Highlights

Register Early and Save for May 10 Audio Conference on Performance Auditing
In the wake of government and corporate frauds and scandals, accountability professionals conducting performance audits of government programs and operations are under the microscope. What are the barriers to planning, conducting and reporting audit and program evaluation results that will lead to positive changes in government operations? To discuss these issues at all government levels is Drummond Kahn, CGFM, Director of Audit Services, City of Portland, OR; Jerry Barber, Assistant Comptroller, New York State Office of the State Comptroller; and Pam Tumler, Senior Analyst, U.S. Government Accountability Office, Denver, CO. They will be speaking at a May 10 audio conference, “Performance Auditing: Planning, Conducting and Reporting Results in Today’s Environment.” AGA, in conjunction with NASACT and NALGA, is offering the audio conference, worth 2 CPE hours, at 2 - 3:50 p.m. EDT May 10. Cost is $249 per site (unlimited attendance) if you register on or before May 5, 2006, and $299 afterward. Register online.

If you have any questions regarding registration, please contact Maria Lucas. Questions regarding the program content should be directed to Raymond Harris, CGFM.

Registration Now Open for AGA’s New Fraud Conference
Join us in Atlanta for AGA’s First National Internal Control & Fraud Conference, to be held September 25-26, 2006 at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta Hotel.

With a theme of "Fraud Prevention and Detection: The Newest Tools and Techniques," the conference will focus on management's responsibility for ensuring a good system of internal controls and the role of all accountability professionals in minimizing the risk of fraud, waste and abuse. Hear from leaders in government and private industry who will discuss the latest discovery techniques and lessons learned from various schemes, and how different levels of government are cooperating to improve services to citizens.

Corporate Partner Spotlight: SofTec Solutions, Inc.
SofTec Solutions specializes in ERP and Information Technology services for the Commercial and Public Sector.

The Department of Interiors’ National Business Center has achieved certification by OMB as a “Center of Excellence”; which now processes payroll and assists with providing ERP services to between 20 and 30 agencies. The SofTec team has been performing the lion’s share of this implementation effort.

NBC needed a partner that could provide technical and functional expertise to support the full life cycle of Oracle Federal Financials acquisition, requirements analysis, infrastructure development, implementation, testing, training, and support.

To determine if we may be able to assist you, please visit us at www.softecinc.com. Call our President,
Hemal Jhaveri
PH: 303.662.1010
hemal@softecinc.com

Volume 45: Issue 9, May 1, 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.

PDC Early Registration Deadline Quickly Approaching—Register Now & Save!
The early registration deadline for PDC 2006 is quickly approaching. Don't miss your chance to save money— register by May 19, 2006. After May 19, fees will increase to $900 for AGA members and $1100 for nonmembers. You can register online or print the registration form to register by fax or mail. Advance registration discounts apply to all forms received before May 19.

25 CPE Hours, An Outstanding Technical Program—This Year's Program Is Not To Be Missed!

AGA’s PDC features an impressive line-up of dynamic speakers who will share best practices and lessons learned while equipping you with the knowledge you need to become more effective. Join us to hear from the top financial management leaders and industry experts. This year’s speakers include:

Wesley Glenn Bush, Corporate Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Northrop Grumman Corporation
Christopher P. Gardner, Founder and President and CEO, Gardner Rich & Company, Inc. and subject of “The Pursuit of Happiness,” an upcoming film starring Will Smith
Peter A. Harkness, Editor and Publisher, Governing Magazine
Marianne M. Jennings, JD, Professor of Legal and Ethical Studies, Arizona State University
Rosario Marin, Secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency, State of California; Former Treasurer of the United States
Carlos Watson, Analyst, Columnist, and Host of Off Topic with Carlos Watson, CNN
David Zach, Futurist

You can view the complete list of sessions and conference schedule on our website or click on the links below.

If you can only choose one education event this year, make it AGA’s PDC. Show your commitment to a more accountable government. Register today!

Nine Agencies to Receive AGA's Prestigious CEAR Award
AGA is pleased to recognize the outstanding Fiscal Year 2005 performance and accountability reporting efforts of the following federal agencies, which are the recipients of the Certificate of Excellence in Accountability Reporting (CEAR):

Department of Education (3)
Department of the Interior (6)
Department of Labor (6)
Department of State (5)
Federal Aviation Administration (3)
Government Accountability Office (5)
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (5)
Patent and Trademark Office (4)
Social Security Administration (8)
The number in parenthesis after each agency indicates the number of years, including this year, that the agency has received the award.

Recipients will be recognized at a black-tie (preferred) awards dinner on May 24 in Washington, D.C.

AGA Announces 2006 National Award Recipients
Join the National Awards Committee in congratulating the recipients of the 2006 National Awards, which will be presented at the 54th Annual Professional Development Conference and Exposition June 18-21 in San Diego, CA. Past National Treasurer and former Executive Director Charles W. Culkin Jr., CGFM, is this year's recipient of AGA's highest honor, the Robert W. King Memorial Award. The quality of educational programming at the chapter level was so outstanding during the 2005-2006 program year that the National Awards Committee recognized for the first time three chapters in Group A (300 or more members) with the National Chapter Education Award. Click here to view the entire list of national award recipients.

Take the CGFM Examinations at the PDC
For the second year in a row, AGA is offering a great opportunity to take the CGFM Examinations and earn your CGFM at the annual Professional Development Conference & Exposition (PDC) in San Diego. Whether you've been thinking about earning your CGFM or have enrolled but found it difficult to find time to complete the three exams, this is your chance to get it done!

To help you reach that goal, we are offering a two-day Intensive Review Course on Thursday, June 15 and Friday, June 16 and an opportunity to take CGFM Examinations on June 17-19, 2006. The cost of the course is only $225 for qualified participants, and it offers 18 CPE hours. Special Bonus: the CGFM Examinations taken during this event are free of charge!

This course is designed as a supplement to previous preparation for the CGFM Examinations, so this event is perfect for those individuals who have already attended CGFM training courses or have been studying by using the CGFM study guides. Space is still available, but enrollment is limited and participants must first apply and be accepted into the CGFM Program, so don't delay.

More information and a registration form for this event are available on the AGA website. If you have any questions, contact Katya Silver at 800.AGA.7211, ext. 305.

AGA Member Needs Assessment Survey—Help Us to Help You!
As part of our ongoing effort to ensure that your AGA membership is as valuable as possible, a Member Needs Assessment Survey will be launched in May. This survey will be administered and tabulated by Industry Insights, Inc., an independent research firm. The 15-minute survey will provide AGA with valuable information about your interests and needs, and what you are looking for in a professional association. Your confidential surveys will go directly to Industry Insights, which will report responses in composite only. So, watch for your invitation to take the survey. Together we can bring the Association to even greater heights!

AGA Corporate Partners—59 Members Strong!
We are pleased to welcome our newest Corporate Partners to the AGA family: Cotton & Company LLP, EAM Inc./Mosley and Associates, Oversight Systems, SAS, Unisys, US Bank and VISTA. In total, AGA has 59 Corporate Partners, including public accounting firms, major system integrators, IT companies, management consulting firms, financial services organizations and education and training companies. These organizations all have long-term commitments to advancing government accountability and choose to partner with and help AGA move forward as the thought leader in the government community.

The mission of the Corporate Partner Program is to bring private sector and government executives together to exchange information, support professional development, improve communications and understanding, solve issues and build partnership and trust. Like AGA, the private sector is interested in improving the financial health of governments at all levels. The private sector offers services and products that can help government accountability professionals do their jobs more efficiently and effectively. Check out all of the Corporate Partners.

Just Published AGA Research Report—Get Your Free Copy!
AGA’s Thought Leadership Series continues with a fourth published report, The Federal Purchase Card: Use, Policy and Best Practice. This report summarizes the findings of a study of purchase card (government issued charge cards used for purchases) use by federal government agencies.This study is the first research into the topic to focus solely on federal use of procurement cards. The study is part one of a four-part series. We expect that the full study when completed will provide helpful guidance on best practices for card use in the federal government community. The subsequent three phases of this AGA study series will review purchase card use by state and local governments; the travel card-government issued charge cards used for travel by federal government agencies; and the travel card used by state and local governments.If you would prefer a hardcopy, please contact Susan Fritzlen.

Nashville Chapter Goes the Extra Mile for CGFM
AGA’s Nashville Chapter has pulled off its own version of a hat trick: gaining high-level recognition of the CGFM credential three times this year. March was proclaimed CGFM Month by the governor, Tennessee General Assembly and Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County government. The proclamation signed by Governor Phil Bredesen says in part that chapter members “are making significant advances both in professional ability and in service to the citizens of Tennessee by mastering increasingly technical and complex requirements.” With the help of Comptroller of the Treasury John Morgan, this was the second year the chapter was able to persuade the governor to acknowledge the CGFM through the proclamation. Read the story.

Save the Dates!
AGA’s Second National Performance Management Conference is taking shape with the theme Integrating Measurement with Management: Making the Connection. Be sure to get connected with this conference on Oct. 30-31, 2006 in Schaumburg, IL, just north of the Chicago O’Hare Airport. Topics will include integration, managing for results and connecting management with measures. This is an excellent opportunity to talk with others who have struggled with how to report on Service Efforts and Accomplishments. Watch the AGA website for more information coming soon! Download and print the registration form.

Member News
Abraham D. Akresh, CGFM, a member of AGA's Washington, D.C. Chapter, was appointed by Comptroller General of the United States David M. Walker, CPA, to be senior level expert for Auditing Standards in the U.S. Government Accountability Office's Financial Management and Assurance division.

Michael D. Durda, CDFA, CPA, a member of AGA’s Northern Virginia Chapter, has been promoted to the position of GS-13 team leader in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Agency-Wide Financial Statements Division. Durda joined DoD’s Office of Inspector General almost five years ago and served in various positions, including acting team leader. Durda also recently received the “Auditor of the Quarter” award for the first quarter of FY 2006.

Send your Member Happenings to Chris Camara for inclusion in future issues of TOPICS!

Chapter News
Community Service Photo contest submissions are due today! For your chance at a free registration to the PDC, e-mail your entries today!

AGA Advertising Opportunities!
Advertise in AGA's electronic newsletters—TOPICS and AGA Today! Get maximum exposure and build your brand. Find all the information you need to run your ad! Or, you can contact AGA's Director of Communications, Marie Force.

AGA Staff List

AGA Membership Application

CGFM Application

Other AGA links
CGFM Certification—Take the CGFM Exams today!

Disclaimer: AGA serves government accountability professionals by providing quality education, fostering professional development and certification, and supporting standards and research to advance government accountability. If you would like to opt off of future AGA mailings, please e-mail agawebmaster@agacgfm.org. Thank you.