Conference Topics
Leah Donti, CPA, MBA has been successfully speaking at conferences all over North America for over 3 decades. She also provides professional development seminars to the public, companies and various professional organizations.
Each of the conference topics below can be customized and tailored to meet individual organization and/or corporate needs. She also serves as a keynote presenter.
Each topic includes a supporting handout.
Format: 60 minute - 90 minutes per topic
What's Effective at FASB this Year?
The amount of change in the accounting profession is overwhelming, making it tough for the CPA in industry or public practice to keep up.
This session is designed for CPAs in industry and public practice looking to get a high-level update on standards issued by the FASB that are going live this year.
How the new ESG Reporting Requirements Impact Public Companies
This session discusses the new SEC rules on ESG reporting that impacts US public companies.
ESG Reporting for Private Companies and NPOs
There is a misconception that private companies and NPOs are not affected by ESG reporting. This session delves on the ESG impacts facing private companies and NPOs today.
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.
Performing Assurance on ESG Reporting
CPA firms attending this session will get an understanding of how to do assurance engagements on ESG reports.
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.
Pivoting your Business Strategy for Success
Many businesses were turned upside down during covid. This session presents ways to pivot your business for survival in a post-pandemic world.
Business Resilience with a Resilient Workforce
This session explores how a business, with a resilient workforce can position itself for success.
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.
5 Trends that will Reshape Finance this Year
The Finance function has evolved over the last many years. This session explores the top 5 trends that will reshape the Accounting department this year.
Getting Rid of Time Wasters in your Finance Department
Finding ways to increase productivity is paramount in this tight labor market. This session explains 5 strategies to gain efficiencies
Understanding How CECL impacts Commercial Entities and Non-for-Profits
The new CECL standard went live in 2023 for private entities and NPOs. This session will explain the changes coming as well as lessons learned from public company adoption.
ESG Update & Opportunities for CPAs
This session will discuss recent developments from the SEC on ESG reporting. It will also explain opportunities for CPAs in ESG.
The new wave for CPAs: Environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting
Let's face it. CPAs are in the best position to implement ESG reporting. ESG will play a critical role in evaluating how well a business is doing. CPAs in industry as well as CPAs who do assurance want to get ready on this evolving topic.
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.
Accounting and Auditing Issues of Digital Assets (Cryptocurrencies)
The newest area facing CPAs is how to account and audit for digital assets such as bitcoin and other types of cryptocurrencies. This session delves into these areas.
Get Ready for the New Quality Management Standards
Switching from Quality control to Quality management is more than just words. This session explains the changes impacting CPA firms for assurance engagements.
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
Accounting and Auditing Update
This program is perfect for:
- Auditors; controllers; CFOs; CPA firms; industry accounting professionals
The audience will leave with:
- An understanding of the latest developments in accounting and finance
- Opportunities to apply the changes to their business or clients with real life examples
Get Ready for More Cyber Risk
- Audit’s Role in Privacy, Data Protection Compliance and Cloud security
- How can audit play a larger role in privacy and data protection compliance related activities?
- Current cybersecurity landscape
- Managing breaches
- Cybersecurity risk management
- Ransomware; important issues with managed services
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.
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.
Rolling Forecasts: Best Practices and Implementation
This program is perfect for:
budgeting officers; financial analysts; business owners; accounting managers
The audience will leave with:
- an understanding of what is a rolling forecast and how it differs from traditional budgeting
- implementations tips on how to adopt the rolling forecast in their business
- technology choices to aid in the rolling forecast
13 Financial Shenanigans - Tools to Deceptive Reporting
This program is perfect for:
- Auditors; controllers; accountants; CPAs; chief financial officers; managers
The audience will leave with:
- Tools to detect accounting gimmicks and fraud
- Understanding of how companies cook the books
- Financial numbers games
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.
Financial Month-End Close: Challenges and Best Practices
This program is perfect for:
- Accountants; controllers; CPAs; accounting managers; chief accountants
The audience will leave with:
- The best practice tools to speed up month end
- Factors that impact the need to close faster
- Tips to implement the best practices
The CPA Mindset for Digital Transformation
The way of the future is how to transform your business with going digital. This session delves into the benefits and provides implementation tips.
Reinventing the Finance Role in a Digital World
This program is perfect for:
- Accounting and finance staff; vice presidents and CFOs; controllers and accounting managers
The audience will leave with:
- Tools to completing a digital month end
- An understanding of how to add value to financial processes
- Implementation tips for their business
How Fair Value Impacts Financial Statements
This program is perfect for:
- Accountants; auditors; CFOs; bankers; C-suite
The audience will leave with:
- An understanding of the most persuasive balance sheet accounts using fair value
- An appreciation of the fair value hierarchy
- Real life examples
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.
Best Practices to Improve Internal Controls
Today, most organizations will tell you our internal controls are a work-in-progress as the business continues to change software, work in the cloud and remotely. This session provides the best practices for your company to improve controls.
Business Resilience
- Business Resilience with Resilient Workforce
- Post-pandemic Strategies for Your Business to Succeed
- Pivoting & Changing Business Models
How AI, Machine Learning and Data Analytics are Impacting Business
This program is perfect for:
- Finance professionals; marketing executives; business owners; operations managers
The audience will leave with:
- Knowledge of how big data and predictive analytics are changing the way the world does business
- Opportunities to use big data in their organization
- The 3 V's of big data
The New Risk Assessment Standard
Let's face it: CPA firms have a hard time when it comes to risk assessment. The new SAS 145 is going live in 2023. This session delves into the changes coming and how to get ready.
Business Valuation
This program is perfect for:
- Accountants; auditors; business owners; consultants
The audience will leave with:
- An appreciation of the key valuation methods
- Knowledge of how fair value works in different settings
- Real life examples
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
PCAOB Update
This program is perfect for external auditors that work with public companies to learn the recent standard changes from the PCAOB.
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
This program is perfect for:
- Accounting managers, chief accountants, CFOs, controllers, auditors
The audience will leave with:
- An understanding of the new IFRS standards going live
- How to implement them for their company or clients
Work from Anywhere Tax Compliance
COVID-19 has transformed forever how we work. Many entities are allowing employees to work from home permanently, or come to the office a few days a week. Others, due to the shortage of a talent pool, are allowing staff to work from anywhere. This session focuses on the tax implications to the business and the individual of permitting employees to work from anywhere.
International Tax Developments
There have been significant tax developments with the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD). This session focuses on understanding the key tax issues facing multinationals. It deals with the OECD framework of Pillar One and Pillar Two, taxing the digital economy, permanent establishment, sales tax and transfer pricing.
Harnessing Digital Transformation in the Tax Function
Whether you are a sole tax practitioner or working in the tax department of a large business, digital transformation is top of mind. This session explores how to use digital transformation to simplify repetitive work and more importantly to be able to spot anomalies in tax transactions using robotic process automation and artificial intelligence.
Taxation of Cryptocurrency Transactions
Cryptocurrency tax regulation is continuously evolving. This session provides a basic understanding of the taxation issues when a client invests in digital assets or does mining as well as current tax reporting challenges.
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.
Powerful Presentations for Women
Research shows public speaking is feared next to death. To advance as a woman, you must speak with confidence, get your message across and know how to attract your audience.
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
