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Highlights  Looking for Ways to Strengthen Your Agency’s Performance Reporting? Don’t miss AGA’s Third Annual National Performance Management Conference (PMC), set for Sept. 24 – 25 at the Embassy Suites Phoenix/Scottsdale Golf Resort, to sharpen your performance reporting techniques. Take advantage of this once-a-year opportunity to network with industry experts, learn from speakers honored with AGA’s Certificate of Achievement in SEA Reporting and earn 14 CPE hours.
Book Hotel Room Speakers include:
Don’t miss the opportunity to bring invaluable performance management strategies back to your government entity. We look forward to seeing you in Phoenix! Transitional Leadership Audio
Conference Set for Thursday
Register online
Lodging Is Now Open for PDC 2008 The conference will take place at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, located at 265 Peachtree Center Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30303. This newly renovated hotel is conveniently located in the heart of downtown, just a few blocks from restaurants, nightlife and many area attractions, including the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, CNN Center, Philips Arena and the Georgia Dome. Room rate is $129 (plus tax) for single and double occupancy. Rates are guaranteed until July 6, 2008, or until the block is sold out. We encourage you to make your hotel reservations early, for the best price and availability.
Information about the agenda, speakers, technical sessions, registration and travel discounts will be available later this year. Stay tuned to the website for more information. We look forward to seeing you!
AGA Advertising Opportunities!
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Volume 47: Issue 17, September 17, 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, Richard L.
Fair, CGFM Dave Hancox, CGFM, CIA, director of State Audits, Office of the State Comptroller in New York, discussed how auditors must change audit techniques to do a better job in combating fraud. He suggested that combating fraud was but half the battle for government auditors. Dave believes the real challenge for accountability professionals is combating government waste. It was that single comment that led to this article. In state government, as in the private sector, all our policies, procedures, regulations and laws are written to prevent fraud. They outline the punishment for those who commit fraud. Similar documents do not exist for waste. Federal legislation and guidance address both fraud and waste, but there are no legislated punishments for those who allow waste. In New Jersey, a former state official was found guilty of misconduct and using state employees to run her private law practice. The total cost to taxpayers was estimated to be around $100,000. Although she has yet to be sentenced, she faces $165,000 in criminal fines, disbarment and 15 years in prison. Also in New Jersey, a recent series of studies concluded that a government agency responsible for overseeing billions of dollars of school construction projects wasted tens of millions due to lax oversight and poor management. The senior management of that agency was forced to resign and return to their private sector positions. Which situation cost the taxpayers in New Jersey more? I believe we need to do a better job of defining and punishing government waste. All of us in the accountability profession have seen waste but ignored it because the ultimate outcome is not consistent with the offense. I believe it is time for us to tackle this issue and to treat waste the same way we treat fraud—as a criminal offense!
AGA’s 2007-08 Member-Get-A-Member
Campaign We Have a Dream Every time a new member joins AGA, we are made stronger. More members mean a greater ability for AGA to help you achieve your professional aspirations through excellent educational programming and top-notch networking. Don’t forget—your dreams for your career are our dreams. We are committed to helping our members reach their professional goals. We invite each AGA member to recruit at least one new member in this year’s Member-Get-A-Member Campaign. Show off your enthusiasm with firsthand accounts of how your AGA membership has been a great investment in your professional development and career! The excitement is contagious. AGA is on track to have a positive net growth of membership for the third year in a row, and with your help we can do it. Remember, EVERY member who sponsors new members is eligible for prizes and recognition in the We Have a Dream campaign. Why you? We have found that the majority of new members join AGA because a colleague recommended AGA membership to them. You probably do this frequently, maybe without even realizing you are officially "recruiting." Just be sure to have handy an AGA membership application or know the AGA website. And don’t forget to include your name in the ‘sponsor’ line on the membership application to receive credit. Click here for all the details and prize information. School’s Back in Session—Help AGA Promote
the Government Finance Case Challenge and Earn Chapter Recognition
Points for Your Chapter Student teams will collaboratively analyze and offer a written response to a case centered on how a U.S. city government implements a performance management system. The registration deadline is Friday, Oct. 12, 2007. All members of the two highest-scoring teams will receive a scholarship to attend AGA's National Leadership Conference, set for Feb. 21 - 22, 2008 in Washington, D.C. Teams will present their final solutions before a panel of federal/state/local government leaders, corporate partners and CFOs on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008. The winning teams will be announced at the Corporate Partner Reception on Thursday evening. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winning team. Each student participant will receive a free one-year membership to AGA. Students will compete with teams from various colleges and universities around the country. The experience promises to challenge students' moral reasoning, raise their awareness of the importance of government accountability and open doors to a future career in government. Visit AGA's website to learn more or to register. If you have any questions about this event, contact
Jennifer Curtin at 800.AGA.7211, ext. 340. CGFM is Rewarded with Raise at Missouri State
Auditor’s Office “We recognize it as being a standard that shows excellence in the profession,” said John Blattel, a member of AGA’s Mid-Missouri Chapter and the Director of Audits over performance audits at the Missouri State Auditor's office. Blattel said the continuing professional education is a “big deal” at the State Auditor’s office, one of the biggest state employers of auditing and accounting professionals. Employees are required to earn at least 40 CPE hours every year, but they are encouraged to do more and become certified. Employees can make an additional $150 every month if they earn one of these credentials: the CGFM, Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) or Certified Internal Auditor (CIA). These credentials are in addition to the support the State Auditor's office provides for those employees who become Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). Read more. Maricopa County Publishes Four-Page Report
to Citizens—Answers the Call for Accountability The report will be highlighted in a technical session at the September Performance Management Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. View an advance copy of the report. Momentum continues to build! More and more governments are seeing the importance of this type of reporting to their citizens. Why not be on the cutting edge and add your government to the growing list? It does not take a super-human effort to put a four page report together. Most, if not all, of the information is readily available on government websites and in published reports. Plus, AGA has developed a Content Guidelines Template outlining what information should be included on each page as well as a Design Guidelines Template outlining the physical layout of the report. Questions/Suggestions? Please contact Susan Fritzlen. Check out the entire program, including completed reports, on AGA's website. Now Accepting Nominations for the
William R. Snodgrass Distinguished Leadership Award and Other Leadership
Awards Presented at the 2008 NLC DoD's Tina W. Jonas to Headline AGA
Breakfast Registration, including a delicious breakfast, is FREE for government executives, but space is limited, so register today! For more information, please contact Susan Fritzlen. Government Executive Registration Form AGA Corporate Partner Registration Form
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© Association of Government Accountants 2007 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. |
AGA
has a dream. We have a dream of a stronger, more visible Association
that can serve you better. AGA has a vision of an Association with
more power to help you achieve your professional dreams. You can
help make that possible—and be rewarded for it too! How? Participate
in the We Have a Dream campaign and you’ll find yourself eligible
for fantastic prizes, including AGA Dollars, Bose audio equipment,
meeting registrations and get-aways!
The
best undergraduate accounting/financial management students in the
country are invited to compete in AGA’s new Government Finance Case
Challenge.
The
Missouri State Auditor’s Office has begun offering salary increases to
employees who earn the CGFM certification.