CEAR Virtual Reviwer Training
December 9, 2025 | 2–4 p.m. ET | 2 CPEs | FOS: ACCG
Demonstrate your commitment to excellence in financial reporting by becoming a CEAR Reviewer and participate in this training!
Becoming a CEAR Reviewer will introduce you to how other agency prepares their Agency Performance and Accountability Report (PAR) or Agency Financial Report (AFR) and SPFI reports! This training is free to anyone who wants to learn methods on how to identify content and improve a report’s usefulness and usability. In addition, this training will cover the latest changes to the CEAR Guidelines resulting from updates to OMB A-11, A-136, and recent OMB memorandums.
If you are a first-time reviewer or just need a refresher, please register to attend the CEAR reviewer training. This training is strongly encouraged but not required for a CEAR reviewer.
Learning Objective:
Attendees will learn tips from speakers and veteran reviewers on how to approach the AFR/PAR for review. In addition, attendees will learn how to apply the CEAR Guidelines resulting from updates to OMB A-11, A-136, and recent OMB memorandums, to the reviewing process in order to recommend quality comments for agency improvement.
Speakers
- Ann Ebberts, PMP, CEO, AGA
- Andrew Lewis, CGFM, CPA, PMP, CEAR Board chair
- Diane Dudley, CGFM, CPA, Lead Reviewer
- Stephanie Shaer, PMP, Meetings & Programs Manager, AGA
Expert Reviewer Speakers
- Karen Brown, CGFM, CPA, CGMA, Project Manager, Dept of Housing and Urban Development
- Lisa Hemmer, CGFM, Accountant, National Credit Union Administration
- Lauren Sipple, Senior Audit Manager, KPMG
Program Level: Overview
Prerequisite: None
Advance Preparation: None required
Field of Study: Accounting Governmental (ACCG)
Delivery Method: Group Internet-Based
Registration Fees
Complimentary to all. Please click on the link above to register to attend virtually from your home/office. Please contact cear@agacgfm.org with any questions.
Confirmation/CPEs
Registration confirmation details will be sent one week prior to the training. Team members will be assigned after the training and will be notified accordingly via email. Each participant will receive two CPE hours in which AGA will send an email with instructions on how to download the certificate within two weeks post-training. Review the CPE tracking information for the Reviewer Training here.
FY2025 CEAR PAR/AFR Review Team Meetings
April/May 2026 | 2 CPEs | FOS: Auditing Governmental (AUDG)
Performance and accountability reporting and the CEAR Program are evolving. It is important that agencies attempt to continuously improve their reporting. During these meetings, the individuals will review a compendium of all the recommendations for the agency that the reviewers were assigned to review, using the CEAR Program Guidelines to note matters for which the PARs/AFRs can be improved because the information is unclear, inconsistent, incomplete, too verbose, etc.
Learning Objective
Participants obtain an understanding of the content of an effective AFR/PAR in order to be able to improve the AFR/PAR of their own agency or the agency to which they are providing assistance.
Speakers:
The speakers below will be assigned to each agency to lead the training.
- Diane Dudley, Lead Reviewer
- Wendy Payne, Lead Reviewer
- Gloria Jarmon, Lead Reviewer
Program Level: Intermediate
Prerequisite: The review team members possess considerable knowledge and experience in Federal government financial management and/or performance measurement and the reporting of results. While they may not have an in-depth knowledge of the agency, they have a general knowledge of Federal government operations, the subjects covered by the Report and, at least collectively, a familiarity with the agency submitting the Report, its mission, and its programs.
Advance Preparation: The review team members use the CEAR Program Guidelines to review a Report individually; identify and prepare written recommendations for matters in which they believe the Report could be improved; and decide, on their own, whether the Report should receive the Certificate of Excellence and possibly a Special Award.
Field of Study: AUDG
Delivery Method: Group Internet
Registration Fees: Complimentary to all reviewers.
Confirmation/CPEs: Training confirmation details will be sent at least two weeks prior to the training. Each participant will receive up to two (2) CPE hours depending on the length of the review meeting, and a certificate will be available to download within two weeks after the training.
CPE Tracking Process: AGA adheres to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) standards for CPE programs, which require an attendance verification process for all training events.
We will monitor each team member via webcam for participation while discussing the PAR/AFR recommendations with Lead Reviewer.
Questions?
Email cear@agacgfm.org or call 800.242.7211 ext: 322.