XCPD-165 - Building an Effective Business Foundation: Fiscal Leadership in Government

Course Description: 
As part of the Business Acumen standard for the Senior Executive Service, prospective government executives are expected to demonstrate that they can understand the overall Federal and their organization's financial processes, prepare, justify, and administer a program budget, and oversee procurement, projects, and contracts to achieve desired results, monitor expenditures, and use "cost-benefit" thinking to set priorities. To succeed once they are executives, they are expected to set and meet or exceed financial targets.

This course is specifically designed for federal employees seeking greater business understanding in financial management both to equip them to work with Chief Financial Officers and as preparation for the Senior Executive Service or equivalent positions of government leadership. Participants will gain confidence in financial and budgeting matters so critical to leadership roles within the federal government.  Participants will gain communication skills to facilitate talking about financial and budgetary matters.

Weekend 1 – (9 hrs) 
The first session offers critical insight into the Federal budget and the work of the CFO and the budget office.  Participants will review basic budget and managerial accounting terms, functions and policies including:

• Budget formulation, Congressional approval, and execution, and the challenges posed by the current  and project budget deficits.
• Financial controls and performance measurement
• Basic terms of investment management such as ROI, NPV
• Audit and oversight responsibilities of the CFO
• Working with the CFO

• Define key financial terms and concepts.
• Identify financial management principles and concepts required for a government business case.
• Apply appropriate financial management principles.
• Identify tools to effectively communicate with key financial stakeholders/audience.