Executive Public Finance Training Program Addresses Workforce Changes, Enhances Leadership Skills

ATLANTA–The Center for State and Local Finance (CSLF) assists state and local governments as they address changes in their workforce, such as the need to fill senior-level vacancies in public finance, through its Executive Education Public Finance Training.

“Many areas of the government workforce are feeling the increasing impact of the retirement of the baby boomer generation,” said Ron Shelby, assistant director of executive education. “Our goal is to provide state and local governments with a tool for succession planning by educating their current workforce rather than being forced to hire from the outside when change comes.” According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 61 percent of public finance workers are over 45, making them one of the oldest groups in the public sector and nearest to retirement.

The CSLF training program, which is offered through the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies’ Public Finance Research Group, offers courses in the areas of debt management, government financial statements and accounting, leadership, operating and capital budgeting, retirement, risk management and procurement, and treasury and investment management.

The course content is designed to help public finance professionals acquire the broad fundamental knowledge necessary to secure the Government Finance Officers Association’s Certified Public Finance Officer credential. CSLF also offers its own certificate, the Certificate in Public Financial Management, which students receive after completing the full 19 days of instruction and 152 program hours.

These trainings and other special sessions are offered throughout the year. Experts from the Andrew Young School, as well as executives from premier organizations and leaders in local government management, teach the courses. Recently, CSLF hosted experts from Moody’s Investors Service who provided C-suite government executives and financial industry representatives with a detailed briefing on state, local government and infrastructure credit outlooks in Georgia.

CSLF’s programs target a variety of professionals from inside and outside of Georgia who specialize in public finance, with many from state and local governments participating to broaden their management expertise. “We want to make sure that their education is transferable and applicable no matter where they are practicing their profession,” said Shelby.

For more information on the Executive Education Training Program and upcoming courses, visit cslf.gsu.edu/executive-education-public-finance/. Now through July 3, 2019, prospective participants can take advantage of CSLF’s early registration package discount.