Highlights
CPE
Opportunities
Looking for a Job?
Take Advantage of Early Registration
Rate for March 1 Audio Conference on SOX, Auditing
AGA, in conjunction with the National Association of State Auditors,
Comptrollers and Treasurers (NASACT), and the National Association of
Local Government Auditors (N.A.L.G.A.), is offering this audio
conference, worth 2 CPE hours, from 2–3:50 p.m. EST March 1.
Early registration ends Feb. 24. Speakers will cover the status of
audit and internal control efforts for state and local governments and
the possible effects of additional requirements. NASACT Executive
Director Kinney Poynter and Nancy A. Valley, CGFM, Partner and National
Industry Leader, KPMG LLP, will discuss these issues and the results of
a joint AGA/NASACT research project on this topic. Click here for more information. If you have any
questions regarding registration, please contact Julie Cupp. Questions regarding the
program should be directed to Raymond Harris, CGFM.
Corporate Partner Spotlight: UHY LLP
UHY LLP (also doing business as
Urbach Kahn & Werlin LLP), the16th largest accounting firm in the
U.S. according to the 2005 Top 100 Accounting Firms in Accounting
Today, with offices in 20 cities and 1,200 professionals located
throughout the U.S., offers its public sector clients the best of two
worlds--significant financial and IT audit and auditability experience
with governmental agencies coupled with expertise in implementation and
assessment of complex compliance requirements in the private sector.
UHY LLP recognizes the unique environments of each of our clients,
offering national solutions and capabilities through a teaming,
knowledge transfer approach. For additional information regarding our
financial statement, IT and internals controls audit and assessment
services, and our available Federal GSA Schedules, please call the
contact below.
Louisa Cocci Gantley
Marketing Director
UHY LLP (also doing business as UKW LLP)
1425 K Street, NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005
PH: 202.296.2020
lgantley@uhy-us.com
Highlights
from February 1, 2006 National Executive Committee Meeting
The National Executive Committee (NEC)
held its quarterly meeting prior to the Fourth Annual National
Leadership Conference, and approved AGA’s FY 07 budget. The NEC
also agreed to transfer $200,000 from the AGA Program Development
Reserve Fund to reestablish the operations of the Academy for
Government Accountability. Also, the policy for determining Lifetime
Member status was reviewed and a decision was made to reduce it by 10
years to 40 years of AGA membership.
Member
News
Kadee Griggs, a
member
of AGA’s Jackson Chapter, was recently promoted to chief of
accounting at the Veterans Administration Medical Center. She
previously worked at the state Department of Finance and
Administration.
Kenneth M. Mead, a
member of AGA's Washington, D.C. Chapter, and the recently retired U.S.
Department of Transportation Inspector General, was lauded in a
Washington Post article as being "A Government Watchdog
Who Led the Pack." Click here to read the article.
Eric A. Omerza, CGFM, a member of AGA’s
Jackson Chapter, has accepted a promotion as staff officer II at the
state Department of Finance and Administration. He currently works for
the state Department of Education.
Rani L. Oswalt, a member of AGA’s
Jackson Chapter, gave birth to a baby girl, Ava Ryleigh Oswalt, on
December 13, 2005.
Mack Shealy, CGFM, CPA,
CICA, a member of AGA's Atlanta Chapter, was recently
appointed to a three-year term as a member of the AICPA's
Government Performance and Accountability Committee (GPAC).
Send your Member Happenings to Chris Camara for inclusion in
future issues of TOPICS!
Chapter
News
As you elect new chapter officers during
the next few weeks, keep them up to date with AGA information related
to their position. Click here to submit new officers with the
Chapter Officer Directory.
Register Today for the Southeastern Region
PDC
Join AGA members in Nashville on March 16-17, 2006 at the Gaylord
Opryland Resort and Convention Center. With the theme
“Open Government – Public Trust and
Accountability” the PDC will provide 16 CPE hours. Click here to access the brochure
and online registration information. |
Volume 45: Issue
4, February 21, 2006
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.
See You in San Diego!
 Make plans
now to attend AGA’s 55th Annual Professional Development
Conference & Exposition (PDC). With the theme “Navigating the
Way to Citizen-Centered Government,” the PDC promises to be an
excellent learning and networking opportunity for government financial
managers and accountability professionals.
Education sessions will provide technical
training, emerging trend snapshots and leadership secrets from the best
in the business. Speakers will explain current regulations, describe
future challenges, and share lessons learned in disaster recovery and
finance, among many other topics. Concurrent sessions will be organized
around the following six tracks:
- Envisioning 2015: The Future of the
Accountability Profession
- Building and Sustaining Strong Internal
Controls
- State and Local
Governments—Challenges, Strategies and Innovations
- Improving Public Performance: Transforming
Data into Results
- Intergovernmental Financial Management:
Collaboration or Frustration?
- Technology, Tools and Techniques for the
21st Century
In addition to an outstanding technical
program, AGA’s PDC provides unparalleled opportunities to
network, exchange ideas with your peers and meet new friends. The
Exhibit Hall connects you with the industry’s leading suppliers,
eager to showcase cutting-edge technologies, products and services to
help you to become more effective.
Chapter Leaders! Plan to
attend the workshops presented by national office staff on CGFM,
Membership, Education, Communications and Chapter
Development/Assistance. More information to come!
Register today and secure your place at the
government financial management education event of the year!
2006 Call for National Awards
Nominations
AGA's National Awards Committee is
now accepting nominations for our 10 National Awards to recognize the
leaders advancing our profession and setting the standards of
excellence:
- Robert W. King Memorial Award
- Einhorn-Gary Award
- Frank Greathouse Distinguished Leadership
Award
- Achievement of the Year Award
- Educator Award
- Cornelius E. Tierney/Ernst & Young
Research Award
- Special Achievement Award
- Chapter Service Award
- Chapter Education Award
- Community Service Award
These awards will be presented during
AGA's Professional Development Conference and Exposition in San Diego,
CA, June 18-21, 2006. In many cases, individuals do not have to be
members of AGA to be eligible. All nominations are due by Friday, March
3, 2006. Click here
for all nomination forms or for more information contact Rosanna
Ortiz at rortiz@agacgfm.org
TOPICS is Brought to
You by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
 The
Federal Bureau of Investigation is currently seeking to fill the
position of Deputy Section Chief of Accounting. The Deputy Section
Chief (DSC) of the FBI’s Accounting Section is the
organization’s second-most-senior accounting executive. The DSC
serves as a senior advisor to the Chief Financial Officer and other top
executives on all accounting matters and provides leadership for the
Accounting Section staff of approximately 100 financial professionals.
Salary range for this position is $107,521.00 TO $139,744.00. For a
detailed job description please visit our website https://www.fbijobs.gov/ and refer
to Vacancy Announcement #12-2006-0019 (Title: Supervisory
Accountant/Deputy Section Chief). In addition, candidates may also
submit a resume and cover letter to Kimberly Page at kpage2@leo.gov.
AGA Now Accepting 2006 Scholarship
Applications
Are you or a family member pursuing
undergraduate or graduate studies in disciplines such as accounting,
auditing, budgeting, economics, finance, information technology, public
administration, etc.? If so, consider applying for an AGA National
Academic Scholarship today!
Each year, AGA awards:
- Up to six $1,000 full-time merit
scholarships to AGA members and their family members,
- Up to two $500 part-time merit
scholarships
to AGA members and their family members, and
- One $1,000 community service
scholarship
The deadline for receipt
of applications is March 31, 2006. Apply now and take full
advantage of your AGA membership. Click here to download
a copy of the scholarship application or contact Rosanna Ortiz.
Brand New
Sponsor Tops Leader Board with 15 Recruits
 Douglas Ziegenfuss, CGFM, a member of the
Virginia Peninsula Chapter, recruited 15 new members in January,
sending him into the lead as AGA Top Recruiter in this year’s
Member-Get-A-Member campaign—Go For Growth! Not far
behind is Jose Lebron, Puerto Rico Chapter, who has
recruited 13 new members. Cecelia Smith, also with the
Virginia Peninsula Chapter, is up next with 12 new members recruited.
It’s a close race with plenty of time for more recruits before
the closing date of April 30, 2006! Click here
for all of the details, including prize information.
TOPICS is Brought
to
You by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector
General
Deputy Assistant Inspector
General (AIG) for Financial Management Audits. Washington, DC –
Salary Range $109,808 – $165,200. If selected for this senior
executive position, you will be responsible for managing and directing
the auditing (evaluating and reviewing) of financial, procurement, and
acquisition management activities within the Department. The vacancy
announcement contains specific information regarding the position and
application process. Click here to view a
copy of the announcement. All applications must be received no
later than c.o.b. March 3, 2006
Save
the Dates!
Plan to attend AGA's First National Internal Controls
& Fraud Conference, September 25–26, 2006 at the
Hyatt Regency, Atlanta, GA. Also, AGA's Second Annual National
Performance Management Conference is on the calendar for
October 30-31, at the Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center,
Schaumburg, IL. Watch the AGA website and future issues of TOPICS for
more information about both conferences!
NEC Approves Academy Bylaws
The Academy for Government
Accountability
is moving ahead as the Academy’s bylaws were approved by the
National Executive Committee on February 1, 2006. The
Academy’s mission is to support research and education
initiatives and advance thought leadership in bringing transparency and
accountability to government financial management. Building
relationships with government, business and academia is primary in
making the Academy a success. Click here to read more.
Intensive Review Course Success: 23
Candidates Complete all Three CGFM Examinations
 The
Intensive Review Course was again a big hit! Offered now for the second
time at the National Leadership Conference (NLC) in Washington D.C. on
February 1–2, it was once again sold out at 50
participants.
After attending the two-day review
course, the candidates tackled the CGFM Examinations over the next two
days (with some taking all three exams in one day!). As a result, 23 of
the participants passed all three (or finished up their remaining) CGFM
Examinations at this event—even more than at the similar event in
July of last year! Others passed one or two examinations and are on
their way to completing the CGFM process. Click here to read more.
2006 Online Survey for AGA
Members
AGA invites its members to join in
an online survey February15 through March 31, 2006. The survey asks
your opinions of and recommendations for improving financial services,
systems and structures in government organizations. The survey is
anonymous. Click here
to take the survey.
Help Needed to Design a Case
Competition
for Accounting Students
To promote careers in government, AGA is
looking for interested individuals who would like to build a case
competition to be showcased at major colleges and universities
across the country. The case competition will feature an actual
government financial management issue that an entity is currently
facing. The finished case will be presented to college students on
a weeknight with presentations by the students on the following
Saturday. Prizes will be awarded by AGA to the top
finalists. The competition will be open to all students
considering a career in the government financial management
industry. This competition will create exposure to numerous
college students. All those interested in developing this
case competition may be involved in such activities
as: researching other successful case competitions, developing the
actual case, contacting universities and colleges to present the
case competition, judging the cases, awarding prizes, or acting as
ambassadors for AGA and their own governmental agency. If you are
interested in this project, or if you have any questions, please
contact Jennifer I. Curtin, MPA at jcurtin@agacgfm.org, or at
800.AGA.7211, ext. 340.
Concord Coalition Invites AGA Members
to
Attend “Fiscal Wake-Up Tour” Events
Coming to Duke University on February
27-28, 2006. February 27, Panel Discussion and Town Hall Forum Federal
Budget Issues: The Debt and the Deficit, Social Security and Medicare.
Reception at 6:30 p.m., program at 7:30 p.m., Fleishman Commons,
Sanford Institute Building, Duke University. February 28, Breakfast
Round Table Discussion with Federal Budget Experts at 8 a.m. The
Washington Duke Hotel, 3001 Cameron Blvd., Durham, North Carolina. The
confirmed panelists are a distinguished group of experts from
Washington, D.C. including: David Walker, Comptroller General of the
United States, Diane Rogers of the Brookings Institution, Stuart Butler
of the Heritage Foundation, Robert Bixby, Executive Director of the
Concord Coalition. Please RSVP to Phil Smith at: psmith@concordcoalition.org or 404.584.0008.
Comptroller General Cites AGA in
Op-Ed
Comptroller General of the United States
David M. Walker, CPA, discussed his efforts to shed light on the
government's fiscal crisis, and listed AGA as a member of the Fiscal
Truth Squad. Click here to read the piece, which appeared in the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
20th ICGFM International Conference on
New Developments in Governmental Financial Management:
Examining Achievements and Exploring Opportunities
Join your financial management
colleagues for a stimulating week of discussions on challenges and
achievements in improving governance and in establishing a sound
foundation for sustainable development, May 8–12, 2006 in Miami,
FL. Click here to read more.
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.
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