Understanding Governmental Accounting and Understanding the Financial Statements

Geared toward program managers, administrators, legislators, and other nonaccountants, this workshop provides an introduction to the basics of accounting followed by a guide to reading and understanding the financial statements.  The course begins with accounting terminology and concepts and includes a hands-on exercise that enables participants to prepare a simple set of financial statements. It then takes a closer look at the fundamental information included in a government’s financial statements, including the government’s health and where the financial risks lie.  Participants will gain a working knowledge of fund types and categories and understand how funds appear in the financial statements.  This course is designed to make the audited financial statements more user-friendly and to provide a key to unlocking the basic information they contain.

Laptops or tablets required.