Non-Conference Education
The mission of the WFOA Education Committee is to provide Washington public entities and their staff with professional training in finance, budgeting, accounting, reporting, and other relevant fields. This professional training provides budget and finance professionals the opportunity to meet face-to-face, exchange ideas with others, and enhance their knowledge which will assist them in promoting the professional management of government financial resources. The professional educational opportunities also enable our members to maintain their status as Professional Finance Officers, CPAs, and/or other similar professional designations. If you would like to join the Education Committee or have questions about educational courses offered, please contact the Education Chair at educationcommittee@wfoa.org.
Upcoming 2025 Educational Opportunities
WFOA – Training Opportunities
BARS - Cash/GAAP Webinar
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
9:00am - 4:00pm
Lunch break 12:00pm-1:00pm
$125 Member / $175 Non-Member
This class will be presented online. Specialists from the Office of the Washington State Auditor will present an overview of the BARS Manual and the reporting requirements for the governments that use it. This class is intended for both cash and GAAP basis governments. The State Auditor’s Office presents the course materials for people with varying levels of governmental accounting knowledge and experience, from novice to expert.
After taking this class, attendees will be able to:
- Explain the purpose of the BARS Manual and why it is required
- Navigate and search the BARS Manual
- Employ fund accounting, including identifying and evaluating fund types
- Identify the four types of interfund activities
- Use the BARS Chart of Accounts and generate BARS codes as prescribed
- Understand the annual online filing reporting requirements
Finance Fundamentals: Local Tax Topics for All Webinar
Thursday, February 27, 2025
10:00am - 12:00pm
$50 Member / $75 Non-Member
This class will be presented online. Discover the essentials of local taxation in the "Finance Fundamentals: Local Tax Topics for All" class, presented by experts from the Department of Revenue. This informative session covers key topics, including Leasehold Excise Tax, Business & Occupation (B&O) Tax, Sales Tax, Public Utility Tax, and valuable resources offered by the Department. Designed for individuals at all levels of understanding, the class features engaging presentations and opportunities to ask questions. Whether you're new to these topics or need a refresher, this is a perfect opportunity to expand your knowledge and build confidence in navigating local tax matters.
BARS - GAAP/Cash - In person class
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
8:30am - 5:00pm
Lunch break 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Yelm Community Center
301 2nd St SE Yelm, WA 98507
$175 Member / $225 Non-Member
This class will be presented in person. Specialists from the Office of the Washington State Auditor will present an overview of the BARS Manual and the reporting requirements for the governments that use it. This class is intended for both cash and GAAP basis governments. The State Auditor’s Office presents the course materials for people with varying levels of governmental accounting knowledge and experience, from novice to expert.
After taking this class, attendees will be able to:
- Explain the purpose of the BARS Manual and why it is required
- Navigate and search the BARS Manual
- Employ fund accounting, including identifying and evaluating fund types
- Identify the four types of interfund activities
- Use the BARS Chart of Accounts and generate BARS codes as prescribed
- Understand the annual online filing reporting requirements
Please bring a laptop or other device to participate in the class exercise.
Long-Range Financial Planning Course Webinar (Revenue forecasting for budget)
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
9:00am - 11:00am
$50 Member / $75 Non-Member
This class will be presented online. This course is designed to focus on key elements of revenues and expenditures that drive general funds of the city, county, district, or regional government. This includes general services, transit, development services, public safety, streets, parks, human services, as well as other programs. Participants will learn how forecasting of major revenue sources works. The course will also cover forecasting municipal growth, assumptions of expenditures, and incorporating a minimum ending fund balance/reserve. This course will teach participants how to show a long-range forecast summary in terms of presentation and charts for stakeholders and board/council consideration.
Issuing Bonds 101
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
9:00am - 11:00am
$50 Member / $75 Non-Member
This class will be presented online. Learn the fundamentals of financing public projects in the "Issuing Bonds 101" class, designed to guide you through the steps necessary to issue debt for your community’s needs. This practical session will simplify the bond issuance process, offering a clear roadmap for securing funding for public projects. Dave Trageser from DA Davidson and Stacie Amasaki from Foster Garvey will walk you through everything from initial planning to the final sale, providing valuable insights and answering your questions along the way. Whether you're new to bond issuance or looking to refresh your knowledge, this class is an essential resource for anyone involved in public project financing. Sign up now to build your expertise!
Property Tax Essentials
TBD April, 2025
9:00am - 12:00pm
$75 Member / $100 Non-Member
This class will be presented online.
Indirect Cost Allocation Plan
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
10:00am - 12:00pm
$50 Member / $75 Non-Member
This class will be presented online. An Indirect Cost Allocation Plan (ICAP) in Washington State is a comprehensive framework used to equitably distribute overhead costs, such as administrative and support services, to benefit departments and programs. Utilizing a workload-based methodology, the plan ensures transparency, accuracy, and compliance with state and federal guidelines. It provides cities with a clear understanding of how indirect costs are allocated, supports financial planning, and aids in recovering eligible costs from grants, contracts, and interdepartmental charges. The ICAP fosters accountability and efficient resource management across municipal operations.
Federal Award Requirements (Includes Grants) Webinar
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
8:00am - 3:00pm
$125 Member / $175 Non-Member
This class will be presented online.
This Class covers the essentials of the federal requirements for managing, spending and auditing federal awards. The authoritative set of requirements, found in Part 200 of Title 2 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, is called the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards – or more commonly, the “Uniform Guidance.”
The objectives of this class are for participants to get an overview of the most important and common compliance requirements and learn where to keep reading about the areas most applicable to them. In this way, local governments can better understand the Uniform Guidance, which will help them design effective internal controls to meet these requirements and better manage their federal awards.
Topics covered:
- Introduction to the Uniform Guidance (including high-level information on the 2024 revisions)
- Understanding the Uniform Guidance Cost Principles
- Overview of the common administrative requirements
- Essentials for implementing internal controls
- Preparing the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards
- Details about the federal single audit
- Available resources
Beginning Excel Webinar
June 17, 2025
9:00am - 11:00am
$50 Member / $75 Non-Member
This class will be presented online. Steve Rogers, Finance Manager for Kitsap 911 will present an interactive course covering a wide range of topics. It will begin with writing basic formulas, formatting, sorting, filtering, exploring menu options, creating basic lookup formulas and pivot tables. For this course, a computer is highly recommended, and attendees should at a minimum be familiar with how to work in Excel.
Beginning Accounting Webinar
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
9:00am - 12:00pm
$75 Member / $100 Non-Member
This class will be presented online.
The beginning accounting class will be conducted via a webinar taught by Bret Brodersen. Bret is the Finance Director for the City of Centralia. He teaches accounting at the local community college. Bret is a current WFOA Board member, chair of the Professional Rules and Operational Standards Committee.
The Beginning Accounting class will cover the basics for practical accounting. Included are:
- T Accounts
- Debits & Credits
- General Ledgers
- Assets & Liabilities
- Revenues and Expenditures (Expenses)
- Fund accounting (types of funds)
BARS - Cash/GAAP Webinar
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
9:00am - 4:00pm
$125 Member / $175 Non-Member
This class will be presented online. Specialists from the Office of the Washington State Auditor will present an overview of the BARS Manual and the reporting requirements for the governments that use it. This class is intended for both cash and GAAP basis governments. The State Auditor’s Office presents the course materials for people with varying levels of governmental accounting knowledge and experience, from novice to expert.
After taking this class, attendees will be able to:
- Explain the purpose of the BARS Manual and why it is required
- Navigate and search the BARS Manual
- Employ fund accounting, including identifying and evaluating fund types
- Identify the four types of interfund activities
- Use the BARS Chart of Accounts and generate BARS codes as prescribed
- Understand the annual online filing reporting requirement
Intermediate Excel (Complex Functions) Webinar
TBD July, 2025
9:00am - 11:00am
$50 Member / $75 Non-Member
This class will be presented online. Steve Rogers, Finance Manager for Kitsap 911 will present an interactive course covering a wide range of topics progressing to more advanced topics like pivot tables, charts, conditional formatting, advanced formulas, and macros. Before registering in the intermediate course, please be sure you are accomplished at the tasks outlined in Beginning Excel.
Intermediate Excel Webinar
Specific Topic - Conditional formatting, advanced tables and graphs
The focus in this class will be in data presentation and analysis
TBD August, 2025
9:00am - 11:00am
$50 Member / $75 Non-Member
This class will be presented online. Steve Rogers, Finance Manager for Kitsap 911 will present an interactive course covering a wide range of topics progressing to more advanced topics like pivot tables, charts, conditional formatting, advanced formulas, and macros. Before registering in the intermediate course, please be sure you are accomplished at the tasks outlined in Beginning Excel.
Intermediate Excel Webinar
Specific Topic - Lookups, references, and conditional functions
The focus in this class will be in data retrieval, manipulation, and interpretation
TBD August, 2025
9:00am - 11:00am
$50 Member / $75 Non-Member
This class will be presented online. Steve Rogers, Finance Manager for Kitsap 911 will present an interactive course covering a wide range of topics progressing to more advanced topics like pivot tables, charts, conditional formatting, advanced formulas, and macros. Before registering in the intermediate course, please be sure you are accomplished at the tasks outlined in Beginning Excel.
Federal Award Requirements (Includes Grants)
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
8:00am - 3:00pm
$125 Member / $175 Non-Member
This class will be presented online.
This Class covers the essentials of the federal requirements for managing, spending and auditing federal awards. The authoritative set of requirements, found in Part 200 of Title 2 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, is called the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards – or more commonly, the “Uniform Guidance.”
The objectives of this class are for participants to get an overview of the most important and common compliance requirements and learn where to keep reading about the areas most applicable to them. In this way, local governments can better understand the Uniform Guidance, which will help them design effective internal controls to meet these requirements and better manage their federal awards.
Topics covered:
- Introduction to the Uniform Guidance (including high-level information on the 2024 revisions)
- Understanding the Uniform Guidance Cost Principles
- Overview of the common administrative requirements
- Essentials for implementing internal controls
- Preparing the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards
- Details about the federal single audit
- Available resources
BARS - GAAP/Cash - In person class
TBD October, 2025
8:30am - 5:00pm
Rose Hill Community Center
304 Lincoln Ave Mukilteo, WA 98275
$175 Member / $225 Non-Member
This class will be presented in person. Specialists from the Office of the Washington State Auditor will present an overview of the BARS Manual and the reporting requirements for the governments that use it. This class is intended for both cash and GAAP basis governments. The State Auditor’s Office presents the course materials for people with varying levels of governmental accounting knowledge and experience, from novice to expert.
After taking this class, attendees will be able to:
- Explain the purpose of the BARS Manual and why it is required
- Navigate and search the BARS Manual
- Employ fund accounting, including identifying and evaluating fund types
- Identify the four types of interfund activities
- Use the BARS Chart of Accounts and generate BARS codes as prescribed
- Understand the annual online filing reporting requirements
Please bring a laptop or other device to participate in the class exercise.
Thwarting ACH Fraud - Why even your best efforts may not be Enough
TBD, November 2025
9:00am - 12:00pm
$75 Member / $100 Non-Member
This class will be presented online.
Schedule 06
Thursday, November 13, 2025
10:00am - 11:00am
$25 Member / $50 Non-Member
This class will be presented online.
Public Funds Investing for Beginners Webinar
TBD December, 2025
9:00am - 12:00pm
$75 Member / $100 Non-Member
This class will be presented online.
Intermediate Accounting Webinar
TBD December, 2025
9:00am - 12:00pm
$75 Member / $100 Non-Member
This class will be presented online.
- Each attendee must register with their email
- Must be logged into the ZOOM webinar with their registered email
- Have the Zoom meeting on their active screen in order to answer the polling questions.
- Three polling questions will be administered for every 50 minutes in order to be eligible for 1 CPE. (Example – 4 hour session will have 12 polling questions).
Free Webinar Classes Available
Free eLearning Available from WA State Auditors Office (SAO)
Lease Accounting Standards
Washington State Auditors Office offered classes regarding the new Lease Accounting Standards
Cash receipting
Want to know more about how to protect your organization from cash receipting fraud? SAO’s on-demand training follows an actual fraud case while covering important best practices for internal controls. You’ll learn how to recognize the warning signs and red flags of common fraud schemes and the rewards of developing a strong internal control system and the risks if you don’t. Local government employees are eligible for Continuing Professional Education Credit (CPE) for this course.
Registration Cancelation Policy
Cancelation/substitution requests must be received in writing by Admin@wfoa.org. In-person events, a refund is available until 14 business days less a $20 administrative fee. Webinar events, a refund is available until 3 business days less a $20 or 25% of registration fee, whichever is less. No refund will be issued after the business days listed but can be appealed in writing. The appeal can take up to 45 days for determination. Substitutions after the business days listed may be allowed for a $10 fee.