Online Introductory Tribal Finance and Accounting Certificate
Become an effective tribal professional.Jan. 8 - March 1, 2024
Connect with peers and gain knowledge and experience to become a more effective tribal finance and accounting professional and leader.
More Information
This eight-week online program provides the opportunity to connect with and learn from other tribal finance and accounting professionals throughout the
state and across the country.
The program is presented online so participants can learn on their own time and set
hours convenient to their schedules. The amount of time devoted to completing the
program is about five hours per week. There are quizzes, short assessments, and discussion
posts, throughout the sessions to help participants retain information. Participants will also be able to chat with instructors to discuss and ask questions
about course material at the end of each week via the Zoom chat room.
Who should attend?
- Entry-level employees in tribal financial positions.
- Professionals who need to acquire increased knowledge regarding tribal finance and accounting (i.e. accountants, lawyers, bankers, etc.) .
- Elected tribal officials and leaders who wish to better understand the financial side of a business decision.
Agenda, Credit and Learning Objectives
- Agendas
Week One Session CPE hrs. CPE Field of Study Live Zoom Q&A Introduction to Federal Indian Law
Speaker: James Nichols, The Jacobson Law Group
2.4 CPE Business Law Friday, Jan. 12
11 a.m.-Noon CST
Legal Infrastructure of Tribal Enterprises
Speakers: Wilda Wahpehpah, SheppardMullin and Deborah Reed, Sterling Oaks Law Firm
2.8 CPE Business Law Friday, Jan. 12
11 a.m.-Noon CST
Week Two Session CPE hrs. CPE Field of Study Live Zoom Q&A Introduction of Tribal Government Accounting and Finance
Speaker: Hattie Mitchell, REDW
2.8 CPE Accounting (Governmental) Friday, Jan. 19
11 a.m.-Noon CST
Internal Controls and Compliance, Fraud Protection
Speaker: Joel Haaser, FORVIS
3 CPE Accounting Friday, Jan. 19
11 a.m.-Noon CST
Best Administrative Grant Practices and Compliance Tribes
Speaker: Eric Weisenburger, Dorsey & Whitney
2.2 CPE Accounting (Governmental) Friday, Jan. 19
11 a.m.-Noon CST
Week Three Session CPE hrs. CPE Field of Study Live Zoom Q&A Overview of Government Accounting
Speaker: Rachel Domnick, Oklahoma State University
3.8 CPE Accounting (Governmental) Friday, Jan. 26
11 a.m.-Noon CST
Auditing Processes and Regulations/Preparing for an Audit
Speaker: Gwen Zech, Baker Tilly
3.6 CPE Auditing (Governmental) Friday, Jan. 26
11 a.m.-Noon CST
Week Four Session CPE hrs. CPE Field of Study Live Zoom Q&A Importance of Finance and Overview of Tribal Statements
Speaker: Gwen Zech, Baker Tilly
3 CPE Finance Friday, Feb. 2
11 a.m.-Noon CST
Effective Record Keeping at Your Tribe
Speaker: Wes Benally, REDW
1.8 CPE Accounting Friday, Feb. 2
11 a.m.-Noon CST
Week Five Session CPE hrs. CPE Field of Study Live Zoom Q&A IRS Tribal Government Tax Guide
Speaker: Hattie Mitchell, REDW
3 CPE Taxes Friday, Feb. 9
11 a.m.-Noon CST
Cost Principles for Tribes
Speaker: Wes Benally, REDW
2.6 CPE Accounting Friday, Feb. 9
11 a.m.-Noon CST
Week Six Session CPE hrs. CPE Field of Study Live Zoom Q&A Federal General Uniform Administrative Requirements
Speaker: Wes Benally, REDW
2.4 CPE Accounting (Governmental) Friday, Feb. 16
11 a.m.-Noon CST
Closing Out Grants
Speaker: Hattie Mitchell, REDW
1.8 CPE Accounting (Governmental) Friday, Feb. 16
11 a.m.-Noon CST
Week Seven Session CPE hrs. CPE Field of Study Live Zoom Q&A Ethics for Accounting and Finance Professionals
Speaker: Rachel Cox, Oklahoma State University
3 CPE Regulatory Ethics Friday, Feb. 23
11 a.m.-Noon CST
Preparing Budgets
Speaker: Rachel Domnick, Oklahoma State University
2.6 CPE Accounting Friday, Feb. 23
11 a.m.-Noon CST
Week Eight Session CPE hrs. CPE Field of Study Live Zoom Q&A Indirect Cost Rate Calculation and Negotiation Processes
Speaker: Scott Huebert, Becky Carter, Finely & Cook
3 CPE Accounting Friday, March 1
11 a.m.-Noon CST
Cost Principles for Tribes
Speaker: Becky Carter, Finely & Cook
1.8 CPE Auditing (Governmental) Friday, March 1
11 a.m.-Noon CST
Qualified Assessment (must receive a score of 70% or higher to complete program)
Overall Evaluation and Post-Test
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Available Credit
CEU and CPE Credit
The following CPE Subject Areas are reflected in this program:
- 13 CPE credits of Accounting
- 13 CPE credits of Accounting (Governmental)
- 5.4 CPE credits of Auditing (Governmental)
- 5.2 CPE credits of Business Law
- 3 CPE credits of Finance
- 3 CPE credits of Regulatory Ethics
- 3 CPE credits of Taxes
- Optional: 2 Hours of undergraduate credit
Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive a total of 45.6 hours of CPE credit. Participants are required to attend and participate in each complete session to receive CPE credit. The Oklahoma State University Center for Future of Work is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through: www.nasbaregistry.org
Earn a Digital Badge
Participants are eligible to receive the OSU Introductory Tribal Finance and Accounting Digital Badge, which requires program completion to be added to your portfolio. The badge will note the sessions covered and serve as a validation of accomplishments, skills and quality you have learned throughout this program. In order to receive a certificate of completion, the participant must attend at least 90 percent of the program. At the end of this program, participants will complete the Qualified Assessment and must receive a score of 70% or higher.
OSU Course Credit
Participants also have the option of enrolling in this course for Oklahoma State University credit. Some tribal organizations may have funds set aside specifically for credit courses and your organization may view this program as a good option to use the funds. If you would like to take this course for OSU credit, please contact us.
- Learning Objectives
Auditing Processes and Regulations/Preparing for an Audit
Attendees will:
- Identify the tasks involved in preparing for an audit
- Recognize schedules and checklists for the monthly and year-end close-out process
Best Administrative Grant Practices and Compliance from Tribes
Attendees will:
- Identify the intent of what is the meaning of the Super Circular
- List what the potential impacts of your organization are to noncompliance of a grant
- Name at least two ways you can keep the mandatory disclosure rule and avoid harm to your organization
Closing Out Grants
Attendees will:- Recognize the components of a grant lifecycle
- Identify components and important issues of grant management and grant close-outs
- List components in the case study of FEMA to identify problems and solutions that could occur in the grant award and compliance process
Cost Principles for Tribes
Attendees will:- Identify the concepts central to federal cost principles
- Distinguish costs associated with direct and indirect costs
- List cost principles and support answers on direct and indirect costs with citations
Effective Record Keeping at Your Tribe
Attendees will:- Recall what a “record” is in today’s tribal government
- Identify federal grant and self-determination record retention time requirements
- Recognize records a tribe is required to keep to maintain a strong financial management system
Ethics for Accounting and Finance Professionals
Attendees will:- Recall definition of “ethics”
- Name at least five of the 10 steps in the AICPA’s Ethical Decision-Making Model
- Identify six pillars of the AICPA code
Federal General Uniform Administrative Requirements
Attendees will:- Identify the key Uniform Grant Guidance Subparts
- Distinguish and recognize key aspects in regard to cost principles, record keeping, indirect costs and close out grants
Importance of Finance and Overview of Tribal Financial Statements
Attendees will:- Recognize the financial statements included in Governmental Funds, Proprietary Funds, and Fiduciary Funds
- Identify the two methods of reporting Component Units
Indirect Cost Rate Calculation and Negotiation Process
Attendees will:- Recognize the definition of indirect cost
- Recall how an indirect cost rate is determined
- Identify indirect costs and how they are charged to programs
Internal Controls & Compliance, Fraud Protection
Attendees will:- Define internal controls
- Recognize the COSO framework components and definitions
- List the primary areas of internal controls
Introduction to Federal Indian Law
Attendees will:- Recall what the term Federal Indian Law refers to
- Recognize the different powers of Tribal Sovereignty
- List what purposes tribal gaming net revenues are to be used for
Introduction to Tribal Government Accounting & Finance
Attendees will:- Identify the characteristics that an organization may have one or more of to be a governmental organization
- Recall examples of legally separate entities in financial reporting
- Recognize the unique aspects of tribes that impact financial management
IRS Tribal Government Tax Guide
Attendees will:- Recall W2 and 1099 filings
- Identify tribal government pensions under the Pension Act as taxable or non-taxable
- Recognize the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act provisions
Legal Infrastructure of Tribal Enterprises
Attendees will:- Understand and identify the tribal and federal laws applicable to the creation and operation of tribal business entities
- Identify the tribal laws that might be necessary for economic development and financing business transactions
- Identify three important aspects of federal Indian law that impact tribal businesses
Overview of Government Accounting
Attendees will:- List the three bases of accounting and identify which is not used in GAAP
- Match each fund type as either a Governmental Fund, a Proprietary Fund, or a Fiduciary Fund and what basis of accounting those funds use
Preparing Budgets
Attendees will:- Recall the budgeting calendar cycle
- Match the components in mid-year and year-end budget reviews
- Recognize budget tools and their levels
SEFA – Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards
Attendees will:- Recognize components of the SEFA schedule workpaper
- Identify how this report is used by federal agencies
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Sponsors
Premier
Silver
Learn more about sponsorship levels and/or let us know you would like to be a sponsor:
Program Policies
If a participant would like to cancel her/his registration less than 10 days prior to the program, you are welcome to send a substitute. A refund is available given notification no later than 11 days prior to the program. If you are cancelling your registration or transferring your registration to a colleague, please contact the OSU Center for Future of Work, at 405-744-5208 or cfw@okstate.edu. The CFW will send you an email confirming your cancellation and refund if applicable.
For more information regarding administrative policies such as complaints, please contact the assistant program manager, Lindsey Ray at 405-744-5208 or lindssk@okstate.edu. The program content is appropriate for entry level employees and those looking to gain an understanding in tribal finance and accounting.
For CPE purposes, the knowledge level of the course is "basic". There is no prerequisite education/experience. A pre-test will be shared with program participants by the program administrator after registration and prior to attendance.