Simplifying Complexity
Reality is complex; mental models simplify it. A mental model is a tool that helps us make sense of the world and manage complexity and large amounts of information. Our research shows you how you can use mental models to enhance understanding and decision-making in public finance.
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Download the #GFOA2024 Conference App
GFOA's conference mobile app is now available to download. Attendees can use the app to plan their conference experience, pre-register for leadership workshops, view session presentations, submit evaluations, claim CPE credits, ask questions during sessions, and much more.
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Q&A with Academic Scholarship Recipient Abigail Leiva
Abigail Leiva currently works in accounts payable at the Village of Oak Lawn, Illinois. She is working towards her Master of Accountancy at Northern Illinois University. Abigail was born and raised in Blue Island, Illinois. She is a first-generation American, as both of her parents immigrated to the United States from Guatemala. She has spent 15 years working in local government. Abigail received $10,000 through the Government Finance Professional Development Scholarship.
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Budget Awards Program: Focus on Long-range Financial Planning Criterion
Fri, May 24, 2024
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CPFO Spotlight
Kurt Beal
Kurt Beal, CPA, CPFO, is finance director for the City of Conover, North Carolina. Hungry for more knowledge, Kurt started his CPFO journey in 2023. "The knowledge journey of becoming a CPFO, while primarily geared toward the enhancement and reinforcement of technical skills and knowledge also served as a wonderful refresher and reminder of the importance of soft skills that are critical to the role of a CFO in every organization," he says.
Read more about Kurt's CPFO journeySee past CPFO spotlightsMembership
Join GFOA
We are a resource, an educator, a facilitator, and an advocate for our members — more than 24,000 finance professionals across the United States and Canada.
Member Benefits
Being a member of our community has its perks! By joining, you'll get discounted pricing on awards and training, access to leadership and volunteer opportunities, inclusion in member forums, and much more.
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Get to Know GFOA's Affinity Groups
One of the benefits GFOA membership offers is the opportunity to engage and share insights in one—or more—of our nine affinity groups. It’s an exciting time to explore these groups. Some have been around for more than three decades; some are being revitalized; and some are newly launched. Wherever you find yourself in your career journey, we encourage you to join to be inspired, gain support, and learn about the experiences of fellow finance professionals and how they approach their work.
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Awards
Our award programs recognize excellence in government finance.
Best Practices
GFOA's best practices identify specific policies and procedures that contribute to improved government management.
Rethinking Initiatives
We're taking a deep dive into budgeting, revenue, and financial reporting.
Workforce Resources
Articles, research, and case studies to help governments now and in the future.
Publications
2024 GAAFR
The 2024 edition of the GAAFR is your go-to resource for the latest accounting rules and how to implement them.
Informed Decision-Making Through Forecasting
This publication emphasizes that overcoming these obstacles often involves simplifying techniques rather than adopting more complex ones, ensuring accessibility and integration into decision-making processes.