Session Descriptions

This is a very current assessment of the US economy at the time of the presentation and a forward-looking analysis of trends to watch.

In our increasingly deregulated capital funding environment, sources of private capital are continuing to provide new alternatives to traditional debt and equity markets. Join us and investigate concrete examples of the new accounting methods, metrics, and frameworks that have been introduced by private investors to evaluate and fund entrepreneurial initiatives.

Fraud in the workplace is not new however statistics show that the number of instances of internally actuated fraud schemes is increasing. Additionally, because of all the changes occurring in the workplace, fraud risk is at an all-time high. This session reviews the reasons that fraud occurs and ways to detect internal fraud. It closes with a summary look at control measures that can help to reduce fraud risk.

This session is taught via the use of case studies adapted from real world examples. These studies are designed to show participants some of the negative effects of the rampant fraud taking place in the business world today.

Learning Objectives: 

• Recognize reasons for fraud and the types of control measures that work best to mitigate fraud risk, and
• Identify specific internal control measures that can help to reduce fraud activities. 

Welcome to the Wild West of Leadership! Just like a seasoned cowboy knows when to rope in a stray steer or mend a fence, a great leader knows when to have a tough conversation. In this workshop, we'll saddle up and ride through the challenges of leading with confidence. We'll learn how to navigate difficult team dynamics, deliver constructive feedback, and resolve conflicts with grace. By the end of this session, you'll be equipped with the tools and techniques to face any challenge head-on, just like a true leader.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to deliver constructive feedback with influence and care
• Develop strategies for navigating tough conversations with confidence and empathy
• Learn how to mediate disputes and find common ground
• Build trust and respect through effective communication

Learn how the private collection and public reporting of management accounting data continues to evolve as the sustainability accounting sector morphs into its new "resilience accounting" format. We'll review the publicly available data of several business organizations to understand the current status and future trends of the field.

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the integration of AI solutions presents both unparalleled opportunities and significant risks. As CPAs, understanding the intricacies of security, data governance, and fraud detection is crucial to safeguarding sensitive information and maintaining trust with clients. This session will equip you with the knowledge and tools to navigate these challenges effectively.

Learning Objectives:

• Risk Identification: How to pinpoint potential vulnerabilities in AI implementations.
• Data Protection Strategies: Best practices for securing internal and customer data against breaches and unauthorized access.
• Governance Frameworks: Essential frameworks to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and ethical guidelines.
• Fraud Detection Techniques: Advanced AI-driven methods to detect and prevent fraudulent activities.

Join us to enhance your expertise, protect your organization, and deliver exceptional value to your clients in the age of AI.

Everything is changing. Many believed that all the shifts and moves related to technology for business would slow. However, the initiation of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), has caused the rate of technological change to increase. In this session we discuss what is on the horizon, and the predicted timelines for various new technologies to be adopted. The material speaks to the need to harness benefit from the latest tech, so it serves the organization in the best ways possible. 

 Learning Objectives: 

• Recall recent technology adoptions as well as those that are going to affect business in the near future, and
• Identify controls necessary to reign in the change and help an organization use tech tools securely and efficiently. 

Recognizing opportunities and identifying blind spots are invaluable skills in today’s workplaces. Yet, insights often fall outside our designated roles. So, how can you make a tangible impact when this is the case? The answer lies in leading with influence.

This workshop delves into a proactive approach to expand your influence and foster collaboration across organizational boundaries. Transition from being perceived merely as an order-taker or a doer to being recognized as a key influencer.

Learning Objectives:

• Cultivate a personal brand that commands respect and earns you a seat at the table
• Transition from focusing solely on immediate tasks to developing strategic alliances that drive organizational success
• Employ effective strategies to inspire others to embrace change and consider new approaches

In addition to utilizing financial modeling practices to quantify the cash flow implications of extreme uncertainty, accountants must employ business valuation models to assess the impact of such conditions on the long term "worth" of organizations. We'll discuss methods for modifying business valuation calculations and frameworks when cash flow discounting and comparative model practices fail to capture the volatility of contemporary markets.

This powerful program focuses on the leadership strategies that are the foundation of the most successful organizations worldwide.  You will discover the best practices utilized by leaders that build a high-performance culture. You will walk away with ideas that can be immediately implemented and are designed to help all leaders drive a successful ideology throughout the organization, all delivered in Dave’s “laugh and learn” style.  Some long used, but largely ineffective practices will be revealed as well.  The content is from Dave’s book, Peak Performance Culture: The Five Metrics of Peak Performance Culture, released in September 2020 and represents data collected from over 1000 organizations over the last 25 years.

Many people that use Microsoft® Excel® know a great deal about the functionality of the application. There are, however, a tremendous number of hidden tools that a high percentage of users overlook. Additionally, there are newer features that some have not had the opportunity to explore. This session shows some of the numerous time-saving tools and features that often go unused by spreadsheet creators. People that wish to become more efficient when using Excel® should take this session! 

This session is taught using a Hands-On methodology. We provide practice files that tie to the examples in the course materials so participants can undertake all the steps in unison with the instructor for a greatly improved learning experience.

Learning Objectives: 

• Recall and use powerful but often hidden tools available in Excel®
• Recall some of the new features built into the spreadsheet application, and 
• Identify ways to work in a more efficient manner because of keyboard and ribbon-based tools. 

As the new service-based economy continues to emerge from the traditional product-based economy, financial and taxation accounting systems continue to evolve from Supply Chain frameworks into Value Chain frameworks. Learn how accounting systems are reflecting these trends as they expand from lists of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and increasingly incorporate Key Risk Indicators (KRIs).

This powerful program focuses on the personal characteristics that are the foundation of successful and content individuals.  You will discover the behaviors embodied by leaders and high performers that instill a desire to perform at a high level while avoiding environmental stress and burnout.  Notable in the content is that these are behaviors, processes and approaches that are easy to replicate, not nebulous values that can be subjective and hard to manifest.  They are designed to help all individuals achieve their highest performance potential while being resilient. The content is from Dave’s books, Live and Learn or Die Stupid! and Peak Performance Culture: The Five Metrics of Peak Performance Culture, released in September 2020 and represents data collected from over 1000 organizations over the last 25 years. 

This session is designed as a primer to introduce artificial intelligence (AI) in general and to discuss how it will impact accountants as they work. The material will explain what AI is and then look at ways that it is already serving those in the accounting realm. It will close with a look at future AI-centric developments that will have great potential to positively impact the accounting profession.  

Learning Objectives: 

• Identify basic constructs of AI
• Distinguish between discriminative and generative artificial intelligence, and  
• Explain ways AI will improve efforts to properly account for an organization. 

“The Power of Understanding People "provides the tools to understand you own unique communication and leadership style. Discover the cornerstone of high performance and tips for enhancing communication, teamwork, employee engagement, customer service excellence, and influence. In December 2013, the book of the same name was released and was immediately named Best Business Book of the Month by Amazon.

While ethics training is required by many states, the true value of the CPA license is in understanding how critically important ethical behavior is to one another, our customers, our firms, and the public. This course will explore the basic tenants of ethical behavior and use case studies to explore ethical dilemmas in various companies and organizations with a focus on dilemmas that may face CPAs in industry.

The course will examine, using real disciplinary cases, what went wrong with the behavior of others in our profession. We will provide our standard of conduct and then apply those standards to the real world.

Interpreting the financials of a business can be notoriously challenging. But it doesn't need to be. Understanding the core pillars of finance and the elements that drive them are key to influencing financial performance. In this session, you'll reduce the intimidation factor and increase your confidence. You'll leverage the numbers to proactively plan ahead, instead of relying on them to tell you what's already happened. And you'll demystify business financials in ways that paint a fuller picture and empowering your decision-making.

In the fast-paced world of accounting, efficiency and accuracy are paramount. Microsoft Copilot is revolutionizing the way CPA firms operate by seamlessly integrating AI into daily workflows. This session will demonstrate how leveraging Microsoft Copilot can transform your firm's productivity, allowing you to focus on delivering exceptional value to your clients.

Dive into the world of Microsoft Copilot in an immersive Demo to showcase how you can increase productivity in your daily tasks through:

• Automated Task Management: Discover how Copilot can automate routine tasks, freeing up valuable time for more strategic activities.
• Enhanced Data Analysis: Explore AI-driven insights that enable quicker, more accurate financial analysis and reporting.
• Streamlined Collaboration: See how Copilot facilitates better communication and collaboration within your team, ensuring everyone is aligned and informed.
• Improved Client Service: Learn how to use Copilot to provide faster, more personalized service to your clients, enhancing their satisfaction and loyalty.

Join us to unlock the full potential of Microsoft Copilot and take your firm's productivity to new heights.

The collapse of FTX followed by SVB and Signature Banks have renewed concerns with financial executives and the board of how to navigate the coming banking crisis and survive. The course explores the challenges of the current monetary trends, the Federal Reserve, FDIC, insurance reserves, risks and analyzes their impact on you as the financial executive in areas of credit markets and banking; risk management; cash flow planning strategies; debt and equity mix impacts in uncertain markets; globalization of the financial market in times of uncertainty. Specific recommendations and insights will be offered to you to deal with the challenges.

Learning Objectives:

• • Taking a strategic perspective relative to risk management and crisis management in an uncertain banking environment
  • Review the impact uncertainty and risk at the operational level relative to short and intermediate term decision making.
  • Determine the safety and soundness of the financial plans for your organization in an uncertain economic climate specifically as it relates to capital adequacy and strategic direction.
  • Evaluating the safety of your bank or financial institution; capital ratios; banking interrelationships.
  • Analyze the impact of the credit markets on your banking relationships and financial needs of the organization and the organizations ability to raise capital.
  • The economic way ahead for the CFO/Controller in 2023 and beyond.

The mad scramble to remote work and utilize apps like Teams has been trying for most organizations. With a rush to install and no time to plan, most team members did their best, prioritizing remote meetings as the primary concern. Therefore, as a result, Teams is vastly misunderstood and underutilized in most organizations. Join us in this session to go beyond Teams' remote meetings aspect and learn how to optimize efficiency, communication, and workflow with Teams.

Learning Objectives:

•    List steps for creating effective Teams and Channel structures
•    Identify how to establish file management columns for more information within Teams
•    Specify examples of how to work with Microsoft Planner within Teams
•    Identify how Lists work and why they can be better than spreadsheets
•    Identify options for incorporating Power Automate into Teams
•    Cite examples of how to use Microsoft Forms within Teams

Hear about the latest happening in the CPA Profession. The discussion includes a summary of bills the Society followed in the North Dakota legislature this session. Changes to licensing and other items of interest to CPAs in business and industry will be covered.

For the financial executive, coming to grips with the challenges of business and profitability have never been greater. However, traditional financial statements provide only minimal guidance to the investment, financial and accounting professionals to assist in understanding operations and risks.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the principles of Activity Based Costing
• Identify cost drivers in the business model
• Recognize the link between activity based costing and lean operations
• Select appropriate measures of effectiveness for cost drivers and risk mitigation programs

Staying up to date with advances in today's technology has never been more vital, and K2's Tech Update equips you with the knowledge to stay ahead of the rapid pace of innovation. This comprehensive session is designed for accountants who want to understand the evolving technological landscape and its implications for the accounting profession. Which technology trends are worth monitoring? What are the proper hardware and software products for your strategic and tactical plans? How do Artificial Intelligence, quantum computing, Software-as-a-Service, and productivity suites like Microsoft 365 influence practice, especially since this year marks the 40th anniversary of the release of Excel? Separate vendor hype from reality and discover how to achieve a 2X or more return on investment from your technology expenditures. Attendees will leave with actionable insights, including ideas they may not have previously considered.

Learning Objectives:

•    Trends in AI and machine learning
•    Applications of quantum computing in accounting and finance
•    The growing role of blockchain and digital currencies in accounting
•    Innovations in software and hardware

Most financial statements don't tell the full story. They only show the results of the past. But what if you could thoroughly understand what's happening in your business, foresee the future, and position for greater growth, profitability, and cash flow? This isn't wishful thinking -- it's completely practical if you have the right tools in place. In this session, a financial specialist will walk you through dynamic financial planning. You will experience a live demonstration and conversation pointing to how business leaders incorporate operating and strategic assumptions in their financial planning models. You will decipher what levers within the business provide opportunities and which are the sources of constraint. Upon conclusion of this session, you'll never look at financial planning & analysis the same.

This session will cover where we are and where we may be going with Federal Wage and Hour Laws, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, Immigration, AI Guidance in the Employment Context, Executive Orders and Title IX.

In today's fast-paced business world, the art of professional etiquette is often overlooked, but it remains a critical skill for career success. Many professionals find themselves in client-facing roles without ever receiving proper guidance on how to represent themselves and their organizations effectively. Whether new to the business world or achieving a promotion into a position that requires frequent interaction with customers, partners, or executives, without the skills, professionals may struggle to navigate these new expectations with confidence.

You can bridge that gap by gaining the tools to make meaningful first impressions, conduct yourself with poise in meetings, and master the subtle yet powerful impact of a well-crafted thank-you note. Most importantly, you’ll learn how to ensure that your presence and communication leave others feeling exactly as you intend: respected, valued, and at ease.

Etiquette isn’t outdated, it’s a competitive advantage.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the role of good manners in business
• Apply guidelines for interacting comfortably in business situations
• Be confident in representing themselves or their organization

This two-hour CPE course is designed for accounting professionals and technology enthusiasts seeking to enhance productivity through Microsoft 365's versatile applications. Participants will explore ten key apps — including Shared Mailboxes, Planner, Lists, To Do, Stream, Viva Learning, Forms, Bookings, Approvals, and Places — and learn to integrate them effectively into their workflows. The course emphasizes practical applications within accounting contexts, aiming to streamline operations and foster collaboration.

Learning Objectives:

•    Identify and describe the basic functionalities of at least three of the ten productivity apps discussed in this session
•    Explain how Shared Mailboxes and Groups enhance team communication and help manage departmental emails more effectively
•    Identify at least two of the three applications that can be used to manage tasks and/or projects available in business and enterprise versions of Microsoft 365

Accurate cash flow forecasting is one of the most important processes for companies of any size. Getting it right can position a company for greater financial returns while getting it wrong can result in unnecessary missteps. This session will offer a comprehensive, step-by-step approach to building a weekly cash flow forecast model. Participants will explore cash flow drivers and constraints, implementing effective forecasting techniques, and integrating short-term cash flow models with long-term financial plans. The program is designed to equip FP&A and treasury professionals with practical tools that can be applied immediately.

Many financial professionals believe that, “I just need to know the numbers really well to keep my job.” Every day proves this fallacy wrong. How you say it - is often more important than what you say. This session will teach you proven techniques to deliver bad news so that you actually strengthen your relationship with your CEO, Board, bank and management team.

Congress is poised to pass major tax legislation this year, extending the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and enacting major new policies such as tax exemptions for tips and overtime. This will likely affect all areas of the tax code--from the recognition of business costs and the treatment of partnerships and sole proprietorships to the status of energy projects across the country and how the tax code classifies work.

Appreciating how this could affect you, your community and your clients requires an understanding of both the policy details and the political dynamics at play. Alex Parker, Eide Bailly's DC-based tax legislative affairs director, will provide an overview of the current status of the tax bill in Congress, including how the process has and will mold the expected outcomes.

Successful leaders are assertive leaders. How can someone who isn’t naturally assertive become more so to be effective? Where is the line between assertive behavior and passive or aggressive behavior and why are the distinctions so important? Assertive leaders are forthcoming about their needs, but are considerate of the rights and needs and of others.

In this session, you will learn to build on your strengths, advocate for what you need to be successful and use the right language to do so. You will learn strategies to boost your confidence, 10 tips to build assertiveness, and the Dale Carnegie principles of cooperation to influence and effectively lead your team.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the differences between passive, assertive and aggressive behaviors
• Navigate difficult situations with confidence
• Apply cushions and a “Say No!” formula
• Use 10 tips to become more assertive

Are you looking to take your PivotTables to the next level? Many experts consider PivotTables to be Excel’s most powerful feature. Yet, most who create and work with them barely scratch the surface of all PivotTables can do. In this session, you’ll learn eight powerful features you may have missed. From user-defined calculations to consolidating reports and adding KPIs, we’ll show you how to get the most out of your PivotTables. These are just some examples of the great things you can do with PivotTables, and in this session, you will learn these and other techniques to make your PivotTables even more powerful.

Learning Objective:

•    Identify three types of user-defined calculations in PivotTables
•    List the steps necessary to add Key Performance Indicators to PivotTables
•    Name at least two benefits of using PivotTables for data consolidation needs
•    Differentiate between Slicer and Timeline filters
•    Cite examples of potential benefits associated with linking data into PivotTable reports

Why do some people adapt quickly in the face of change, while others struggle? “Revisionary Thinkers” (like Richard Branson, J.K. Rowling, and Steven Spielberg) know how to navigate uncertainty with less confusion, less frustration, and more success. Courtney Clark will give you the tools of Adaptive Thinking, an evidence-based practice to survive challenges with more than just a positive attitude. Courtney’s research, strategies, case studies, humor, and stories help build employee agility and resilience, and create ReVisionary Thinkers at every level of your organization (and in their home lives!)