Accounting and Auditing Events

Find networking opportunities and update professional skills at accounting and auditing conferences and seminars

By Barbara Geiger

Accounting and auditing events are an essential part of the job for the accounting professional. Whether you are a certified public accountant (CPA), or one of the many business professionals who number accounting tasks among their job responsibilities, events for accountants will keep you informed about the frequent changes in financial laws and practices. But there are other advantages to attending accounting events.

The benefits of accounting and auditing events are numerous:

1. Accounting conferences keep you up to date on financial laws and practices.

2. An auditing seminar can provide continuing professional education.

3. Accounting and auditing events encourage networking with professional peers.

4. You can share practical knowledge and experience at accounting conferences.

Seek out accounting events sponsored by professional organizations

National organizations sponsor accounting conferences and seminars, including more specialized auditing conferences. These organizations have the resources to offer a wide range of events, addressing broad issues of concern to the accounting profession as well as more narrowly defined professional niches.
Try: The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) website provides a link to AICPA conferences and workshops, as does the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) and the American Management Association (AMA).

Consult providers of continuing professional education for an accountant seminar

Tax accountants, in particular, must obtain required CPE credits. For other accounting professionals, CPE providers are an excellent source of accounting seminars and other events.
Try: The National Business Institute (NBI) offers Accountant Continuing Professional Education Seminars. Among auditing events, check out AuditWorld, sponsored by MIS Training Institute, or auditing seminar and training sessions sponsored by the Institute of Internal Auditors or Osterio Group.

Attend a CPA seminar

A number of businesses offer exam review seminars for aspiring CPAs. Frequently, these courses provide attendees with the opportunity to earn required CPE credits and help in preparing for the CPA exam.
Try: The Accounting Institute Seminars (AIS) website offers in house seminars to employees of corporations and firms. Becker CPA Review provides a listing of review courses by location, as well as a selection of online courses.

Investigate local accounting events

Universities, business colleges, and local chapters of professional organizations may sponsor speakers or workshops.
Try: The National Conference of CPA Practitioners (NCCPAP) website provides assistance in locating local chapters. Also, try contacting the business college at your local university for information on upcoming events.

Join professional accounting organizations to receive promotional information about important accounting and auditing events, and to obtain discounted registration fees.
Begin with local events to save travel costs and learn which types of events will be most helpful.
Find out if your company will pay for you to attend professional events on company time.