Art of Accounting: My first CPE presentation

It’s hard for me to believe I published my Memoirs of a CPA book a year ago. Boy does tempus fugit. I was interviewed recently and asked how I got started presenting CPE programs, of which I’ve created and presented over 350 such programs.

I never thought about that and remembered the CPE program that got me started. It was around the mid-to-late 1970s and I had just joined the Managing of an Accounting Practice Committee of the New Jersey Society of CPAs. I was the youngest member of that committee. At the first meeting I attended, I pretty much sat there, listened and said nothing. Toward the end of the meeting the chairman mentioned that the speaker for the Managing Tax Season program that was two weeks away had to back out and they needed a speaker. He doubted they would get one this late. There was a little discussion and when it became evident they would have to cancel the program, I volunteered to present it. I said I never did a CPE program but would put together an extensive handout of forms and checklists I had developed in my practice. The committee members said to go ahead and I could call on any one of them for any help.

I have always been very process oriented and had my own forms, checklists and what has become my SmartProof worksheet (originally done by pencil on yellow worksheet paper). I made copies of all my checklists, forms, memos and sanitized copies of instructional letters to clients. I put together about a 30-page packet and referred to each page in my presentation. I had no notes but described every form and its use. 

What happened afterward was that I started getting calls with tax questions and got to know those colleagues. I was asked to repeat that program the following year and then started presenting it twice a year for the Society, in Northern and Southern New Jersey. Word got around and I was getting calls from other CPA societies and even the AICPA. Based on my AICPA presentation, I was asked to write articles in the Journal of Accountancy and then three books. My Managing Your Tax Season book for the AICPA had three editions. I’ve presented the original CPE program with additions each time I did it, probably 150 times with its many iterations. I still present it a few times a year. Evolving from this was my Reviewing Tax Returns book published by CPA Trendlines, which is currently in its third edition.

No matter who you are and whatever you’ve done, there is always a first time. My first CPE presentation was completely unplanned for and led to my becoming an “expert” in tax season processes. It also led to my developing my current 328-page 190-checklist Word file that I distribute for free to colleagues. If you want it, just email me at GoodiesFromEd@hotmail.com and put Checklists in the subject line. No messages necessary. Some years, over 10,000 checklist files are distributed for free.

I wholeheartedly recommend sharing your knowledge and experience by presenting CPE programs. It’s extremely satisfying, helps sharpen your knowledge, is great for networking with colleagues and sometimes there are very pleasant unintended consequences. If you don’t want to share what you know and do, imagine how it would have been for you if everyone else felt that way. If you want a prod or some help with ideas or getting started, contact me.

Do not hesitate to contact me at emendlowitz@withum.com with your practice management questions or about engagements you might not be able to perform.