# Federal Activity Costing, Analysis & Reporting (Self-Paced)

Canonical URL: <https://www.graduateschool.edu/courses/federal-activity-costing-analysis-reporting-self-paced>

## Overview

Examine the need for, the legal, policy, and performance accountability requirements, and the methodologies used in identifying, analyzing, and reporting costs of federal government activities, outputs, and program outcomes. You will view the government as if it were a business entity and consider how a better understanding of the “cost of doing business” can lead to informed, metric-driven management for more cost-efficient, accountable government operations and performance.

## What you'll learn

- Identify key legislation impacting cost identification, analysis, and reporting.
- Describe the federal budget process and its relation to cost identification and analysis.
- Describe the fundamental concepts and views of Cost and their use in Cost Analysis.
- Explain the value of cost identification, analysis, and management.
- Explain the cost elements of Direct Cost, Indirect Cost, Fixed Cost, Variable Cost, and methods of identification and analysis.
- Examine and discuss Statement of Federal Financial Accounting Standards (SFFAS) 4, Managerial Cost Accounting.
- Explain Performance Based Budgeting and the necessity for sound cost analysis and cost tracking.
- Identify the basic concepts and processes of accounting, and their use in cost identification and analysis.
- Explain the value of Activity Based Cost (ABC) analysis to government operations.
- Describe the cost tracking and analysis technique, Earned Value Management (EVM), and its value to management in government enterprises.
- Discuss the difference between ABC and EVM.

## Curriculum

#### Module 1: Financial Management, Financial Systems and Cost Identification, Analysis and Reporting

- Nature and functions of federal financial systems
- Types of systems: financial, program, and mixed systems
- OMB policies and definitions related to federal systems
- Core financial system management: general ledger, funds, payments, receipts, cost management, reporting
- Internal controls and risk management
- Key federal financial organizations (OMB, Treasury, CBO, GAO, FASAB, CFO Council)
- Overview and phases of the federal budget process
- Financial management of federal assistance programs and grants

#### Module 2: Policy Requirements Supporting Effective Cost Management

- Relationship between financial management and cost management
- Differences between budgetary and proprietary accounting
- Types of federal funds and account structures
- Policy frameworks that enforce cost identification and reporting

#### Module 3: Accounting and Financial Reporting in the Federal Government—Part 1

- Differences and similarities between federal and commercial accounting
- Terminology and concepts in federal accounting
- Budgetary and proprietary accounting structures
- Sequence of the accounting process
- Overview of financial statements produced by federal agencies

#### Module 4: Reporting the Cost of Government

- Year-end reporting requirements for federal agencies
- Standard Federal Financial Statements and their purposes
- Focus on the Statement of Net Cost and its role in accountability
- Auditing and public reporting of costs

#### Module 5: Federal Cost Accounting Standards

- Overview of FASAB standards and their role
- Examination of SFFAS 4: Managerial Cost Accounting
- Methods of cost finding in federal activities
- Mandatory requirements for cost accounting and reporting

#### Module 6: Activity-Based Costing in the Federal Government

- Principles and applications of activity-based costing (ABC)
- Determining the cost of goods and services provided by agencies
- Impacts of program funding changes on service delivery
- Benefits of ABC for program managers and public accountability

#### Module 7: Application of Earned Value Management in the Federal Government

- Concepts and structure of Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS)
- Tracking cost, schedule, and technical performance
- Comparing planned value, earned value, and actual costs
- Using EVM data for improved project and program decisions
- Differences between ABC and EVM

## Pricing

**Tuition:** $1199