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Closing the Books with Better Tech Tools
Closing the Books with Better Tech Tools is a four‑day live online CPE conference designed to help accounting and finance professionals modernize close‑out processes, improve reporting, and streamline workflows with today’s best technology. Running Dec 14–17, 2026 (Pacific Time), this virtual...
Presented in partnership with Oklahoma Society of CPAs, New Mexico CPA Foundation, Montana Society of CPAs, Georgia Society of CPAs, Washington Society of CPAs, Kentucky Society of CPAs, Minnesota Society of CPAs, Alabama Society of CPAs, Alaska Society of CPAs, Connecticut Society of CPAs, Illinois CPA Society, Indiana CPA Society, Massachusetts Society of CPAs, Nebraska Society of CPAs, Ohio Society of CPAs, Oregon Society of CPAs, Society of Louisiana CPAs, K2 Enterprises.
On the agenda
8 sessions across 4 days, taught by Lawrence A. "Mac" McClelland and Stephen Yoss — see the full agenda ↓
About this event
Agenda
Select a day, then a class, for full details.
Day 1 Monday, December 14, 2026 2 sessions
QuickBooks Online Reporting: Beyond The Basics
7:00 – 10:00 AM · Stephen Yoss · 3 credits
QuickBooks Online’s (QBO) reporting capabilities represent the gold standard in financial software, yet most professionals only scratch the surface of its potential. This course reveals how to transform QBO into a reporting powerhouse, making any organization more efficient and accountants more valuable to their clients. Participants will discover how to customize standard reports, build sophisticated management reports that automatically update, and create tailored solutions that deliver exactly what clients need. The course demonstrates how professionals can automate routine reporting tasks, saving hours of manual work while delivering more insightful financial analysis. Beyond core functionality, participants will master advanced features like Spreadsheet Sync, QBO’s powerful Excel integration tool that brings QuickBooks data directly into spreadsheets for unlimited analysis...
- Demonstrate advanced customization techniques for QuickBooks Online standard and custom reports
- Create dynamic management reports that automatically update with fresh data
- Implement Spreadsheet Sync to seamlessly integrate QuickBooks data with Excel
- Develop professional-grade dashboards using QuickBooks Online's Performance Center tools and other reporting functions
- Construct automated reporting workflows using third-party integration tools and connectors
Database Basics for Financial Professionals
10:30 AM – 2:30 PM · Stephen Yoss · 4 credits
In today's digital age, databases have become the backbone of every business technology, application, platform, and service. Every system relies on databases to store and organize information, from financial records in Quickbooks and Xero to sales efforts in Salesforce and Hubspot. Popular reporting tools like Power BI and Excel utilize databases to create beautiful, insightful dashboards. Despite the widespread use and importance of databases, many financial professionals lack a basic understanding of how they operate. Traditionally, working with databases has been delegated to an organization's IT department, leaving the accounting team out of scope. However, in today's technology-driven environment, accountants need to have a basic understanding of how databases work and the ability to query data independently. Our database basics course focuses on the knowledge most helpful...
Day 2 Tuesday, December 15, 2026 2 sessions
An Accountant's Detailed Guide to Databases, Integration, and Data Sharing
7:00 – 9:00 AM · Stephen Yoss · 2 credits
Every business professional today needs to know how to work with data. We are all generating more and more data every day. However, only some of us know how it can be effectively leveraged. There are many new opportunities for people who can effectively work with data. From helping their organizations make better decisions to working more effectively on projects to creating integration between applications and automating workflows. This course will take a longer and more in-depth look at how to use databases, structure data for optimum workflow, and share data between applications. This course teaches you how to effectively use Excel, Power BI, SQL, and other data-related technologies. You'll also discover how to integrate and share data between different applications. By the end of this course, you'll be able to utilize databases more effectively and make better decisions based...
- Discuss how to use databases and data-related technologies inside an organization.
- Explain the central principles of databases, including data structure, keys/constraints, and cardinality.
- Demonstrate how to connect to a database via Excel Power Query functionality and database management tools (e.g. SSMS, DBeaver, etc.)
- List the major types of database technologies and their major use cases.
- Discuss and demonstrate how an Integration-Platform-as-a-Service (iPaaS) tool is used in conjunction with a database to push and pull data throughout an organization.
Hands On With QuickBooks Online Accountant (QBOA) for Public Accounting
11:30 AM – 2:30 PM · Stephen Yoss · 3 credits
We will take a deep look into setting up a QuickBooks Online Accountant (QBOA) account. We will examine all the various firm, staff, and client configuration options for getting this to work inside your organization. This class is going to specifically focus on the configuration options for this application. QBO is a big application and it is important to ensure you've properly set up your firm and client files. Additionally, we will look at the various import/export functionality for getting your data into or out of QBO. Participants will leave this class supercharged with the knowledge of how to set up their QBO accounts correctly for long-term success.
Day 3 Wednesday, December 16, 2026 3 sessions
K2's The Best Kept Secrets Of Microsoft 365
7:00 – 9:00 AM · Lawrence A. "Mac" McClelland · 2 credits
Many organizations have implemented Microsoft 365/Office 365 at a basic level, but few have truly explored the breadth and depth of tools included with their subscriptions. Some less commonly known apps help you manage shared email boxes, create and use web forms, schedule appointments, trade shifts, create real-time closed captions, and translate presentations. Attend this session and learn more about the hidden features in Microsoft 365 that you can use to level up your productivity.
- Select at least three optional services included with Office 365
- List at least two tools that extend Microsoft Teams to perform new tasks
- Identify at least one optional Office 365 service which protects confidential information
K2's Harnessing ChatGPT
9:30 – 11:30 AM · Lawrence A. "Mac" McClelland · 2 credits
Enhance your productivity and streamline your accounting practices with ideas learned in this course. This dynamic program, designed specifically for accountants seeking a competitive edge, delves into the practical applications of ChatGPT in your daily workflow. From conducting comprehensive research and crafting compelling correspondence to swiftly addressing technical inquiries and optimizing Excel formulas, you will gain invaluable skills to expedite your tasks and improve overall efficiency. Furthermore, we will delve into the power of ChatGPT plugins, equipping you with the knowledge to process PDF documents seamlessly and efficiently navigate the vast expanse of the web. Join us on this transformative journey and unlock your potential as a proficient and empowered accountant.
- Identify options to leverage ChatGPT for research, correspondence, technical inquiries, and Excel formula optimization
- List examples of practical applications of ChatGPT in the realm of accounting
- Identify powerful plugins for GPT4 for efficient PDF document processing and web searching
- List examples of how accountants can unlock professional efficiency by utilizing ChatGPT
K2's Time To Advance Automation
12:00 – 2:00 PM · Lawrence A. "Mac" McClelland · 2 credits
In today's business environment, automation is no longer just a buzzword but a critical component for enhancing efficiency and accuracy. This session provides practical insights on automating your organization using advanced tools from Zoho, Zapier, Microsoft, and others. We will focus on real-world applications, demonstrating how to automate key accounts payable, banking, and approval workflows. You will also learn to recognize and avoid common pitfalls in automation projects. This course is essential for accounting and financial professionals seeking to leverage automation to achieve greater efficiency, reduce errors, and foster a more productive work environment.
- Outline the primary benefits of advanced automation in business processes
- Select appropriate automation tools for data extraction and transformation
- Identify Microsoft 365 plans and other tools that offer powerful automation capabilities like Power Automate
- Compare and contrast the functionalities and applications of Power Automate and Zapier
- Recognize business tasks that are prime candidates for automation
Day 4 Thursday, December 17, 2026 1 session
K2's Next Generation Excel Reporting
9:30 AM – 5:30 PM · Lawrence A. "Mac" McClelland · 8 credits
New features in Excel provide tremendous opportunities to improve Excel-based operational and financial reports. For example, Data Models, Power Query, Data Analysis Expressions, Power Pivot, and many others can help you create more powerful summaries and schedules in less time than ever. Bundle these tools with some of Excel's “legacy” features, and you have significant new opportunities to improve your Excel-based reporting environments. In this fast-paced seminar, you will learn about the importance of using Power Query to link data into Excel data models and how you can manage these data models to facilitate better and more efficient reporting. Additionally, you will learn how to incorporate Key Performance Indicators, Slicers, and Timelines into your reports to enhance the analytics and understandability of the data. Further, you will learn best practices to format your...
Your instructors
Lawrence A. "Mac" McClelland
Speaker & Author · K2 Enterprises · ★ 4.5 instructor rating
Mac McClelland, an attorney and accounting professional, is an associate of K2 Enterprises of Hammond, Louisiana, and Network Management Group of Hutchinson, Kansas. Mac was formerly the director of the Centre for Financial Studies at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, where he lived and worked for seven years from 1990 to 1997. He was also a member of the faculty of the Advanced Business...
Full profile →
Stephen Yoss
Speaker & Author · CPE Today · ★ 4.7 instructor rating
Stephen M. Yoss, Jr., CPA, MS, is a certified public accountant, partner and CEO of Devmatics, LLC, a continuing education instructor for financial professionals, a and a licensed pyrotechnician. While his interests and skills are varied, they all share a common thread—his love for and skill in finding technology-based solutions. In 2017, Stephen and Alex White formed Devmatics, LLC, a company focused on helping...
Full profile →Co-sponsored with your state society
We're proud to co-sponsor this event with the societies below. Society members: register through your state society to receive special member pricing — check your society's CPE catalog or member portal for this event, or register directly with us here.
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What attendees say about these sessions
Every event runs once, so these are verified reviews from past attendees of the individual sessions on this agenda — the same instruction, the same courses.
“He kept my interest. This was a course I was very interested in.”
“I am most impressed with Stephen Yoss and his presentation. As a 40+yr CPA, I am not easily impressed but he was outstanding.”
“Loved the presentation - extremely insightful”
“I am convinced I need to start using AI to assist me in work and at home!”
“Fantastic course, and Stephen was great at explaining things and making it relevant and interesting.”
“Learned a lot and much appreciated the event”
“Fantastic information on how to use ChatGPT as well as info on other brands using AI. I want to use Co-Pilot, but understanding it may not be as robust - or efficient - allows me to explore other avenues for the time being. Also, understanding the importance of paid,...”
“This was a fantastic session! It wasn't long enough. Would LOVE more training on this!”
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