Seminar
Professional Security Strategies for Financial Pros
Join us Sep 8–11, 2026 online for 4 days of live CPE — 8 sessions taught by Lawrence A. "Mac" McClelland and Stephen Yoss, worth up to 30 CPE credits.
Presented in partnership with Oklahoma Society of CPAs, New Mexico CPA Foundation, Montana Society of CPAs, Georgia Society of CPAs, Iowa Society of CPAs, Washington Society of CPAs, Kentucky Society of CPAs, Minnesota Society of CPAs, Alabama Society of CPAs, Connecticut Society of CPAs, Illinois CPA Society, Indiana CPA Society, Massachusetts Society of CPAs, Nebraska 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 ↓
Agenda
Select a day, then a class, for full details.
Day 1 Tuesday, September 8, 2026 1 session
K2's Excel Tips, Tricks, and Techniques for Accountants
7:00 AM – 3:00 PM · Lawrence A. "Mac" McClelland · 8 credits
Excel is the go-to tool for accountants when it comes to analyzing and reporting financial data. However, many professionals still rely on time-consuming and error-prone methods for everyday tasks. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced user, our course is designed to help you master Excel and transform your workflows. In this course, you'll discover a trove of tips, tricks, and techniques to boost your productivity and streamline your tasks. Say goodbye to mundane formatting and hello to customized Excel solutions that enhance accuracy and efficiency. You'll also learn how to build powerful formulas, link Excel data from various sources, and simplify report generation and printing processes. Our expert K2 instructors will guide you through the program with practical, real-world examples, ensuring you grasp the key concepts and apply them effectively. With over twenty-five...
- Choose appropriate tools and techniques for formatting data in Excel, including multiline column headings, the Accounting Format, custom date and number formats, and Conditional Formatting
- Identify options for customizing Excel’s user environment, including the Ribbon and the Quick Access Toolbar, adjust Excel’s Options to improve efficiency, and create and use Templates to increase efficiency and productivity
- Use various formula-building tools to create formulas more efficiently and create multiple types of formulas, including formulas to manipulate text and dates, formulas containing XLOOKUP functions, formulas that contain conditional calculations, and formulas that contain circular references
- Compare options for summarizing and analyzing data across multiple Excel worksheets and workbooks, update and manage links, and create sum-through formulas and rolling reports
Day 2 Wednesday, September 9, 2026 1 session
K2's Next Generation Excel Reporting
7:00 AM – 3:00 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...
Day 3 Thursday, September 10, 2026 3 sessions
Data Government and Privacy For Organizations - GDPR and CCPA
7:00 – 9:00 AM · Stephen Yoss · 2 credits
Cybersecurity 2026 Defense for CPAs
9:30 – 11:30 AM · Stephen Yoss · 2 credits
In the modern financial landscape, the security of a CPA’s practice is defined by the strength of their identity management and the resilience of their workflows. In 2026, the distinction between office and remote work has faded, as the cloud serves as our universal workspace. However, this borderless environment has increased the success of persistent threats like Business Email Compromise (BEC), ransomware, and sophisticated social engineering. This course provides a comprehensive update on these fundamental risks, examining how traditional attacks have become more frequent and harder to detect through automation. We will analyze the intersection of established security principles and emerging technological challenges. This includes managing the confidentiality risks posed by staff using unauthorized AI tools for client work and understanding why the professional "minimum...
- Differentiate between current Business Email Compromise (BEC) and sophisticated social engineering tactics.
- Analyze the lifecycle of modern ransomware to implement more effective firm-wide defenses.
- Evaluate the confidentiality risks associated with using unsanctioned AI tools in accounting.
- Apply Zero Trust principles to secure client data in a cloud-based environment.
- Detect how automated tools are currently being used to supercharge traditional cyberattacks.
Demystifying Accounting for Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, and NFTs
12:00 – 4:00 PM · Stephen Yoss · 4 credits
For accounting and tax professionals, understanding the inner workings of blockchain and cryptocurrency is no longer just an advantage—it's a necessity. This course provides an in-depth look into the mechanics of digital currencies and revolutionary blockchain technology, equipping attendees with the knowledge to navigate benefits and risks effectively. Special emphasis is placed on the tax implications for both individuals and estates, ensuring that attendees can confidently advise on these issues, which are becoming increasingly relevant in financial planning and asset management. This offering is more than just a learning experience; it's an investment in one's professional growth. By understanding the tax complexities and estate planning challenges posed by digital assets, participants will be able to offer valuable insights and strategic solutions. They will emerge from this...
- Identify key characteristics and functions of major cryptocurrencies currently in use.
- Explain the influence of blockchain technology on today’s business environment and accounting practices.
- Assess the organizational impact of blockchain and cryptocurrency, focusing on tax and accounting issues.
- Apply strategies to calculate and track the historical cost and fair market value of cryptocurrency investments.
- Implement tax planning techniques for cryptocurrency transactions to optimize personal tax liabilities.
Day 4 Friday, September 11, 2026 3 sessions
K2's Strategic Automation: Agentic AI Platform Applications
7:00 – 9:00 AM · Stephen Yoss · 2 credits
This course provides a comprehensive examination of Agentic AI models and their application within integration platform as a service (iPaaS) environments. Participants will explore the architectural components and operational methodologies of leading iPaaS tools, understanding their critical role in scalable workflow automation. The program delineates the strategic advantages of embedding AI-driven logic into business processes, offering a forward-looking perspective on operational efficiency and organizational agility for financial professionals. The curriculum emphasizes practical application, demonstrating how to design, develop, and deploy intelligent automation solutions. It addresses the nuanced integration of Agentic AI capabilities into existing and new workflows, focusing on enhancing decision-making and task execution. Through structured content, attendees will gain...
- Describe core functionalities and operational principles of integration platform as a service tools.
- Identify prominent iPaaS solutions, comparing their features for business automation needs.
- Explain the conceptual framework of Agentic AI within automated business workflows.
- Demonstrate integration of Agentic AI logic into various process automation systems.
- Evaluate practical applications where Agentic AI enhances organizational efficiency.
Fraud in Today's Workplace: What Accountants Need to Know
9:30 – 11:30 AM · Stephen Yoss · 2 credits
Every other year, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) publishes A Report to the Nations. This landmark report is the definitive guide to understanding occupational fraud in today's workplace. The ACFE report breaks down fraud by the type of perpetrator, types of crime, categories of victim organizations, and more. The report provides fascinating insight and helpful advice to help professionals understand fraud risks in today's world. This course is an in-depth discussion and analysis of the significant findings of the 2024 edition of this report. Attendees will learn methods to spot fraud risks in their organizations and protect themselves.
Charting, Graphing, and Mapping Data Made Easy!
12:00 – 2:00 PM · Stephen Yoss · 2 credits
In a data-driven world, financial professionals are expected to not only analyze numbers but also translate them into compelling stories that drive decisions. This course is tailored for those who want to elevate their data presentation skills using Excel and other popular tools. Participants will dive into the art of charting, learning how to choose the right graph for their data and audience. Whether it's a pie chart that reveals a budget's composition or a line chart that shows financial trends over time, attendees will leave with a thorough understanding of each chart's purpose and application. Beyond the basics, this course offers a deep dive into the Microsoft Office suite's charting capabilities, ensuring that participants can seamlessly integrate their visuals into Word, PowerPoint, and beyond. With hands-on exercises, they'll transform raw figures into clear, informative...
- Identify and apply the most effective chart types to represent financial data clearly.
- Demonstrate proficiency in utilizing Excel to transform complex datasets into engaging visual stories.
- Compare and contrast the functionalities of Excel with other charting tools to optimize data presentation.
- Demonstrate how to turn raw data into meaningful information with charting and diagraming.
- Execute advanced charting techniques within the Microsoft Office suite to enhance report and presentation quality.
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.
“Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed Steve's knowledge and manner. The course was very helpful and kept me very engaged. Appreciate all the tips and recommendations. Scheduling more classes soon! Eva”
“This session was more relevant to me now after knowing two businesses/firms that was attacked by ransom ware recently. They are still facing fallout. Thank you!”
“Steve has a solid understanding of data security which is great!”
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