From skavanagh at gfoa.org Thu Feb 2 11:22:59 2012 From: skavanagh at gfoa.org (Shayne Kavanagh) Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 10:22:59 -0600 (CST) Subject: [ABFM] Government Financial Forecasting Message-ID: <91208255D64A4B43A24A13A846B4F04A@gfoa1597> Greetings: I am with the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). GFOA's members have expressed a great interest in reinvigorating financial forecasting methods in order to better deal with uncertainty and to better communicate forecast information to key audiences. As such, GFOA is embarking on a major research project to develop new best practices in public sector forecasting. The results will be published in GFOA's magazine, website, and in GFOA's books. We are hoping that some members of the academic community would be interested in participating in the project in an advisory capacity. We are open to different levels of involvement, depending on your interest and availability. Our research will include fields such as decision sciences, cognitive psychology, and, of course, statistics. Here are a few examples of the kinds of specific issues we plan to investigate: 1. Structured forecasting process. Many governments do not follow a structured approach to forecasting resulting in inconsistency and missed steps. GFOA will develop a model forecasting process, starting from how to evaluate the forecasting problem all the way to evaluating the forecast. 2. Hybrid forecasting .Research has consistently shown that the combination of quantitative forecasts with qualitative judgment yields the best results. GFOA will design, test, and then publicize methods to combine judgment with statistical forecasts. Our research will focus on the satisfaction of the participants in the hybrid forecasting event, levels of organizational learning from the process, and levels of forecast accuracy achieved 3. Probabilistic thinking. Most forecasts are produced as a single number (a "point forecast"). However, this hides the variability that is inherent in forecasting. GFOA will examine methods to help forecasters better conceptualize and use probabilies in estimating forecast parameters and in presenting forecast information to others. Thank you for your consideration. If you are interested in learning more about our project, please feel free to contact me directly. Shayne Kavanagh Senior Manager - Research Government Finance Officers Assoc. 203 N. LaSalle Ave, Ste 2700 Chicago, IL 60601 (o) 312-578-2276 (m) 312-339-4345 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From skavanagh at gfoa.org Thu Feb 9 11:49:25 2012 From: skavanagh at gfoa.org (Shayne Kavanagh) Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 10:49:25 -0600 (CST) Subject: [ABFM] GFOA Annual Conference - Interest in Presenting? Message-ID: Greetings: The GFOA is having its annual conference this June 10 through 13 in Chicago. If you are interested in presenting your research to the leading assemblage of public finance practitioners in North America, you might consider submitting a presentation topic to us. Here is the information on how to go about doing it and some other points of interest: 1. We have identified a large number of broad topics (concurrent sessions) that we would like to have speakers for. You can see these topics at the following website. You will notice they are divided into various topical areas such as accounting, budgeting, debt, etc. This should help you identify subjects that are the best fit for you more easily. Please note that new current session topics cannot be added, so you proposal must fit within one of the existing concurrent sessions. http://www.gfoa.org/index.php?option=com_content &task=view&id=2086 2. For each concurrent session we have two or three presenters who make a presentation of about 20 to 35 minutes, depending the length of the session and the number of presenters. There is then Q&A at the end. We ask that presenters use PowerPoint or similar visual aids due to the size of the audiences (usually at least 100 and often many more). 3. The audience is composed mostly of practitioners. We have found that presentations that emphasize application and examples get the best audience reception. 4. You can submit your topic to Naomi Smith at GFOA (nsmith at gfoa.org). In addition to your contact information please include a brief description of your topic and a few words about your presentation experience at other conferences or similar venues. 5. GFOA does not compensate speakers or reimburse expenses. 6. We are just beginning the process for recruitment of speakers and hope to make invitations in March. If you are interested, we'd appreciate having your submission by February 17. The submission will be reviewed by a panel and we will notify you of acceptance in early March. Thank you for your consideration and we hope to hear from you! Shayne Kavanagh Senior Manager - Research Government Finance Officers Assoc. 203 N. LaSalle Ave, Ste 2700 Chicago, IL 60601 (o) 312-578-2276 (m) 312-339-4345 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jds2y at virginia.edu Tue Feb 14 12:08:16 2012 From: jds2y at virginia.edu (James Savage) Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:08:16 -0500 Subject: [ABFM] Breakfast at ASPA! Message-ID: <000d01cceb3b$3e8c1f30$bba45d90$@virginia.edu> ABFM Dear ABFM Colleagues: BREAKFAST IN LAS VEGAS! For those of you traveling to the ASPA conference, ABFM will host a breakfast on Saturday morning, March 3rd, at 7:30am in the room Carson City II. Jonathan Justice of the University of Delaware and Helisse Levine of Long Island University will graciously host the event. Come join your colleagues to discuss budgeting and plan the conference! Bring your graduate students! Bring potential new members! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mmjordan at ualr.edu Wed Feb 15 14:07:39 2012 From: mmjordan at ualr.edu (Meagan Jordan) Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:07:39 -0600 Subject: [ABFM] JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: Budget/finance position at UALR Message-ID: *Public finance and budgeting position at UALR to begin in August 2012.* ** ** *UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK* *PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM * * * The University of Arkansas at Little Rock?s Institute of Government seeks a tenure-track faculty member in Public Administration at the Assistant or Associate level to begin in August 2012. Candidates should possess a Ph.D. in Public Administration, a DPA, or doctorate in a related discipline, or should have completed all degree requirements by commencement of employment. While our curricula needs are in public finance and budgeting, we welcome applicants with a capacity to teach in more than one area of a MPA program. Experience in state and local government will strengthen the application as will prior teaching experience; applicants must be able to demonstrate an aptitude in quantitative methods. An active research agenda is required. The MPA program is NASPAA accredited and has strong ties to state and local governments and non-profit organizations in the area, region, and throughout the state. Courses are taught primarily at night. UALR is a metropolitan university of 13,000 students. The Institute of Government conducts research for and provides technical assistance to local and state government agencies and nonprofit organizations (see www.ualr.edu/iog for more information). In addition to the MPA program, the Institute of Government houses a Research & Outreach Division, a graduate certificate program in Nonprofit Management, a Survey Research Center, and professional certification programs in Volunteer Management and Public Management. Review of applications will begin on March 16, 2012, and continue until the position is filled. Send: 1) letter of application including information on one?s teaching and research; 2) a vitae; 3) a research agenda (inclusive of a url(s) for locating writing sample(s); and, 4) three letters of recommendation to: Chair, MPA Search Committee (R98721), Attn: Ms. Jan Jackson, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Institute of Government, Ross Hall 622, 2801 South University Avenue, Little Rock, Arkansas 72204-1099. Application materials can be submitted electronically; please submit materials to bjjackson at ualr.edu with ?*MPA Position R98721 application?* in the subject line. This position is subject to a pre-employment criminal background check. A criminal conviction or arrest pending adjudication alone shall not disqualify an applicant in the absence of a relationship to the requirements of the position. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer and actively seeks the candidacy of minorities, women and persons with disabilities. Under Arkansas law, all applications are subject to disclosure. Persons hired must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States. -- ********************************************** 5/5 Meagan M. Jordan, Ph.D. | Associate Professor of Public Administration University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Institute of Government Ross Hall 641 | Little Rock, AR 72204 501.569.3402 | 501.569.8514 fax | http://www.ualr.edu/mpa/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jds2y at virginia.edu Mon Feb 27 14:26:06 2012 From: jds2y at virginia.edu (James Savage) Date: Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:26:06 -0500 Subject: [ABFM] Breakfast at ASPA! Message-ID: <000601ccf585$a7281860$f5784920$@virginia.edu> ABFM Dear ABFM Colleagues: BREAKFAST IN LAS VEGAS! For those of you traveling to the ASPA conference, ABFM will host a breakfast on Saturday morning, March 3rd, at 7:30am in the room Carson City II. Jonathan Justice of the University of Delaware and Helisse Levine of Long Island University will graciously host the event. Come join your colleagues to discuss budgeting and plan the conference! Bring your graduate students! Bring potential new members! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: