Ethics is a Member Benefit

The AGA is the association for all professionals involved in government financial management, helping them earn and maintain public confidence through accountability. One key – and often overlooked – benefit we offer is ethics. Our Code of Ethics (Code) assists our members and non-member CGFMs to understand the rules of behavior considered acceptable in our profession. Our Professional Ethics Board assists our members and non-member CGFMs to understand how best to approach ethical issues. Our Professional Ethics Board also reviews allegations made against members and non-member CGFMs about potential violations of the Code, as well as provides guidance on whether certain actions are in accordance with the Code. Finally, we offer resources such as articles, webinars, and podcasts to enhance members’ understanding of and application of ethics to their personal and professional life. Below are links for you to take full advantage of this important member benefit.

AGA’s Code of Ethics

The AGA Code of Ethics applies to AGA members and to all CGFMs, whether they are members of the AGA or not. The following will help you to understand and apply the AGA Code of Ethics.

• AGA National Bylaws
• AGA Code of Ethics
• AGA Ethics Handbook

AGA’s Professional Ethics Board (PEB)

The Professional Ethics Board serves to elevate awareness of and disseminate information on ethics issues for AGA members, non-member CGFMs, and others, as well as review allegations of violations of the AGA Code of Ethics. Members of the Professional Ethics Board also write the Ethics Counts articles for the quarterly Journal of Government Financial Management.

• Professional Ethics Board
  • Current members
  • Volunteer to serve on AGA's Professional Ethics Board
• Submit an ethics question
• Sanctions
  • Policy on Publishing Ethics Sanctions
  • Current Ethics Decisions
  • File an Ethics Complaint

Additional Resources

The following resources may assist you in understanding ethics and addressing ethics concerns you have.

Journal of Government Financial Management

• Issues with ethics and related themes
  • Winter 2017-18: Integrity & Leadership
  • Winter 2015: Ethics: Are We Losing Ground?
     
• Ethics Counts articles by PEB members and guest authors (since Spring 2019)
  • Fall 2021: Control the Risk, “The Relationship between Ethics and Enterprise Risk Management (pages 52 and 53)”
  • Summer 2021: Cybersecurity and Financial Management, “Recent Ethics Inquiries and AGA Ethics Actions (pages 58-59)”
  • Spring 2021: Connecting with Citizens, “Connecting with Citizens through Ethical Behavior (pages 54-55)”
  • Winter 2021: Financial Management and Decision-making, “Ethical Behavior Produces Useful Financial Information (pages 54-55)”
  • Fall 2020: Overcoming Politics, “When Professional Ethics and Politics Intersect (pages 54-56)”
  • Summer 2020: Leaning in on Technology, “Ethical Considerations in PGA and AI Applications (pages 50-51)”
  • Spring 2020: Leadership in Changing Times, “Falling Trees and Ethics Enforcement (pages 52-53)”
  • Winter 2020: Enhancing Job Productivity and Securing High Value Assets, “Ethics and Workplace Productivity (pages 50-51)”
  • Fall 2019: A Winning Workforce, “A Winning Workforce Is an Ethical Workforce (page 52)” and “Question for the Professional Ethics Board (page 53)”
  • Summer 2019: Thriving in a Risky Environment, “The New 2018 Ethics Handbook: What every AGA Member and CGFM Needs to Know (pages 52-53)”
  • Spring 2019: Emerging Financial Management Practices, “Ethical Behavior as We Advance Technology (pages 54-55)”

Accountability Talks podcasts

• Episode 44: Ethics
• Episode 55: Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

AGA Training Events

• PDT
  • ​Creating a Culture of Integrity (2021 – W112)
  • The Influential Power of Workplace Ethics (2021 – T130)
  • Doing the Right Thing Especially When It Is Not Easy (2020 – W114)
• NLT
  • Supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategies (2021 – W112)
• Fraud Conference
  • Lessons from an $8.5 Million Fraud (2020 – W103)
  • Fighting Frankenstein: The Future of Identity Crime Prevention – SLP Program (2020 – W106)

Other Resources

• U.S Department of Defense Standards of Conduct Office, Encyclopedia of Ethical Failure (Revised October 2020)

Email suggestions of additional ethics resources that the Professional Ethics Board should consider including on this site to ethics@agacgfm.org.