Highlights
CPE
Opportunities
AGA’s
NLC Early Registration Deadline Extended
If you have not yet registered for the 2005 National
leadership conference, to be held February 7 – 8, in Washington,
D.C., this is your opportunity to take advantage of an extended
early-bird registration deadline. AGA will accept the early-bird rate
until Friday, January 21, a savings to you of $100.
Click here
to register online.
Click
here to read more about the conference.
AGA Advertising Opportunities!
Advertise in
AGA's electronic newsletters—TOPICS and AGA
Today! Get maximum exposure and build your brand.
Click here for all the
information you need to run your ad! Or you can contact
AGA's Director of Communications,
Marie
Force
Spotlight on AGA Corporate Partner Perot
Systems Government Services, Inc.
Perot Systems Government Services, Inc. is a leading
provider of consulting, technology-based solutions, and program
management support. Working primarily with federal defense and civilian
agencies, our 2,000+ associates deliver trusted information technology,
engineering support, environmental, and financial management services.
Through innovation and a focus on customer confidence, we drive quality
results for our clients.
The principal goals of our financial management services are to
establish, improve or validate the integrity of your financial and
business operations. We have participated in more than 35 CFO Financial
Statement Audits and are well versed in current regulations. Our
government accounting and financial analysis services strengthen
regulatory understanding and introduce operational improvements that
directly impact your bottom line. We analyze and test financial systems
in commercial and private sectors and offer practical financial and
integration solutions. Capital planning services identify strategies
for investment growth.
A clear understanding of the ever-increasing management demands
placed on government allows our experienced associates to deliver
proven services that aid in meeting these demands. When the outcome
matters, agencies turn to Perot Systems Government Services.
PH: 703.560.9477
FX: 703.573.9026
TF: 866.839.0487
www.perotsystems.com/
government
government@ps.net
Click here for the latest
information about
the AGA Corporate Partner
Program, including an update on research projects that are under
way.
|
Volume 44: Issue 1, January 18, 2005
TOPICS
is brought to you by AGA Corporate Partner
Grant Thornton
Global Public Sector delivers financial, technology and performance
management solutions to federal, state and local government clients,
and international organizations. Call us to see if we can help your
agency manage its resources more efficiently and effectively at
703.637.2750.
2004-2005 Recruitment
Campaign—Resolve to Recruit in 2005
AGA’s National President, Bobby
A. Derrick, CGFM, is challenging every member to recruit at least one
new member into AGA before the close of the membership year, April 30,
2005. And, he is challenging AGA leaders to do even more—to
recruit five new members each before the close of the membership
year, 5 by 5. This group includes the National Executive
Committee, Regional Vice Presidents and Elects, Regional Coordinators,
national board and committee members, chapter presidents and chapter
membership chairs. Are you up to the challenge?
“I believe the best marketing tool for membership is
our own experiences,” Derrick said. “My presidential theme,
Leadership for the Future, includes in its message, sharing
the AGA story with others through the personal touch. I am talking
about a quick call, a conversation at a meeting, or an e-mail. A little
investment in your time will go a long way in terms of helping to
strengthen AGA. We know your time is valuable, but in as little as five
minutes, you can help a colleague or friend achieve their professional
goals by sharing the AGA advantage.” By recruiting members, you
can also win prizes or earn AGA Dollars, which can be used for a number
of AGA activities.
Click here for a list of top recruiters.
Click here for a list of AGA Dollars
earned. Questions? Contact AGA membership at 800.AGA.7211 and/or e-mail
Catena Sanders. Happy
Recruiting! Click
here for a copy of AGA’s membership application.
AGA Recognizes Federal, State and Local
Government Leaders with Prestigious Awards
AGA will present its Federal Leadership
and State & Local Government Leadership Awards in conjunction with
the Third Annual National Leadership Conference in February. AGA is
pleased to honor this year's group of distinguished recipients. To view
a list of recipients, click here, and
then click on "NLC Award Recipients" in the right-hand box.
Congratulations to all the award recipients!
RVP-Elect Designee Candidates Added to
National Officer Slate
Two Regional Vice Presidents-Elect
Designee have joined the 2005-2006 slate of candidates, due to take
office on July 1, 2005. Riley Shaull, a member of AGA's Oklahoma City
Chapter, has been nominated Texas-Oklahoma Regional Vice
President-Elect designee. Deborah Davis, CGFM, a member of AGA's
Chattanooga Chapter, has joined the slate as the Southeastern Regional
Vice President Designee.
As outlined in the Association's bylaws, AGA will accept
independent nominations from AGA members via petition until Feb. 15,
2005. At that time, if other candidates are nominated, the Bylaws and
Procedures Committee will conduct an election to determine the
officers. However, if no other nominations are received, the
committee's slate will take office effective July 1, 2005. Click here
to view the complete slate of nominees. Contact Rosanna Ortiz with
questions.
Need CPE? Join in for
AGA's March 2 Audio Conference on Fraud
Looking for a convenient way to earn CPE hours? Click here to find eight
Journal CPE Online quizzes, which are each worth 3 CPE hours. Read the
Journal of Government Financial Management and take the corresponding
quizzes. It’s easy to earn a total of 24 CPE hours at your own
convenience.
Also, AGA and NASACT are offering convenient, inexpensive
educational opportunities in the form of audio conferences worth
2 CPE hours throughout the year. AGA, in conjunction with NASACT and
the National Association of Local Government Auditors, is producing the
audio conference, “Key Reasons Why the Breakdown of Internal
Controls Contribute to Fraud,” set for 2–3:50 p.m. EST
March 2. This audio conference will describe how specific “soft
control” failures contribute to internal controls not working as
intended. It will also focus on how “strong controls” can
sometimes leave the door open to fraudulent activities. Included will
be specific case examples and suggestions that all accountability
professionals can use to reduce future frauds. John Hall, a private
consultant and nationally known speaker, and David Hancox, CGFM, a
state audit director and nationally known speaker and author, will join
forces to describe their experiences in examining and lecturing on
internal controls and fraud for many years. For a cost of merely $249
per telephone line, your chapter, agency or firm can provide 2 CPE
hours to as many people as can fit in a room.
Click here to register.
AGA's Governing Body
Plans for the Future
AGA's National Executive Committee took several actions at its
December meeting to position the Association for future growth. The NEC
reviewed the financial position of the Association and projects an
excess of revenues over expenses at year-end greater than the budgeted
amount.The final fiscal year 2006 budget will be presented at the Feb.
4 NEC meeting, set for the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C.
During a conference call on Jan. 6, the governing body also approved
hiring a public relations firm to boost AGA's image within the
government financial management industry, the public and media. The NEC
also approved two new staff positions—a research assistant to
help AGA accomplish its various research projects and a membership
marketing manager. In other action, the NEC:
- Adopted the recommendation of the Name Change Focus Group
to keep AGA's name, the Association of Government Accountants, at this
time. Click here to read more.
- Approved formation of a new chapter in Columbus, OH.
- Determined that the chairs of the Professional
Certification Board and the Corporate Partner Advisory Group should
serve as official representatives to the NEC.
AGA Membership: Did You
Know?
A
New Look for A New Year
Thinking of giving your chapter logo a new look for the new year?
Do you know that AGA has logos designed especially for your chapter
available with the click of the mouse? Bring your chapter into
conformity with AGA's national corporate identity! From logos to
chapter letterhead, address labels, business cards and more, we've done
all the work for you! Click here for
guidelines and resources. Working with a major print shop? Your
home computer? We have all of the help you’ll
need!
 AGA Taps
Long-Time CGFM Supporter as New Director of Professional
Certification
AGA welcomes Peter V. Aliferis, CGFM, as its new
director of Professional Certification.
An AGA member for more than 20 years and one of the earliest
supporters of the CGFM credential, Aliferis is looking forward to
spreading the word to professionals and their employers about the
benefits of certification.
“I’ve been a proponent of a specialized certification
for government financial managers from the get-go and now I’m
getting to walk the walk since I’ve been talking the
talk.”
Aliferis joins the AGA National Office after a long career at the
U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), holding several management
positions, including directing the Special Projects Office and director
of Operations at the Accounting and Information Management Division.
While he served as director of the Office of International Audit
Organization Liaison, GAO colleague Jeffrey C. Steinhoff, CGFM, who was
then AGA’s National President, introduced the CGFM Program.
“I was one of those people that went to Jeff behind the scenes
all the time and said it was a wonderful thing.” In fact,
Aliferis was one of AGA’s first CGFMs, with certificate No. 151.
Click here to read the entire article.
CGFM Exam 3 Study Guide Now
Available!
Be sure to
order the new Study Guide for CGFM Exam 3: Governmental Financial
Management and Control to help in your preparation for the
examination. Click here
to learn more.
 ORDER NOW!
A Primer on Internal Controls and Auditing: Crucial to Government and
the Economy
By: Wanda A. Wallace, Ph.D., CPA, CMA,
CIA
Internal control has never been optional, and now an easy-to-read
resource directed to a wide audience is available to understand both
what is meant by "internal control" and how an
“audit” is conducted. Click
here to order your copy.
Computer-Based Auditing Tools & Techniques—A Special
Supplement to the Summer 2005 Journal
Auditors everywhere rely on a
variety of computer-based tools and techniques to get their jobs done.
The supplement will be bagged and mailed along with the Summer 2005
Annual Technology issue of the Journal of Government Financial
Management.
Click here for more information.
|