Separate registration required.

Increase your confidence and effectiveness in communicating financial information at a special preconference program prior to the Higher Education Accounting Forum.  Learn to identify unique needs of different audiences, evaluate financial information, and choose presentation techniques for maximum understanding.  You’ll focus on keys to preparation, elements of a good presentation, types of “stories” to tell, and making data relevant.  Increase your personal presentation skill and be ready the next time you’re called on to be a financial spokesperson.

William W. Holder, Governmental Accounting Standards Board
Higher education financial reporting must address many questions and respond to multiple stakeholder groups including creditors, regulators, boards, administrators, faculty, etc.  Individuals look to financial reporting to address issues such as accountability, sustainability, effective resource utilization, creditworthiness, etc.  The differing accounting standards relevant to higher education’s two sectors sometimes prove to be problematic.  In this session, Dr. Holder will examine the factors influencing the differing sets of standards and explore possibilities for reconciling the two to enable higher education to more effectively respond to its many constituencies. 

Janice Abraham, United Educators Insurance

Assessing, mapping and managing risk can help institutions achieve goals and objectives.  By incorporating risk identification and assessment into planning, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) is the paradigm that allows organizations to move beyond check lists and policies and engage senior administrators and governing boards in strategic issues.  ERM is actually a business management tool with extraordinary utility.  This presentation addresses the value of the model and infuses practical applications.

      The IRS has been very active.  Find out what the Service has been doing and how it impacts higher education.

·        990 Implementation Session - Anne Shapiro

·        Trends in Higher Education Financing  Lee White

      This session will include a presentation of current debt-financing options for both public and private institutions. Mr. White will talk about what is new, changing, and innovative in higher education credit markets and his presentation will include a discussion of the pros and cons of various options, including regulatory and tax implications.

·        Conflict of interest (John Walda, Steve Kimata, Lou Mezzina)

      The national waterfront, operational considerations, and conflict of interest issues of importance to business officers, auditors and trustees will be addressed.  Understand the challenges between policy and practice.  Learn how national guidance can be implemented at your institution. 

·        Risk Considerations in Resource Allocation Linda Kroll

Higher education institutions face many layers of risk in their institutional planning. This session outlines various types of risk, explores identification tactics, and focuses on strategies for developing financial plans and tactics for allocating resources related to these areas of risk.

·        Tax Update (Repeat of 10 am session)

·        Today’s Audit Climate – Lou Mezzina, John Kroll, Cherly Soper

• Learning Agenda for Higher Education Leaders - Larry Goldstein
  All individuals have the potential to be leaders—even if they do not supervise others.  This presentation describes the unique roles, skills, and qualities needed for success in today’s challenging higher education climate.  Participants will be able to individually rate their performance in these key areas.  Also addressed are the pitfalls to avoid and specific actions individuals can take to improve the results of their leadership efforts.
• Risk Assessment Audit Standards - Scott Simpson
  The Risk Assessment Audit Standards (SAS 104-111) are in effect this fiscal year for the vast majority of higher education institutions. The standards bring numerous changes in terminology, materiality considerations, evidence concepts, audit assertions, and audit planning.  Auditors will need to understand an organization’s environment, evaluate risk, and alter audit procedures accordingly. Understand the requirements from an external auditor, learn what is changing and how your institution can get ready for this year’s audit
• OMB Update on A-133 Single Audits, Grant Streamlining and the National Single Audit Sample Project - Gil Tran
  What is happening at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regarding Single Audits and Grant Streamlining?  This session provides the latest information for auditors who perform A-133 or Yellow Book audits on federal programs.
  

     NCAA Financial Indicators Project - Drew Paluf & David Lechner

The fiscal responsibility subcommittee of the NCAA Presidential Task Force recommended a set of financial indicators that provide summarized and comparative financial results. This session helps those charged with reporting understand the requirements, calculations, peer comparisons and decision alternatives needed to prepare the financial indicators for their institutions.

     UPMIFA and Endowment Accounting - Lou Mezzina