Conference Topics
When INSIGHT, EXPERIENCE and IMPACT matter.
Leah Donti, CPA, MBA, is an accomplished speaker with over three decades of experience delivering impactful presentations at conferences across North America. Whether in-person or virtual, Leah has engaged audiences of all sizes—from intimate groups to over 1,000 attendees.
As a dynamic keynote speaker, she knows how to captivate, inspire, and deliver meaningful knowledge.
Leah offers a variety of keynote topics and workshop options that can be tailored to align perfectly with your conference theme and specific needs. Whether you're looking for an energizing keynote to open or close your event, or a structured, hands-on workshop for smaller groups, Leah has the versatility and expertise to meet your goals and exceed expectations.
In today’s fast-paced world, with countless options available, choosing the right speaker to deliver an exceptional experience can feel overwhelming. Leah’s sessions are designed to leave a lasting impact, ensuring your attendees walk away with valuable insights that resonate long after the conference ends.
Book Leah for your next conference or event, and prepare to offer your audience an unforgettable experience filled with actionable takeaways and lasting value.
Each of the topics listed below can be fully customized to suit your organization’s needs. Every presentation includes a helpful handout for attendees.
Format: 60 minute - 90 minutes per topic
Artificial Intelligence: Transforming the CPA Profession
FASB in Focus: What’s New and Effective This Year!
Stay ahead with this FASB Update session. This informative session covers the latest developments and changes in accounting standards as set by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). Whether you're an experienced professional or new to the field, this session is designed to provide valuable insights and practical guidance to ensure you remain compliant and up-to-date.
Accounting & Auditing Update: The Future Is Now!
Stay at the forefront of your profession with our dynamic and engaging Accounting and Auditing Update at this year’s CPA conference. This must-attend session will provide you with the latest developments, trends, and best practices in the world of accounting and auditing, ensuring you’re prepared for the changes ahead.
Elevate Your Practice with the New Quality Management Standards
Switching from Quality control to Quality management is more than just words. Join me to delve into the newly established quality management standards that go live this year on Dec. 15, 2025. Gain insights on the key components and implementation strategies for CPA firms. Understand how these standards can enhance your practice, ensure compliance, and drive consistent improvement. Don't miss this opportunity to stay at the forefront of industry advancements and take your quality management skills to the next level.
Unlock the Secrets of SAS 145 Risk Assessment: Addressing Common Weaknesses
Join me for a groundbreaking session on the new SAS 145! Learn the key changes, best practices, and common pitfalls to watch out for. Understand why risk assessment is frequently identified as a deficiency in peer reviews and discover how to bolster your audits to meet the highest standards. Don’t miss your chance to stay ahead in the dynamic world of auditing and enhance your professional toolkit.
Achieve Best-in-Class Internal Controls
Whether you work for a small or large entity, internal controls are a work in progress. This session provides practical tips on evaluating and improving internal control systems at your organization – including IT general controls.
Tackling Lease Complexities After Adoption
This session explores common issues post–adoption such as common peer review findings, consolidating schedules, right-of use-asset impairment and cost of living increases on lease payments.
Mastering CECL: Essential Insights for Commercial Entities and NPOs
The Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) model impacts commercial entities and nonprofits. Gain valuable insights on the intricacies of CECL, its implementation challenges, and the strategies to effectively manage credit risk. Whether you're in auditing or financial reporting, this session will equip you with the knowledge and tools to succeed.
Unmasking Financial Shenanigans: Tools to Detect Deceptive Reporting
Join this eye-opening session on financial shenanigans and the tools you can use to detect deceptive financial reporting. Learn the latest red flags, techniques, and best practices to uncover and prevent financial misrepresentation. Equip yourself with the knowledge to protect your organization and clients from financial fraud. Don’t miss this essential session to enhance your expertise and become a vigilant guardian of financial integrity!
Auditing Cryptocurrencies: Navigating the Challenges and Opportunities
Delve into the complexities and unique challenges that digital assets present in the audit process. Learn about auditing techniques, regulatory requirements, and best practices to ensure accurate and compliant financial reporting. Stay ahead of the curve by mastering the auditing of digital assets and equip yourself with the knowledge to navigate this rapidly evolving landscape. Don’t miss this essential session to elevate your auditing skills in the world of cryptocurrencies!
Private Company Accounting Alternatives
Even though 10 years have passed since the launch of the Private Company Council (PCC) as well as AICPA’s Financial Reporting Framework for Small-to Mid-Size Entities (FRF for SMEs), many private companies are still not aware of these choices. This session explores the PCC alternatives inside a US GAAP framework. In addition, it examines the FRF for SMEs framework.
Data Analytics to Detect Fraud
Fraud is always top of mind. And if it’s not, it should be. See how you can use data analytics to boost efficiency when detecting various types of fraud. Look at examples in the areas of general ledger data analytics, purchase to pay analytics, tests for potential billing schemes, payroll analytics, travel and entertainment expense analytics, and order to cash analytics.
Going Concern Key Considerations
Assessing going concern is not a new requirement in U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). In this session, we’ll explore the renewed focus on an entity’s going concern assessment due to the financial and operational challenges that many businesses face.
Accounting for Digital Assets Under the New FASB Rule
Explore the evolving landscape of digital assets and cryptocurrencies! Delve into the unique accounting challenges posed by these digital innovations with the new FASB standard. Learn the latest guidance, compliance requirements, and practical strategies to effectively manage digital assets within the framework of US GAAP. Empower your practice with the knowledge to handle the complexities of this cutting-edge financial domain. Don’t miss this essential session to elevate your expertise in the dynamic world of cryptocurrencies!
Navigating the Complex Landscape of Cyber Risk
In our hyper-connected world, cyber risk looms as an ever-present and evolving threat. As businesses and individuals increasingly rely on digital platforms for communication, commerce, and daily operations, the vulnerabilities within these systems become glaring targets for malicious actors.
Bridging Generations: Harnessing the Strength of a Multigenerational Workforce in CPA Firms
Mastering Month-End Close: Overcoming Challenges with Best Practices
Join this essential session on mastering the financial month-end close! Dive into the common challenges and discover best practices that can streamline your closing process. Learn about practical tips, innovative tools, and strategies to improve accuracy and efficiency. Enhance your financial reporting and ensure a smoother, more effective month-end close. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your skills and drive excellence in your organization!
Key Strategies to Manage Costs and Navigate Inflation
As inflation and costs continue to fluctuate, every price, purchase and cost decision you make is critically important. Explore strategies and tips to help manage your costs and reduce the impact of inflation so your company can stay profitable. Look at the financial planning and analysis (FP&A) process, the supply chain and how to spend in the “right” areas. Examine best practices for cutting costs (and where not to cut them), how to be more strategic with pricing and how to clean up product offerings. Plus, look at ways to use automation to reduce labor costs
Revolutionizing Finance: 5 Trends to Watch This Year
Don't miss this insightful session, where we unveil the top 5 trends set to reshape the finance world this year! From technological advancements to evolving regulatory landscapes, discover how these trends will impact your strategies and operations. Equip yourself with the knowledge to stay ahead and turn these trends into opportunities for growth and innovation. Join us and be at the forefront of the finance revolution!
Streamline Your Accounting Department: Eliminate Time Wasters Now!
Is your department bogged down by inefficient processes? Join me to uncover the secrets to boosting productivity and cutting out time wasters! Learn innovative strategies, tools, and best practices to streamline operations and maximize efficiency. Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your finance department into a well-oiled machine that saves time and resources, driving better results and success!
Transform Your Budgeting: The Power of Rolling Forecasts
Get ready to revolutionize your budgeting! At this session you will learn about rolling forecasts and discover how they can provide agility, accuracy, and forward-thinking insights to your budgeting process. Learn about best practices, implementation strategies, and real-world success stories. Elevate your budgeting game and empower your organization to make informed decisions with confidence.
Unlock the Power of KPIs: Elevate Your CPA Practice and Industry Performance
Demystifying Accounting: Communicating Financial Information to Non-Financial Audiences
Explaining financial information to clients without a background in Accounting can be a daunting task. This conference session is designed to equip professionals with the skills and strategies needed to effectively communicate financial data to non-financial audiences.
How ESG Reporting Impacts Public and Private Companies and NPOs
This session discusses the new SEC rules on ESG reporting that impacts US public companies. There is a misconception that private companies and NPOs are not affected by ESG reporting. You will learn how ESG impacts private companies and NPOs today.
ESG Assurance: Elevating Accountability and Transparency
Uncover the essentials of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) assurance and its significance in today’s financial reporting. Explore best practices for conducting rigorous ESG assurance that meets stakeholder expectations. Learn about the latest standards and frameworks guiding ESG assurance engagements. Learn about real-world applications and emerging trends in ESG assurance. This session is designed to empower CPAs with the knowledge and tools to lead in the field of ESG assurance, ensuring credibility and trust in financial disclosures.
Adapt and Thrive: Pivoting Your Business Strategy for Success
In the wake of the economic and global changes, many businesses have faced unprecedented challenges. This session explores practical ways to pivot your business for survival and growth; and be future ready. Key Takeaways: Strategies to adapt to changing market conditions. Insights on innovative business models and practices. Real-life examples of successful business pivots.
Building Resilience: Empowering Your Workforce for Success
A resilient workforce is the cornerstone of a successful business. This session delves into how businesses can thrive by fostering resilience among their employees.
Key Takeaways: Techniques to enhance workforce resilience and well-being. Best practices for building a strong and adaptable team. Case studies of businesses that have leveraged resilience for success.
ESG: Unveiling Opportunities for CPAs
Get ready to transform your approach to accounting and sustainability with this insightful session. Discover the fundamentals of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting and why it matters now more than ever. Learn how ESG factors are reshaping the financial landscape and driving long-term value. Gain practical tools and strategies to integrate ESG considerations into your accounting practices. Hear about the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the ESG arena. Don't miss this chance to stay ahead of the curve and make a positive impact on your profession and the world.
How to Improve Working Relationships When Working with Multiple Generations
In today business world, it is common to find multiple generations working in the same team or department. This session presents the common stereotypes we have. As well, we discuss strategies to capitalize on the generational differences to work together and achieve organizational goals.
Soft Skill Topics (each is 60 – 90 minutes)
- Understanding 10 Things Your Employees are not Telling You
- Managing a Remote Workforce
- Strategies to Retain Employees During the Great Resignation
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
- Leadership Styles and Team Building
- How to improve working relationships with multi-generational teams including millennials
- Best practices for Time Management
- Customer service excellence
- Marketing Professional Services & Finding a CPA firm's Competitive Advantage
- Business Resilience
- How to Communicate Financial Information Clearly and Effectively to those Charged with Governance
- Value-based Pricing
- 27 Managerial Challenges CPA Managers Face
Harnessing the Power of Data Analytics in Audits
Sampling is becoming obsolete as data analytics can audit the entire population. Learn how to use data analytics to free up time to focus on risk assessment and fraud by analyzing data.
- A digital world driven by new technology
- Key concepts of data analytics
- Applying data analytics to audits
- What does data analytics mean for Audits
- Industry examples
Top Accounting and Reporting Issues During Volatile Times
This session will delve into the accounting issues surrounding the economic uncertainty we are facing. Topics include going concern, impairment testing of intangibles and fixed assets, subsequent events, contingencies and contract modifications.
Conducting a Remote Audit
Let's face it - it is tough to do an audit in person let alone remotely. This jam-packed session covers the best practices for doing a remote audit - a must know topic for auditors of small and large firms.
How Data Analytics is Disrupting the CPA Profession
Data analytics has become a buzz word. This session will present an overview of data connection, data transformation (often called automation), and data visualization.
Participants will walk away with an understanding of how these areas can be used in their businesses.
Fraud in the Spotlight During Turbulent Times
This session presents the fraud risk areas that have appeared from the surface because of remote work.
Demystifying the Blockchain
This session will explain how the Blockchain will provide opportunities for CPAs in industry and public practice to make their work more efficient and streamline processes.
Accounting & Auditing Considerations in the Cannabis Industry
This session discusses the dominant accounting issues as well as the challenges faced by auditors when auditing cannabis businesses.
The CPA Mindset: Embracing Digital Transformation
Top Priorities and Challenges at CPA FIrms
This session explores talent retention, firm growth and strategy, how technology and automation must work together, regulatory and tax law challenges.
Top Three Disruptors Facing CPAs
The top disruptors facing the CPA profession are Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Analytics
Explore these topics and how the work of the CPA in industry and public practice is changing in today's fast-paced business environment. Using intelligent automation, learn how organizations reshape traditional finance processes to drive efficiency and insights.
Reinventing the Finance Role in a Digital World
Are you ready to step into the future of the finance function? Prepare to revolutionize the finance profession as we dive into the dynamic world of digital transformation. In an era where technology is evolving at lightning speed, CPAs are no longer just financial custodians but are becoming digital pioneers. This session will explore the groundbreaking advancements and digital tools reshaping the finance landscape.
Demystifying Fair Value: A Must-Attend Session for CPAs
Dive into the complexities of fair value measurement! Discover the latest insights, valuation techniques, and practical applications. Whether you’re navigating financial reporting, compliance, or strategic decision-making, this session will equip you with the knowledge and tools to master fair value assessments. Elevate your expertise and stay ahead of the curve in this essential area of accounting. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your professional prowess!
How to Manage Cash Flow During Difficult Times
The famous saying "Cash is King" has been so well mastered in the current pandemic environment. Those who know how to manage cash, survive and will thrive in the new normal. This session focuses on cultivating a cash flow mindset.
How Data Analytics Works in the Tax Function
Today the tax function has to focus on value-added activities by automating routine functions. Providing tax advice and strategy is a competitive weapon for the tax practitioner. This session will explain how to use data analytics in the tax area.
Business Resilience
- Business Resilience with Resilient Workforce
- Post-pandemic Strategies for Your Business to Succeed
- Pivoting & Changing Business Models
Business Valuation Principles - Unlocking Value
In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing economic landscape, understanding the value of a business is more critical than ever. Whether you’re involved in mergers and acquisitions, financial reporting, or strategic planning, having a solid grasp of business valuation principles is essential. Highlights of the session: Valuation techniques; valuing intangible assets and goodwill; and common mistakes in business valuation.
Resilient Operational Leadership in Tough Times
This program is perfect for:
- C-suite; mid level managers in marketing, finance and operations; business owners and presidents; front line employees
The audience will leave with:
- Enthusiasm to look for new opportunities
- Understanding for positive change
- Appreciation to look at things differently
Stay Ahead: Unveiling the Latest PCAOB SEC Updates
Join me for an essential session on the latest PCAOB SEC updates! Get firsthand insights about new regulations, critical changes, and their impact on your practice. Enhance your understanding and ensure compliance by staying informed on the latest developments. This session is your key to mastering the evolving landscape of auditing standards and regulatory requirements. Don't miss out on this opportunity to fortify your knowledge and lead with confidence!
How to Improve Decision-Making with Data Analytics
Let’s face it data is power for the CPA firm. This session will discuss the power of data analytics to improve your CPA firm’s decision-making. Find out how CPA firms are using big data to transform the way they conduct their audits. Learn how to detect fraud with data analytics. Find out how a mid-sized CPA firm implemented big data in their audits.
The Client-Centric CPA firm
Clients need good financial advice more than ever, and most firms are ready and willing to help. But identifying the best opportunities to help can be difficult for firms that don’t have the right data available. This session will provide real-world, practical considerations for leveraging data to serve clients better.
Learn how to build client relationships with technology. Find out the key metrics to measure customer engagement.
Fraud Issues Facing NPOs
The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) published their latest global study called 2020 Report on the Nations. It indicates fraud continues to be on the rise at non-for-profit entities.
This session will delve into the findings of the study as well as discuss recent fraud cases. As an auditor, board member or senior management of a non-for-profit, this discussion will provide insights into the common types of fraud schemes, how to recognize the red flags and how to build internal controls to prevent and detect them.
IFRS Update: Learn the changes coming
Get an analysis of the newest IFRS amendments and standards and how they impact financial reporting this year. Explore real-world examples to see these changes in action. Gain insights on how the IFRS changes will impact your financial statements. Don't let these crucial updates catch you off guard. Equip yourself with the knowledge and tools you need to navigate the evolving IFRS financial landscape.
How Artificial Intelligence Works in the Tax Function
Today the tax function has to focus on value-added activities by automating routine functions. Providing tax advice and strategy is a competitive weapon for the tax practitioner. This session will explain how to use AI in the tax area.
How ESG will help close the Gender Gap for Women and diverse groups
To achieve ESG, an organization needs to make progress on women advancement and diversity. This session will discuss the progress made to close the gender gap. Although female representation at the board level has improved, the rate of change has varied year to year. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, women representation on boards improved moderately in 2021 compared to the prior years.
How Women can get a Seat at the Decision-Making Table
Every day we hear how women continue to be a minority in the corporate suite. This session explores ways to narrow the gap and have more women be part of the c-suite. Topics include: Advancing women to be leaders; the importance of diversity; non-traditional ways to the corporate suite; and how businesses can build the pipeline for women to reach the c-suite.
Elevate Your Presentations Skills
Conference Topics - Testimonials
You did a fantastic job, especially given that IFRS is such a dense topic, added to the fact that you were the last presenter on the day after the gala dinner. Phew! That would be tough even for Brad Pitt! However, your evaluations were all 4s and 5s.
In the interim, I share speaker information with other executive of several accounting organizations, and have already submitted your name with FIVE STARS!
Thanks Again,
Maureen Schwartz
Executive Director
I Decided to write personally -- I attended your seminar today at ICPAS on FASB Update. I've attended your ICPAS seminars in past years.
I've done what you do (although not as well) and I know that feedback is very important. I'm a retired CPA who didn't enter accounting until very late in life (I passed the CPA exam after I was 50). Prior to that I was in hospital management (two master's degrees in that area).
You do an outstanding job in these seminars. Teaching is a tricky thing -- you clearly know that telling people how something that is complex, really is very simple (through stories and analogies) -- that's the key to getting your audience to buy into learning what you are teaching. I particularly really like the way you raise your hand -- asking the audience to show their hands - about something you want to get them to relate to. That's effective and it's fun.
I'll close. Just wanted to say these things because you are one of the few presenters who really understands what you're doing.
Best regards.
Jim S., CPA
