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Upcoming January/
February Events

Upcoming Events
- Audio Conference: Sudden Impact or Long Term Process? Impact of the Stimulus Plan on Internal Controls
- Audio Conference: President's Executive Order: Reduce Improper Payments and Eliminate Waste
- Professional Certification Seminar
- Community Service: Flower Fundraiser
- Audio Conference: Understanding IT Audits for Program Managers and Auditors
- Participate in Your AGA Chapter
- Save the Date! 2010 TCTC!

 

LINKS

 
 
Please visit our sponsors:

Audio Conference: Sudden Impact or Long Term Process?  Impact of the Stimulus Plan on Internal Controls

When: Wednesday, January 13th
Where: Office of the State Comptroller, 110 State Street, Albany or NYS Department of Transportation, 50 Wolf Rd., Albany
Time: 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
Cost: Free for AGA members; $15 for non-members 
CPEs: 2
 
How bad will it be when the tidal way of stimulus money hits the internal controls designed and implemented by management? Has your organization felt the effect yet?

And what can auditors and management do at this stage to reinforce them and prepare for the onslaught? But more importantly, should this be a sudden shock or should it be the natural outcome of efforts over the past 20 years?

This audio conference not only provides practical tips on how to take the temperature of where your controls are today, but also offers practical suggestions on how to ensure that you are ready for any future emergency.

To share their practical experiences in accounting and auditing and views towards the importance of internal controls during these strange economic times are Arthur A. Hayes Director, Division of State Audit, Office of the Comptroller of the Treasury, State of Tennessee; and Thomas J. Sadowski former Director of Accounting, State of Missouri, as well as AGA Past National President and two-time Past National Treasurer. Both presenters are regular contributors to AGA's Journal of Government Financial Management.

Audio Conference: President's Executive Order: Reduce Improper Payments and Eliminate Waste

When: Wednesday, January 27th
Where: Office of the State Comptroller, 110 State Street, Albany or NYS Department of Transportation, 50 Wolf Rd., Albany
Time: 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
Cost: Free for AGA members; $15 for non-members 
CPEs: 2

On November 23, 2009, President Obama issued an Executive Order that said in part: "When the federal government makes payments..., it must make every effort to confirm that the right recipient is receiving the right payment for the right reason at the right time..." The order goes on to establish a number of requirements related to transparency; accountability; eliminating improper payments; coordination among federal, state, and local governments; tracking and reporting improper payments; and others.

Hear from "the leaders" on these new requirements to:
· Create an online dashboard of key indicators and statistics on improper payments.
· Create and publicize a single mechanism for the public to report suspected incidences of waste, fraud or abuse.
· Establish error reduction targets and report on them.
· Employ new internal techniques within agencies to better detect and mitigate improper payments.
· Increase data-sharing among federal agencies and programs and, where applicable, state and local governments and other stakeholders to improve eligibility verification and pre-payment scrutiny.
· Mandate quarterly reporting on certain errors and actions to recover and prevent improper payments.
· Pursue administrative actions to provide state, local and other organizations with incentives for reducing improper payments.
· Seek to enhance contractor accountability.

To discuss the Executive Order and its implications are Jeanette Franzel, CGFM, Director, Financial Management and Assurance, U.S. GAO; Jeffrey C. Steinhoff, CGFM, CPA, Executive Director, KPMG Government Institute; George D. Strudgeon, CPA, Audit Director, Social and Medical Services, Virginia Auditor or Public Accounts; and Daniel I. Werfel, Controller, Office of Federal Financial Management, U.S. OMB.
 
Professional Certification Seminar
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 
When: Thursday, February 4th
Where: Wolfert's Roost, Van Resselaer Blvd, Albany, NY
Time: 8:00 am - 8:30 am -- Registration and Breakfast Buffet; 8:30 am - 10:30 am -- Seminar
Cost: Free
CPEs: None
 
Co-sponsored by the local chapters of the ACFE, AGA, IIA, ISACA & NYSSCPA.
 
Attend the Professional Certification Information Seminar to learn about the: 
  •  Various certifications available to government, finance, accounting, auditing, IT and fraud professionals
  • Benefits of the professional certifications
  • Requirements for applying and earning the professional certifications
  • Exam details
  • Maintenance requirements
The seminar will give you a quick overview of the following certifications:
  • Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
  • Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)
  • Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
  • Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
  • Certification in Control Self Assessment (CCSA)
  • Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP)
  • Certified Financial Services Auditor (CFSA)
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

Attendees can visit with representatives, ask questions and obtain written information and publications regarding each certification. For the remainder of the session, there will be a general discussion from each of the organizations about the benefits of obtaining a professional certification.

Community Service: Flower Fundraiser to Benefit Capital District Sponsor-A-Scholar

Each year, the Chapter takes part in a flower sale to benefit the Capital District Sponsor-A-Scholar program.  In the past, we've raised $300-600 for the organization.  Capital Region Sponsor-A-Scholar helps local high school students strive to attend college and further their education.
 
The Hybrid Anemone Flowers are packed in tissue paper, 10 Flowers per Bunch.  Cost is $12/Bunch; Checks may be payable to the AGA

Flowers must be pre-paid and ordered by Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

Delivery will be on Friday, February 5th , 2010
 
Please contact the following representatives to place an order: 
Place and time for Pick-up will be arranged by the person you placed your order with.
 
If you would like to volunteer to sell flowers, please contact Nicole VanHoesen by email or at 518-859-9005.
Audio Conference: Understanding IT Audits for Program Managers and Auditors
When: Wednesday, February 10th
WhereOffice of the State Comptroller, 110 State Street, Albany or NYS Department of Transportation, 50 Wolf Rd., Albany
Time: 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
Cost: Free for AGA members; $15 for non-members 
CPEs: 2
 
Audits have been conducted for many years. Many years ago, audits were performed using paper as evidence. Financial statement preparation has undergone a massive change since the introduction of computers. As such, one can no longer perform an audit without thinking about IT. In performing a financial statement audit - IT must be incorporated into the audit. Managers can benefit greatly from knowing what the auditors are expected to do.

This audio conference will not cover the technical aspects of IT; rather it will cover what elements of IT should be considered when performing an audit or being audited. The following questions shall be addressed: 
  1. When should IT be incorporated into the audit?
  2. As a Program Manager, what should I look for in the external auditors' materials?
  3. As a Program Manager, what should be in place and included in the audit to ensure that our department or organization is doing what is necessary?
  4. What laws, regulations, etc. arise when concerning IT in an audit?
  5. Are there any resources for Program Managers to ensure that the regulations are being followed?
  6. What IT methodologies are there and how do I get a copy?
  7. How much of the audit budget should be allocated to IT?
  8.  Am I always required to consider IT?
  9. Are Program Managers required to have IT staff and how should they be trained?
Some of the regulatory areas that will also be addressed include SAS 55; SAS 99; SAS 103 - SAS 112; CFO Act of 1990; Accountability of Tax Dollars Act of 2002; OMB A-50, 123, 127, 130, and 133; GAGAS and FISCAM, CoBIT

To share his expertise in IT auditing is Jack Heyman, CGFM, CISA, CPA, who has nearly 15 years of technical and leadership experience providing internal controls, systems auditing, consulting, financial auditing and accounting services to Fortune 500 companies, accounting and consulting firms, and government agencies. Jack is a solution provider with extensive experience assessing, planning, staffing and managing engagements for a diverse range of clients.

Participate in Your AGA Chapter!

This is the time of year the New York Capital Chapter of the AGA, your chapter, begins the process of electing its leadership for the coming year (starting July 1) by sending out a call for nominations from its membership.
 
Participation in AGA leadership activities offers you a great opportunity to enhance your organizational and communication skills, while permitting you the chance to work closely and network with other accountability professionals in State, Federal and Local government as well as from the private sector and academia.   
 
Officer and Board Member positions offer an opportunity to participate in the organization at a high level. However, if you don't feel that you are ready for that high level commitment, committee positions offer members an opportunity to become involved in a more limited capacity.
 
If you are a member in good standing and would like to become involved in a leadership or committee position, please contact Shelly Taleporos by email or by calling (518) 457-0504.

Save the Date!!

 SAVE THE DATES for TCTC 2010:
 
 March 15th - 17th 2010 
 
NEW TCTC WEBSITE WITH DETAILS TO BE UNVEILED SOON!!!