Untitled Document

TOPICS is Brought to You by AGA Corporate Partner GCE

Getting to the Cloud is easier than you think. With GCE’s Federal Financial Management Cloud, you can modernize your financial enterprise one-step at a time. Start with one agency or a single business process. The results are the same - dramatic cost savings with all upgrades built in. Visit www.GCEFederal.com for details.
GCE: Redefining Federal Financial Management Solutions

From the National President, Richard O. Bunce Jr., CGFM, CPA

If you’re like most people I’ve talked with this month, you’re hustling to wrap up some major work projects before the end of the year, trying to find time to decorate the house for the holidays, and preparing to welcome family and friends or to get on the road to visit them. Life’s pace always hits its peak at this time of the year.

The schedule for your national leadership team is no less hectic. Last week the National Executive Committee (NEC) met one last time before the end of the year, with three main items dominating the agenda.

First, finances and financial planning were front and center. We had a lengthy and productive discussion about the reports of the Finance and Budget Committee, including the financial results for the program year to date, the potential impact of the economy on our Association activities and development of the budget for the 2012–2013 program year. We plan to finalize the 2012–2013 budget at the February meeting and will present it to the National Board of Directors at the July meeting in San Diego.

Next, our consultants from Larson Allen attended the meeting to discuss the status of the Enterprise Risk Management project. Much progress has been made, and we expect to receive the consultants’ final report at our February NEC meeting. The NEC will then evaluate the report recommendations and work with the National Office staff to develop plans to position AGA to deal with the challenges ahead while improving member value. Read more.

TOPICS is Brought to You by Real Asset Management

Explore reasons to consider a hosted solution for your financial software, how it works and what steps to take in the buying decision with Real Asset Management’s FREE whitepaper, Finance Software & the Cloud. Real Asset Management offers all encompassing fixed asset management solutions. Contact RAM at solution@realassetmgt.com or 617-426-0893.

AGA Offers Federal Financial Systems Summit,
FREE One-Day Event for Government Executives
AGA is hosting a one-day event Jan. 10 that brings together federal financial managers and private sector executives for the second year to discuss the near-term and future prospects of federal financial management systems in a budget-constrained environment. Earn 7 CPE hours at the event at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center.

AGA Corporate Partners are invited to participate via sponsorship. Please contact Susan Fritzlen for more information.

AGA Today is Brought to You by AGA Corporate Partner Graduate School USA
Reviewing Other People's Report Writing
This advanced course helps you learn a structured process for efficiently evaluating reports and checking findings. Discover how best to provide effective, constructive feedback with the ultimate goal of preparing better drafts and improving your writing skills. Practice applying the structured review process and developing new feedback skills through individual and group exercises.

April 24–25, 2012 Washington, D.C.

Budget Officer Credits CGFM for Promotion, Better Understanding of "Big Picture"
Kathleen Scully does not seem to fit the demographic of a typical certification candidate. At 55, she’s nearing the final phase of her federal career. While she’s been a successful finance specialist and budget analyst, she’s never taken an accounting course.

But when she looked around to find the path to a higher pay grade or different position, the Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) designation was the common denominator among the senior executives at her agency, the U.S. Department of the Interior.

After completing a graduate certificate in public administration in September, Scully decided to go through the certification process. By luck, CGFM review courses were being offered two buildings from her office by AGA’s Northern Virginia Chapter. Since she was already in the habit of taking courses and studying, she didn’t break her stride. “Once I got used to watching TV again, I’d never get back to it,” she explained. She joined AGA, participated in the review courses and sat for the three rigorous examinations.

“Test Two practically killed me,” she said, “but I was tantalizingly close to passing it.” Examination 2 covers governmental accounting, financial reporting and budgeting at all three levels of government, and accounting and issues relating to state and local governments were her weaker areas. Even so, she took the exam again six weeks later, passed and became a CGFM in February. —Christina Camara. Read more.

AGA Today is Brought to You by IBM

Unified platform for Public Sector Financial Management and Reporting
Today, governments and federal agencies face several challenges in their planning, budgeting, reporting process with data residing in fragmented financial systems and spreadsheets. With data integrity issues, audit concerns, new disclosure management rules and more regulatory/statutory reporting requirements, IBM Cognos FSR is the answer to streamline the financial governance process.

Submit Your Agency's PAR for Review
It’s not too late to submit your Performance and Accountability Report or Agency Financial Report for review by the AGA. Under the Certificate of Excellence in Accountability Reporting program, a group of peers can review your agency's report.

Your Membership Has Made A Difference: Highlights from 2011
As 2011 comes to a close, AGA thanks you for your commitment and support of the Association and the accountability profession. Your membership promotes and maintains professional and ethical standards of government accountability and transparency while protecting the interests of the public.

Here are a few ways that members like you benefited during 2011:

Apply for 2012 National Academic Scholarships
Are you or a family member pursuing undergraduate or graduate studies in disciplines such as accounting, auditing, budgeting, economics, finance, information technology, public administration, etc.? If so, consider applying for an AGA National Academic Scholarship today!

Leadership Positions Available on National Boards and Committees
AGA is seeking candidates interested in filling vacancies on national boards and committees. Serving as a board or committee member might just be the most important contribution you will make to your own career and the profession. Take advantage of this exceptional opportunity to:

Commitment--All board and committee terms begin July 1. Board terms run for one, two or three years, depending on the board, and committee terms run for three years.

Qualifications--If you are an AGA member in good standing, able to serve a full term of office, and can participate in board and committee conference call meetings, you are qualified to serve. Specific qualifications for each committee are listed here.