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Communicating Financial Information to Nonfinancial People AGFOA April, 2012
Communicating Financial Information to Nonfinancial PeopleAGFOA April, 2012
OverviewKnow your audienceKnow your stuffClear and conciseVisualsPresentation
Know Your AudienceReaders?Listeners?Visual?Detail?
Readers…Information in
advanceExecutive
summaryComplement…Example –
quarterly financial report
Tailor to Your AudienceKnow what is
importantOrganize the
informationTrends and
outliers
What is Important?
2009 2010 2011 20120
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4 Is the decrease in 2012 a problem?
Was 2011 an anomaly
It matters…
Set the StageEstablish
credibilityStart on timeEnd on time
The MessageClearConsistentAnglesBrief
Say What?The increase in
net assets is down from last year.
Anything about arbitrage!
What is an audit?
TerminologyBucketsInternal controlsFund balanceSpending
authorityExceptions The “F” word
Presenting the InformationBe accurateBe preparedThe “right”
amount of information
Audit Plan
Planning
• Internal Controls• Risk Assessment
Fieldwork
• SAMPLING• Analysis
Reporting
• Review• Findings• Presentation
Sampling
Population
• Define• Docume
nt
Sample • Size• Representative
Evaluate
• Exceptions• Projection• Conclusion
Focus on…
Personal Services
Materials & Services
Capital Other0
0.51
1.52
2.53
3.54
4.55
2013 Budget
Presentation SkillsVisual aidsPositioningRoom setupPropsEngage the
audience if appropriate
