CFO Selection and the Obama Administration.

Best Practices Offered on March 10 AGA Radio Show

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- As the American Recovery and Re-Investment Act rolls out, the Obama administration will seek, select and nominate individuals to serve as chief financial officers. The Association of Government Accountants (AGA) Executive Director Relmond Van Daniker, discussed the important role of the federal CFO with two past presidential personnel experts: Edwin L. Harper, Senior Vice President, Federal Government Relations for Assurant, Inc., and Lynn Jennings, Strategic Advisor for the Partnership for Public Service. Hear their conversation at noon Tuesday on AGA's "Your Government, Your Money," radio show on WFED AM 1500.

Harper served as Chairman of the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency, the coordinating body of Inspectors General, and was involved in President Ronald Reagan's campaign against fraud, waste and abuse. Jennings served on a team responsible for CFO selection within the Clinton administration.

The guests discussed ways to select the best professionals to fill the CFO positions, as billions of dollars need to be monitored and distributed quickly. The Presidential personnel office should seek individuals who exercise good leadership and professional skills, who have a simpatico relationship with the secretary of the agency and can communicate clearly with the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), agency staff and taxpayers.

Both guests, who worked for two different administrations, had a similar set of instructions for incoming CFOs: Make sure that the integrity and credibility of their agency is sustained and ultimately show the public - where is the money? The CFO is charged to look at the present situation and also the future, while the inspector general must look at the past.

The first stimulus money financial reports are due July 10. Harper noted that reasonable expectations need to be discussed. Career and presidentially-appointed leaders must have an up-front conversation with Congress so that they are aware of what can be reasonably expected from our agencies to meet that deadline.

AGA is the premier Association in advancing government accountability. AGA supports the careers and professional development of government financial professionals working in federal, state and local governments as well as the private sector and academia. Founded in 1950, AGA has a long history as a thought leader for the government accountability profession. Through education, research, publications, certification and conferences, AGA promotes transparency and accountability in government.