For accounting professionals looking to network with colleagues, stay knowledgeable, and earn CPE credits, attending accounting conferences is a must. The profession is continuing to grow rapidly and many great conferences exist in order to help accountants stay on top of the field.
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This list looks at some of the best accounting conferences that are a cut above the rest and will make for a great addition to your yearly calendar.
AICPA Engage Mega Conference
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) hosts many conferences for accountants throughout the year, but the AICPA Engage conference is the newest and most exciting. Working in partnership with the Association of Accounting Marketing, AICPA Engage brings together 6 different conferences into one 4-day accounting event. Accountants from all specializations rub shoulders with leaders in the field. Accountants will advance their careers and soak up new ideas through information packed presentations and workshops and will be sure to have a good time mingling and networking with peers.
IMA Annual Conference and Expo
The Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) holds their Annual Conference and Expo every June. Over 800 attendees can be expected at the event which helps CPAs and CMAs build their network and develop expertise in the management accounting niche. The 4-day conference is filled with engaging educational opportunities and includes over 50 enlightening workshops. The conference features a number of interesting speakers each year such as Starbucks executives and founders of companies such as Travelocity. This unique accounting conference also includes 8 specialty educational tracks designed to fit a number of career needs. Among these tracks are focuses such as “Planning, Budgeting, and Forecasting” and “Governance, Risk Management, and Internal Controls.”
American Accounting Association Annual Meeting
The American Accounting Association (AAA) hosts an action-packed 5-day meeting each year to educate accounting professionals. The annual meeting is one of the largest of its kind and as much as 7,000 members come together for the conference each year. Over 350 concurrent workshops and sessions take place at the event and provide relevant education on practice issues. Theses sessions make for a great opportunity to earn CPE credits and to further the education of the accounting profession.
AICPA Government Accounting and Auditing Update Conference
Another conference held by the AICPA, the Government Accounting and Auditing Update Conference (GAAC) is a unique event formed to educate and inform accountants on the legal side of the industry. This event gives attendees access to industry leaders in the realm of tax law. Official policymakers are available at the conference to offer their expertise, advice and guidance to accountants on the constantly changing legal landscape. Attendees will leave the conference well-educated on everything from preventing and detecting tax fraud to new auditing techniques and standard practices.
110th Annual Conference on Taxation
For accountants who specialize in tax guidance, the annual conference of the National Tax Association (NTA) provides accountants a great opportunity to update and advance their knowledge and expertise. The NTA is a non-profit organization focused on promoting tax education and has hosted its annual conference every year since the organization’s founding in 1907. H&R Block sponsors this yearly event which features concurrent sessions ranging from 401k design to tax evasion. The event also includes a special seminar for graduate students, the NTA Next Generation seminar.
Conferences are a great way for accounting professionals to develop their skills and stay on top of trends in the industry. But in addition to these benefits, attending a conference can simply be a lot of fun. Accounting conferences allow attendees to network with professionals while getting that special opportunity to interact with peers and colleagues fluent in the language of accounting.
