Certification

CPFO - Compensation and Benefits Outline

The Compensation and Benefits exam for the CPFO program covers all retirement, benefits, and payroll policies and processes recommended for local governments. The exam will cover best practices in plan design and fiduciary responsibilities.

Compensation and Benefits Outline

SUB-TOPIC

DETAIL

PERCENTAGE WEIGHTING

Salary/Compensation

  • Variables Used to Determine Compensation
  • Understanding Taxable/Not Taxable Salary and Benefits
  • Negotiating

20%

Personnel Procedures

  • Developing employee compensation and benefits policies
  • Communicating Benefits to Employees
  • Federal Fair Labor Standards

10%

Payroll

  • General Cost Allocation
  • Project and Grant Costing and Allocation
  • Budget Implications and Payroll

10%

Pension Plans

  • Actuarial Reporting
  • Plan Design
  • Plan Governance
  • Pension Investment

30%

Health Care

  • Plan Design
  • COBRA 101

15%

OPEB

  • Actuarial Reporting
  • Prefunding/Trusts

10%

Deferred Compensation

  • Plan Design
  • Governance/Fiduciary Responsibilities

5%

Resource Recommendations

GFOA recommends that CPFO candidate review the following materials to prepare for the exam.

GFOA Best Practices

Best Practices

GFOA best practices are developed by GFOA's Committee on Retirements and Benefits Administration Committee and represent the organization's recommended practices in common areas related to compensation and benefits.

Publications

Coming Soon

Available Training

GFOA offers the following training seminars that will help prepare for the planning and budget exam:

  • Pension Risk Management
  • Pension Overview
  • Health Care Overview
  • Hiring and HR Practices in the Public Sector
  • OPEB Overview
  • Understanding Payroll and Benefits for Employees

View GFOA's Events Calendar

Additional Web Resources

Coming Soon

Disclaimer

As the exam development process progresses for the seven new CPFO exams, some materials may be added to this reading list. Please check back regularly for updates to this document until the new exams are launched.

Please contact Eric Roach or email GFOA with questions.

Last updated June 1, 2021