Non-Conference Education
The mission of the WFOA Education Committee is to provide Washington public entities and their staff with professional training in finance, budgeting, accounting, reporting, and other relevant fields. This professional training provides budget and finance professionals the opportunity to meet face-to-face, exchange ideas with others, and enhance their knowledge which will assist them in promoting the professional management of government financial resources. The professional educational opportunities also enable our members to maintain their status as Professional Finance Officers, CPAs, and/or other similar professional designations. If you would like to join the Education Committee or have questions about educational courses offered, please contact Deb Booher at educationcommittee@wfoa.org.
Upcoming 2023 Educational Opportunities
WFOA – Training Opportunities
BARS- Cash Webinar
November 16, 2023 - 9:00am - 4:00pm (lunch break 12:00-1:00)
$100 Member / $125 Non-Member
This class will be presented online. The Overview of BARS Webinar provides a general overview of Cash Basis BARS and the reporting requirements for Cash governments.
This course will include a BARS webinar workbook and opportunities to ask questions of the BARS and Annual Filing Specialists.
Class Objectives:
After taking this class, the attendee will be able to:
• Explain the purpose of the BARS Manual and why it is required
• Navigate and search the BARS Manual.
• Employ Fund Accounting, including identifying and evaluating Fund Types.
• Use the BARS Chart of Accounts and generate BARS code as prescribed, including
o Account Structure
o Revenue and Other Increases
o Expenditure and Other Decreases
o Cash and Investment/Fund Balance Codes
• Determine validity of BARS Coding.
• Understand the annual online filing reporting requirements.
Intended Audience:
Course materials are presented for all levels of governmental accounting expertise; from novice to experience.
Thwarting ACH Fraud - Why even your best efforts may not be Enough
November 16, 2023 - 9:00am - 12:00pm
November 16, 2023 - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
$50 Member / $70 Non-Member
Please note: the registration rate for this course was incorrectly stated in the 10/10 member email.
REGISTER NOW for AM session, 9:00am -12:00pm
REGISTER NOW for PM session, 1:00pm -4:00pm
This class is offered in person at Kirkland City Hall in the Council Chambers (123 5th Ave. Kirkland, Washington 98033)
Presenters: Jessie Fleming, City of Kirkland, Ed Hiddleson, KeyBank, John Melvin, US Bank .
Moderated and Coordinated by Nicole Muegge, Thurston County
Join industry experts and your peers as we talk through various aspects of setting up, maintaining, and protecting your ACH process. We will discuss physical and digital safety along with best practices for both AP and Payroll for setting up and maintaining ACH payments. This class is offered at two different times on the same day. Registration includes attendance to one session.
Intermediate Accounting
December 7, 2023 - 9:00am - 12:00pm
$75 Member / $100 Non-Member
The class will be conducted via a webinar taught by Bret Brodersen. Bret is the Finance Director for the City of Centralia. He teaches accounting at the local community college. Bret is a current WFOA Board member, chair of the Professional Rules and Operational Standards Committee.
Class topics:
The Intermediate Accounting class will cover the basics of financial reporting. Included are:
- Basic Financial Statements overview
- Balance Sheets
- Income Statements
- Statement of Cash Flows
- Each attendee must register with their email
- Must be logged into the ZOOM webinar with their registered email
- Have the Zoom meeting on their active screen in order to answer the polling questions.
- Three polling questions will be administered for every 50 minutes in order to be eligible for 1 CPE. (Example – 4 hour session will have 12 polling questions).
Free Webinar Classes Available
Free eLearning Available from WA State Auditors Office (SAO)
Lease Accounting Standards
Washington State Auditors Office offered classes regarding the new Lease Accounting Standards
Cash receipting
Want to know more about how to protect your organization from cash receipting fraud? SAO’s on-demand training follows an actual fraud case while covering important best practices for internal controls. You’ll learn how to recognize the warning signs and red flags of common fraud schemes and the rewards of developing a strong internal control system and the risks if you don’t. Local government employees are eligible for Continuing Professional Education Credit (CPE) for this course.
Registration Cancellation Policy
Cancelations are granted at no charge and with a full refund up to ten (10) calendar days prior to the date of training. Cancelation refunds during the ten calendar days prior to the date of training (including the day of class) may be considered in unforeseen circumstances by the Education Non-Conference Co-Chair. Substitution of an attendee is permitted for the training in lieu of the registered attendee. Registration fees cannot be applied to future classes.