Advanced Governmental Accounting

Level III covers the government-wide statements and the contents of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). A major focus of the course is on how to use the different reports in a ACFR to evaluate a government’s financial performance. It will use a class exercise to demonstrate ways to evaluate performance. In addition, how the government-wide statements are constructed is covered.  Prerequisite: Intermediate Governmental Accounting and Introductory Governmental Accounting.

​

Advanced Short-Term Investments

A deep dive into managing a fixed income investment program with a focus on the day-to-day responsibilities associated with investing public funds. This course will expand on investment strategy development and implementation, trade execution process, security selection, portfolio reporting, and investment risk. We will discuss ways to enhance total return through portfolio structuring and active management.  Prerequisite: Short-Term Investments.

​

Banking and Cash Management

The goal of this revised Banking and Cash Management class is to provide a general overview of the banking industry and the basics of Cash Management for local government Treasurers. Topics include the role of the Treasurer as outlined in state code, internal banking controls, cash forecasting, account analysis, banking technology, and the Security for Public Deposits Act.

​

Bankruptcy: The Treatment of Local Government Debt

An overview of the bankruptcy process and how a Treasurer's Office should handle bankruptcy cases. We'll review the nature of bankruptcy and the resources to leverage to track and monitor bankruptcy cases. Topics covered include the commencement of a case, the automatic stay, the various types of bankruptcy filing, claims classification and filing, proceedings in bankruptcy and the impact of dismissal and discharge. After taking the class a student will be able to prepare and file a proof of claim, track the case and determine the dischargeability of local taxes and other debts.

​

Budgeting (VGFOA)

The program will focus on the tools and topics important in understanding modern budgeting.  The program will survey an array of techniques central to establishing broad goals to guide decision making, developing policies, plans, and strategies, monitoring, and evaluating budgetary performance.  In addition, participants will analyze the politics of budgeting, revenue forecasting methods, capital programming concepts, public involvement, expenditure analysis, budget systems, and other topics relevant to developing, implementing, and monitoring budgets.

​​​

Customer Service (Mandatory Course)

This training course aims to equip Treasurers and staff with the essential customer service skills needed to enhance public interactions, improve communication, and efficiently resolve issues.  By focusing on best practices, conflict resolution, technological advancements, and interdepartmental collaboration, participants will develop the ability to deliver exceptional service, build trust with constituents, and contribute to a more effective government operation.

​

Cyber Security in the Public Sector

Today’s technology facilitates unprecedented access to information, bringing with it a myriad of new risks and challenges. This workshop investigates topics in cyber and information security that pertain to public sector finance, administration and other managers.  Emphasis is placed on current and near-term issues and problems facing us in the public sector.  Students in this eight-hour workshop are introduced to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework, NIST 800-53, and NIST 800-171, as nationally recognized benchmarks. This workshop will be online, seminar based, and allow students to focus on applied and basic surrounding cybersecurity.

​​

Delinquent Collections

An overview of the powers and authority of a local Treasurer in pursuing delinquent taxes and other charges. We will review what taxes are delinquent, who can collect, who you can collect from, the Statute of Limitations on collection, and the policies behind this authority. We will examine the laws and processes behind specific collection tools and the requirements necessary to meet before employing them. Tools discussed will include Distress, Setoff Debt, Treasurers' Liens, DMV Withholding, Administrative Summons, Court suits, Delinquent notices, advertising and others. We will also review the laws and requirements for real estate specific tools such as the sale of tax delinquent real estate and the nonjudicial sale of real estate.

​

Ethics

This course introduces ethics with a focus on local government.  Highlights include the importance of ethical practices, professional standards, and the maintenance of public trust in government offices and officials.

​

Financial Reporting and Reconciliation

A practical overview of the essential duties of the Treasurer to ensure accurate and transparent fiscal management at the local government level.  Topics include daily, monthly and annual reconciliations, including the reconciliation of bank statements, cashiering systems, and locality accounting systems.  The course explores a variety of tax and cashiering systems and shares best practices for regular bank reconciliation.  Additional topics include mandated state reports for the Auditor of Public Accounts, Department of Treasury, and the Department of Taxation.

​

Intermediate Governmental Accounting

This course covers accounting and reporting standards, budgeting and fund accounting. A major focus of the course is on the main difference in the measurement focus and basis of accounting between governmental funds and proprietary funds. It covers some of the unique accounting methods for these fund as well as the related fund financial statements.  Prerequisite: Introductory Governmental Accounting.

​

Internal Controls

Internal Controls is a self-paced, online course offered in conjunction with Radford University’s Government and Nonprofit Assistance Center.  The course is comprised of eight modules and takes approximately 1.5 days to complete.  The materials are based primarily on the texts Governmental Accounting, Auditing and Financial Reporting and Evaluating Internal Controls: A Local Government Manager’s Guide.  The course covers the Control Environment, Risk Assessment, Control Activities, Communication, Monitoring, Detecting Frauds and Embezzlements, and GFOA Best Practices.  Upon completion, students should have a general working knowledge of internal controls in local government, and be able to apply that knowledge more specifically to Treasurer’s Office operations.

​

Introductory Governmental Accounting

Level I is designed for people that have a limited background in formal accounting, or need a basic refresher. It covers basic financial statement elements (such as assets, liabilities, fund balance, revenue and expenditures), the effects of transactions on the accounting equation, basic financial statements and debits and credits. It also covers an introduction to funds, budgeting, and financial reporting for governments.

​​

Lawful Employment

This eight-hour training is the Compensation Board's traditional Employment Law program. The goal of this program is to introduce you to the wide array of employment laws and how they affect you as an employer. You will be introduced to common mistakes made as an elected official and how you may best prevent an action against you. A test will be administered at the end of the program for Officers and Deputies in Treasurer and Commissioner offices who are working toward Career Development Program certification. 

​

Leadership

This senior level course examines the critical elements of leadership and how some such elements can be developed. By understanding the nature of these elements, managers can be more effective in leading people and managing change. The course has 4 primary sections: Leadership DNA, Leadership Developed Skills, Leveraging and Developing Others, and Situational Factors.  The primary text for the course is John C. Maxwell, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Supporting texts include Sun Tzu’s Art of War and a few articles from Harvard Business Review.  The class size is intentionally limited to encourage class discussion and enhanced interactions with the instructor.

​

Project Management (New in 2026)

This workshop is designed with the elected Treasury Officer in mind.  We will review Traditional Project Management structure and philosophy to better prepare participants for projects, big and small.  In addition to an overview of Project Management structure and vocabulary we will also review four common situations project managers may face.  The course covers creating a project proposal and budget, setting project expectations, establishing a communications plan, team selections, change management, and getting the most out of your project consultants.

​

Roles and Responsibilities (Mandatory Course)

Roles and Responsibilities was the first course developed for the TAV Career Development Program.  The course covers the history of the Treasurer’s Office through an overall look at collections, disbursements, accountability, and security of the workplace.  The course is an excellent starting point for any Treasurer or deputy looking to expand their knowledge of the basic duties of the Treasurer’s Office.  The course is constantly updated to reflect changes in the Code of Virginia and Court Opinions.

​

Short-Term Investments

This class will cover the fundamentals of fixed-income investing, including a detailed explanation of risk, investment instruments and investment strategies. We will help participants to develop a framework for a sound investment program (investment policy, safekeeping, broker/dealer due diligence, investment procedures, internal controls and portfolio reporting.)

​

Virginia Government and Law

Virginia Government & Law is designed to review our Commonwealth’s operating system of government.  Beginning with early history and moving forward we explore the three branches of government, the Compensation Board, Virginia Retirement System, types of local governments and Constitutional Officers. If you work in local government, then you should know how Richmond works and its relationship with the work you do daily.