You’ll move to the head of the class after attending the Texas School District Accounting and Auditing Conference.

Get ready to open your notebook and take down valuable information from leading experts. This is an excellent opportunity to hear the latest and greatest accounting and auditing issues for Texas school districts without the risk of a pop quiz. We have several informative and timely sessions planned for this year's conference.

Register by May 14 to take advantage of the Early Bird registration discount for members.

Conference Location: Norris Conference Center - San Antonio
618 NW Loop 410 Ste 207, San Antonio, TX 78216-5516

Room Block: Aloft San Antonio Airport
838 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78216 |  Room Rate $114 (Cut-off date is May 2, 2024)
Make your reservation online or call (210) 541-888. Members calling in must request the Texas Society of CPAs rate.

This program is also available via webcast.    

 

Day One (Monday) June 3, 2024

8 a.m. - 9 a.m. - Strategic Risk Assessments for School Districts
Mark Maraccini, CPA/ Partner/Crowe/Austin
Whether we are performing an audit or the one being audited, understanding risks is a critical component. In today’s fast paced environment, we may feel that the only constant is change, and that rate of change is consistently increasing. But, with a plethora of risks, where should we prioritize our time?

Major Topics: This session will discuss the concepts of various risk categories, including financial, compliance, operational, information security, and regulatory, and then move beyond these to discuss the highest priority risks. The session will look at key strategic risks common to schools, as well as ways that the we can highlight these risks and support risk mitigation aligned with District’s mission.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify and discuss common strategic risks in school districts
• Recognize and discuss challenges to assessing risks strategically
• Discuss our responsibilities with respect to strategic risks
• Identify tools and techniques for assessing strategic risk areas

9:05 a.m. - 10:05 a.m. - School Finance Update
Amanda Brownson, Ph.D./ Associate Executive Director of Research and Policy TASBO/Austin
This session will provide you with the latest and most crucial information regarding the state of school finance in Texas. We will delve into current challenges, recent changes, and the potential for upcoming developments in the Texas education funding landscape.

Major Topics:

Changes from the 88th Legislature Possibilities for the 89th Legislature Current budgeting challenges for the 2024-2025 school year.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand recent updates related to school funding
• Learn current budget challenges for Texas schools

10:05 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. - Break

10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. - Updates from TEA Financial Compliance
David Marx, CPA/Director/Texas Education Agency/Austin
Participants will see the changes made to the FIRST financial rating system, as well as changes made to the Resource Guide. Participants are encouraged to ask questions during the presentation.

Major Topics:

Changes that impact school business offices.

Learning Objectives:

• Gain insight into the changes of FIRST.
• Learn how the changes to FASRG impact their daily work.

11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Networking Lunch

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Revisiting State Aid Reconciliations and Risks
Celina Cereceres, CPA, CFE/Partner/Whitley Penn/Houston
State Aid makes up a significant portion of a District's state funding and it's important that auditors understand the risks and how to develop procedures to ensure that the amounts reported are correct.

Major Topics:

• Accounting for ASF, FSP, EDA, IFA
• Accounting for Recapture
• Differences between a June 30th and an August 31st year-end

Learning Objectives: Auditors will understand the critical reconciling techniques to lessen the chances of a material misstatement and the risks involved with state aid.

1:30 p.m. -1:45 p.m. Break

1:45 p.m.- 2:45 p.m. - The Role of Forensic Audits in Fraud Detection and Prevention
Travis Casner, CFE/Partner/Weaver/Austin
Forensic audits are becoming more common in the public sector, but what exactly is a forensic audit? This session will provide an overview of forensic audits and examine how a forensic audit is different from other audits and how an effective forensic audit can both detect and deter fraud, waste, and abuse.

Major Topics:

• Forensic Audits / Investigations
• Recent Fraud Cases Impacting School Districts
• Fraud Prevention

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the basics of a forensic audit
• Get up to speed on recent fraud trends and schemes

2:50 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. - How to Read and Understand Your Audited Financial Statements
Tony Juarez, CPA, CIA, Ed.D/Principal/Juarez CPA Firm PLLC/Harlingen
If you are new or experienced in the school finance world, the ability to read and understand your audited financial statements will help you make strategic business decisions.

Major Topics:

• Financial Accountability System Resource Guide
• Audited Financial Report's
• Purpose
• Components

Learning Objectives:  The key objectives of this session are to provide you with the purpose, components, of audited financial statements, and assessing the school district's health.

3:55 p.m. - 5 p.m. - Ask the Experts
Back by popular demand! This session will be conducted in a Q & A format to allow you to bring all your questions to a panel of experienced auditors and regulators.

5 p.m.- 5:50 p.m. (This session is not available on the webcast)
Bonus Session Sips-n-CPE: Roundtables
Join this interactive bonus CPE session to discuss Reporting Findings, Risk Assessment, Auditing State Compliance Requirements and much more.

 

Day Two (Tuesday) -- June 4, 2024

 

8 a.m.- 9:30 a.m. - CFO Panel: TREs/ Bond Issues/Deficit Budgets/Cash Flow/Fund Balance
Alice Benzaia, CPA, RTSBA/Chief Financial Officer/Clear Creek ISD/League City
David Johson, CPA/Assistant Superintendent for Financial Services/Carroll ISD/Southlake
Becky Estrada, RTSBA/Chief Certification Officer/ Texas Association of School Business Officials/Austin

9:35 a.m.- 10:50 a.m. - Complying with the "Big 3"
Andrew Jennett, CPA/Audit Manager/Whitley Penn/Houston
Lian Carandang, CPA/Audit Manager/Whitley Penn/Houston
Brooke Fuller, CPA/Audit Manager/Whitley Penn/Houston
Discussion and understanding compliance of the "Big 3" federal programs for School Districts. The "Big 3" federal programs are Child Nutrition Cluster, Special Education Cluster and Title I, Part A.

Major Topics:

• Child Nutrition Cluster
• Special Education Cluster
• Title I, Part A

Learning Objectives:

• Gain an understanding of the required compliance requirements related to the "Big 3" federal programs.
• Present applications/examples of the compliance requirements.

10:50 a.m.- 11:05 a.m. - Break

11:05 a.m. - 12:05 p.m. - Cyber Security
Reema Parappilly CISA/ Partner, IT Advisory Services/ Weaver/Houston
Don’t have your head in the clouds on cloud!

Major Topics: Risks and assessment areas related to leveraging cloud-based solutions

Learning Objectives:

• Overview of cloud models
• Discuss Key risk factors
• Discuss Frameworks for cloud solution evaluations
• Discuss audit focus areas

12:05 p.m. - 1 p.m. - Networking Lunch

1 p.m. - 2 p.m. - Audit Readiness and GAQC Hot Topics
Lindsey Kennimer, CPA/Partner/Snow Garrett Williams/Weatherford
Blaine Jasper, CPA/Director/Baker Tilly/Austin
In the first half of this session, we will take a tour of significant audit areas and discuss best practices districts can incorporate that will help ensure a smooth audit. In the second half of this session, we will discuss Government Audit Quality Center (GAQC) hot topics auditors and auditees should be aware of for Fiscal Year 2024 and beyond.

Major Topics:

• How to prepare for your audit
• Government Audit Quality Center (GAQC) hot topics

Learning Objectives:

• Gain a better understanding of the audit process
• Identify key items to have ready that will help the audit process run smoothly
• Develop an awareness of current GAQC topics relevant to auditors and auditees

2:05 p.m. - 3:05 p.m. - Navigating New GASB Standards
Blake Rodgers, CPA/Partner/Deloitte & Touche LLP/Dallas
As you approach year-end and embark on the new fiscal year, ensure you are ready for upcoming GASB standards. Explore the latest requirements, glean practical implementation tips, and delve into lessons learned from GASB 96 on subscription-based IT arrangements, alongside preparing for GASBs 99 through 102.

Major Topics:

• GASB 96 - Subscription-based IT arrangements
• GASB 99 - Omnibus 2022
• GASB 100 - Accounting changes and error corrections
• GASB 101 - Compensated absences
• GASB 102 - Certain risk disclosures

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the new requirements for upcoming GASB standards
• Gain some practical tips for implementation