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Highlights

Ethics Audio Conference Set For Wednesday
AGA, in conjunction with the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers (NASACT), and the Association of Local Government Auditors (ALGA), is pleased to announce a new audio conference addressing ethical challenges and dilemmas in today’s work environment. This audio conference, set for 2 – 3:50 p.m. EDT Wednesday, May 9 is worth 2 CPE hours. Topics will include ethical risk-taking, working within your organization, handling ethical dilemmas and managing your workplace ethics, as well as provide you with practical approaches for these workplace situations. To discuss the ethics challenge are two industry experts: Alan Goodman, Master Trainer for the Institute for Global Ethics, and Leon Young, Associate Professor at the University of Maryland University College. Cost is $299 per site.

View the audio conference schedule.

Get to Know Your AGA Corporate Partner
CACI provides the information technology (IT) and network solutions needed for today’s new era of defense, intelligence, and e-government. From systems integration and managed network solutions to knowledge management, engineering, simulation, and information assurance, we deliver the IT applications and infrastructures that help our government work smarter, faster, and more responsively.

One of CACI’s key areas of expertises federal financial systems and consulting services. We offer exceptional capabilities to support agency planning, programming, budgeting, and execution (PPBE) processes … fully integrating the entire PPBE cycle by using the combined resources of commercial and government off-the-shelf products and custom software solutions. CACI provides experienced and certified financial managers coupled with system integration services to implement Financial Systems Integration Office (FSIO) compliant solutions that work for you.

Talk to us about your needs, and let us show you how we can help.

Please contact:
Larry Ferguson
CACI Vice President
703.961.5136
lferguson@caci.com

Case Challenge Effort Under Way
The AGA National Office will begin marketing its first-ever Government Finance Case Challenge to colleges and universities from May through October. AGA aims to educate colleges about career options in government financial management; inform colleges about AGA; and invite them to participate in this free event.

We need your assistance with this effort. If your chapter has a connection with a local college or university, please consider contacting the institution to introduce this competition. Find more information on AGA's website.

Chapter News
Congratulations to all AGA chapters on another successful year! Chapter Recognition Program results will soon be e-mailed to chapter presidents.

Member Happenings
Harvey C. Eckert, CPA, a member of AGA's Central Pennsylvania Chapter and a member of AGA's National Executive Committee, has announced his retirement as comptroller, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Eckert's nearly 25-year career in Pennsylvania government spanned five governors. Michael J. Masch, secretary of the budget, called Eckert a "role model for all who choose public service as a career." Read the Masch's memo. AGA wishes Harvey a long and happy retirement!

The following members of AGA's Nashville Chapter have retired over the past year or are planning to retire in the next few months. Congratulations to:
Arthur L. Alexander Jr., CGFM, Director of County Audit, Comptroller of the Treasury, State of Tennessee; Shirley Henry, CGFM, Division of State Audit, Comptroller of the Treasury, State of Tennessee; James Porter, Division of Accounts, Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee. Alexander and Henry were founding members of the Nashville Chapter.

Reginald E. Davis, a member of AGA's Washington, D.C. Chapter, has died. He joined AGA in 2003 and worked at the National Institutes of Health.

Volume 47: Issue 9, May 7, 2007

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.

From the National President, Jeffrey S. Hart, CGFM, CFE

Need some financial help to get to New Orleans to work with Habitat for Humanity on behalf of AGA? For the first 10 members who sign up, AGA will match up to 50 percent of your airfare, not to exceed $200/person, with the member or their chapter contributing the other 50 percent. (Note: National and regional AGA officers are encouraged to come but are not eligible for matching funds.) For those who have not been following this project, Capital Region Vice President Karl Boettcher, CGFM, and I are organizing a trip to offer support to victims of Hurricane Katrina as they continue to put their lives back together. I first announced the project in my April 9 TOPICS column. AGA members, their families and friends are encouraged to join me, Karl, Past National President Charles Harrison, CGFM, members of the New Orleans Chapter and hopefully many others for a day, a weekend or the whole week beginning Monday morning June 4 and ending Saturday evening June 9. Read more from President Hart.

Register Now and Save; PDC Early Registration Deadline is May 25
The early registration deadline for PDC 2007 is quickly approaching. Don't miss your chance to save $100 by registering by May 25. After that date, fees will increase to $900 for AGA members and $1,100 for nonmembers. Registration couldn’t be easier. 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 25, 2007.

PDC Speaker Biographies Now Online
Looking for more information on the speakers at this year’s PDC in Nashville? Take a look at our impressive lineup of speakers, and check back often. Speaker biographies will be updated on an ongoing basis.

Bios: A-J

Bios: K-Z

TOPICS is Brought to You by the County of Orange, California
Senior Internal Auditor I & Senior Internal Auditor II
Want to join an Audit Team that:

Received the IIA’s Award of Excellence in 2005?
Passed its last three Peer Reviews?
Has a staff of experienced, highly credentialed auditors?
Performs a variety of challenging assignments?

The County of Orange Internal Audit Department is seeking to hire a Senior Internal Auditor I and a Senior Internal Auditor II. These positions allow for great benefits, flexible schedules, and NO travel. If you are interested, please check our website for details or contact Vangie Ortiz at (714) 834-5497.

Take the CGFM Examinations Before the PDC
Don't miss the opportunity to take the CGFM Examinations and earn your CGFM before the annual Professional Development Conference (PDC) in Nashville, TN. AGA is offering a two-day Intensive Review Course on Thursday, June 21, and Friday, June 22, and an opportunity to take CGFM Examinations on June 23-24. The cost of the course is only $249 for qualified participants, and it offers 18 CPE hours. Special Bonus: the CGFM Examinations are offered at no cost to course attendees.

This course is designed as a supplement to previous preparation for the CGFM Examinations, so this is a perfect opportunity for those individuals who have already attended GFM training courses or have been preparing by using the CGFM Study Guides. 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 AGA website. If you have any questions, contact Katya Silver at 800.AGA.7211 ext. 305 or ksilver@agacgfm.org.

Government Career Holds Enduring Appeal for Cleveland Chapter President
Jason Denmeade knew he wanted to serve his country by his junior year in high school. Denmeade's grandfather, who served in the Navy, was an early influence, and by 17 Denmeade had signed up in the Navy's delayed entry program. Few teenagers are that focused and sure of themselves, but he never wavered. After seven years as a Naval shipboard accountant and military police officer, he wanted to continue his commitment.

"I've always been a big proponent for working for the government, and after active duty I still wanted to serve my country but in a different capacity," Denmeade said. "Now I support those that are the warfighters, making sure they get paid."

Denmeade, now 32 and president of AGA's Cleveland Chapter, is a staff accountant at the Defense Finance and Accounting Service's (DFAS) Cleveland Center. At the SOT Reconciliation Branch, he manages part of the massive Defense Cash Accountability System, working toward reducing accounting errors and increasing efficiency. Read the entire article.

TOPICS is Brought to You by AGA Corporate Partner MorganFranklin
A-123 Invigorated!
You’ve relied on it for years. Yet today’s stewards of fiscal accountability are forced to accomplish more with less. A fresh perspective on A-123 is required. Consider this: achieving A-123 compliance while reducing costs and increasing program effectiveness must become your standard for success. A-123 Invigorated—Think MorganFranklin. For information on our Federal solutions call 703-564-7525 x262 or email bill.hughes@morganfranklin.com.

Register Now for AGA's Upcoming Fraud Conference
Registration is now open for AGA’s Second Annual National Internal Control & Fraud Conference, to be held September 10-11, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta Hotel in Atlanta, GA.

With a theme of "Combating Fraud: Strategies for Success," 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.

The “Fraud Conference” will bring together leaders from all levels of government, the private sector and academia. In addition to an outstanding technical program, this event offers unparalleled opportunities to network, exchange ideas and share best practices with colleagues and friends.

Opinions Sought on Usefulness of SAS 70 Reports
The AGA Corporate Partner Advisory Group (CPAG) Research Program is evaluating the usefulness of SAS 70 reports for a research project that will identify recommendations to make these reports more useful. SAS 70, “Reports on the Processing of Transactions by Service Organizations," are issued in accordance with Section 324 of the Professional Standards of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). SAS 70 reports are used by numerous federal and state agencies in connection with outsourced systems and services.

If you are interested in being part of this research effort, you can complete the survey online. Whether you are a user of SAS 70 reports, a service provider, an auditor or other financial management professional, your opinions on this are important to us. You can answer the questions in stages if you wish. Just make sure you do not click the DONE button until you have completed all the questions you wish to answer. Be assured that your name and that of your organization will not be used in any publication or presentation materials without your specific permission.

Seeking Your Ideas on Financial Management
AGA is conducting its annual survey of federal financial management leaders. What are your top priorities for government financial management? Do you have an opinion on the value of federal annual financial reports? What worries you the most about the future of government financial management? Already, we have collected the opinions of top federal CFOs, deputy CFOs and other executives. Add your ideas for a complete picture of what is wrong and right about federal financial management—and what leaders should do to improve it. AGA’s annual surveys of the federal financial management community are anonymous.

Attend a FREE XBRL Event on May 8
XBRL: Making Information Portable
FDIC/Seidman Center, Arlington, VA
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. EDT
Interactive data is quickly gaining support among key government organizations because its unique tagging properties allow it to free business and financial information from legacy systems and from separate operating platforms. Making data portable means that it can be made available to anyone, anywhere. XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) is a form of interactive data that allows users to leapfrog—to bypass the system itself and create more useable underlying data that can be used in any system. XBRL is not just for financial reporting—it’s for information reporting and can be used in virtually any kind of information processing environment. And most importantly, XBRL adoption is happening now. Contact govtconf@xbrl.us or view the event brochure.

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