Texas Association of County Auditors January On-the-Road Area Training

Help, Where Do I Find It?
Mr. Leo Caldera, Bexar County Auditor

Being a county auditor or assistant auditor is not easy. In this session, you’ll learn that help is available and where to find it!

Objective:

• Identify resources to assist you in your job
• Understand legal terminology related to the County Auditor/County government
• Learn about the laws affecting the County Auditor/County government

Insurance 101 for Counties
Ms. Lisa McCaig, Risk Management Consultant, Texas Association of Counties

There are many types of situations or costs that can greatly impact your budget. One area that often gets missed, until a disaster strikes, is your liability insurance. What is risk? What is insurance? How do Counties manage risk?

• Learn what risk is
• Understand how Counties can manage risk
• Review the different types of liability coverages

Let’s Kahoot! Roundtable Discussions
Panel

Wow! Let’s play the game Kahoot. Download this app for a chance to win a prize!

Have fun while learning! We’ll cover a lot of topics and our panelist will chime in with their wisdom for an exciting time.

• Examination multiple areas related to the County Auditor
  • Statutes, AG Opinions, Case Law
  • GASB Statements
  • IRS issues

And lots more!

Ethics, Professionalism and Character - Still No Right Way to do a Wrong Thing
Mr. J. Mark Warren, Training Consultant, Texas Association of Counties

As a culture changes, some things that were once a value become less valued. Consequently, those things don’t seem as important as they once did and are taught less and less. However, they are still important, because they represent the most fundamental obligations of the job - exceptional customer service delivered in a safe, secure and completely professional manner.

In fact, the values addressed in this presentation used to be taught or conveyed by the elders on the job but aren’t so much anymore. Ethics, professionalism, character and good interpersonal communication skills are four key values that tend to slip away from the consciousness of younger generations. Thus, a periodic refresher is good business. "Professionalism" is dedicated to helping rediscover the profound sense of duty and obligation by anyone who has earned the title of "professional": competent, trained and ethical.

These issues, once contemporary, are so old that they’re new again and need to be re-introduced, and that makes them more valuable to learn again, or for the first time.

By the end of the workshop, participants should be able to:

• Recall the definition of the word "ethics" and its Greek origin.
• List the Four S’s of Professionalism and cite a personal example.
• Define the origin of "The Second Mile", and its influence on "professional".
• Differentiate between doing this right and doing the right thing.
• Recognize and provide examples of at least 4 of the six "pillars of character".

Fixed Assets
Mr. Jarred Welch, Capital Asset Auditor, Montgomery County

We've all got'em! How do you account for your capital assets?

• Identify the authoritative guidance used
• Review prerequisites for a capital asset system
• Understand how to manage capital asset financial records
• Review end of year activities

Policies and Unemployment to Reduce Costs
Ms. Lorie Floyd, Human Resources Consultant, Texas Association of Counties

Why are our unemployment claims so high?! How did this happen? How can we reduce our costs?

• Understand the unemployment claims process
• Calculate the costs of unemployment claims to your county
• Understand disqualifications, documentation, necessary forms and other steps to reduce costs

Automating Audits of the Tax Office
Mr. David Jungerman, CIA, Travis County Auditor's Office
Dr. John Gomez, Travis County Auditor's Office
Dr. John Montalbo, Travis County Auditor's Office

Presentation focuses on auditing motor vehicle transactions, with an emphasis on fraud reviews. Also discussed: vehicle inventory taxes, homestead exemptions on rental properties, and property tax refunds. Attendees will learn about automating reviews for these areas and on continuous auditing processes.

• Learn the benefits of automating audits
• Review the process and the logic to set up an automated process
• Walk through how Travis County has set up their automated process

HR As A Business Partner
Ms. Ashley Piper, Payroll Coordinator, Bastrop County

Human Resources is a big job and covers large and diverse areas of responsibility. How can HR be a partner?

• Review HR’s employee and business relationship
• Understand how HR as a partner works best for county government
• Maintain good working relations with HR as a business partner

Process of Municipal Bond Debt Issuance
Mr. Dennis Waley, Managing Director, PFM Financial Advisors LLC
Ms. Arcelia Detert, Senior Managing Consultant, PFM Financial Advisors LLC

• Learn current topics in Texas public finance
• Review market trends
• Understand regulatory landscape for municipal advisors
• Review types of bond sales
• Understand the players in a bond sale

When to Call the FBI and How Can They Help You
Agent David Hall, Supervisory Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Have you ever been in a situation that 'just doesn’t feel right'? You don't see obvious fraud, but you've got a gut feeling.

• Learn when to call the FBI for help
• Understand what the FBI can, and can't do, for you
• Walk through case examples where the FBI has been involved

Technology: Protect Your County from Phishing, Don't Click on That Link!
Ms. Erin Shirley, Information Security Analyst, Texas Association of Counties

Technology is terrifying! Don't run screaming out the door yet. There are tips and tricks to keeps the bad guys out of your county.

• Understand what phishing is
• Review what makes counties a target
• Learn how to protect your county from phishing traps