This KPMG Government Webcast discusses jobs reporting, including Section 1512 Reporting elements and processes, data collection, calculation of Created vs. Retained, and quality assurance.

Also included is a discussion of the responsibilities of prime recipients, approaches to decentralized reporting, and priority considerations around setting up antifraud programs to detect, prevent, or mitigate fraud, waste, and abuse in program implementation.

• Presentation of derivative assets and liabilities and related deferred inflows and outflows in the statement of net assets
• Termination of hedge accounting
• GASB's current projects on the statement of net position and on the application of hedge termination provisions when the counterparty to an interest rate swap is in bankruptcy
• Issues related to the retroactive application of the provisions of GASB 53
• Other common questions received from clients in implementing GASB 53

These instruments are often complex and the requirements of GASB 53 that will be applied to account and report these instruments are equally complex. The requirements of GASB 53 will be effective for fiscal years ending on or after June 30, 2010.

This webcast provides a basic overview of derivative instruments and how they are used by governmental entities as well as the key accounting and financial reporting provisions included in GASB Statement 53. Topics include:

• Common derivative instruments held by state and local governments and their uses
• GASB 53 definition of a derivative instrument
• Basic recognition and measurement requirements for derivative instruments
• An introduction to hedge accounting
• Required note disclosures.

The partners and professionals of KPMG LLP invite you to join us for the second part of a two-part Webcast series, Hedge Effectiveness Methods of GASB Statement No. 53. This Webcast focuses on the hedge accounting requirements of GASB 53, which are widely considered to be the most complex aspect of GASB 53. Topics to be addressed in this session include:

• Criteria for determining a hedging derivative instrument
• The types of financial risks that can be hedged by a derivative instrument for hedge accounting purposes
• The application of the "hedge effectiveness" methods provided in GASB 53.

The third and final Webcast in the series, Hedge Effectiveness Methods of GASB Statement No. 53 - Part II, will be held Wednesday, October 20, 2010, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. EDT. Among the topics discussed will be the application of the hedge effectiveness methods in the case of off-market interest rate swaps, hedges involving commodity transactions, and GASB 53 transition issues related to hedge effectiveness.

• The hierarchy of fund balance classifications and the circumstances under which they are used
• Determination of fund balance amounts
• Application of the new requirements to specific transactions including “rainy-day funds” and encumbrances
• Fund balance display and note disclosure requirements
• Clarified definitions of the governmental fund types and their impact on current practice

 Topics addressed in this session include:

• Considerations for identifying and characterizing constraints on resources for purposes of applying the new fund balance classifications
• Governmental fund type definitions will be explored, along with methods for determining year-end amounts for the various fund balance classifications.

The requirements of GASB 54 are effective for fiscal years ending on or after June 30, 2011. The implementation of GASB 54 will be a significant aspect of the preparation of the fiscal year 2011 financial statements of many state and local general governments because of the importance of fund balance information to users of the financial statements of these entities.

This KPMG Government Practice Webcast, "GASB Statement No. 49: A Technical Overview and Discussion," addresses the key components of the standard and provides guest commentary on actual implementation experiences at the state and local government level.

Areas that are discussed include the definition of the term "pollution remediation" as it applies to the standard; the point at which a pollution remediation is obligates; and issues around measurement of pollution remediation, including Expected Cash Flow techniques.

This KPMG Government Practice Webcast addressed many issues relevant to the timely and effective application of this standard from both the accounting and audit perspective and also provides clarifications around information technology issues related to "internally generated computer software."

Areas of discussion include definition of the term "intangible assets," what may be included or excluded; proper classification for accounting and financial reporting purposes; and pertinent recognition requirements. Also discussed are "internally generated intangible assets" and when developmental costs are to be capitalized.

Numerous studies have established the high incidence of IT project failures amounting to billions of dollars annually. Such failures can include a broad spectrum from late delivery or exceeded budgets, to undelivered scope or functionality. Disappointing results can be compounded by errors in accurately anticipating the benefits or return on investment attained by the endeavor. Given the backdrop of current economic pressures, the downside potential is even more critical. Adding or improving structured and capable quality assurance oversight to a project can significantly enhance outcomes and reduce the risk of major project under-delivery.

This KPMG Institute webcast, "Government IT Projects Need Quality Assurance" discusses many of the circumstances that can lead to project failure, as well as established methods to prevent their occurrence or mitigate the effects of an under performing system implementation after the fact. Some of the topics discussed are:

• The case for Quality Assurance
• The scope of good Quality Assurance
• Which types of projects benefit most from independent, objective Quality Assurance?

Tax-exempt organizations today face challenges, such as fulfilling their missions and raising funds in a changing and unstable world. As organizations try to adapt to today's challenges - and tomorrow's – they must be mindful of how tax law can - and will - affect what they can do, and how they can do it.

This webcast will cover a range of important topics related to how tax law intersects with the way tax-exempt organizations are trying to move forward, including:

• Tax Reform: Will It Happen, When and What Will It Look Like? A review of the context in which the discussion of tax law changes will take place and a realistic examination of the possible outcomes.
• Global Expansion: Opportunities and Challenges. A discussion of issues involved in doing business outside the United States.
• Alternative Revenue Sources: The Search for More Funds. A presentation on the tax rules affecting different revenue sources.
• Tax Dispute Resolution: The "New-Fangled" and the "Old-Fashioned." A look at different ways for dealing with taxing authorities.

Rick Speizman, national partner-in-charge of KPMG's Exempt Organizations Tax practice, will moderate the webcast; Rick will also present the segment on alternative revenue sources. Hank Gutman, principal-in-charge of KPMG’s Federal Tax, Legislative, and Regulatory Services, will discuss the potential impact of tax reform. Tim Stiles, global chair of KPMG’s International Development Assistance Services, will cover global expansion. Finally, Paul Manning, principal-in-charge of KPMG’s Practice, Procedure & Administration practice, will address tax dispute resolution.

But the question on most managers' minds today is: How can I deploy and leverage technology in this time of sharply constrained budgets?

This KPMG Government Institute webcast features the experiences of individuals making technology decisions for their public sector organizations, including discussions about how they are managing to "do more with less."

Among the concepts explored are consolidation, shared services, outsourcing and cloud computing, along with several leading practices and lessons learned in the public sector.

Topics in this webcast will include:

• How organizations can get started, even if they have only a limited capacity for initial or upfront investment Achieving the desired value, selling the change to leadership and users, and strategies to avoid timeline delays and budget overruns
• What kind of gains/improvements to expect
• How to build a business case to justify the strategies selected
• How to demystify cloud computing and successfully integrate the cloud in public sector organizations: questions about its security, risk and impact on end users
• How organizations that have or are considering shared services can build off existing investments to achieve further benefits

This first webcast of the series will provide an overview of the basic pension accounting and financial reporting provisions proposed in the exposure drafts. Topics to be addressed in this session will include:

• Basic concepts for the measurement and recognition of an employer's obligation for pension benefits in the financial statements - the net pension liability
• Measurement of the total pension liability, including proposals related to the determination of the discount rate and other actuarial methods and assumptions, and plan net position
• Recognition of annual pension expense and deferred pension outflows and inflows of resources by employers
• Proposed note disclosures and required supplementary information for employers
• Accounting and financial reporting provisions proposed for pension plans

The first webcast of the series – held July 21, 2011 and available for replay on the KPMG Government Institute – provides an overview of the basic pension accounting and financial reporting provisions proposed in the exposure drafts.

The second Webcast, "GASB Pension Accounting and Financial Reporting Exposure Drafts – Potential Issues" takes a more in-depth look at certain of the key changes in pension accounting and financial reporting proposed in the exposure drafts, and analyzes their impact on employers and pension plans. Topics include:

• Determining the pension plan discount rate
• Determining the proportion of net pension liability allocated to employers in a cost-sharing multiple employer plan
• Accounting for pensions with special funding situations
• Impact of measuring net pension liability and plan net assets as of the employer's fiscal year-end, and related audit implications.

Among the topics discussed are:

• The process for registration by both Recipients and Sub-recipients
• Decision points in making a choice for using DUNS numbers
• Executing the quality control mandate within the 11-day time period
• Possible triggers for Section 1512 reporting
• Implications of delegation to sub-recipients
• Estimations of jobs created/saved

This webcast provides the latest information on recent single audit activity, including changes to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-133 Compliance Supplement, new audit requirements related to the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, ARRA Section 1512 reporting issues, and the impact of ARRA awards on single audits.

Other topics include what the OMB and federal agencies are working on that could impact organizations that receive federal awards. This webcast will also cover recent developments in auditing standards impacting single audits, other compliance audits of federal programs, and additional potential changes to Government Auditing Standards.

The PPACA anticipates that a health insurance "exchange" will be operated in each state as a resource for individuals and small employers to access health insurance by Jan. 1, 2014. With many states currently conducting planning activities, and several commencing implementation, there are important trends and lessons learned that are already being identified and documented, particularly based on the firsthand experience of the early innovator states. These observations may be valuable to states about to embark on these initiatives, especially as they move from the planning to actual implementation stage.

Topics covered during this webcast will include:

• An overview of the key provisions of the PPACA requirements related to health insurance exchanges
• Approaches undertaken by the early innovator states
• Observed challenges from a program management and execution standpoint
• What states can expect from the gate review process
• Sharing of lessons learned from the Level 1 and Level 2 grant processes

Presenters will include individuals with direct knowledge and experience in health insurance exchanges: Paul Hencoski is a KPMG LLP partner and serves as KPMG's National Health and Human Services leader. In this capacity, Paul focuses on coordinating KPMG's analysis of national trends, development of methodologies and delivery of services in the health and human services domain.

Lorna Stark is a partner in KPMG's Government Advisory Services practice, focusing on state and local government clients, as well as higher education and not-for-profit entities. She leads KPMG's National Health Insurance Exchange Task Force, which helps to ensure that our teams across the United States have the most current information, regulations and resources to assist clients in planning and establishing their health insurance exchanges.

Who should attend

State government professionals who are responsible for the planning, implementation and operations of their states' health insurance exchanges. Healthcare industry professionals who are interested in understanding the process and issues from the perspectives of the states.

This webcast will provide an overview of the state of PPPs in the US and will examine various approaches that have been applied to meet key public sector objectives. 

Among the topics to be discussed are:

• Recent History of US Public Private Partnerships (PPP)
• Assessing PPP Feasibility
• Delivery Models
• Procurement Methods
• Financing Tools

The discussion reflects KPMG's efforts to monitor provisions, track regulatory developments, and evaluate the various guidance memos which began before the Act was signed into law.

It also shares insights the firm gathered in discussions with officials from more than 30 state and local governments, who discussed the challenges they face regarding implementation of the stimulus dollars. These include issues around the increased reporting requirements; certification; maintenance of effort; preventing or mitigating fraud, waste and abuse; obligation of funds, auditing and the single audit process; and others.

Among the topics discussed are a review of recent developments and changes included in the OMB Circular A-133 Compliance Supplement Addendum #1.  Also included is an update on administrative costs recovery.