A new partnership between PSU and the Association of Government Accountants will help fill the shortfall of fiscal managers in government, nonprofits and business as Baby Boomers in those fields begin to retire.

Portland State University’s Mark O. Hatfield School of Government, working with the Association of Government Accountants, will promote and deliver post-baccalaureate training leading to the Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) designation.

“Our partnership with AGA is launching at a critical time,” said Ronald Tammen, director of the Hatfield School. “Public enterprises across the United States are facing two significant, long-term challenges. The first is the talent turnover many agencies will face due to the large number of Baby Boomers who will soon be eligible to retire. The second challenge involves the long-term erosion of the fiscal viability of our public organizations. We have to get serious about preparing managers for the tough financial times ahead.”

“We picked PSU as the first university in what we expect will be a national network of leading schools of public affairs and management,” said AGA Executive Director Relmond Van Daniker. “We were quite impressed by the Hatfield School’s community-based reputation and growing stature as a school of government. This partnership will help advance our objective of accelerating the preparation of next-generation managers in the increasingly important governmental financial management discipline.”

In addition to the certification program, the Hatfield School and the Association of Government Accountants will work on other projects that advance public sector financial management practices and government performance and accountability.

The program includes six days of instruction, two days for review, and a two-day, independently administered, certification test. Credit and non-credit courses leading to the Certified Government Financial Manager designation will be offered by the Hatfield School’s Division of Public Administration beginning in summer 2007. Pre-requisites include a bachelor’s degree, as well as current employment by a federal, state, local or nonprofit agency, an accountancy with a public sector practice, or enrollment in PSU’s Master of Public Administration degree program. For more information, contact the Hatfield School, 503-725-5156.

About AGA
The Association of Government Accountants (AGA) supports the careers and professional development of government finance professionals working in federal, state and local governments as well as the private sector and academia. Since 1950, the Alexandria, Va.-based association has provided education, research, publications, certification and conferences to the government accountability profession.

About the Hatfield School
The mission of Mark O. Hatfield School of Government, housed in the College of Urban and Public Affairs at Portland State University, is to attract, prepare and renew leaders and managers for public and nonprofit service. The School’s degree, certificate and continuing education programs are shaped by three overarching values: the importance of public service, the pursuit of social justice, and the quest for effective innovation in service delivery.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (#07-070)

Source:
George K Beard (503-772-0222)
PSU Hatfield School of Government