# Financial Acumen for State Leaders Course (Self-Paced) Canonical URL: ## Overview State and local leaders manage budgets shaped by tax revenue, intergovernmental transfers, voter expectations, and tight statutory rules. This self-paced course builds the financial fluency state and local leaders need to read and use their government's financial documents, navigate state and local budget cycles, manage funds responsibly, and communicate clearly with elected officials and the public. The course uses examples drawn from cities, counties, and state agencies. ## What you'll learn - Interpret core state budget and financial documents - Understand budget cycles and key decision points - Apply fund accounting and restricted-revenue concepts to daily decisions - Build, justify, and defend a program budget - Communicate financial information clearly to elected officials and the public - Identify and mitigate financial risks within their area of responsibility ## Curriculum #### **Module 1: The State Financial Landscape** - Revenue sources: taxes, fees, transfers, grants - Roles of councils, boards, and finance officers - The state and local budget cycle #### **Module 2: Reading Budgets and Financial Reports** - The adopted budget, CAFR/ACFR, and dashboards - Comparing budget to actuals during the year - Activity: Decode a sample financial report #### **Module 3: Building and Defending a Budget** - From program goals to a budget request - Working with elected officials and the public - Activity: Draft a one-page budget narrative #### **Module 4: Managing Funds and Financial Risk** - Execution monitoring, audits, and internal controls - Responding to revenue shortfalls and mid-year cuts - Capital planning basics #### **Module 5: Capstone — Leading with Financial Confidence** - Capstone Activity: Build a Resource Decision Brief - Closing: Key takeaways and next steps ## Pricing **Tuition:** $649