KnowledgeNOW Virtual Conference

The current year has been filled with extraordinary events and unprecedented challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic, economic downturn and civil unrest have all created a climate of uncertainty, fear and worry. During this opening session, receive a five-point framework for building resilience and stress-hardiness to help promote physical and mental health and well-being.

Credit: Personal Development — 1

The political landscape is changing faster than ever as the nation addresses the Coronavirus pandemic and presidential and congressional elections approach. Explore the major political topics of 2020 and their impact on various legislative and regulatory issues affecting the profession, both in the United States and around the world.

Credit: Specialized Knowledge — 1

Whether you are working remotely, returning to work or never left, there are still many ongoing concerns for maintaining as safe a workplace as possible. Hear from our panelists and moderator as they share their stories about what the workplace of today now looks like and how it may look in the future. By attending this session, you will learn:

• Leadership lessons
• Strategies and tips on how to re-open and stay safe during a pandemic
• How your location and physical workspace impacts HR-related concerns including retaining or hiring staff, work schedule flexibilities, and keeping up with and adhering to related laws and regulations
• Unanticipated costs related to keeping you and your employees (and clients too) safe
• Guidance and resources from the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry and more

Credit: Personnel/Human Resources — 1.5

Nancy Glynn, CPA, executive director at the Virginia Board of Accountancy (VBOA), will share an update on the profession in the Commonwealth. Get updates from the VBOA as they relate to licensing and Virginia’s response to COVID-19.

Credit: Personal Development — .5

The United States is facing a growing skills gap that threatens the nation’s long-term economic prosperity. The workforce simply does not have enough workers and skilled candidates to fill an ever-increasing number of high-skilled jobs. Business leaders view the skills shortage as a top concern that needs to be addressed. Little has been known about how businesses are addressing the skills gap or whether there are effective remedies; however, research shows that employers are making efforts.

Discuss how organizations are investing in employee training, hiring from more diverse pools of talent, and collaborating with educational institutions. Walk away with a better understanding of the needs of your organization and a strategy for an effective remedy.

Credit: Personnel/Human Resources — 1

Get up-to-speed on the latest in taxation to prepare for the upcoming tax season.

Credit: Taxation — 1

There are virtually unlimited options available when it comes to investing in technology tools to power your organization. The key is identifying the tools that will bring you the best return on investment (ROI). This session features a round-robin review of technology tools that you should put high on your shopping list.

Credit: Computer Software & Applications — 1

If your organization buys things, you are at risk of being victim to a wide variety of bribery and corruption schemes. If your organization sells good or services, you might be engaged in such schemes and not realize it. During this session:

• Get an understanding of what these fraud schemes are
• Examine three recent case studies
• Learn the red flags associated with these schemes
• Identify key safeguards to have in place to prevent such schemes

Credit: Business Management & Organization — 1

Excel is one of the most popular reporting tools, mainly because of its ease of use. Unfortunately, many Excel users only use a fraction of its capabilities. Discuss several tools available within Excel to perform advanced reporting. Also discuss the importance of data and how these tools can help you gather and report on this data.

Credit: Computer Software & Applications — 1

Satisfy your 2020 Virginia Board of Accountancy (VBOA) Ethics requirement with this 2-hour, Virginia-specific Ethics course.

Credit: Regulatory Ethics — 2

Many accountants believe data analytics is left to large organizations, but today's tools make it possible for even small organizations to perform advanced data analytics. Learn 10 things a small organization can do with data analytics by looking at real, practical uses and case studies of what is possible with tools that are readily available to you.

Credit: Information Technology — 2

Global trends and disruptions including COVID-19 are changing the CPA profession in profound ways, and the VSCPA is developing strategies to ensure the profession remains strong and relevant in the future. In this session, gain insight into how CPAs will thrive by embracing and adapting to change.

Credit: Personal Development — .5

What strategies should investors be considering this year? Discuss trends and obtain information that is timely and beneficial for investors to consider.

Credit: Economics — 1

Since the passing of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act on March 27, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has seen significant modifications. Discuss recent changes to PPP loans, the current landscape and best practices for the loan forgiveness process as well as tax considerations of PPP loans.

Credit: Taxation — 1

Examine how personal thoughts and limiting beliefs can interfere with negotiation success. We'll identify the five crucial negotiation skills that are necessary for negotiation success. Finally, discover how to tap into the point of view of the other side of the bargaining table to determine your core negotiation strategy.

Credit: Personal Development — 1

It’s not as if there weren’t enough financial and operational concerns that CFOs worried about prior to COVID-19, such as staffing, big data, technology, transitioning leadership and more. Factor in the pandemic and it would be no surprise how flexible and responsive a CFO has needed to be since March — maybe the hero that kept the money coming in! Hear from three experienced CFOs on how they’ve navigated through the storm and planned for what’s on the horizon.

Credit: Business Management & Organization — 1.5

Everyone wants to be “data driven” in today’s business world. The promise that an organization’s data assets can be leveraged for better business outcomes is almost conventional wisdom. But how to deliver on this promise? Step one is a solid data governance program that will allow your organization to leverage data assets within a compliance framework required by an increasingly complex legal and regulatory environment. 

Credit: Information Technology — 1

Many nonprofit organizations are able to take advantage of the recently-authorized one-year deferral on the adoption of ASC 606 so that they will be implementing the new revenue recognition rules for their years beginning after Dec. 15, 2019. However, many nonprofit organizations had already adopted ASC 606 by the time the deferral was announced. Learn about the revenue recognition rules of ASC 606 as it applies to typical revenue streams (exchange transactions) of nonprofit organizations. Focus on lessons learned from those that adopted the new standard during the past year. Whether your organization has already adopted it or will be in the coming year, the session should convey best practices for everyone’s benefit.

Credit: Accounting — 1

Even small organizations can create and execute meaningful strategic plans. Creating a well-defined strategy is hard work and not for everyone, as it requires us to begin to say "no" to stuff we usually say "yes" to. Learn how how best to go about creating a strategy for your organization.

Credit: Business Management & Organization — 1

Learn about cyber risks to your organization, including:

• Social engineering
• Breach notification statues
• More statutes with proscribed damages means more cyber claims/litigation
• More regulations equal greater risk to small- and middle-market organizations who think they’re “too small” to be a target of hacking or subject to government compliance
• Increased regulations create significant compliance obligations for companies that collect, use or store personal data thus increasing risk of non-compliance

Credit: Business Management & Organization — 1

Explore the multiple ways that unconscious bias can significantly impact your recruiting and selection efforts. Through examining different types of biases, develop self-awareness of your own behavior and how to minimize the effect of bias. Gain an understanding of they ways in which bias can impede diversity and inclusion efforts. Finally, examine hiring trends in the accounting industry as a way to identify the impact of bias.

Credit: Business Management & Organization — 1

Over the past two days, you’ve heard and learned about new concepts, new ideas and new ways to do your business. What’s next? How will you apply what you’ve learned? Close with a clear intention to make the most of your learning from the KnowledgeNOW Conference.

Credit: Personal Development — 1