONNECTING ACCOUNTING CS & QUICKBOOKS PRO® We’ll introduce the QuickBooks Pro import capabilities of Accounting CS and Accounting CS Payroll. Prerequisites include a working knowledge of Accounting CS and QuickBooks Pro. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Import and export client data into Accounting CS

• Perform the QuickBooks Pro import

• Examine imported data and review the associated reports

• Make modifications to imported data

Level: Intermediate (150 minutes)Instructor: Jesse LaJoye, Thomson ReutersSession: E2 & F2

THE CONVERSION EXPERIENCE - REFLECTIONS OF A USER’S JOURNEY Hear how one tech-savvy firm has adopted Accounting CS, along with the many tips from their first-hand implementation of Accounting CS and conversion from CS Professional Suite Accounting (CSA). This workshop will assist you with transitioning your firm and business clients to Accounting CS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Develop a solid conversion strategy as your clients’ transition from past small-business accounting software, such as Client Bookkeeping Solution® and QuickBooks.

• Apply best practices surrounding the conversion and change management within your firm

• Locate information about the new client training aids

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Ryan McCowan, CPA.CITP, Greene & McCowan, CPAsSession: E9 or A13

ULTRATAX CS

ULTRATAX CS SETUP ESSENTIALSWe’ll explore the fundamental setup options in UltraTax CS and provide a walkthrough of key setup options. This workshop is highly recommended for anyone in your firm who is responsible for general program setup. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Install UltraTax CS and apply updates to UltraTax CS in a streamlined and seamless process

• Configure firm-wide (system) program settings, office configurations, preparer, reviewer and staff information, and user-specific options

• Manage client communications to set client email addresses, return delivery, and organizer delivery methods

Level: Basic, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Justin Matthews, Thomson ReutersSession: A12



ULTRATAX/1040 ESSENTIALS 1 This workshop will walk through the basics of data entry for individual returns in UltraTax CS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Navigate the UltraTax CS Home Page, Input screens and Forms, add a client, modify the client properties and datashare client information

• Enter wages and income items including wages, interest and foreign dividend information, and stock sales, as well as import Excel files into a tax return

• Enter deductions and adjustments, Schedule C income, expenses, and depreciation, enter rental activities

• Use review tools and delivery options including research form instructions, review diagnostics, force forms to print, and print the current page

Level: Basic (150 minutes)Instructor: Jason Phelps, Thomson ReutersSession: C3 & D3

ULTRATAX/1040 ESSENTIALS 2 This advanced workshop will show you how to get the most out of UltraTax/1040. Prerequisites include a working knowledge of UltraTax/1040 and/or successful completion of UltraTax/1040 Essentials 1. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Data share demographic and financial information from the Source Data Entry utility, Form 8615 “kiddie tax”, and Schedule K-1 data

• Enter tax return information for SE Health insurance deduction from K-1s, state allocations, supplemental business expenses, and vacation/rental home activities

• IRA conversion and recharacterization, HSAs, education expenses, QTP distribution, and entering FAFSA

• Use the Filing Status Optimization Tool, prepare estimated tax payments, file extensions

• Amend a tax return and enter Net Operating Losses (NOLs)

Note: the content in this workshop is identical to the UltraTax CS Individual Pre-Conference workshop.

Level: Advanced, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Scott Thompson, Thomson ReutersSession: E10 or H10

ULTRATAX/1120 ESSENTIALS This workshop will show you the advanced data entry for 1120C and 1120S returns using UltraTax CS. Participants should have a working knowledge of UltraTax/1120. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:


• Enter income and deductions, meals and entertainment expenses, cost of goods sold, officer compensation, add and dispose of depreciable asset data, and enter Schedules L and M-1

• Integrate with Accounting CS, prepare Schedule M-3, enter multi-state apportionment, accrue federal and state income tax, calculate book versus tax depreciation

• Enter NOL data, dispose of an asset through the Like-Kind Exchange Installment method, prepare a short year return and a consolidated return

• Enter small business election, enter shareholder change of ownership, section 1377 election, review shareholder basis, dispose of an asset with section 179 expense, calculate built-in gains, and analyze Form 1120S, Page 4 and 5 calculation

• Use review tools and delivery options including reviewing the return summary and RE worksheet

Note: Some of the content in this workshop is identical to the UltraTax CS Corporations/Partnerships Pre-Conference workshop.

Level: Advanced (150 minutes)Instructor: Amy Snider, Thomson ReutersSession: E4 & F4



ULTRATAX/1065 ESSENTIALS This workshop will show you advanced data entry for 1065 returns using UltraTax CS. Participants should have a working knowledge of UltraTax/1065. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:


• Add partners, enter special allocations, partner basis data and self-employed income

• Enter a partner change of ownership and transfer of capital, use the interim closing of books method, file a 754 election, renumber partner and specially allocate items to partners, and use the partner’s basis worksheet

• Use review tools and delivery options including previewing the return, selecting specific forms to print and accessing form instructions

• Email a message regarding missing data, and data share Schedule K-1 information into the Partner’s Individual return

Note: Some of the content in this workshop is identical to the UltraTax CS Corporations/Partnerships Pre-Conference workshop.

Level: Advanced (150 minutes)Instructor: Scott Thompson, Thomson ReutersSession: C4 & D4

ULTRATAX/1041 AND 706/709 ESSENTIALS We’ll walk through the data entry for gift tax, estate tax, and fiduciary returns in UltraTax CS. Participants should have a working knowledge of UltraTax/1041 and 706/709. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Enter 709 information for the tax return, including general information, Donee and Gift information, gift splitting, and extensions

• Enter 706 information for the tax return, including assets and deductions, asset and deduction allocations, allocation to beneficiaries, and extensions

• Enter 1041 information for the tax return, including general and beneficiary information, income and deductions, allocations, charitable trusts, e-filing, and extensions

Level: Intermediate, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Andrew McCracken, CPA.MAcc, Thomson ReutersSession: C10

ULTRATAX/5500 AND 990 ESSENTIALS This workshop will walk through the data entry for benefit plan and exempt organization returns in UltraTax CS. Participants should have a working knowledge of UltraTax/5500 and 990. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Enter 5500 information for the tax return, including general and income information, Schedule SB, Schedule D, and Schedule R, and e-filing

• Enter 990 information for the tax return, including general, income and expense information, Schedule A, Schedule B, and Schedule C, office information and balance sheet information, and e-filing

Level: Intermediate, Lecture (50 minutes)Instructor: Jason Phelps, Thomson ReutersSession: F9

ULTRATAX CS: PROCESSING CLIENTS WITH FOREIGN ACTIVITIES UltraTax CS is well positioned to assist you in the current increasing global economy. Even if none of your existing clients participate in foreign activities, preparing yourself on these tax topics now will put you in a position to take on new engagements in the likely event that a prospective client with foreign activities walks into your office looking for help. Participants should have a working knowledge of UltraTax CS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to enter foreign tax return information, including Foreign Tax Credits, Foreign Earned Income Exclusions, FBAR (Form 114) e-filings, and Foreign Entity Filings (Corporations, Partnerships, and Trusts).

Level: Advanced, Lecture (50 minutes)Instructor: Justin Matthews, Thomson ReutersSession: F6



ULTRATAX CS: MAXIMIZE YOUR STATE AND LOCAL TAX PROFICIENCY This workshop will prepare your firm to engage successful businesses with multi-state operations and complete their tax work quickly with the aid of program utilities—leaving a healthy profit margin. Participants should have a working knowledge of UltraTax CS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Process multi-state returns, by using the multi-state allocation utility and the apportionment grid

• Enter tax return information for individuals filing part year returns and nonresident returns

• Enter tax return information for businesses filing across various state lines by using the 1040 AGI worksheet, the apportionment association within assets, and the everywhere override utility within the apportionment grid

Level: Advanced, Lecture (50 minutes)Instructor: Justin Matthews, Thomson ReutersSession: D13

ULTRATAX CS: WHAT’S NEWGet a jump on next tax season with a preview of several new and powerful system-wide, entity-specific, and workflow improvement features that will be in this year’s UltraTax CS products. Upon completion, you’ll be able to handle individual e-filing (such as electronic signatures), business return workflow (such as Business Organizers), and K1 packages. We’ll also discuss other new services, products, and features that you can expect to see with 2014 UltraTax CS. Join us to truly understand how the new release impacts your firm and get the most productivity from your UltraTax CS software.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Therese Witherow, Thomson ReutersSession: A7 or C7 or G7

TIPS FOR STREAMLINING YOUR ELECTRONIC FILING PROCESS This workshop will help you prepare for the upcoming e-filing season and take it to the next level of efficiency. In this workshop, you’ll learn about features that will help you streamline your e-filing processes and grow the e-filing arm of your practice. Participants should have a working knowledge of UltraTax/e-filing. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Correct e-file rejections

• Use EFView to view and cross reference information included in an e-file

• Use IRS and Thomson Reuters e-filing resources

Level: Advanced, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Jason Phelps, Thomson ReutersSession: B7

ULTRATAX CS: MASTERING THE GREEN “E” In this workshop, you’ll learn how to customize the green “e” dialog to your firm’s needs, especially around tax deadlines. These customizations to the status dialog aid in creating your own reports for special situations. Participants should have a working knowledge of UltraTax CS e-filing. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Manage the default view to set column titles as primary, secondary, or hidden

• Use filters to design custom views which display returns based on accepted or rejected status, deadline dates, refunds vs. balance due returns, and printed vs. emailed acknowledgement notices to clients

Level: Intermediate, Lecture (50 minutes)Instructor: Jeremiah LaRue, Thomson ReutersSession: D10 & F10

ULTRATAX CS ADVANCED CLIENT DOCUMENT FEATURES This workshop will help you customize your client documents. Participants should have a working knowledge of UltraTax CS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Use variables and print if statements to customize transmittal letters, filing instructions, invoices, election statements, slip sheets, and mailing labels

• Customize client documents using input screen fields

Level: Intermediate (150 minutes)Instructor: Tony Francetic, Thomson ReutersSession: E3 & F3



ULTRATAX CS PARTNER REVIEW & PLANNING TOOLS UltraTax CS aligns with partners to provide powerful review tools that can be used to track return data, ensure accuracy, and review returns seamlessly. UltraTax CS also allows the opportunity to add high-value tax planning services to your firm’s service portfolio. See these tools and how they can assist you in reviewing a client’s return and offering tax planning advice. Participants should have a working knowledge of UltraTax CS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to clear / review diagnostics, add tickmarks, add field notes, add client notes, view prior year data, attach text to a return, find and request missing data, review reports calculated for both individual and business entities.

Level: Advanced, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Tony Francetic, Thomson ReutersSession: H17

TRACK THE PROGRESS OF RETURNS USING ULTRATAX CS CLIENT STATUS SYSTEM Come discover the Client Status system, a built-in tool within UltraTax CS, to maximize your firm’s workflow process and track efficiency seamlessly. Participants should have a working knowledge of UltraTax CS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Add and customize client status events

• View graphs/grids of client status events

• Increase daily task efficiency by filtering the client status list

• Integrate client status events with Practice CS

• Transfer UltraTax CS invoice amounts to Practice CS

Level: Intermediate, Lecture (50 minutes)Instructor: Tony Francetic, Thomson ReutersSession: D7

QUERY YOUR FIRM’S DATABASE USING ULTRATAX CS DATA MINING Data Mining is a versatile feature that lets you query your firm’s UltraTax CS databases for specific data and client characteristics. This underused productivity tool can make a significant difference in moving your firm toward more proactive tax planning guidance for clients. Participants should have a working knowledge of UltraTax CS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to run data mining reports to:

• Identify each client’s tax accounting needs

• Pinpoint tax saving opportunities for each client

• Prepare announcements

• Send reminder letters

• Send other client specific communications

Level: Intermediate (100 minutes)Instructor: Jeremiah LaRue, Thomson ReutersSession: B4

ULTRATAX CS PAPERLESS TAX WORKFLOW OVERVIEW This fast-paced workshop will demonstrate the tax return workflow tools in UltraTax CS that can streamline the entire return process. Participants should have a working knowledge of UltraTax CS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Use automatic data gathering through Web Client Organizers, Source Document Processing (OCR), and Source Data Entry, as well as from integration with other software

• Make the review process more efficient using multiple monitors and online review

• Deliver drafts, final tax returns, and actionable items securely through client portals

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Andrew McCracken, CPA, MAcc,Thomson ReutersSession: B11



ULTRATAX CS BEST PRACTICESUncover overlooked tools that can speed your productivity and eliminate the pain points within UltraTax CS. Our best practices have been pulled from tax and accounting firms with proven success using UltraTax CS. Come prepared for an open discussion. Prerequisites include a working knowledge of the following workshops: UltraTax CS Setup Essentials, UltraTax/1040 Essentials 1 & 2, and UltraTax 1120 and 1065 Essentials 1 and 2. Upon completion, you’ll be able to implement UltraTax CS best practices for the home page, program settings, and data entry, review, and delivery of tax returns.

Level: Intermediate, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Chris Lillis, Thomson ReutersSession: C11 or G11

FIXED ASSETS CS ESSENTIALS Fixed Assets CS is the perfect companion system to UltraTax CS. However, it offers a huge amount of time savings to the tax preparation and review processes—so long as you know how to take advantage of its power. Participants should have a working knowledge of Fixed Asset CS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Enter and dispose assets

• Set up client template options and apply them to existing clients

• Use the Reassign Assets Utility

• Import client asset information from an Excel spreadsheet

• Create custom reports

• View Fixed Assets CS reports within UltraTax CS

Level: Basic (150 minutes)Instructor: Therese Witherow, Thomson ReutersSession: E5 & F5

FIXED ASSETS CS FOR THE BOOKKEEPER OR CLIENTLearn how to eliminate time currently spent on booking monthly or quarterly depreciation for your bookkeeping clients. Prerequisites include the successful completion of the Fixed Assets CS Essentials workshop. Upon completion, you’ll be able to use Fixed Assets CS bookkeeping tools to:

• Review monthly/quarterly calculations

• Integrate journal entries with Accounting CS

• Assist clients with managing their own assets

• Review depreciation data prior to each tax filing

Level: Intermediate, Lecture (50 minutes)Instructor: Jordan Kleinsmith, Thomson ReutersSession: F11

ANALYZE TAX STRATEGIES AND COMMUNICATE RESULTS WITH PLANNER CS® For tax professionals who build individual tax plans for their clients (particularly for those clients with considerable net worth), Planner CS represents an invaluable tool—both because it stays current with new legislation in ways that homemade Excel spreadsheets and other solutions do not, and because it produces impressive deliverables which can provide each client with a written tax plan. Join us for a look at some of the specific instances in which you might use Planner CS to reinforce the value of the strategic tax planning your firm provides.

Level: Basic, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Jordan Kleinsmith, Thomson ReutersSession: E17

TOOLBOX CS: TAX AND ACCOUNTING TOOLS Enjoy tax tools, accounting tools, calculators, forms, and more, with the handy tax and accounting tools in ToolBox CS. Though designed for use any time of the year, ToolBox CS can be especially helpful during tax season. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Use tax calculators

• Provide clarity to your clients on advanced tax topics using built in IRS flowcharts

• Gain quick access to key IRS forms

• Create templates for common internal office documents

Level: Basic, Lecture (50 minutes)Instructor: Chris Lillis, Thomson ReutersSession: D12



GOSYSTEM® TAX RS

GOSYSTEM TAX RS 1065 AND 1120 ADVANCEDGoSystem Tax RS is widely regarded as one of the most powerful tax compliance solutions available. However, many firms remain unfamiliar with how and when to use some of its most powerful features. This workshop will highlight best practices concerning the preparation, e-file, and overall workflow of business tax returns, and it will showcase some of the often-overlooked functionality. Participants should have a working knowledge of GoSystem Tax RS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Import / export tax return information

• Use the Excel Add-in

• Batch print

• Use SubView

• Use data entry review and navigational tips to increase efficiency

• Understand new enhancements

Level: Advanced, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Kelly Carlisle, Thomson ReutersSession: C14

GOSYSTEM TAX RS NAVIGATION AND 1040 ADVANCED Individual tax preparation is quite different than it was even a decade ago, and 1040 returns are no longer the profitable mainstay they once were. As a result, firms are looking for optimal speed and efficiency in processing. Participants should have a working knowledge of GoSystem Tax RS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Use new enhancements in the program

• Import/export tax return information

• Track return statuses

• E-file returns

• Use data entry review and navigational tips to increase efficiency

• Use review tools

Level: Advanced, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Kelly Carlisle, Thomson ReutersSession: B14

GOSYSTEM TAX RS: LETTERS & FILING INSTRUCTIONS Explore fundamental and advanced features of Letters and Filing Instructions (LAFI) designed to show you how the default LAFI templates can be edited to fit the needs of your firm. Participants should have a working knowledge of GoSystem Tax RS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to customize letters by adding headers, field references, Condition statements, and optional sections for the preparers, and reordering sections of the templates.

Level: Intermediate, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Jordan Kleinsmith, Thomson ReutersSession: H14



PRACTICE CS

PRACTICE CS: THE DASHBOARD TUNE UPAs a Practice CS user, you know first-hand that the program’s dashboards can be customized to meet your particular needs. But are you getting the most out of your dashboards? We’ll share a number of tips, tricks, and best practices for dashboard usage. Participants should already be using Practice CS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to re-evaluate your dashboard usage to ensure you’re maximizing the full potential of the dashboards.

Level: Intermediate, Lecture (50 minutes)Instructor: Asaly Merritt, Thomson ReutersSession: D8 or F8

PRACTICE CS: GAINING BILLING AND RELATED EFFICIENCIES We’ll explore how to maximize the efficiency of billing your clients to assist with reducing the number of day-to-collect payments. We’ll also explore how to incorporate the billing process into your everyday workflow using dashboards, reporting, and project management. Participants should have a working knowledge of Practice CS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Decrease the amount of time spent in the compose screen in billing by using invoice and statement formats

• Set up value billing, recurring bills, invoice integration, and progress bills

• Increase payment collection through client portals, online bill payment, and credit card processing

Level: Intermediate (200 minutes)Instructor: Andre McQueen, Thomson ReutersSession: G3 & H3

PRACTICE CS PROJECT MANAGEMENT & WORKFLOW Discover everything you need to effectively implement the Project Management module at your firm in this hands-on workshop. Participants should have a working knowledge of Practice CS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Create project templates to streamline the setup process

• Use projects and tasks and apply them to clients as needed

• Update projects individually & en masse where required

• Use automated notifications to assist your staff with the routing and completion of projects

Level: Intermediate (200 minutes)Instructor: Asaly Merritt, Thomson ReutersSession: A5 & B5 or G5 & H5

PRACTICE CS STAFF MANAGEMENT ESSENTIALS We’ll demonstrate how you can use the Staff Management module in Practice CS. Join us at this must-attend workshop to see how your firm can benefit from this powerful module, which gives you an ongoing snapshot of staff performance. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Manage vacation schedules

• Track accruable benefits

• Monitor the workload of your staff

Level: Basic, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Will Hill, Thomson ReutersSession: B10 or E7

ADVANCED FEATURES IN PRACTICE CS Take Practice CS to the next level in this workshop. Participants should have a working knowledge of Practice CS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Differentiate between various user preference adjustments to streamline data entry and workflow processes

• Use client portals and file transfers by way of Mobile CS®

• Use filtering and report options to quickly find critical information

Level: Advanced, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Christie Johnston, Thomson ReutersSession: C17 & H15

PRACTICE CS CUSTOM FORMATTING: INVOICES AND STATEMENTS Become familiar with custom formatting in Practice CS. In this workshop, you’ll find out how this powerful editor can be used to brand your billing deliverables, along with other useful ways to communicate important information to your clients. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Identify design concepts of custom formats

• Use formatting tools

• Create custom invoices, statements, labels, and letters from existing templates

Level: Basic (100 minutes)Instructor: Christie Johnston, Thomson ReutersSession: A4



PRACTICE CS CUSTOM FORMATTING: BEYOND BASICS This hands-on workshop covers identifying design concepts of custom formats, along with more in-depth functions used in the powerful custom reporting module of Practice CS. Participants should have attended the Practice CS Custom Formatting: Invoices & Statements workshop or have a general understanding of Practice CS setup and custom formats. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Distinguish between If Expressions and Print-When formulas

• Determine when properties are to be used in formulas

• Apply system formulas

Level: Advanced (200 minutes)Instructor: Christie Johnston, Thomson ReutersSession: G4 & H4

MAXIMIZING PRACTICE CS INTEGRATION WITH THE CS PROFESSIONAL SUITE® During this workshop, we’ll explore many areas of integration within the CS Professional Suite. You’ll learn how to use these valuable time saving features to enhance your suite usage and reduce duplicate data entry. Participants should have a working knowledge of Practice CS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Export invoices from UltraTax CS, CS Professional Suite Accounting (CSA), and Accounting CS and discover how to create links to your invoices

• View FileCabinet CS® documents and set up the client notes portlet on your dashboard

• Automate the process of extending your UltraTax CS projects

• Examine the client’s UltraTax CS return history and their client complexity

• View GoFileRoom documents and the MyWork portlet on your dashboard

Level: Intermediate, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Andre McQueen, Thomson ReutersSession: E11

PRACTICE CS PROCESSING ESSENTIALS Dig in and concentrate on the core processing areas of Practice CS: time and expense entry, billing, accounts receivable, and reporting. In this workshop, participants will experience a complete time entry and billing walk-through. Participants should have a working knowledge of Practice CS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Produce work-in-process reports

• Set up billing defaults to easily create your billing deliverables

• Differentiate between the various billing methods

• Enter receipts

• Use the powerful reporting system to generate valuable client, staff, and firm reports

Level: Intermediate (200 minutes)Instructor: Andre McQueen, Thomson ReutersSession: A3 & B3

WEB SERVICES

MOVING TO AND OPERATING IN THE CLOUD WITH THE CS PROFESSIONAL SUITE New to Virtual Office CS® or Software as a Service (SaaS) for CS Professional Suite, or want a refresher on best practices for operating in the cloud? This workshop will give you tips on migrating your practice to the cloud. Upon completion, you’ll be able to ensure performance and efficiency by:

• Getting the most from your internet connection

• Managing data and space usage

• Using specific tips related to the CS Professional Suite and Microsoft Office applications

Level: Basic, Lecture (50 minutes)Instructor: Josh Emett, Thomson ReutersSession: D9



BEST PRACTICES FOR IMPLEMENTING CLIENT PORTALSWhether your firm is new to the world of client portals or if you want to learn the latest tips about implementation, you won’t want to miss this workshop. Join our staff moderator with your questions for our panel of firms who have successfully implemented client portals. All questions are welcome, including technical implementation questions, staff training, client adoption, and more. Upon completion, you’ll be able to apply past successful portal implementation ideas to your client portal strategy.

Level: Overview, Panel (100 minutes) Moderator: Andrew McCracken, CPA, MAcc,Thomson ReutersSession: A9

IMPLEMENTING A PORTAL STRATEGYWhether you’re implementing portals for the first time or you want to increase your online presence, this workshop will show you how NetClient CS can provide 24/7 solutions to you and your clients. Participants should have a working knowledge of NetClient CS client portals. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Implement portals (including marketing portals to staff and clients)

• Establish workflow and procedures

• Train staff and clients

Level: Intermediate, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Josh Emett, Thomson ReutersSession: H16

BRINGING YOUR ULTRATAX CS INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS’ PRACTICE ONLINE WITH NETCLIENT CSGain insight on using portals to offer your 1040 clients advanced online tax preparation and tax delivery services. In this workshop, you’ll see how portal technology can make electronic delivery of client organizers fast and easy. You’ll also see how simple it is for clients to retrieve and enter tax information via portals. Participants should have a working knowledge of NetClient CS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to retrieve web organizers, workpapers, and source documents, as well as post a completed tax return with any actionable items.

Level: Intermediate, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Calvin Leong, Thomson ReutersSession: G12

BRINGING YOUR ULTRATAX CS BUSINESS CLIENTS’ PRACTICE ONLINE WITH NETCLIENT CSGain insight on using portals to offer your business clients advanced online tax preparation and tax delivery services. In this workshop, you’ll learn how portal technology can make collaboration with your clients easy. Participants should have a working knowledge of NetClient CS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Deliver tax returns to the portal

• Deliver K-1 packages to the shareholders individual portal

• Determine the best CS Professional Suite application integration to meet your firm’s goals

• Use File Exchange and set up File Exchange notifications

Level: Intermediate, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Josh Emett, Thomson ReutersSession: G9

NETCLIENT CS: MAKING THE EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR CLIENTS Now that your firm has implemented portal technology, how do you get the word out to your clients? To ensure successful implementation, it’s helpful for your clients to understand the benefits of their secure online login and know how to use the portals. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Understand modules and services your clients will find useful

• Set up NetClient CS portals

• Train NetClient CS portals to clients

• Use NetClient CS features to effectively market to clients

Level: Basic, Lecture (50 minutes)Instructor: Andrew McCracken, CPA, MAcc, Thomson ReutersSession: F16



DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT

FILECABINET CS: ESSENTIALS FOR THE OFFICE STAFF Get the steps and information that staff needs to begin using FileCabinet CS in the office on a daily basis. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Integrate with the CS Professional Suite, Microsoft Office, and other Windows applications

• Scan and embed documents

• Manipulate documents in FileCabinet CS

• Deliver documents

Level: Basic (150 minutes)Instructor: Calvin Leong, Thomson ReutersSession: C5 & D5

FILECABINET CS: TIPS FOR MANAGING YOUR PAPERLESS WORKFLOWThis workshop is for FileCabinet CS users who have used the software for paperless processing or who would like tips for making the paperless office more efficient. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Set up security

• Set up folders

• Create a daily workflow process

• Use the Source Document Processing feature

• Scan documents into FileCabinet CS

• Use Microsoft Office integration

• Manage the database

• Integrate with Virtual Office CS/SaaS for CS Professional Suite

• Use multiple document delivery methods

Level: Advanced, Lecture (100 minutes)Moderator: Calvin Leong, Thomson ReutersSession: H9

FILECABINET CS TIPS FOR ARCHIVING AND PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT Over time, your FileCabinet CS drawers can become filled with old or unused documents. You’ll learn best practices for archiving to increase performance within FileCabinet CS. Participants should have a working knowledge of FileCabinet CS. Upon completion, you’ll be able to create, delete, restore, and append an archive, prepare FileCabinet CS data to migrate into Virtual Office CS, and troubleshoot performance related issues with FileCabinet CS.

Level: Intermediate, Lecture (50 minutes)Instructor: Calvin Leong, Thomson ReutersSession: F7

GOFILEROOM: WHAT’S NEW Discover the new features, enhancements, anduser interface improvements that have been incorporatedinto GoFileRoom. You’ll also learn about the roadmap and future development plans for GoFileRoom. Upon completion, you’ll be able to leverage the new features in GoFileRoom.

Level: Basic, Lecture (50 minutes)Instructor: Brittany Yandura, Thomson ReutersSession: F14

GOFILEROOM: TIPS & TRICKS Learn how to get the most out of your GoFileRoomsoftware by better leveraging powerful features.Participants should have a working knowledge of GoFileRoom. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Set up mapped contacts

• Create custom notifications

• Fully use the GoFileRoom control panel

• Customize the file importer utility

• Run customized reports

Level: Intermediate, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Calvin Leong, Thomson ReutersSession: E14



GOFILEROOM: ADOBE FEATURES FOR GOFILEROOM USERS Learn how to get the most out of your Adobe software. In this workshop, you’ll understand how GoFileRoom Adobe add-in tools can help you organize documents quickly and efficiently. Upon completion, you’ll be able to:

• Add items to documents including annotations, links, custom stamps, and reference fields

• Easily organize and bookmark pages

• Open multiple windows

• Merge PDF files

• Add a tape calculator to Adobe

Level: Basic, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Andrew McCracken, CPA.MAcc, Thomson ReutersSession: G14

PROFESSIONAL TOPICSTECHNOLOGY

WHAT’S COOL IN TECHNOLOGY THESE DAYS New technology appears every day, from advances in hardware and software to security and entertainment. Who can keep up? More importantly, what’s behind the hype, and how can you decide what warrants a closer look for practical implementation in the workplace today? This workshop will help you find the “cool” technology that offers value to your firm by saving time and improving productivity. We’ll also take a look at some considerations for the near future.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Craig Courtney, Thomson ReutersSession: B8 or H7

USING MOBILE TECHNOLOGY IN THE TAX & ACCOUNTING PROFESSION Mobile devices are everywhere and they’re fast becoming an important tool in today’s tax and accounting firm. Join us to see how you can use mobile devices to improve efficiency and client service in your firm. We’ll discuss many of the current mobile devices available, how they can be applied in your firm, and the specific apps that are useful to tax and accounting firms. Although we’ll briefly touch on BYOD vs. firm-provided devices, we recommend also attending the Setting Mobile Device Security/Policies workshop for more in-depth security discussions.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Moderator: Christina Wiseman, Thomson ReutersSession: H11

SETTING MOBILE DEVICE SECURITY/POLICIES Mobile devices are everywhere. And your staff doesn’t just want to use them in all aspects of their lives, they expect to. Join us for a discussion on allowing staff to use personal mobile devices with firm resources, as well as the security considerations you should have regarding mobile devices, both at a firm and personal level.

Level: Overview, Lecture (50 minutes)Instructor: Christina Wiseman, Thomson ReutersSession: F17



MOBILE STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS Mobility is not the next big thing, it’s today’s thing! In this workshop, you’ll discover options for successful mobile computing including smartphones, tablets, remote access, and other enabling technologies, along with which tools are right for specific tasks. You’ll also see how mobile applications extend key products, help you to provide better client and customer service, and enable you to do business in innovative ways. Join us to discover the best devices and apps to maximize your team’s productivity when away from the office.

Level: Overview, Lecture (50 minutes)Instructor: Randy Johnston, MCS, Executive Vice President, K2 EnterprisesSession: D17

TECH COOKBOOK - PLAIN TECH TALK FOR YOUR OFFICE Making practical technology recommendations is the reasoning behind creating this workshop for you. Participating will help you to understand what hardware to buy, including notebooks, ultrabooks, desktops, servers, wireless networking tools, and firewalls, along with printers and scanners—in other words, simple recommendations for hardware. Additionally, we’ll include software recommendations in several categories, such as anti-virus and collaboration, to help round out your purchasing strategy.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Randy Johnston, MCS, Executive Vice President, K2 EnterprisesSession: C15

“LEANING” YOUR TAX, AUDIT AND ADMINISTRATIVE WORKFLOWS Most firms evolved their production processes by replacing manual workflows with digital equivalents without having any thoughts as to whether those processes still made sense. To optimize tax, audit, and administrative workflows in today’s environment, firms need to step back and re-engineer how work is done and by whom. Integrating Lean Six Sigma principals into today’s digital workflow processes fundamentally changes how firms look at work and deliver quality service. In this workshop, Roman will share specific process recommendations where firms are “leaning” up their production. Takeaways: Roman will explain the key drivers for optimizing firm production processes and share success stories of firms that have implemented streamlined workflow, he’ll identify key processes that lead to “muda” (waste), and he’ll show you how to build quality control into the process while ensuring the work is done by the right personnel and resources.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Roman H. Kepczyk, CPA.CITP, CGMA, LSS BB, XcentricSession: G16

IT POLICY AND SECURE COMPUTING UPDATE FOR FIRM PERSONNEL Accounting firms have a fiduciary responsibility to protect the confidential client data for which they have been entrusted. While most firms have IT policies in place, the majority have not been updated for recent trends of BYOD, mobile devices, and social networking. And even fewer firms have provided reminder training on these policies or safe computing habits. In this workshop, Roman will provide an outline and resources for attendees to update their information technology policies, educate firm personnel on computing risks, and teach accountants to ask the right questions to protect the firm from an information security perspective. Takeaways: Roman will provide practical and real world examples of what firms should be doing today to secure their firms and educate their personnel, which are often the firm’s greatest exposure. He’ll also provide recommendations backed up by the latest security surveys to help accountants implement secure computing practices —to even help sell the concept of annual security training to partners.

Level: Overview, Lecture (50 minutes)Instructor: Roman H. Kepczyk, CPA.CITP, CGMA, LSS BB, XcentricSession: D16



GADGET TECH: TODAY’S TOOLS AND TOMORROW’S TRENDS Each year, Roman scours the floor of the International Consumer Electronics Show and leading gadget resources to identify not only the best equipment to be used in firms today, but the prototypes and trends of future products that will reshape the way we work. Whether it’s curved monitors, virtual reality training, office-bots, or re-engineered scanning, he’ll share the best of what tools are working in the firms and those outrageous gadgets that are beyond belief. Takeaways: Roman will combine the best of practical accounting firm technology with new innovations that may someday find their way into the next wave of accounting technology; and he’ll also cover trends outside our profession that will impact our clients, as well as a few duds that will have you shaking your head.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Roman H. Kepczyk, CPA.CITP, CGMA, LSS BB, XcentricSession: E16

2014 WEBSITE AND CONTENT BEST PRACTICES The web is evolving faster than ever. Is your firm keeping up? Learn practical best practices in communicating your firm’s value proposition at scale—how to use blogs, LinkedIn, and local media outlets—all through the lens of your website, as well as engaging your clients and prospects while not sitting across from them.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Roy Keely, XcentricSession: A17

CLOUD SECURITY BEST PRACTICES Going to the cloud doesn’t mean you can rest regarding your firm’s security. What security measures should firms be considering after moving to the cloud? This workshop will provide answers to some common misnomers regarding cloud security and how to patch the holes that still exist after moving to the cloud.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Roy Keely, XcentricSession: C13

ACCOUNTING 365: TAKING WRITE-UP TO THE CLOUD What do your clients REALLY want? They want your expertise, responsiveness, and proactive strategic advice. And with technology, they want your leadership. This workshop will show how Accounting CS positions your firm to meet these needs and provide service beyond compliance. You’ll hear the real-life story of this firm’s Accounting CS experience, and see why your firm should be looking to the future with Accounting CS.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Ryan McCowan, CPA.CITP, Greene & McCowan, CPASession: G15

PROTECTING YOUR PERSONAL ONLINE REPUTATION IN SOCIAL MEDIA Today information is shared immediately, whether on desktops, tablets, or mobile devices. And people are sharing events, news, and real-time conversations—including talking about you and your business. And you need to be aware of who you’re interacting with online, the impact you’re intentionally (or unintentionally) making with your posts, who is accessing your personal photo and activity posts (clients, the public?), and what are the associated risks. In this workshop, we’ll look at correctly configuring your personal social accounts for the proper security and privacy. You’ll also learn how to use LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook to improve, promote, and protect your personal brand online.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Bryan Hoeft, Thomson ReutersSession: E12

ACCOUNTING FIRM OPERATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY UPDATE More than 300 firms participated in the 2014 Accounting Firm Operations and Technology Survey, which took place in late 2013. This workshop will present the major findings from this research, as well as some tidbits, which were left on the editing room floor. Significant areas covered include practice management, technology management, computer hardware, application software, file management, remote access, and technology spending. You’ll receive the key findings of the survey, as well as some insight into the raw data from survey editor Brian Tankersley, CPA, CITP, CGMA, who also serves as the Technology Editor for The CPA Practice Advisor.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Brian Tankersley, CPA.CITP, K2 EnterprisesSession: C12



THE NEW GRAPEVINE: SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLS AND TIPS FOR ACCOUNTANTS Social Networking has changed the way we all market our services, do business, and keep in touch with friends, family, and clients. This workshop will discuss the tactical topics related to social networking. Attendees will see how other accounting professionals are using social media. We’ll also review methods for measuring, managing, and monitoring your social networking impact, including analytical tools, online services, and alerts.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Brian Tankersley, CPA.CITP, K2 EnterprisesSession: B12

PUT YOUR WEBSITE TO WORK FOR YOUR FIRM It’s not enough anymore to just have a website; you must have a relevant website that engages your clients. Take a look at your current website. If you don’t feel engaged, then this workshop is for you. See how to make your website work for your firm by making it a hub for your clients and prospective clients with dynamic content.

Level: Overview, Lecture (50 minutes)Instructor: Christina Wiseman, Thomson ReutersSession: D6

TAX

INDIVIDUAL TAX UPDATE 2014 is the year that the Affordable Care Act finally takes effect. We’ll cover the individual mandate, whereby you must establish (and the IRS must verify) adequate insurance coverage for all dependents on your tax return—or pay a penalty. In addition to the Premium Subsidy Tax Credit and the penalty calculation, we’ll look at the growing list of exemptions that may be claimed. We’ll also look at other individual tax changes including the expired provisions awaiting action in Congress, for any new legislation, IRS regulations, rulings, and cases, together with significant 2014 form changes.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Douglas J. VanDerAa, CPA, JD, Federal Tax WorkshopsSession: E8

BUSINESS TAX UPDATE Although the employer mandate has been delayed until January 2015 or 2016, there is no time to lose. All businesses—small, mid, sized and large—will need to complete an employee census, determine part- and full-time equivalents, test affordability, and project their likely penalties to evaluate where they stand going into 2015. This workshop offers the latest information on the business-related provisions of the Affordable Care Act, the nearly 50 expired business tax provisions awaiting action in Congress—together with recent IRS regulations, rulings, and cases dealing with corporations, partnerships, and S corporations.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Douglas J. VanDerAa, CPA, JD, Federal Tax WorkshopsSession: G8

PRACTICE MANAGEMENT

PAYROLL COMPLIANCE: 2014 AND 2015 LEGISLATION UPDATE Get tips on how to make year-end processes more effective, efficient, and compliant. We’ll discuss the latest health care updates, changes in Social Security, new SSA initiatives, tips for reconciling payroll accounts, I-9 regulations, new hire reporting, pay practices, escheat rules, federal unemployment with respect to deficit states, fringe benefit taxation and third-party sick pay and its impact on payroll. We’ll also cover the latest federal and state payroll changes for 2015, SUTA limits for 2015, and 53/27 week.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Jim Paille, Thomson ReutersSession: E13 or H13

WAKE UP AND SMELL THE PAYROLL Are you on the fence about offering payroll services? Hear from a leader in the payroll industry on why positioning your practice to offer payroll services is a smart strategic move. We’ll focus on industry trends and the emerging opportunity with payroll services, along with specific details on how to start, grow, and manage your payroll services. Topics include assessing the opportunity, the payroll workflow, staffing, marketing payroll services, and cross-selling your traditional services. Coffee will be available.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Sean Manning, CPA, Manning & Company PCSession: C9



EMPOWERING YOUR STAFF FOR GREATNESS Your staff has the greatest impact on customer satisfaction and growing your business. We’ll take a close look at the culture you need to cultivate and the important staffing decisions that need to be made in order to execute your strategy. This workshop will cover the hiring process, business structure, managing staff, and compensation and benefits for the operations of an accounting—payroll business, along with a discussion on hiring and supporting business development staff for a firm that wants to grow to greatness.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Sean Manning, CPA, Manning & Company PCSession: B9

EXPERIENCE THE COMPETITIVE EDGE WITH CHECKPOINT Checkpoint—the top, centralized, integrated, and customizable online research service—provides complete access to tax laws, expert analysis, practitioner insights, news, cases, productivity tools, and more. We’ll introduce you to Checkpoint’s powerful navigational and search elements. We’ll also discover how Checkpoint can make your firm more efficient and profitable by offering research content (e.g., RIA, PPC, IRS) and the workflow tools on a single platform that integrate smoothly with UltraTax CS.

Level: Intermediate, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Jesse Sanger, Thomson ReutersSession: G17

ESTABLISH YOUR FIRM’S STRATEGY ON INTERNALLY SHARING CLIENT INTELLIGENCE Does your firm struggle to ensure that the right staff members hear the right information about the right clients at the right time? You’re not alone! The CS Professional Suite has many places to record client intelligence, but which ones should you use? This workshop will step through a simple approach to establishing consistent rules for when and where to record client intelligence within the CS Professional Suite. This consistency will let your firm extend the client relationship and work internally at a more efficient pace. Join us as we share this approach and then walk through this strategy.

Level: Advanced, Lecture (50 minutes)Instructor: Will Hill, Thomson ReutersSession: D15

HEALTH CARE REFORM COMPLIANCE FOR 2015: WHAT YOUR CLIENTS NEED TO KNOW Guidance under health care reform (the Affordable Care Act) continues to come at a fast pace. 2015 will be a critical year as many important requirements take effect. Most notably, certain employers will become subject to shared responsibility (also referred to as the “play or pay” penalty) and related information reporting. Other key parts of the law have already been implemented—including the individual mandate and purchasing coverage through the Exchange, as well as new tax incentives and fees. Attend this workshop to learn tips for explaining the key requirements and compliance obligations to clients, including strategies to avoid or minimize the employer penalties. We’ll also highlight some emerging consulting opportunities for accounting firms in this area.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Gita Sharma, J.D., LL.M, Senior Editor, Thomson Reuters Checkpoint Session: A16

FINANCIAL BENCHMARKING - WHAT REALLY DRIVES PROFITABILITY Working “on” the firm is crucial to succeed in an increasingly competitive accounting industry. Comparing a firm’s key statistics to a group of benchmark firms is a great way to identify areas of strength and weakness. Additionally, understanding how a firm stacks up allows firm leadership to have robust dialogue about strategic and tactical changes that need to take place. During this workshop, you’ll use results from The Rosenberg Survey, the industry’s leading financial benchmarking platform, to learn which key metrics need to be monitored, how they are calculated, and finally, how their firm stacks up to like-size peers. You’ll learn about key statistics such as:

• Net income per partner

• Net fees per person

• Utilization

• Ratio of Partner-to-staff ratio

• And many more

The workshop is geared for firms with 15+ employees. Participants should be prepared for an interactive workshop, where their own questions and issues can be discussed.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Charles Hylan, Shareholder, The Growth Partership, Inc.Session: B17



DARREN’S TOP 10 LIST - THE MUST-DO’S FOR A SUCCESSFUL NEXT GENERATION TRANSITION In this information-packed workshop, Darren will introduce 10 core areas of change that owners must address to successfully transition their firms to the Next Generation. He will discuss each item in detail and explain why change in these areas is necessary for long-term success and the ability to capitalize on opportunities that lie ahead.

Darren’s Top 10 list includes:

1. Changing your mindset from unintentional to intentional

2. Establishing your vision

3. Building your Next Generation business model

4. Building your ideal client base

5. Applying your unique skills

6. Building your ideal staff

7. The importance of planning

8. Why branding and marketing matter

9. Creating a rich client experience every time

10. Building to extend your legacy

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: M. Darren Root, CPA.CITP, Root & Associates, CPAs; RootWorks, LLCSession: G10

COMMUNICATE WITH INTENTION…A BETTER WAY TO THINK ABOUT MARKETING In this workshop, Darren will address the common fears that practitioners have about marketing, and then allay those fears by reframing the definition of marketing with a simplified Who, What, and How approach to marketing your services.

• Who do you communicate with? Provides descriptions of three key groups—existing clients, fully engaged; existing clients with growth potential; and prospects.

• What do you use to communicate? Offers list of standard marketing materials and how to use them effectively.

• How do you deliver communications? Offers insight into several delivery methods, including mail, email, social media, and more, and how to balance these channels.

Darren will also provide a sample high-level communications plan that can serve as a firm’s starter plan.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: M. Darren Root, CPA.CITP, Root & Associates, CPAs; RootWorks, LLCSession: A10

USING PRACTICE CS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR FIRM/CLIENT RELATIONSHIP Building and maintaining strong relationships with your client base is a fundamental goal, and there are many tools and processes that can assist you in providing the best possible service to your clients. Practice CS can be configured and used in a way that helps your firm keep on top of all client-related activities, ensuring that questions can be answered immediately by anyone in the firm. And it allows the firm to be proactive and responsive to clients, rather than being in a reactive mode. Join us for a practitioner-led workshop, where a Practice CS power user will demonstrate and discuss how his firm uses the system for client relationship management, client interaction logging, and project tracking, ensuring the firm’s priority of maintaining strong and prosperous client relationships. Content will be geared toward firms that have used Practice CS for at least one year.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Paul Miller, Business by DesignSession: A8 or H8

BUILDING A FIRM FOCUSED ON TRUSTED ADVISOR-CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS AND A PROGRESSIVE BUSINESS MODEL Our featured speaker from this year’s Partner Summits will share an overview of how his firm created a trusted advisor relationship with clients, developed multiple income streams, and established a unique value proposition. You’ll hear how his firm helps other entrepreneurs and small businesses be more tax efficient and make smarter business decisions, while providing traditional accounting firm services. We’ll also explore his firm’s high-margin business coaching, tax planning, and asset protection services for small businesses that employ many of the same tax planning strategies of larger firms. As a group, we’ll discuss how you can offer and build your own trusted advisor services, create a business model to support them, and help clients rely on you by understanding the value your firm provides. And you’ll walk away with ideas for your own practice.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Paul Miller, Business by DesignSession: C8


JUMP-STARTING YOUR NEW STAFF While your new staff is excited about their new job, you’re often curious and anxious. You’ve made a significant investment in time and money, and you want to maximize that investment. We’ll discuss what it takes to set your new staff up for success and capitalize on their excitement for the job. From expectation setting to the training plan, we’ll cover what it will take to establish a system for getting the most out of your new hires quickly, while minimizing their frustrations. Caution: an internal culture shift may be heading your firm’s way after this workshop.

Level: Basic, Lecture (50 minutes)Instructor: Will Hill, Thomson ReutersSession: F12

HOW TO WIN THE TALENT WARS: 10 MUST-DO STRATEGIES Every firm is looking for the magic formula for recruiting, retaining and promoting the best talent for their firm. In this workshop, we’ll identify the 10 strategies that will help your firm claim and keep the best of the best. The solutions are there for the taking, the work will be difficult, but the results are worth the journey. We’ll use participant polling and a number of exercises to engage the audience and allow them to walk away with practical strategies for their firm talent strategies.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Sandra Wiley, COO, Boomer Consulting, Inc.Session: A15

SUCCESSION PLANNING: VISION, LEADERSHIP AND PLANNING The dream of developing a plan for current leaders to transition clients and responsibilities to emerging leaders can be your reality. In this workshop, we’ll explore tips and tricks for developing a vision for the firm’s future that includes partners who transition successfully, emerging partners that move into lead positions, and clients that feel confident in the changes. We’ll use participant polling and a number of exercises to engage you and allow you to walk away with practical strategies for your firm succession initiatives.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Sandra Wiley, COO, Boomer Consulting, Inc.Session: B15

FIRM MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS The profession today seemingly has more firms either looking to acquire or to sell than ever before. Join us for an engaging, free-flowing panel discussion on firm merger and acquisition topics and trends across the profession. The panel will include practitioners with first-hand experience navigating M&A situations, as well as consultants who have helped manage and execute successful mergers and acquisitions. Some of the topics to be covered include M&A timing, process, and length considerations, firm culture compatibility, technology alignment dynamics, and much more.

Level: Overview, Panel (100 minutes)Instructor: Scott Fleszar, Thomson ReutersSession: A14

MARKETING AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT— IT’S A NUMBERS GAMELearn how marketing plays a critical role in directly relating communications with lead generation and business development. Based on years of discussions with hundreds of firms across the country (including the top 100/200 firms) about their marketing strategy, we created a diagnostic process that will demonstrate how firms can generate a return on their marketing investment (ROMI). The Marketing Audit is an analytical process and interactive workshop designed to help firms recognize their own strengths and weaknesses in marketing, communications, and business development. The main focus is to illustrate the direct correlation between communications programs and the business development activities and closed revenue. As part of this workshop, we’ll be using real life examples from accounting firms, and we’ll invite you to participate in the audit process.

Level: Overview, Lecture (50 minutes)Instructor: Brenda Sleeper and Gary Kravitz, Thomson Reuters (BizActions-PDI Global)Session: F13



THINKING DIFFERENTLY WITH EXCEL Microsoft Excel is one of the most powerful tools in the accountant’s arsenal. This workshop is designed for beginning to intermediate-level Excel users to promote new and emerging firm best practices in spreadsheet efficiency, presentation, and standardization. Included are fun and easy-to-follow instructions geared toward creating spreadsheets and formulas to decrease the unavoidable learning curves associated with first-time workpaper users (i.e. reviewers, new staff members, clients) by providing new functionality and clarity. Covering the often-overlooked and easy-to-use Excel functionality, as well as a new approach to creating easy-to-read formulas resulting in dynamic spreadsheets, this workshop helps break down the same-as-last-year barriers in the way you think of and use Excel.

Level: Intermediate, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Bret Carr, MPA, CPA, Hertzbach & Company, P.A.Session: B13

LEAN SIX SIGMA STRATEGIES FOR INCREASED LEVERAGE AND UTILIZATION OF TECHNOLOGY If firms want to achieve greater consistency and utilization / leveraging of their technology and processes, they should have a fundamental understanding of lean processes and deployment. This is an interactive workshop with the popular “Lego” demonstration that helps bring to life the connection between technology and process. Interactive demonstration and simulation will make up much of the workshop. You’ll be engaged and interactive throughout.

Level: Overview, Lecture (100 minutes)Instructor: Dustin Hostetler, Principal, FlowtivitySession: E15

FIND HIDDEN SAVINGS FOR YOUR CLIENTS WITH TAX CREDITS AND INCENTIVES Attend this session to learn how accounting firms are proactively using credits and incentives opportunities as a door-opener with new clients, and as a competitive advantage for the firm. Many local, federal and international governments offer incentives (e.g., tax credits, special deductions, cash grants, discounts on various service charges) to attract new investment and jobs to their region and to promote economic development. Incentive programs provide funding to offset the cost of investments and targeted activities. Learn how effective incentive management allows companies to maximize funding opportunities, producing considerable savings, improving return on investment (ROI), and adding structure to their capital decision-making process. Learn how to utilize credits and incentives as a unique differentiator for your firm, adding value to client relationships and winning new prospects.

Level: Overview, Lecture (50 minutes)Instructor: Shawndel Rose, RubinBrown LLPSession: D14

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