2024 Accounting CPE Conference

The 13th Annual Accounting CPE Conference will be held on Thursday, November 21, 2024 in Duquesne University's Power Center Ballroom on the 5th floor from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Conference registration is now closed.

2024 CPE Conference Topics and Agenda

Morning Sessions

  • Welcome and Introductions
    Bob Kollar, Associate Professor of Practice in Accounting, Duquesne University
  • Trends in Finance and Accounting
    Marc Marmon, Vice President  – Finance Transformation Services, RGP
  • Fraud and Forensic Accounting: Trends and Recent Cases
    Fred Kohm, Principal – Risk Advisory, Grant Thornton
  • The Secure Act 2.0 and Tax Considerations in Retirement Planning
    Alexander Papson, Senior Manager –  Fiduciary Solutions, Schneider Downs
  • Panel Discussion: Audit Risk: Defining, Assessing, Documenting and Responding
    Moderator: Bill Lyons, Retired CFO, CONSOL
    Panelists: Catherine Yunk, Chief Audit and Compliance Officer, UPMC; Jeff Kulbieda, Partner, EY; Jeff Ford, Managing Partner, GYF

Lunch Break (12 p.m.)

Afternoon Sessions

  • Keynote Speech: Annual Economic Outlook
    Dr. Augustine "Gus" Faucher, Chief Economist, PNC
  • Business Ethics
    Dr. David Wasileski, Albert Paul Viragh Professor of Business Ethics, Duquesne University
  • Accounting Standards and Projects Update 
    Sue Cosper, FASB Board member
  • Emotional Intelligence Lessons from Ted Lasso
    Dr. Kelly Moore, Assistant Professor of Marketing, Duquesne University 
  • Closing comments and evaluations
    Bob Kollar, Associate Professor of Practice in Accounting, Duquesne University

About the Conference

Duquesne University's Accounting CPE Conference is hosted annually in November by the Accounting faculty of the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business. Launched in 2012, it has become a premier educational event for accountants and auditors in the Pittsburgh region. Attendance ranges from 250 to 300 people.

The goal of the Conference is to provide high-quality Continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours while raising scholarship funds for graduate students enrolled in the Master of Accountancy (MAcc) Program. Since its founding, the Conference has raised $200,000 for student scholarships. 

The Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) has recognized the Conference as an outstanding example of the School's outreach activities. 

Surveys of prior attendees indicate that they value the high-quality content of the educational materials presented and the networking opportunities provided by the Conference. 

The Conference has hosted leading business and industry professionals as speakers, including Gus Faucher, Chief Economist of PNC Bank; Sue Cosper, board member of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB); and Mark Olson, first chairperson of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). 

Other speakers include:

  • Chief Financial Officers
  • Controllers
  • Audit Directors of public, private, and non-profit organizations
  • Partners and Practice Leaders from Big 4, national, and regional public accounting firms
  • Representatives from the Center for Audit Quality (CAQ)

2024 Sponsors

13th Annual CPE Sponsors' Logos