Are you ready to boost your confidence with budgeting, reporting, and financial planning? Whether you’re managing day-to-day operations or making big-picture decisions, GCSA’s Financial Management Courses are designed to give you the tools you need to thrive in today’s charter school environment.
Enroll today for sessions beginning Tuesday, Feb. 17. Attendees can register for individual courses or the entire program.
“Each course provided in-depth information that has enlightened my awareness of the duties of a board member, school employee, leadership team, and school leader, as well as the financial aspects of operating a charter school, including federal, state, and local laws in the State of Georgia. I highly recommend the GCSA Financial Management Certification Program.”
Why Enroll in GCSA’s Financial Management Courses?
Designed specifically for charter schools
Expert-led, practical financial training you can apply immediately
Six virtual courses, each delivered in two 4-hour sessions in one week
Take one course or complete the full certification
Open to staff, school leaders, and board members
No prior finance experience required
Fully online with Zoom access provided after registration
| Course | Description | Training Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Government Accounting 101 | Participants will understand the basics of accounting, navigate the Georgia Department of Education LUA accounting manual, and learn how to avoid common accounting mistakes. Key topics include the accounting equation, basic financial statement preparation, monthly closing tips, and a review of common accounting transactions. | Tuesday, 2/17 & Wednesday, 2/18 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. |
| QBE Funding & School Budget Development | Participants will gain a comprehensive, big-picture and detailed understanding of the QBE formula and all its input variables, including the funding formula calculation, program weights, FTE counts, allotment sheets, budget services reports from the Georgia Department of Education, and the 18 programs included in the QBE formula. Participants will also learn how to prepare for a successful annual budgeting process, how to budget for state, local, federal, and grant revenue, how to budget for personnel and other expenses, and how to manage the budget to actual performance throughout the year. In addition, the course will cover long-term forecasting and budget policy. | Monday, 3/16 & Wednesday, 3/18 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
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| Foundational & Strategic Fiscal Policy Development, Implementation & Evaluation | Participants will receive a foundational policy framework and learn the basics of policy development, implementation, and evaluation. Policy topics include budget development, budget amendments, internal controls, spending limits and approval requirements, policy development and implementation best practices, and effective policies. Participants will also understand how to align policies with mission and school culture, how to align budgeting policy with strategic planning and forecasting, how to mitigate risk through policy development, how to update policies, and how to monitor ongoing financial performance. | Monday, 4/13 & Wednesday, 4/15 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
Procurement, Payroll & Compensation | Participants will learn best practices for the entire procurement cycle, policy and regulatory implications, the relationship between internal controls and procurement, the RFP process, and best practices. The course also reviews policies and procedures that allow for a sound bidding process. Additional topics include purchasing procedures, billing systems, contract negotiation and execution, and vendor management. Participants will learn about payroll requirements and systems, compensation models and salary scale creation, payroll and compensation policy, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the W-2 process, employee benefits, the Teachers Retirement System of GA (TRS), payroll processing, payroll taxes and remittances, payroll deductions, reporting and recording payroll, internal controls related to payroll, payroll resources, and the benefits of having an HRIS. | Monday, 4/27 & Wednesday, 4/29 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
Internal Controls & Effective Financial Oversight
| Participants will learn to develop and maintain robust internal control structures, systems, and policies to ensure that sound fiscal management practices are in place. Topics include creating a culture of financial discipline, segregation of duties, grant management, travel reimbursement practices, procurement, internal control reviews and sample testing, policies and procedures, risk management, fraud detection, and insurance. Participants will learn how to implement sound systems of financial oversight. Topics include effective board and finance committee management, financial dashboard planning, key financial reports and timing, and fiduciary roles and responsibilities. | Monday, 5/11 & Wednesday, 5/13 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. |
| Audit Preparation Best Practices | Participants will develop an understanding of the audit process and the audit preparation process. Content includes internal controls, auditor selection, internal audit, financial reporting, audit policy development, common auditor requests, and audit preparation calendar. | Monday, 5/18 & Tuesday, 5/19 from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. |
-Chiquetta West, Director of Finance and Operations, Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School
“I’m new to the charter school world and found the GCSA Financial Management Certification Program extremely rewarding. The program offered valuable historical insight and guided you to legal, compliance, and supplemental resources that are useful in ensuring sound financial oversight for your school. The course is also set up so you can tap into a hidden gem, which is the knowledge and experiences of both the fantastic instructor and fellow attendees through small group exercises. Overall, I believe anyone being a board member, school leader, or bookkeeper will most assuredly benefit from taking this program.”
-Olisa Yetman, Principal Accountant, Leadership Preparatory Academy
“Being a part of the Charter School Financial Management Certification Training has provided me with the tools, knowledge, and skillsets needed to be successful. As a member of the accounting and finance department for a local charter school, the value gained from this training is beyond amazing. The focus areas and in-depth discussions made learning and grasping the information more effective. After this training, I feel I have a better understanding and can lead the finance department in a positive direction going forward.”
-Arnold R. Pierce, Associate, The Wesley Peachtree Group, CPAs
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If an attendee misses a course, they will have the opportunity to complete it again in the next semester. Following each of the six required courses, attendees must take and pass an exam (with a score of 75% or higher) to earn their certification. Participants have up to three years to take and pass all exams to earn certification.
