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CGFM Certification

Reading Resources


Preparation for the three CGFM exams is enhanced by identifying topic areas and suggested readings that best fit your learning needs. By reviewing topic areas in the examination content specifications, you will be able to determine which sections of the exams will be easier or more difficult for you. You may then select materials to confirm or enhance your knowledge. For example, in a topic area that is familiar, selection of minimal reading may be appropriate; in areas unfamiliar, more extensive readings and course work may be more appropriate. The resources that follow provide a solid base for study and preparation for the exams.
        
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Source Material Reading for the Certified Government Financial Management Examination (CGFM)

EXAMINATION 1: GOVERNMENTAL ENVIRONMENT                                                                   

  • CGFM Exam 1 Study Guide

  • Recommended Practices to Improve State and Local Government Budgeting, National Advisory Council on State and Local Budgeting, Chicago, IL, 1997, www.gfoa.org.

  • Governmental Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting, Governmental Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL, www.gfoa.org, Link to "Publications."

  • Powdar, Juliet Carol, The Operating Budget: A Guide for Smaller Governments, Government Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL, 1996, Chapters 4, 6.

  • Peterson, John E. and Dennis R. Strachota, Eds., Local Government Finance Concepts and Practices, Government Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL, 1991, Chapters 4,10, 11, 12, 14.

  • Miller, G. An Elected Official's Guide to Government Finance, Government Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL, www.gfoa.org.

  • Anthony, Robert W. And David N. Young, Management Control in Nonprofit Organizations, 10th Edition, Irwin, Burr, Ridge, IL, 2001, (ISBN) 0072316357.

  • Government Auditing Standards, 1994 Revision, U.S. GAO, Washington, DC, 1999, www.gao.gov/govaud/ybook.pdf.

  • Joseph, James C. Debt Issuance and Management-A Guide for Smaller Governments, Government Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL, www.gfoa.org, 1994.

  • Kurish, J.B., and Patricia Tigue, An Elected Official's Guide to Debt Issuance, Government Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL, 1993, www.gfoa.org.

  • Management Policies in Local Government Finance, 4th ed., Part 3, International City/County Management Association, (ICMA) Washington, DC 1996, www.bookstore.icma.org.

  • Lee, Robert D. Jr., and Ronald W. Johnson, Public Budgeting Systems, 4th edition, Aspen Publishers, Rockville, MD, 1989, Chapters 4, 8, 10.

  • Perry, James L., Ed., Handbook of Public Administration, 2nd Edition, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA 1996.

  • Code of Ethics with Official Interpretations, AGA, Alexandria, VA, www.agacgfm.org/about/codeofethics.aspx.

  • Budget Awards Program, Government Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL, www.gfoa.org/gfoa2000/forms/bapcrit.pdf.

  • Tax-Exempt Financing: A Primer Government Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL, www.gfoa.org, Link to "Publications."

  • A Guide for Preparing a Debt Policy Government Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL, www.gfoa.org, Link to "Publications."

  • Interpretation of Continuing Professional Education Requirements for Certified Government Financial Managers, AGA, Alexandria, VA 1995, www.agacgfm.org.

  • Joseph, James C., Debt Issuance and Management-A Guide for Smaller Governments, Government Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL.

  • Kurish, J.B., and Patricia Tigue, An Elected Official's Guide to Debt Issuance, Government Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL.

  • Lee, Robert D. Jr., and Ronald W. Johnson, Public Budgeting Systems, 4th edition, Aspen Publishers, Rockville, MD, 1989, Chapters 4, 8, 10.

  • Presidential Appointee's Handbook, Pt II, National Academy of Public Administration, Washington, DC, 1988, www.NAPAWash.org, 301.617.7801.

  • Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, 5CFR, part 2635, Office of Government Ethics, Washington, DC, 202.523.5757, X1131.

  • Cohen, Steven, The Effective Public Manager Achieving Success in Government, Jossey-Bass Publishers, San Francisco, CA 1995, Chapters 2-4, 7-8.

  • Crane, Donald P. and William A. Jones Jr., The Public Manager Contemporary Challenges and Responsibilities, Georgia State University Press, Atlanta, GA, 1991, Chapters 5,7,8,11.

  • Starling, Grover, Managing the Public Sector, Fourth Edition, Wadsworth Publishing Company, Belmont, CA, July 1997.

  • Mead, Dean Michael, What you Should Know About Your Local Government's Finances, Governmental Accounting Standards Board, (GASB) 2001.

EXAMINATION 2: GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING FINANCIAL REPORTING AND BUDGETING

  • CGFM Exam 2 Study Guide

  • Governmental Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting, Governmental Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL, www.gfoa.org, Link to "Publications." (This is an exceptionally comprehensive source for state and local accounting and reporting.)

  • Tierney, Cornelius E., Federal Accounting Handbook, Wiley, New York, 2000.

  • CPA Code of Professional Conduct (Rule 203), www.aicpa.org.

  • FASAB Codification of Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board, www.fasab.gov.

  • Freeman, R.J. And Shoulders, C.D., Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting, 6th Edition; Prentice Hall, 2000.

  • Ives, Martin, Joseph R. Razek and Gordon A. Hosch, Introduction to Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting, 5th Edition Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2003.

  • GASB Codification of Governmental Accounting & Financial Reporting Standards, www.gasb.org.

  • OMB Circular A-134, Financial Accounting Principles and Standards www.whitehouse.gov/OMB.

  • OMB Bulletin 97-01, Form and Content of Agency Financial Statements www.whitehouse.gov/OMB/bulletins.

  • Budgetary Accounting in the Federal Government, Financial Management Service, Washington, DC

  • Engstrom, John H. and Hay, Leo, Essentials of Accounting for Governmental and Not-for-Profit Organizations, 5th Edition; Irwin, Chicago, 1998.

  • Granof, Michael H., Government and Not-For-Profit Accounting Concepts and Practices, 2000.

  • Fisher, Ronald C., State and Local Public Finance; Irwin, Chicago, 1996.

  • Audits of State and Local Government Units; American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, New York, www.aicpa.org.

  • OMB Circular A-11, Preparation and Submission of Budget Estimates, www.whitehouse.gov/OMB/circulars/index.html.

  • OMB Circular A-127, Financial Management Systems, www.whitehouse.gov/omb.

  • Glossary of Terms used in the Federal Budget Process; US GAO, Washington, DC, www.gao.gov/policy/guidance.htm.

  • Peterson, John E. and Dennis R. Strachota, Eds., Local Government Finance Concepts and Practices, Government Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL, 1991, Chapters 4,10, 11, 12, 14.

  • Recommended Practices to Improve State and Local Government Budgeting, National Advisory Council on State and Local Budgeting, Chicago, IL, 1997, www.gfoa.org.

  • Capital Improvement Programming: A Guide for Smaller Governments, Government Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL, www.gfoa.org, Link to "Publications."

  • Powdar, Juliet Carol, The Operating Budget: A Guide for Smaller Governments, Government Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL, 1996, Chapters 4, 6.

  • Accounting Issues and Practices: A Guide for Smaller Governments, Government Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL, www.gfoa.org, Link to "Publications."

  • Mead, Dean Michael, What you Should Know About Your Local Government's Finances, Governmental Accounting Standards Board, 2001.

EXAMINATION 3: GOVERNMENTAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT CONTROL

  • CGFM Exam 3 Study Guide

  • Financial Handbook for Federal Executives and Managers, 1991, JFMIP, Washington, DC,

  • Framework for Federal Financial Management Systems, 1995, JFMIP, Washington, DC,

  • Groves, Standford M. and Valente, Maureen G., 1994, Evaluating Financial Condition, International City/County Management Association (ICMA).

  • Thompson, Fred and Green, Mark T., Handbook of Public Finance, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1998.

  • Arens & Loebbecke, Auditing: An Integrated Approach, 8th ed, 1999 Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J.

  • Granof, Michael H., Government and Not-For-Profit Accounting Concepts and Practices, 2000.

  • Maher, M.W. et al, Managerial Accounting, 1997, Harcourt, Brace, Orlando, FL, $112.00.

  • The Manager's Edge, 1997 National Journal Group, 1501 M Street, Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20005, 202.739.8400.

  • Perry, James L., Ed., Handbook of Public Administration, 2nd Edition, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA 1996.

  • Management Policies in Local Government Finance, 4th ed., Part 3, International City/County Management Association, Washington, D.C., 1996, www.bookstore.icma.org.

  • Governmental Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting, Governmental Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL, www.gfoa.org, Link to "Publications."

  • Audits of State and Local Government Units; American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, New York, www.aicpa.org.

  • OMB Circular A-127, Financial Management Systems, www.whitehouse.gov/OMB

  • Committee on Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, Internal Control-Integrated Framework, AICPA, 1992, 1994.

  • Government Auditing Standards, US GAO, Washington, D.C., 1999, www.gao.gov/govaud/ybook.pdf.

  • Evaluating Internal Controls: A Local Government Managers Guide to Government, Government Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL, www.gfoa.org, Link to "Publications."

  • A Guide for Selecting Financial Advisors and Underwriters: Writing RFP's and Evaluating Proposals, Government Finance Officers Association, www.gfoa.org, Link to "Publications."

  • An Introduction to Electronic Commerce: Government Cash Management Programs, Government Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL, www.gfoa.org, Link to "Publications."

  • Revenue Collection Administration: A Guide for Smaller Governments, Government Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL, www.gfoa.org, Link to "Publications."

  • Sample Investment Policy, Government Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL, www.gfoa.org, Link to "Publications."

  • Emerging Technologies in Public Finance: Selecting Financial Systems for the 21st Century, Government Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL, www.gfoa.org, Link to "Publications."

  • ERP and Financial Management Systems: The Backbone of Digital Government, Government Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL, www.gfoa.org, Link to "Publications."

  • Implementing Performance Measurement in Government: Illustrations and Resources, Government Finance Officers Association, Chicago, IL, www.gfoa.org, Link to "Publications."


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