Program and Schedule

2024 Schedule at a Glance 

8:30–9:00 a.m.

Virtual Participants: Log in, visit sponsor, PDT challenges and nertworking pages.

9:00–9:10 a.m.

Welcome and Overview

• Ann Ebberts, CEO, AGA

9:10–10:00 a.m.

W101 - Opening General Session: Artificial Intelligence is here! And it shall be governed! AI Governance: what do we need? what do we expect?
In the world of Artificial Intelligence, innovation is increasing in pace and adoption. But what about governance? How will AI be governed? Can we even control it? In this session we’ll discuss Federal perspectives on existing governance frameworks that are proliferating across the federal government in response to increased excitement about AI. In addition, we will discuss that trade-off between innovation, regulation, and governance and how to manage the three to get the best from AI while managing the negative effects.   

• Michael Fulton, Director, Financial Management Operations & Analysis, EFT, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)
• Chris Kraft, Deputy Chief Technology Officer, DHS
• Moderator: Fola Ojumu, Partner, Kearney & Company

10:00–10:10 a.m.

Transition to Next Panel/Break

10:10–11:00 a.m.

Concurrent Sessions:

W102 - Executing a Data Driven System Transformation

• Michael Nixon, Branch Chief and Program Manager Financial Systems Modernization, FEMA
• Moderator: Aubrey Vaughan, Partner, Celonis

W103 - AGA's AI Maturity Study Results
In this session we will take a look at AI technologies currently used or soon to be implemented in government agencies. Explore major challenges with AI solutions, as well as legal, regulatory and ethical concerns related to AI adoption, from the information gathered in the survey. Review strategies now in place to address emerging trends in AI.

• Chris Kraft, Deputy Chief Technology Officer, DHS
• Moderator: Joseph Hungate, Director, RMA

11:00–11:30 a.m.

In Person: Networking Break
Virtual: Transition to Next Panel/Break

11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions:

W104 - Cybersecurity Meets Finance: Navigating Risks, Resources, and Realities
In today’s rapidly evolving threat landscape, federal agencies face growing tension between cybersecurity demands and financial realities. This session will put essential cybersecurity concepts, like Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) and cyber risk management into terms that the financial community can better understand. The panelists will also discuss the importance of a shift in organizational culture to encourage collaboration among different areas of expertise to strengthen our cybersecurity posture. Join us to learn how mission needs, financial strategy, and cybersecurity risk can be aligned to drive smart decision-making.

W105 - Debunking AI Myths! Fact and fiction in applying AI in Fed Finance
Have you heard if AI is going to replace all finance jobs? This session will debunk this myth and illustrate how AI empowers finance professionals. From the perspectives of CFOs and finance leaders, learn how AI-human collaboration enhances decision-making, streamlines processes, and addresses complex financial challenges. Discover how AI tools can revolutionize government finance, driving efficiency and enabling a focus on strategic initiatives.

• Moderator: Sean Ryan, Managing Director, Deloitte

12:20–1:00 p.m.

In Person: Lunch in the Solutions Hall;complete your Solutions Hall Passport and win prizes!

1:00–1:50 p.m.

W106 -Innovation Challenge Presentations
Hear some of the best innovative ideas in government, then use polling to select the winner!

HUD’s Single Audit Analytic Tool - HUD’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer – Financial Management Office
The Single Audit Analytic Tool is a first-of-its-kind tool, enabled through a Power BI dashboard that ingests data related to grantees’ current and historical performance across single audit reporting requirements to create a user-friendly snapshot of single audit activity related to the grantees. The tool improves HUD’s ability to track auditee non-compliance with submission requirements, prioritize allocation of HUD resources to high need monitoring areas, establish a profile of high-risk auditees across HUD, and address insufficient data quality controls at the point of record intake (FAC).

Imputation, Deterministic Edits, And Logic (IDEAL) - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) AKA USDA NASS IDEAL Team
NASS implemented IDEAL, an enterprise-wide application that automates the editing and imputation of survey responses. IDEAL fills in missing data with probable values and resolves conflicting data with consistent values. It includes a user interface for managing validation rules. It leverages open-source R packages, is deployed in USDA’s FedRAMP-compliant Azure Cloud, uses Microsoft SQL Server and Azure Data Factory, and includes role-based access controls to ensure data cybersecurity.

Automated UDO Management Application - Equinoxys Inc.
The Automated UDO Management Application is a comprehensive software solution designed to streamline the management of Undelivered Obligations (UDOs) for government agencies. It automates data collection, reconciliation, and de-obligation processes, saving thousands of labor hours annually. The application enhances collaboration between financial and acquisition officers while providing robust data analytics and dashboards. The UDO certification process, including workflows between the program offices, acquisition offices, division executives, and the Agency DFCO & CFO, is automated. This allows agency executives to monitor UDO balances easily and improves fiscal responsibility by enabling faster and more accurate financial management activities.

• Moderator: Michael Huffman, Chair of the Corporate Partner Technology Committee and Senior Vice President - cBEYONData

1:50-2:00 p.m.

Transition to Next Panel/Break

 

2:00–2:50 p.m.

Concurrent Sessions:

Driving Audit Efficiencies Through AI and Automation
Discussion will focus on how AI and automation are driving efficiencies in government audit, while addressing challenges around implementation, change management, quality assurance and staff turnover. Participants will share insights on past, current, and future technology implementations for auditors as market forces and regulatory standards put pressure on audit agencies to increasingly adopt innovative technologies.

 

2:50-3:00 p.m.

Transition to Next Panel/Break

 

3:00-3:50 p.m.

Closing General Session

 

3:50-4:00 p.m.

Event Wrap Up 

Questions? Contact meetings@agacgfm.org