Highlights
Audit Efficiency Focus of Next Audio
Conference
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 its latest audio conference,
Conducting Performance Audits Efficiently: Tools and Techniques to
Improve Performance Audit Productivity. The audio conference,
worth 2 CPE hours, is set for 2 – 3:50 p.m., EST, Nov. 14.
How can audit offices efficiently use their limited
resources to produce timely and high-quality performance audit reports?
You'll learn the latest tools and techniques from two leaders in
government performance auditing: Drummond Kahn, CGFM, CIA, CGAP,
Director of Audit Services for Portland, OR; and Leslie Tanaka,
CPA, City Auditor for the City and County of Honolulu, HI.
Cost is $249 per site (unlimited attendance) if you
register on or before Nov. 9, and $299 thereafter.
Register online or print the
registration form and fax it to 703.684.6933
View the entire audio conference schedule.
Call for Nominations for AGA
National and Regional Leaders
Interested in the opportunity to shape the Association’s programs,
advance your profession, and represent members’ interests in the
government accountability community? Submit your nomination today for
these National Board of Directors positions: National President-Elect;
National Treasurer-Elect; Senior Vice President for Regional Services -
Section III; Senior Vice President At-Large; Regional Vice
Presidents-Elect.
For more information, visit the
governance section of AGA’s website. Nominations are due to
Michiyo Wheeler by Friday, Oct. 26, 2007.
Training Opportunities
Looking for a Job?
AGA Accepting Nominations for William R.
Snodgrass Distinguished Leadership Award and Others
Do you know a state government professional
who exemplifies and promotes excellence in government financial
management and has demonstrated outstanding leadership in enhancing
sound financial management legislation, regulations, practices, policies
and systems? Nominate your candidate for AGA’s William R. Snodgrass
Distinguished Leadership Award today. All leadership award nominations
must be submitted electronically to
Michiyo Wheeler by Friday, Oct. 26, 2007.
Visit the website for information on the other leadership awards.
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Volume 47: Issue 19, October 15, 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.
DoD's Tina W. Jonas to Headline AGA
Breakfast
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
7:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Marriott Metro Center, Washington, D.C.
Last Chance to Sign Up—Limited
Space Available
Have your morning coffee and eggs on us! Network
with your peers at the Meet the Financial Management Policy-Makers
breakfast. AGA Executive Director Relmond Van Daniker, DBA, CPA,
will moderate a discussion with Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)
and Chief Financial Officer Tina W. Jonas of the U.S.
Department of Defense. Questions will be taken from the audience after
the discussion. Federal chief financial officers, chief information
officers, inspectors general and representatives from the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) and Government Accountability Office (GAO)
will participate along with AGA Corporate Partners.
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
AGA Launches Project to Improve Intergovernmental
Cooperation
 AGA
welcomes Helena Sims to the National Office staff as
the director of Intergovernmental Relations. Sims will staff the
Partnership for Intergovernmental Management and Accountability, a new
group that has been established by AGA to develop cooperative approaches
for improving the performance and accountability of intergovernmental
programs.
The group, which is co-chaired by Martin J.
Benison, CGFM, comptroller, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and
Thomas N. Cooley, CFO of the National Science Foundation, met
for the first time Oct. 12 to discuss goals and specific projects.
Sims said the group’s formation stemmed from
discussions during the executive session at AGA’s 2007 Professional
Development Conference & Exposition in Nashville. Attendees from state,
local and federal governments broke into four groups to discuss how all
three levels of government and the private sector could work better
together to solve emerging issues in financial management. Through those
discussions came a clear call for better communication and sharing of
information.
Read more.
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, ext. 262, or e-mail
bill.hughes@morganfranklin.com.
AGA's Education Department
Announces New Single Audit Course
Many entities have questioned the quality of Single Audits that are
conducted in accordance with OMB Circular A-133. In June 2007, the Audit
Committee of the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency
(PCIE) and the Executive Council on Integrity and Efficiency
(ECIE) issued a report to OMB on the results of its National Single
Audit Sampling Project. After reviewing a statistical sample of
208 Single Audits, they found that more than half the reports were
either unacceptable or “of limited reliability." AGA is offering a
two-day course that focuses on the needed areas of improvement
identified by the project. Single Audits (A-133): Bridging the
Expectation Gap will cover concerns expressed about Single Audits,
internal controls, federal cross-cutting requirements and specific
program requirements. Bring this course, which can be customized to meet
your needs, to your organization by calling
Joe Jozefczyk at 800.AGA.7211, ext. 307.
CGFM Gets Another Boost in Tennessee
Tennessee is already one of the states that
formally recognize the Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)
designation. Now, new legislation makes the CGFM certification even more
valuable. “Tennessee is the only state in the country that requires all
municipalities to produce financial statements conforming to Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles,” said Ron Queen, MA, CGFM, CPA,
Manager of the Division of Local Finance, Office of the Comptroller of
the Treasury. “A sophisticated level of knowledge is needed to handle
accounting standards that change frequently and complicated financial
transactions such as variable rate debt and derivatives.”
Read the entire article.
AGA Receives Sloan Foundation
Support to Expand SEA Program
The Alfred P.
Sloan Foundation has agreed to fund two new components to
AGA's Service Efforts and Accomplishments Program in the amount of
$260,000 over two years. The funding award, announced Thursday, will be
used to conduct two training programs and to produce a How-to Tool
Kit, which will offer a step-by-step guide for government officials
on preparing performance reports. The took kit will be updated
frequently to include suggested practices, practical applications and
case studies. For more information about AGA's SEA Program contact
Eveanna Barry, director of Performance Reporting, at 800.AGA.2711,
ext. 324.
AGA Advertising Opportunities!
Advertise in AGA's electronic newsletters—TOPICS and AGA
Today! Get maximum exposure and build your brand.
Find out what's available in an upcoming issue.
Click here for all the information you need to run your ad. Or, you
can contact April Force Pardoe. |
