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Empowering Productivity in Accounting: Multistate Conference

This conference offers a dive into an exciting pool of technological insights and tried-and-true practical solutions that revolutionize financial p...

Overview

This conference offers a dive into an exciting pool of technological insights and tried-and-true practical solutions that revolutionize financial practices. Explore themes such as the seamless integration of technology in accounting workflows, the advent of AI-based automation, and blockchain’s potential in secure transactions. We also delve into practical aspects with sessions on leveraging tech to streamline your workflow.

Event Sessions

Monday, June 24, 2024
Day #1
K2’s Accountant’s Guide To QuickBooks Online
Accounting, Computer Software and Applications | 8 Credits
Stephen Yoss
09:00 AM to 04:30 PM America/Chicago

QuickBooks Online’s (QBO) market share continues to expand, and the Cloud-based accounting platform now dominates the small business market. Yet, most accounting and financial professionals have not participated in any formal training on the Cloud-based accounting service. Thus, they are unaware of many of the tool’s available features and do not work with QuickBooks Online as efficiently and effectively as they should.

This course teaches you how to set up QBO and convert QuickBooks Desktop files into a QBO instance. You will learn how to process all types of transactions, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank feeds, inventory, and payroll. Further, you will learn how to implement appropriate internal controls and how to capitalize on advanced features such as workflow management and management reports. Join us in this session to learn how to set up QBO properly and take full advantage of all it offers while avoiding common errors and mistakes.

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Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Day #2
K2’s Better Productivity Through Artificial Intelligence And Automation Tools
Computer Software and Applications | 4 Credits
Stephen Yoss
09:00 AM to 12:30 PM America/Chicago

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation tools offer incredible opportunities for all business professionals to improve productivity and accuracy. For example, generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Bard can be beneficial when conducting research or drafting reports and correspondence. Likewise, Microsoft’s Power Automate platform and similar tools such as Zapier can help you elevate efficiency to levels you may have thought unattainable. If this sounds appealing, plan to participate in this session to modernize your workflows and take advantage of these tools.

This session will teach you practical applications of today’s AI and automation tools. Moving beyond fundamental discussions, you will learn how to use AI and automation to streamline workflows, improve internal control, maximize productivity, and even improve team member morale. In addition, you will learn about some potential pitfalls associated with these technologies and how to avoid making mistakes when using these tools. In sum, this session is “must-see CPE,” and you should plan to participate in this class today.

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K2’s Emerging Technologies, Including Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies
Information Technology | 4 Credits
Stephen Yoss
01:00 PM to 04:30 PM America/Chicago

Unlike technologies we use every day, many currently emerging technologies can change how we work in the future. This session covers various technologies nearing mainstream adoption and helps you understand what they do, how they work, and some of the potential risks and rewards they offer.

Attend this course, and learn the basics of blockchain, cryptocurrencies, big data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, as well as some of the uses, benefits, risks, and threats these innovative yet disruptive platforms pose to legacy businesses.

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Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Day #3
K2’s Paperless Office
Information Technology | 8 Credits
Brian Tankersley
09:00 AM to 04:30 PM America/Chicago

Would you like to find important documents in 10 seconds or less? Would you like to ensure your digital information is safe and secure? Would you like to improve workflow efficiency? Of course, you would, and with some planning and guidance, you will realize these and other benefits of a paperless office. Naturally, no one expects a fully “paperless” office, but reducing the amount of paper we shuffle can offer tremendous rewards. This course will teach you the best practices and proven processes for effective document management.

Participating in this program will teach you how to implement simple, inexpensive document management systems at an individual, workgroup, or small business level. You will also learn about sophisticated and comprehensive document management systems appropriate for larger offices and organizations, including systems with automated workflow processing. Your instructor will guide you through issues such as digitizing paper files, exporting and importing data from specialized applications into a document management system, essential hardware and software considerations, and the policies necessary to facilitate a successful office. Upon completing this course, you will have a comprehensive understanding of your options and a clear direction for implementing your version of the Paperless Office

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Thursday, June 27, 2024
Day #4
K2’s Ethics and Technology
Behavioral Ethics | 4 Credits
Brian Tankersley
09:00 AM to 12:30 PM America/Chicago

With the explosion of technology over the past thirty years, one fair question is, “what are the ethical considerations and impacts related to this technology?” Of course, practical technology issues such as data privacy and security undoubtedly carry ethical considerations. However, technology also affects the ethics associated with work-life balance, the digital divide, training needs, copyrights, and fraud, to name a few.

This course will teach you about “technoethics” and its implications for individuals and organizations. To that end, you will explore many current and emerging issues associated with ethics and technology, such as copyrights, cybercrimes, privacy versus security, and geo-tracking technologies. Given the profound implications of ethics and technology, this could be the most impactful session you will ever attend.

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K2’s Mastering Advanced Excel Functions
Computer Software and Applications | 4 Credits
Brian Tankersley
01:00 PM to 04:30 PM America/Chicago

With approximately 500 functions now available in Excel, some newer and more powerful tools are easy to overlook. But, if you do that, your productivity will suffer. In this session, you will learn how to take advantage of many of Excel’s more advanced features – some new and some legacy – to elevate your productivity to higher levels.

In this session, you will learn about many of Excel’s newer tools, including XLOOKUP, SUMIFS, SWITCH, and STOCKHISTORY. Also included in this session are discussions of advanced financial functions, such as IPMT and PPMT, and how to retrieve summarized data easily using GETPIVOTDATA and CUBEVALUE. Additionally, you will learn how to make sophisticated calculations easier with Dynamic Array formulas, harness the AGGREGATE function’s power, and create more accurate forecasts with Excel’s FORECAST.ETS function. No matter your experience working with Excel, participating in this course will help you work more efficiently and effectively in Excel.

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Friday, June 28, 2024
Day #5
K2’s Technology for CPAs – Don’t Get Left Behind
Computer Software and Applications | 8 Credits
Brian Tankersley
09:00 AM to 04:30 PM America/Chicago

How good are you with the technology you use daily? Are new technology tools available to save time and make you more effective? Technology continues to accelerate rapidly, and keeping pace is essential. This course is for you if you are not an information technology (IT) expert but need a technology update to maintain and improve your skills to serve your companies or clients more efficiently and effectively!

In this fast-paced, update-style course, you will survey today’s IT environment, learning about computer hardware, software (including Microsoft Office), operating systems (including Windows 11), peripheral devices, and what they mean for you. You will also learn about significant trends in information technology and how to take advantage of the opportunities presented by these trends. Examples include the latest Excel features, best practices for working with PDF files, and security and privacy issues. Additionally, you will learn how to improve the overall performance of your IT investment, thereby increasing your return on investment.

Throughout this program, you will learn from real-time demonstrations of practical applications of the latest tools, which can provide you with the knowledge you need to harness the power of technology, both now and in the future. So register now for this “don’t miss” opportunity to get the skills required to enhance the value of your IT investment.

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Event Instructors

Stephen Yoss

Big Bear Lake, CA
Speaker & Author, CPE Today

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 organizations develop technology strategies to streamline their business operations. He specializes in taking on high-difficulty, mission-critical organizational issues that require technological expertise and an ability to find solutions to problems that no one else can answer. With all of his clients, he emphasizes the need to embrace technology at every opportunity and utilize the latest technological trends and breakthroughs in order to gain a competitive advantage while increasing efficiency and productivity.

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Brian Tankersley

Knoxville, TN
Speaker & Author, K2 Enterprises

Brian Tankersley is a consultant who advises US firms and companies on accounting technology issues. Mr. Tankersley is a frequent speaker at continuing education courses for K2 Enterprises, and publishes a nationally recognized blog on accounting and technology (www.cpatechblog.com). He has also served as the technology editor for a major accounting industry publication. Mr. Tankersley has over 25 years of professional experience, including accounting, auditing, technology, and education, and has been with K2 Enterprises since 2005, and he is also one of the national instructors for Yaeger CPA Review.

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