Accounting Academy: An Intensive Introduction

Accountants and auditors new to the public sector must immediately face the daunting challenge of familiarizing themselves with the highly specialized rules, guidelines, and practices applicable to state and local governments. This series, intended for those who already possess at least a basic knowledge of private-sector accounting, combines lecture, discussion, and exercises to help newcomers make this difficult, but essential, transition.

Who Will Benefit: Those seeking to understand accounting and financial reporting for state and local governments.

• Those who successfully complete this seminar should obtain a solid understanding of each of the following:
• Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for state and local governments
• The unique environmental factors that have led to specialized accounting and financial reporting for state and local governments
• Fund accounting
• Measurement focus and basis of accounting
• How to categorize and measure transactions and events
• Government-wide financial reporting
• Component units
• Budgetary reporting
• Elements of an annual comprehensive financial report