Government finance officers are often tasked with explaining complex financial concepts to audiences that are unfamiliar with finance. The lack of a common vocabulary can cause gaps in communication – often resulting in a blank stare – from council and board members, colleagues within the organization, and residents of the community. This session will explore the challenges faced by finance officers when communicating financial data and concepts to stakeholders without a financial background.

Who Will Benefit: Managers and Analysts, Senior Leadership

• Describe the challenges of communicating financial information, generally
• Highlight the importance of knowing your audience
• Explore how communication strategies can vary based on the type of information being presented
• Describe the skill-set needed for successful communication
• Propose strategies for responding to the “blank stare”