Resources/CEAR in the News

CEAR in the News

• FASAB’s Accounting and Auditing Policy Committee recently completed a Management’s Discussion and Analysis Best Practices Report. The report includes examples of selected sections of certain federal fiscal year 2009 MD&As which the Committee believes effectively captured the letter and spirit of the key elements of the standards.  To download the document, click here.
   

• P&A Report, GAO Citizens’ Report Win Recognition for Content, Design - May, 2009

• Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
  Subject: Transparency and Open Government
  My administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in government. We will work together to ensure the public trust and establish a system of transparency, public participation and collaboration. Openness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in government. Read more.

• AGA Examines PAR Pilot Program Results - AGA has issued a report evaluating a possible alternative to federal Performance and Accountability Reports (PARs) at the request of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). OMB started a pilot program in FY 2007 for agencies that wanted to report on their performance and accountability in a more concise form than the lengthy PAR. The three reports required by the pilot program are the Agency Financial Report, the Annual Performance Report and a Highlights Report. OMB asked AGA to evaluate the Agency Financial Report of nine pilot program agencies. AGA concluded that the pilot program has the potential to correct the weaknesses of the PAR, but that several changes should be made in the program to meet reporting objectives. The report was authored by Harold I. Steinberg, CGFM, CPA, technical consultant for AGA’s Certificate of Excellence in Accountability Reporting Program. Read the full report.

• Citizens should expect their Federal government to spend their taxpayer dollars effectively and more efficiently each year.  For FY08, OMB required each of the 24 CFO Act Agencies to produce a 2 page snapshot that summarizes its budget, financial and performance results.  To view the snapshots, click here.
   

• 2008 PDC Concurrent Session Presentations, What's Next with the Performance and Accountability Reports?
  - Harold I. Steinberg, CGFM, CPA
  - Maurice McTigue, Vice President, Director, Government Accountability Project and Distinguished Visiting Professor, Mercatus Center at George Mason University
   

• Government Executive mentioned the May CEAR Award Ceremony in a recent article about the CFO agencies and their tracking of federal funds, July 23, 2008
   

• OFHEO is the Smallest Agency to Receive the CEAR Award for their FY07 Performance and Accountability Report, James B. Lockhart, AGA Weblog, July 2, 2008
   

• OMB Pushes Performance Improvement, Mary Mosquera, Federal Computer Week, Dec. 10, 2007
   
• Bush Orders Agencies to Appoint 'Performance Improvement Officers', Robert Brodsky, Government Executive, Nov. 15, 2007
   
• President Signs Executive Order on Improving Government Program Performance, White House, Nov. 14, 2007
   
• White House to Demand Better Program Performance, Mary Mosquera, Federal Computer Week, Nov. 8, 2007
   
• CFOs, IGs Share Best Practices for Financial Reports, Federal Computer Week, Oct. 16, 2007
   
• The Business of Government Hour, Oct. 13, 2007: John Cox, CFO HUD
   
• 06-378: Congressional Oversight: FAA Case Study Shows How Agency Performance, Budgeting, and Financial Information Could Enhance Oversight  - GAO Report, March 2006
   
• A Report to the 43rd President and 107th Congress: Transitioning to Performance-based Government - Reason Public Policy Institute, Sept. 9, 2005
   
• Federal Program Performance up Slightly, OMB Reports  —Government Executive, Feb. 2, 2006
   
• Agencies Show Modest Gains on Management Score Card —Government Executive, Feb. 2, 2006
   
• GAO: Agency Public Information Centers Should Stress Accuracy  —Jenny Mandel, Government Executive, March 13, 2006
   
• A Government Document Without the Governmentese: OPM Plan Sets Clear Goals —Stephen Barr, The Washington Post, March 9, 2006
   
• Measuring Government Performance - Journal of Government Financial Management, Fall, 2005
   
• Financial Management Performance Indicators Database Created by CFOC - Dec. 29, 2004
   
• AGA Presents 10 CEAR Awards at September 2004 Luncheon - Topics, Sept. 20, 2004
   
• Responsible Reporting at FAA - Federal Times, Sept. 27, 2004
   
• 10 Agencies Cited for Quality Financial Reports - Federal Times, Sept. 6, 2004
   
• AGA Welcomes DoD to CEAR Program - Topics, March 29, 2004
   
• AGA Presents Certificates of Excellence to Seven Federal Agencies - Topics, October 2003
   
• Advancing Government Accountability Through CEAR, SEA - Topics, October 2003
   
• Meeting Change with Change - Federal Times, Sept. 22, 2003
   
• Seven Agencies Lauded for Exceptional Performance Reports - GovExec.com, September 12, 2003
   
• Patricia McGinnis, President and CEO, Council for Excellence in Government, Praises CEAR Program - September 2003
   
• CEAR Program's Influence, Scope Widens in Federal Government - Topics, August 2003
   
• Spotlight on Accountability Reporting - Topics, November 2002
   
• Certificates of Excellence Presented by AGA to Eight Federal Agencies - Topics, November 2002
   
• Eight Agencies Honored for Accountability Reports - GovExec.com, September 16, 2002
   
• Extra Effort Stands out in Reporting Results - Federal Times, September 23, 2002
   
• CEAR Participants Extol Value of AGA's Process in Promoting Federal Accountability - Topics, Fall 2002
   
• How Labor is Getting to Green, Federal Times, Aug. 26, 2002
   
• Accountability Reports Yield Positive Results - Federal Times, January 2000

Resources

• Office of Management and Budget
• Government Performance and Results Act
• Chief Financial Officers Council
• President's Management Agenda
• Defense Reform Initiative
• Federal Inspectors General
• Federal Budget