Misericordia University’s Continuing Education Program for CPAs Scheduled

The Department of Business at Misericordia University is hosting a free four-hour continuing professional education (CPE) session on campus on May 14 from 1-5 p.m. in Sandy and Marlene Insalaco Hall for certified public accountants that addresses internal controls for small nonprofit and volunteer organizations.

Misericordia University Professor Fred Croop, C.P.A., Ed.D., M.B.A., a CPE Program Sponsor licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, will present the program, “Effective Internal Controls for Small Nonprofits and Volunteer Organizations,’’ which is eligible for four CPE hours. The live group session features a question-and-answer session, PowerPoint presentations and related professional literature. CPAs are required to take 80-hours of CPEs every two years.

Dr. Croop, a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations board of directors, will highlight recent cases of mismanagement, including what could have prevented them and/or minimized damages; outline how to modify standard internal accounting controls to be effective with small organizations, and explain what has to be done if an organization suspects funds are missing.

The program also will explain the legal consequences for people who commit financial mismanagement and the challenges district attorneys face in successfully prosecuting these cases; discuss concerns raised by nonprofits and volunteer organizations with state legislators, and review specific cases of financial mismanagement in organizations and the internal accounting controls that could have presented the crimes.

Due to limited seating, participation in the CPE session will be limited to the first 100 who preregister online. To register online, please go to the Nonprofits Control Project in the community area of the Misericordia University website. The direct link is www.misericordia.edu/nonprofitcontrols. A link is required to complete the registration form. The free program is in Dudrick, Muth, Huntzinger and Alden Trust Rooms 216-219 in Insalaco Hall.

Participants will receive a certificate of completion at the conclusion of the program.

In 2015, Dr. Croop and his students developed the Internal Controls and Federal Tax Exemption Basics for All-Volunteer Organizations Resource Manual. Since then, he has presented numerous workshops on the subject throughout the state, collaborating with state legislators and county district attorneys’ offices. The manual is available via a free download for all-volunteer organizations, such as volunteer fire departments, youth recreation leagues, parent teacher organizations and more. The complete manual is available at www.misericordia.edu/nonprofitcontrols.