Convention Session Descriptions

Highlighting the latest AICPA standards, regulatory developments, and emerging issues impacting accounting and finance professionals. Stay informed on key changes and best practices to support compliance and professional excellence.

Overview of national and regional economic trends, including economic activity, prices, and the labor market.

For more than 25 years, Dan Meers has entertained millions as KC Wolf, the beloved mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs. While the costume may be his occupation, encouraging others to live meaningful and purpose driven lives is his true passion. In this uplifting and entertaining presentation, Dan shares lessons learned throughout his unique career about authenticity, relationships, and making the most of every moment. With humor, heart, and practical insight, Dan reminds audiences that life is like a coin. You can spend it however you choose, but you only get to spend it once.

Corey’s most popular keynote on ethics encourages audiences to chase the truly important things in life, such as a solid character, strong personal relationships, and a sense of contentment. These “real rabbits” are compared and contrasted to more fleeting worldly successes such as excessive wealth, popularity, and prestige. Audience members leave with a better sense of what it takes to develop integrity, set priorities, gain a big-picture perspective, and chase an authentic life. By the end, Corey promises that this will be one of the most powerful and motivational speeches you have ever heard.

We must only look up to behold yet another pitch for leadership training. Yet, we rarely witness effective leaders plying their craft. Why? These trainings tend to focus on buzzwords and abstract theories but ignore the core aspect of leadership – values and character. A low character person can obtain a PhD in Management yet struggle to lead effectively. Few people want to be led by someone who talks eloquently about “strategic resource positioning” but who lacks courage, compassion, fairness, honesty, and loyalty. We need more “good” leaders!

Contrary to popular wisdom, Corey believes values and character can be taught. For instance, where did you learn to lie or cheat? On the more virtuous end, where did you learn to be kind and thoughtful? From the influential people

It begins with a critical question: Do you have the values and character to make you the type of leader that you would follow? If you would resist being led by someone like yourself, then others will surely opt out. We will examine five character traits of an effective leader.

We come to find out that no one is born a leader. This means that you and your people can learn to lead more effectively, without any buzzwords or theories! All it takes is the drive to become a more virtuous person. Ethical people become the best leaders.

Governmental accounting standards continue to evolve, requiring auditors and state and local government finance professionals to stay current on newly issued GASB guidance, implementation challenges, and emerging standard-setting activity. This session provides an overview of recently issued GASB standards, including GASB Statements No. 103, Financial Reporting Model Improvements; No. 104, Disclosures of Certain Capital Assets; and No. 105, Subsequent Events, with a focus on the objectives, key provisions, and practical implementation considerations for each.

There will also be an update on the GASB’s current technical agenda, including active projects and pre-agenda research topics that may shape governmental GAAP in the coming years. In addition, this session will highlight leading practices for implementation planning and for communicating the impact of new standards to financial statement preparers, auditors, and those charged with governance.

Designed for auditors and finance leaders serving state and local governments, this course emphasizes practical insight into current and emerging GASB developments to support effective implementation and informed financial reporting oversight.

When clients ask questions about the impact of new tax legislation embodied in OBBBA, it is important that accounting and finance practitioners can reply with accurate and relevant planning strategies. This session prepares accounting and finance practitioners with the knowledge and insights to help their clients apply the new law to their advantage. This session is an introduction and review of some of these critical changes and their impact on individual and business taxpayers. By taking this session, accounting and finance practitioners will have a broader, deeper understanding of many of the OBBBA changes that impact their clients.

Single audits remain a complex and high-risk area for both auditors and government finance professionals due to evolving federal requirements, technical compliance expectations, and continued scrutiny over reporting quality and internal control. This course provides an in-depth review of advanced single audit topics including the changes to the AICPA’s Government Auditing Standards and Single Audits - Audit Guide and OMB’s Proposed Revision to the Uniform Guidance and the common pitfalls that can affect audit quality, compliance, and reporting outcomes.

Designed for auditors and finance leaders working with state and local governments, the session examines key risk areas such as major program determination, internal control over compliance, SEFA reporting, pass-through funding complexities, compliance testing, and findings development. Participants will also explore recurring issues that lead to deficiencies, questioned costs, delayed reporting, or increased oversight attention.

Emphasis is placed on improving judgment, strengthening documentation and coordination, and identifying practical steps to enhance audit readiness, execution, and reporting.

This session highlights both tax compliance and tax consulting challenges and opportunities for pass-through businesses including partnerships and S corporations.

Topics include:

• Pass-through entity structures and how they differ from other entity structures
• Common tax compliance challenges: compensation issues, basis tracking, allocation rules, and recent legislative developments
• Key similarities and differences between partnerships and S corporations, including basis, compensation, and allocation treatment
• Tax practice and planning strategies relevant to §199A QBI, §754 elections, pass-through entity tax (PTET) elections, and tiered entity structures

State and local government finance leaders are under increasing pressure to deliver timely reporting, stronger forecasting, improved stewardship, and greater transparency while operating within constrained budgets, limited staffing, and legacy systems. Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are emerging as practical tools to help meet these demands by reducing manual effort, improving accuracy, and providing earlier insight into financial risks and trends.

This session examines how AI and automation are being applied across government finance operations, including reconciliations, revenue forecasting, anomaly detection, grant compliance, and financial close processes. It also addresses the governance, and oversight issues these technologies introduce, including internal control implications, accountability, auditability, cybersecurity, data governance, vendor risk, and workforce transformation.

Designed for auditors and finance leaders in state and local government, this session emphasizes responsible, phased adoption strategies that strengthen decision-making while preserving transparency, explainability, and public trust.

This session provides CPAs with a practical guide to the federal income tax treatment of partnership distributions under Subchapter K. It explains the tax consequences of both current and liquidating distributions, including basis adjustments, gain and loss recognition, and the treatment of retiring partners, using detailed examples to illustrate complex concepts. The course also covers key reporting considerations and the preparation of IRS Form 7217, equipping practitioners to accurately report partnership distributions and advise clients on common planning issues.

This session cuts through the noise to focus on how organizations can use AI as a true workforce multiplier. Rather than replacing people, AI can enhance human capabilities, streamline operations, and unlock new opportunities for growth and innovation. Attendees will gain a grounded understanding of where AI delivers real value and how to apply it responsibly and effectively across teams.