120th Annual Conference Sessions: Accounting and Financial Reporting
120th Annual Conference Sessions: Accounting and Financial Reporting
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Sessions for Sunday, June 28
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Sun
28 Jun
2:50 PM - 3:40 PM CT
E450
I Want You to Have it All: Avoiding Common Deficiencies in Financial Reporting
Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting (COA) award recipients adhere to high professional standards that enhance accountability, transparency, and uniformity of financial reporting. All government participating in the program need to be rewarded for their accomplishments and public service. However, all reports are also not perfect and GFOA's COA program exists to provide education and work collaboratively to drive improvement.
1 CPE credits
Level: update
More info -
Sun
28 Jun
4:00 PM - 4:50 PM CT
E354B
Rising from the Ashes: FDTA and Voluntary Digital Financial Reporting
While we await the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) final rule around the Financial Data Transparency Act (FDTA), the likelihood of a standardized digital financial reporting framework for government financial information increases. The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) has been working with a consultative group of stakeholders to develop a digital taxonomy for GAAP financial statements.
1 CPE credits
Level: update
More info
Sessions for Monday, June 29
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Mon
29 Jun
8:30 AM - 10:10 AM CT
E450
The Benefits of Rethinking Materiality for Small Governments
Are governments too cautious in their approach to defining materiality for financial reporting? Does this contribute to longer reports, less timely production of information, and increased complexity and cost? Finance professionals must make a difficult choice in weighing decision-useful information versus exhaustive precision. In this session, speakers will discuss how to evaluate risk, understand expectations from the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), and how financial professionals can make appropriate and more systemic decisions on materiality.
1 CPE credits
Level: intermediate
More info -
Mon
29 Jun
8:55 AM - 10:10 AM CT
E354B
Accounting and Financial Reporting, Budgeting and Forecasting, Capital Planning and Asset Management
Ask Me Anything: Core Concepts in the Finance Office
Join a panel of subject-matter experts who will answer the questions you want to know more about—but have been afraid to ask. This session is for anyone looking to gain practical perspectives and a deeper understanding of the basics of government accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, and capital planning.
1.5 CPE credits
Level: basic
More info -
Mon
29 Jun
10:30 AM - 12:10 PM CT
Arie Crown Theater
Accounting and Auditing Year in Review
An annual conference favorite, the Accounting and Auditing Year in Review provides conference attendees with an overview of changing standards and previews upcoming projects. During this session, speakers will provide a comprehensive overview of the key developments in accounting, auditing, and financial reporting that affect state and local governments.
2 CPE credits
Level: update
More info -
Mon
29 Jun
3:10 PM - 4:25 PM CT
E354B
Deep Dish Discussions on Capitalization Thresholds
Capitalization thresholds are a "tangible" application of materiality in government financial statements. Governments have discretion on setting this threshold, and it's not a one-size-fits-all decision. Speakers will discuss various factors considered when setting thresholds, the impact of capitalization thresholds on different major classes of capital assets, coordination of thresholds with capitalization requirements when using federal funds, and necessary changes to asset management records. This session will also address how to educate internal stakeholders, communicate with governing bodies, and navigate decisions about thresholds with independent auditors.
1.5 CPE credits
Level: basic
More info -
Mon
29 Jun
4:45 PM - 5:35 PM CT
E354B
Accounting Clues: Unraveling the Mysteries of Debt Issuances with the Sources and Uses Schedule
Once the wires have cleared after a bond issuance, governments must ensure that all transactions have been reported in the financial statements. For some, these complex issuances can include accounting for multi-series issuance, refunding, investments, and trust accounts. While complex is not bad, it still can create headaches for accountants as they determine the project fund deposit, various issuance costs, and the deferred charge on refunding.
1 CPE credits
Level: basic
More info -
Mon
29 Jun
4:45 PM - 5:35 PM CT
E353
Money, Myths, and Misinformation: Making Government Finance Make Sense
In an era of misinformation, skepticism toward institutions, and “AI-generated everything,” public trust in government has never been more fragile—or more essential. As communities face growing fiscal pressures and the need to pass critical levies, local governments must find new ways to engage residents and explain how public finance truly works.
1 CPE credits
Level: basic
More info
Sessions for Tuesday, June 30
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Tue
30 Jun
8:30 AM - 10:10 AM CT
E354B
All Eyes on Revenue Recognition
Check the agenda—changes are coming for revenue recognition. Forget about exchange versus nonexchange! Soon, it may be all about performance obligations. This is expected to affect revenue recognition for property taxes, grants, and much more. It's time to start paying attention as GASB prepares to issue an exposure draft on revenue recognition guidance in early 2027.
2 CPE credits
Level: intermediate
More info -
Tue
30 Jun
10:30 AM - 12:10 PM CT
E354B
Unpacking GASB 103
Post-conference work for all governments will include the implementation of GASB 103. For everyone, changes to the Management's Discussion and Analysis are required, and for many, significant changes for proprietary fund statement of resource flows will be required.
2 CPE credits
Level: update
More info -
Tue
30 Jun
3:35 PM - 4:50 PM CT
E354B
Digging into Proposed Financial Reporting Standards for Infrastructure Assets
Infrastructure is discussed regularly both inside and outside the accounting office—the condition levels, capital maintenance budgeting, upkeep costs, and regulations. These infrastructure assets are often the highest-valued capital assets reported by a government, with useful lives spanning generations. The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) is seeking to improve information on these assets within annual financial reports and is moving quickly toward final guidance that provides a clear definition of infrastructure assets, expanded note disclosures and new required supplementary information schedules.
1.5 CPE credits
Level: basic
More info
Sessions for Wednesday, July 1
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Wed
1 Jul
8:30 AM - 10:10 AM CT
E354B
Talking Single Audits in the Second City
In 2026, all federal funds Single Audits will be conducted in accordance with the audit guidance in the 2024 Uniform Guidance (UG) update, and most governments will have been following that updated UG for all or most of their grants for the year under audit.
2 CPE credits
Level: update
More info -
Wed
1 Jul
10:30 AM - 12:10 PM CT
E354B
Get What You Pay For: Reporting Enterprise Funds and Stand-Alone Business-Type Activities
Governments charge for many different kinds of goods and services they offer, often with the intent of covering all—or at least a significant portion of—the costs of providing those services, or even to generate additional revenues to subsidize other services.
2 CPE credits
Level: intermediate
More info