# Financial Management Bootcamp for New Federal Managers Course Canonical URL: ## Overview This course provides a quick, essential overview of Federal financial management to new Federal Managers and those who manage federal funds. All federal managers and staff with responsibility over the planning, application, certification, accounting, and reporting on the use of federal funds have a personal, professional, and legal responsibility, based upon the U.S. Constitution, for the appropriate stewardship of those resources, as explicitly authorized and appropriated. This course will familiarize Federal Managers and those managing resources with many of the laws, regulations, and compliance requirements for the federal budget cycle, spending process, control, accounting, and reporting. ## What you'll learn - Understand the size, composition, and scope of the United States' annual budget. - Know the phases of the Federal/Congressional Budget Cycle. - Describe the titles, roles, and functions of federal financial management professionals. - Understand the lifecycle of federal financial transactions from initial commitment to eventual expenditure. - Know the functional connections between finance and procurement. - Know the sources of authority that guide and control an Agency’s financial management activities. - Recognize the restrictions and authorities on the communication of financial information. ## Curriculum #### Module 1: Size and Scope of the National Budget - Understand national debt, annual deficit, and federal spending patterns - Differentiate between mandatory and discretionary spending - Analyze real-time data on revenues and expenditures - Discuss the implications of the growing national debt #### Module 2: The Federal Budget Cycle - Learn the phases: formulation, congressional action, execution, audit, and review - Understand rules for appropriations, apportionments, allotments, and obligations - Explore procurement methods and rules for ratification and fund transfers - Connect performance metrics to budget outcomes per GPRA #### Module 3: Financial Professionals You Will Work With - Identify key roles: CFO, budget officers, analysts, accountants, and certifying officers - Understand their responsibilities in budget formulation, execution, and audit - Clarify communication roles with program staff, vendors, and oversight bodies #### Module 4: Lifecycle of Federal Financial Transactions - Follow a dollar from appropriation to Treasury disbursement - Understand commitments, obligations, and liquidations - Manage aging unliquidated obligations (ULOs) #### Module 5: Sources of Financial Authority and Internal Controls - Learn key regulations: GAO Red Book, OMB Circulars, Prompt Payment Act - Apply internal controls and compliance strategies - Understand the purpose-time-amount test and Antideficiency Act rules #### Module 6: Communicating Financial Information - Know when and how to communicate with Congress, auditors, and the public - Observe restrictions on pre-decisional and proprietary information - Ensure accurate, authorized communication of financial data #### Module 7: Wrapping It All Up - Explore additional professional development opportunities - Understand how technology affects financial data accuracy and reporting - Review practical steps to strengthen financial literacy and performance linkage ## Schedule - Jul 28, 2026 9:00am–5:00pm — Live Online - Oct 9, 2026 9:00am–5:00pm — Live Online ## Instructors ### Alan B. Robinson — Instructor Mr. Robinson is a seasoned legal and federal employment expert with over two decades of experience. He recently retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, where he spent 11 years as Deputy Director/Director for the Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity (ODEO) and 8 years as Chief of Employee and Labor Relations. In these roles, he provided extensive guidance on federal employment matters, showcasing his deep expertise in labor relations and diversity initiatives. A graduate of the University of Virginia with a B.A. in Government, Mr. Robinson earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Before his federal service, he built a robust legal career, starting as a law clerk for the Baltimore City Orphan’s Court, followed by 10 years as a civil defense litigator with a D.C. law firm, and later operating his own solo practice for 5 years. His private practice focused on representing federal agencies, employees, municipalities, and private entities in employment-related cases before the EEOC, Merit Systems Protection Board, and various courts. Currently, Mr. Robinson shares his wealth of knowledge as an adjunct instructor with the Graduate School USA and serves as a registered arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). His extensive background in law, federal employment, and diversity makes him a valuable resource in his field. ### Alan McCain — Curriculum Program Manager Alan McCain is a retired combat veteran who served as both an Air Force enlisted member and a Navy officer. He brings over 30 years of experience spanning federal and commercial budgeting, auditing, programming, operations, global logistics support, supply chain and inventory management, as well as major IT acquisition. He possesses extensive, hands-on budget and audit experience across Federal, State, and Local government operations, including work within the Executive Office of the President and the Departments of State, Defense, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Education, as well as the Office of the Mayor of Washington, D.C., among others. Alan’s consulting background includes strategic planning and business development with the District of Columbia government, multiple federal agencies, Lockheed Martin, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. He is a Certified Government/Defense Financial Manager (CGFM/DFM), holds a Teaching Certification from Harvard University’s Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, and earned an Executive MBA in International Business from The George Washington University. ## Pricing **Tuition:** $579