Highlights
CPE
Opportunities
Looking for a Job?
AGA Hosts Successful First
Breakfast Meeting
On
December
7, more than 100 public and private sector executives gathered at the
National Press Club in Washington, D.C., to hear a discussion with Dr.
Linda Combs, Controller, U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
AGA and Government Executive magazine hosted this first in a
new series of breakfast meetings, "Meet the Financial Management
Policy-Makers." Click here to read
more about this event.
Stay tuned for information on the next
breakfast after the New Year!
CGFM: Multiple Benefits for Multiple
Clients
Why become a Certified
Government Financial Manager if you don’t work for
government?
The benefits of earning the CGFM for
government finance professionals are well known, but two members of
AGA’s Corporate Partner Advisory Group (CPAG) recently talked
about how the CGFM helps their private sector organizations and the
clients they serve.
AGA’s CPAG Program, which boasts more
than 50 corporate partners, brings together executives from industry
and government to exchange problems and solutions, build trust and work
together to make government more accountable. One message government
executives are hearing is that AGA’s CGFM credential is not only
a valuable addition to the resumes of government employees, but it also
helps professionals at private firms demonstrate their expertise to
work on government finance projects.
Click here to read about what two Corporate Partners have to
say about the benefits of CGFM.
Chapter News
Do you know that AGA has logos designed
especially for your chapter? Bring your chapter into conformity with
AGA's national corporate identity! From logos to chapter letterhead,
address labels, business cards and more, we've done all the work for
you! Click here
for guidelines and resources. Working with a major print shop? Your
home computer? We have all of the help you’ll need!
Correction
In last week's AGA Today, a link did not work properly
for Federal Accounting Corner, a monthly column by member Simcha
Kuritzky, CGFM, CPA. We regret the error. Click here to read the entire column.
New AGA Research Report: Get Your Free Copy!
Trends and Techniques is an
annual report on emerging issues in information technology and
financial management. The study covers compliance management, business
process management, project portfolio management, RFID and wireless
communications. The report analyzes each topical area and discusses its
implications for functional management.
The report is the product of a research
project sponsored by CSC’s Federal Consulting Practice. Andrew C.
West, CSC Partner for Functional Management Solutions, led this effort.
He was aided by Carlo D. Smith, Ph.D., Deborah J. Detwiler, CPA, and
Paul Kaman. Click here to download the report.
AGA Member Named One of Virginia’s ‘Super
CPAs’
Mark R. Frye, CGFM, CPA, a member of AGA’s Northern
Virginia Chapter, has been named a “Super CPA” by Virginia
Business magazine.
The magazine joined with the Virginia Society of CPAs to name
350 “best of the best” who have made important
contributions to the CPA profession and to the prosperity of Virginia.
Nominations were gathered from thousands of CPAs.
“I’m deeply honored and humbled to be recognized by
my mentors and peers as a Super CPA or at least a commendable
one,” said Frye, who is the director of Assurance Services at
Frye & Wolcott CPAs, with offices in Manassas and Leesburg.
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.
|
Volume 44: Issue 23, December 12, 2005
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
Sam M. McCall, MPA, CGFM, CPA, CIA, CGAP
 Most of you are busy this
time of year, and it’s been the same for me at work and as AGA
National President. In my last TOPICS message, I had just
returned from attending the joint meeting of the AGA Financial
Management Standards Board and the Governmental Accounting Standards
Board (GASB) in Norwalk, CT.
I then attended AGA’s First National
Performance Management Conference (PMC) in Portland, OR. The conference
was a tremendous success with more than 200 attendees hearing from
local and national experts on performance measurement reporting,
sparking lively discussions. AGA awarded Certificates of Recognition in
SEA Reporting to cities, counties and state agency organizations. Also,
AGA was honored that three of the seven GASB members attended the
conference, with GASB member Richard Tracy serving as a conference
co-chair, and GASB Chairman Bob Attmore, CGFM, and GASB member Cindy
Green making presentations. Click here to read more from the National
President.
Fair and Bennett Lead Nominating
Committee's 2006 Slate
Richard L. Fair, CGFM,
CPA, a member of the Trenton Chapter and State Auditor of New
Jersey, leads the slate as National President-Elect Designate.
David R. Bennett, CGFM, CPA, a member of the East
Tennessee Chapter and Assistant County Mayor/Finance Director, Blount
County Government, was chosen as National Treasurer-Elect
Designate.
Click here for the
entire list of national officer candidates.
As outlined in the Association's bylaws, AGA
will accept independent nominations from AGA members via petition until
February 1, 2006. At that time, if other candidates are nominated, the
Bylaws and Procedures Committee will conduct an election to determine
the officers. However, if no other nominations are received, the
committee's slate will take office on July 1, 2006.
AGA National Leadership
Conference–Register by Jan. 13 and Save!
 As a
government finance professional, you perform an important public
service in often difficult circumstances. The demands made of you are
many, the resources available to you often few.
It pays to seek out the best training
available—training that exposes you to top leaders in the field,
teaches you the ins and outs of the newest regulations and trends and
provides you with unparalleled opportunities to exchange ideas with
colleagues.
The NLC provides this and more! Join us to
earn 14 CPE hours and gain the education you need to further your own
career and to better serve in the public interest. With the theme
“Measuring Government Performance– Managing for
Results,” The NLC will bring together the top financial
management leaders and industry experts. Speakers include:
- Christopher B. Burnham,
Under Secretary-General for Management, United Nations
- Robert L. Childree,
Controller, State of Alabama
- Linda M. Combs,
Controller, Office of Federal Financial Management, U.S. Office of
Management and Budget
- Phyllis K. Fong,
Inspector
General, U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Johnnie E. Frazier,
Inspector General, U.S. Department of Commerce
- Kathleen Grimm, Deputy
Chancellor, Finance and Administration, New York City Department of
Education
- Charles E. Johnson, Chief
Financial Officer, Assistant Secretary for Budget, Technology and
Finance, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Thomas Modly, MBA, MA,
Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Financial Management), Office of the
Comptroller, U.S. Department of Defense
- Dale W. Sopper, CGFM,
Chief Financial Officer, U.S. Social Security Administration
- William C. Thompson Jr.,
City Comptroller, New York, NY
- James Webster, CIA, Audit
Director, Prince William County, VA
Click here for a
complete list of speakers and the conference agenda.
Offering outstanding education sessions and
ample opportunities to network with suppliers, colleagues and friends,
the NLC is one event you won’t want to miss. We hope to see you
in February!
TOPICS is Brought to you by AGA
Corporate Partner
 Watkins, Meegan, Drury & Company is currently
seeking experienced professionals for its rapidly growing Government
Services Group. Watkins Meegan provides accounting, consulting, and
technology solutions to the federal government. Successful
candidates will have 2 - 6 years experience, BS in accounting or
related field required; CPA, CIA, CISA, CGFM a plus. Click here to e-mail your resume.
Share the Gift of Career Advancement This
Holiday Season: Refer A Friend or Colleague to AGA Membership Today!
What better time than the
holiday
season to share some good fortune with colleagues and friends by
sharing with them the value of AGA membership? You might receive some
good fortune in return! In fact, these members have already shared the
gift of membership and will be rewarded with a gift as well—free
2006-2007 membership dues!
- Virginia S. Brizendine, CGFM, Central Ohio
Chapter
- Margie Colon, CGFM, Puerto Rico
Chapter
- James Edert, CGFM, New York Chapter
- Jack Hufnagle, CGFM, Northern Virginia
Chapter
- David LeBlanc, CGFM, Boston Chapter
- Jose Leon Lebron, Puerto Rico Chapter
- Colleen Schroeder, CGFM, Sacramento
Chapter
- Kenrick Sifontes, New York Chapter
- Linda Zinzow, CGFM, New York Capital
There is still time to join this
list of AGA member sponsors! Just recruit six new AGA members before
December 31, 2005. Click here to find out more.
Join Us 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.
Register today and secure your place at the
government financial management education event of the year!
TOPICS is Brought to you by the
National Institutes of Health
  The
Office of Management (OM) within the Office of the Director (OD) for
the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, invites
applications for the position of Associate Director for Budget.
This is a career Federal position in the Senior Executive Service. A
detailed vacancy announcement, along with mandatory qualifications and
application procedures, can be obtained via the NIH Home Page
at: http://www.jobs.nih.gov
under the Executive Jobs section or by contacting Ms. Kim Westervelt at
seniorre@od.nih.gov.
Applications must be received by close of business January 31, 2006.
Audio Conference on
Sarbanes-Oxley, March 1
AGA, in conjunction with NASACT and N.A.L.G.A., will host an
audio
conference on the implications of Sarbanes-Oxley on the future
of the
auditing profession. Some fear that the trickle-down effect of
the Federal
government's revised OMB Circular A-123 will flood agencies at
the State and
local levels. Speakers are Kinney Poynter, Executive Director
of NASACT, and
Nancy A. Valley, Partner and National Industry Leader, KPMG
LLP. The session
runs from 2 – 3:50 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and offers
2 CPE hours. Click
here for information!
AGA Hurricane Relief
Effort
Tops $18,600!
Click here to find out how you can donate
and to view the list of contributors!
FY 05 Performance & Accountability
Reports Due to AGA's CEAR Program by December 15
The CEAR Program has been a major factor
in improving the quality of the federal agencies' PARs. Reviewers with
diverse backgrounds exercise an unusual level of thoroughness and
recommend numerous opportunities for improvement for what is an
extensive and comprehensive document. The recommendations can typically
run several pages-even for agencies to which the Certificate of
Excellence is awarded.
Thus the program is a win-win situation. The
agencies receive information with which they can continuously improve
their PARs. The reviewers obtain an opportunity to perform an in-depth
analysis of other agencies' PARs and learn how to make their own
agency's reports better. And the readers of the PARs have the assurance
that the agencies have prepared highly informative, highly readable,
complete documents. Contact Julie
Bryant, CGFM, for more information.
TOPICS is Brought to You by the City of
Detroit, Michigan
 The Detroit
City Council is taking applications for the position of AUDITOR
GENERAL. The successful candidate for this position will be
appointed by the Detroit City Council for one ten (10) year term.
Salary range is $67,860 - $150,629. Send completed application to:
Peggy Robinson, Deputy Director, City Council Research & Analysis
Division, Detroit City Council, Suite 216 Coleman A. Young Municipal
Center, Detroit, MI 48226.
Or e-mail peggyr@cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us
From the National Office: AGA Welcomes Evie Barry as
Director of Education
 Evie
Barry joined the AGA staff on December 1. She comes to AGA from the
National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers
(NASACT), where she worked for 13 years in various positions, most
recently as program manager of the National Electronic Commerce
Coordinating Council (NECCC).
NASACT is a member of the NECCC alliance of state and local
associations that are dedicated to using technology to improve
government services.
Having worked for AGA Executive Director Relmond Van Daniker,
DBA, CPA, while at NASACT—he served as its executive director for
more than 30 years before coming to AGA—Barry knew that his
leadership would keep AGA moving forward.
Barry is charged with reinvigorating the AGA Academy, designed
to support education and research initiatives and advance
“thought leadership.” Barry said, “Van is 100 percent
behind this.” The group will also be bolstered by the energy and
enthusiasm of Chairman Sridhar Ramamoorti, Ph.D., who is also a member
of AGA’s Journal Editorial Board.
Barrry said that while her main task will be building up the
AGA Academy, but she will also work with Director of Chapter Operations
Raymond Harris, CGFM, in bringing education programs to the
chapters.
The timing was right for a career change, Barry said. Her
oldest daughter recently graduated and is working as a third-grade
teacher in Indianapolis; her son started college this fall and her
husband was supportive. “I was ready for a challenge, for
something a little bit different,” said Barry, who earned
bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Eastern Kentucky
University.
“I thought the position sounded interesting and
challenging and after meeting with Sri, I knew that the support and
dedication to the Academy was there. I always enjoyed working with and
for Van.” Like Van Daniker, Barry will live in Virginia during
the week and commute back to her home in Lexington, KY, on the
weekends. The National Office staff is pleased to welcome Evie!
Happy
Holidays!
The AGA National Office will be closed from December 26
–
January 3. TOPICS will return on Jan. 9.
Happy Holidays from the AGA Staff:
(l to r - back row) Relmond Van Daniker, Peter Aliferis,
Crystal Vanison, Ayanna Patterson, John Harris, Marie Force, Chris
Camara, Susan Fritzlen, Katya Silver, Ray Harris. (l to r - front row)
Evie Barry, Rosanna Ortiz, Rica Muhammad, Maria Lucas, Julie Cupp,
Jessica Jones, Jennifer Curtin, Cristina Barbudo, Ada Phillips. Not
pictured: Anna Miller, Julie Bryant, Aldene Stokes, Kayde Morton,
Brandy Lanham. |
