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The Application of Data Analysis Essentials Certificate (14.0 CPE Credits) offers hands-on experience regarding how to analyze data and calculate fundamental aspects of your data sets. This certificate program provides the core concepts and definitions of data analytics, which explain the anatomy of data as a medium, and provides fundamental statistical analysis techniques for beginning to glean useful information from data.This certificate is Part 2 of the Data Analyst Certificates Bundle - a comprehensive five-part program that provides training and practical guidance on the topic of data analytics.First, you will learn the different types of variables that make up a data set and perform meaningful calculations on data to discover and explore relationships that yield insights: central tendency, variability, probability, and distribution. Then we will delve into recognizing these qualities in their different forms and how to utilize them in practical business situations. This program offers straightforward exercises to help you practice and immediately apply what you've learned. You will also get exposure to and practice with useful concepts such as quartiles, variance, and standard deviation.Finally, you will be introduced to one of the most powerful tools available for analyzing data: the open-source "R" platform. You will be guided through an actual use case for analyzing data using R and complete your learning by seeing how the statistical concepts you've just learned can be applied in a real-world example. By completing this certificate, you will have a solid grasp of core statistical techniques underpinning an analytics practice and hands-on-practice using them.Note: It is recommended that you complete the Data Analysis Fundamentals Certificate, or ensure you have equivalent knowledge and skills, before starting this certificate course.Learning Labs*This is an interactive learning program that includes bonus hands-on learning labs that will expose you to the tools needed to implement an analytics practice in a practical way and equip you to deploy those tools as needed within your organization. You will practice using various technologies for preparing, analyzing and managing datasets in the real world.*Time spent on learning labs does not award CPE and completing learning labs is not a requirement for earning the certificate.WHO WILL BENEFIT Accounting and finance professionals, especially those interested in learning and applying data analysis techniques to help their organizations make informed, data-driven business decisions.KEY TOPICS The nature and types of different variables in data sets and how to use themFundamental statistical concepts for working with dataCharacteristics of data that can be used for conducting analysisBasic calculations for analyzing and discovering useful insights from data setsHow to understand and calculate probability from a data setDifferent types of distribution and how they can be usedGuided exposure to the open-source R platform and its analytics capabilitiesA practical case study exploring how statistical analysis can be used in a common fraud-detection scenarioExamples and practice exercises throughout the program to reinforce what you learnLEARNING OBJECTIVES Determine and classify variables.Calculate meaningful statistics, including central tendency, measurement and variability, basic probability, conditional probability, advanced probabilities, discrete distributions, and continuous distributions.Analyze statistics and distributions in R case study.Analyze fraud-detection case study.Digital Badge: Your Professional DistinctionSet yourself apart as a future-ready financial professional. Upon completion, you will be awarded with a certificate in the form of a digital badge. Digital badges allow you to distinguish yourself in the marketplace and show your commitment to quality. The badge can be posted to your social media profiles and linked to your resume or email signature, providing maximum visibility to your achievement.Credit Info CPE CREDITS: Online: 14.0 (CPE credit info)NASBA FIELD OF STUDY: StatisticsLEVEL: IntermediatePREREQUISITES:  Recommended: Complete the Data Analysis Fundamentals Certificate or ensure you have equivalent knowledge and skills.ADVANCE PREPARATION: NoneDELIVERY METHOD: QAS Self-StudyCOURSE ACRONYM: DALP-S2 Online Access InstructionsA personal pin code is enclosed in the physical packaging that may be activated online upon receipt. Once activated, you will gain immediate online access to the product for one full year.System RequirementsAICPA’s online CPE courses will operate in a variety of configurations, but only the configuration described below is supported by AICPA technicians.A stable and continuous internet connection is required. In order to record your completion of the online learning courses, please ensure you are connected to the internet at all times while taking the course. It is your responsibility to validate that CPE certificate(s) are available within your account after successfully completing the course and/or exam.Supported Operating Systems: Macintosh OS X 10.10 to presentWindows 7 to presentSupported Browsers: Apple SafariGoogle ChromeMicrosoft Internet ExplorerMozilla FirefoxRequired Browser Plug-ins: Adobe FlashAdobe Acrobat ReaderTechnical Support: Please contact service@aicpa.org.

The Data Analytics Modeling Certificate (14.0 CPE Credits) will expand your ability to work with structured and unstructured data to drive a successful analytics practice.To start, you will learn to define clear business outcomes for your analytics practice to ensure your efforts align with your organization's strategic direction and create value. Next, you will learn data profiling and data cleansing techniques to maintain data quality throughout the data life cycle. You'll practice ETL (extract, transform, load) techniques and work with different data models and analytics tools. Finally, you will learn how to institute sophisticated tools for managing an ongoing enterprise data practice, including tools for data warehousing, managing the data life cycle, and working with structured and unstructured data.This certificate is Part 3 of the Data Analyst Certificates Bundle – a comprehensive five-part program that provides training and practical guidance on the topic of data analytics.Note: It is recommended that you complete the Application of Data Analysis Essentials Certificate, or ensure you have equivalent knowledge and skills, before starting this certificate course.Learning Labs*This is an interactive learning program that includes bonus hands-on learning labs that will expose you to the tools needed to implement an analytics practice in a practical way and equip you to deploy those tools as needed within your organization. You will practice using various technologies for preparing, analyzing and managing datasets in the real world.*Time spent on learning labs does not award CPE and completing learning labs is not a requirement for earning the certificate.WHO WILL BENEFIT Accounting and finance professionals, especially those interested in learning and applying data analysis techniques to help their organizations make informed, data-driven business decisions.KEY TOPICS Defining value and tying analytics to value-driven business casesUnderstanding the characteristics of data and how they can be leveraged to gather insights from informationIdentifying project constructs for data analyticsIdentifying different types of data with which analysts will be expected to interactProfiling data for accurate analysis initiativesUnderstanding tool capabilities for working with dataCleansing data with appropriate tools to increases analytics accuracyManaging data quality and integrityExtracting, transforming, and loading dataImplementing a data warehouseManaging the data life cycleCreating and using different types of data modelsTools for working with both structured and unstructured dataLEARNING OBJECTIVES Identify opportunities, processes, and necessary data for solving analytical problems.Apply data profiling and data cleansing techniques to available data.Use data preparation and enrichment tools.Use ETL (extract, transform, load) tools.Compare data warehousing techniques.Use data warehousing and data management tools.Align the outcomes of your data analytics practice with your organization's strategic direction and create value.Digital Badge: Your Professional DistinctionSet yourself apart as a future-ready financial professional. Upon completion, you will be awarded with a certificate in the form of a digital badge. Digital badges allow you to distinguish yourself in the marketplace and show your commitment to quality. The badge can be posted to your social media profiles and linked to your resume or email signature, providing maximum visibility to your achievement.Credit Info CPE CREDITS: Online: 14.0 (CPE credit info)NASBA FIELD OF STUDY: Information TechnologyLEVEL: IntermediatePREREQUISITES:  Recommended: Complete the Application of Data Analysis Essentials Certificate or ensure you have equivalent knowledge and skills.ADVANCE PREPARATION: NoneDELIVERY METHOD: QAS Self-StudyCOURSE ACRONYM: DALP-S3Online Access InstructionsA personal pin code is enclosed in the physical packaging that may be activated online upon receipt. Once activated, you will gain immediate online access to the product for one full year.System RequirementsAICPA’s online CPE courses will operate in a variety of configurations, but only the configuration described below is supported by AICPA technicians.A stable and continuous internet connection is required. In order to record your completion of the online learning courses, please ensure you are connected to the internet at all times while taking the course. It is your responsibility to validate that CPE certificate(s) are available within your account after successfully completing the course and/or exam.Supported Operating Systems: Macintosh OS X 10.10 to presentWindows 7 to presentSupported Browsers: Apple SafariGoogle ChromeMicrosoft Internet ExplorerMozilla FirefoxRequired Browser Plug-ins: Adobe FlashAdobe Acrobat ReaderTechnical Support: Please contact service@aicpa.org.

This Alert will help you create a smooth transition into performing your engagements under the new SSARS 21 standard. The new standard will have a major impact in this core area of practice, and this Alert was created to help CPAs meet the challenge of remaining compliant through the transition. You′ll find targeted discussion of new developments, strategies to help you identify sources of risk, and best practices to help you prepare for issues you may face in your current and future engagements. Key Benefits: Recently Issued SSARS No. 21, Statements on Standards For Accounting and Review Services: Clarification and RecodificationRevisions to Interpretation No. 101–3, "Nonattest Services"Proposed SSARS, Compilation of Prospective and Pro forma Financial Information Who Will Benefit:Firms performing engagements in accordance with Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services.

As a result of its Attestation Clarity Project, the Auditing Standards Board (ASB) has issued Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 130, An Audit of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting That Is Integrated With an Audit of Financial Statements (AICPA, Professional Standards, AU–C sec. 940). The ASB concluded that, because engagements performed under AT section 501, An Examination of an Entity’s Internal Control Over Financial Reporting That Is Integrated With an Audit of Its Financial Statements (AICPA, Professional Standards), as well as related attestation interpretation No. 1, "Reporting Under Section 112 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act" (AICPA, Professional Standards, AT sec. 9501), are required to be integrated with an audit of financial statements, it is appropriate to move the content of AT section 501 from the attestation standards into generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS). AT section 501 and the related attestation interpretation will be withdrawn when SAS No. 130 becomes effective. The ASB will consider developing, at a later date, an attestation standard addressing examinations of internal control other than internal control over financial reporting that is integrated with an audit of financial statements. When drafting SAS No. 130, the intention of the ASB was to adhere as closely as possible to AT section 501 and PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 5, An Audit of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting That Is Integrated With an Audit of Financial Statements (AICPA, PCAOB Standards and Related Rules, Auditing Standards), while aligning with GAAS and avoiding unintended consequences in practice. SAS No. 130 also amends various sections in SAS No. 122, Statements on Auditing Standards: Clarification and Recodification, in order to integrate the SAS into GAAS. SAS No. 130 includes the following changes: The auditor will be required to examine and report directly on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. There is no longer an option to examine and report on management’s assertion about the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.The term significant account or disclosure used in AT section 501 has been changed to significant class of transactions, account balance, or disclosure to align with terminology used in existing GAAS and clarify that the risk factors the auditor is required to evaluate in the identification of significant classes of transactions, account balances, and disclosures and their relevant assertions are the same in the audit of internal control over financial reporting as in the audit of the financial statements.The SAS allows, as does AT section 501, the auditor to use the work of internal auditors and others in obtaining evidence about the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Although AU–C section 610, Using the Work of Internal Auditors (AICPA, Professional Standards), does not discuss "others," the SAS requires the auditor planning to use the work of others in the audit of internal control over financial reporting to adapt and apply, as necessary, the requirements of AU–C section 610, including the need for others to apply a systematic and disciplined approach. SAS No. 130 is effective for integrated audits for periods ending on or after December 15, 2016.

This practice aid is intended to provide accounting and auditing professionals with guidelines and best practices to promote consistency and for resolving the difficult questions of special purpose framework application, specifically for the financial statements of state and local governments. Although this practice aid is the best source for such guidance, it is nonauthoritative and should not be used as a substitute for the preparer′s professional judgment. This publication is not intended for use by governments that are required by law, regulation, contract, or policy to prepare financial statements in accordance with GAAP. Key Benefits Include: Clarified and additional guidance and practice points related to the treatment of defined benefit pension plan and OPEB benefit costsAdditional practice points on accounting and reporting issues related to the timing of payroll payments and the impact of the use of special purpose frameworks on single audit low risk auditee statusRefinements to illustrative auditor reports and an added illustrative auditor report dealing with financial statements presented using both GAAP and special purpose frameworks Who Will Benefit: Auditors for state and local governmentsFinancial statement preparers for state and local governments

This 2016 edition includes the authoritative standards and interpretations applicable to preparation, compilation, and review engagements. These standards provide the requirements for practitioners performing these engagements. Since the highly anticipated release of SSARS No. 21, Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services: Clarification and Recodification, practitioners have been preparing for the most significant revisions to the nonaudit literature in over 35 years. SSARS No. 21 completely superseded all prior standards except for those pertaining to the compilation of pro forma financial information. The more significant changes attributed to SSARS No. 21 include: Introduction of a new type of engagement for practitioners to prepare financial statements in accordance with SSARSsRevisions to the applicability of the compilation engagement, moving away from being submission driven to engagement driven This codification delivers SSARS No. 21 in the traditional codified format, complete with the following sections: AR–C Section 60, General Principles for Engagements Performed in Accordance With Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review ServicesAR–C Section 70, Preparation of Financial StatementsAR–C Section 80, Compilation EngagementsAR–C Section 90, Review of Financial Statements New since the previous edition is Interpretation No. 1, "Considerations Related to Reviews Performed in Accordance With International Standard on Review Engagements (ISRE) 2400 (Revised), Engagements to Review Historical Financial Statements," of AR–C section 90, Review of Financial Statements. You′ll find that this codification is fully indexed and arranged by subject. The guidance (and related interpretations to the extent applicable) help you apply the standards in specific circumstances and clearly show amendments, deleted or superseded portions, and conforming changes due to the issuance of other authoritative guidance. Who Will Benefit: Accountants performing preparation, compilation, or review engagements in accordance with SSARS

You′ll find targeted discussion of emerging practice issues, plus current economic, accounting and auditing developments. Key Benefits: Among other topics, this Alert focuses on risks related to recent NFP trends, going concern, revenue recognition, and fair value issues. Also included is a discussion of recent and planned IRS activity with regard to NFPs. This alert also includes information on emerging issues such as: Measuring the effectiveness of nonprofitsAlternative investment considerationsGoing concernIRS exempt organizations activitiesFASB not–for–profit standard–setting activityUPMIFA policies Updates FASB ASU No. 2014–09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)FASB ASU No. 2014–15, Presentation of Financial Statements–Going Concern (Subtopic 205–40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity′s Ability to Continue as a Going ConcernFASB ASU No. 2014–08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an EntityFASB ASU No. 2015–03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance CostsFASB ASU No. 2015–07, Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent)FASB ASU No. 2016–01, Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825–10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Who Will Benefit: Audit and accounting firms with nonprofit engagementsFinancial managers at nonprofit organizations

The increasing complexity of employee benefit plan auditing and increased focus by the DOL have resulted in significant pressure for CPAs and firms performing EBP audits. To help CPAs meet the challenge of performing quality audits in this unique and complex area, the AICPA has developed this Alert to assist you in identifying current sources of risk within EBP audit engagements. You′ll find targeted discussion on new developments, issues auditors may face in their current audits, and a look at what′s in the pipeline that may affect your engagements. Key Benefits Coverage of emerging practice issues, including simplification of plan accounting, disclosures for investments in certain entities that calculate NAV per share (or its equivalent), plan expenses, and repurchase agreementsAn in depth look at limited–scope certifications as well as plan transfersAnalysis of high risk areas specific to defined benefit pension plans, such as pension benefit guaranty corporation premiums and reporting, demographic and economic assumptions, and pension risk managementCurrent developments on health and welfare plans, including health care reform and its effect on employee benefit plansUp–to–date information on regulatory development from both the DOL and IRS Updates FASB ASU No. 2015–07, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent)FASB ASU No. 2015–10, Technical Corrections and ImprovementsFASB ASU No. 2015–12, Plan Accounting: Defined Benefit Pension Plans (Topic 960), Defined Contribution Pension Plans (Topic 962), Health and Welfare Benefit Plans (Topic 965): (part I) Fully Benefit–Responsive Investment Contracts, (part II) Plan Investment Disclosures, (part III) Measurement Date Practical Expedient Who Will Benefit? Smaller, regional, and large accounting firms need this alert to understand the key risks for the current year′s audit and the many aspects of the:Specialized auditing and accounting for defined benefit pension plans, defined contribution retirement plans including employee stock ownership plans, and health and welfare benefit plansRegulatory requirements (DOL rules and regulations)