Recommended practices and professional excellence.

• Author: Esser, Jeffrey L.
• Position: Editorial

The fundamental purpose of the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) is to enhance and promote the professional management of governmental financial resources by identifying, developing and advancing fiscal strategies, policies and practices for the public benefit. Traditionally, GFOA has relied on the development of publications and training programs to fulfill this mission, along with awards programs, research projects, and the adoption of formal policy statements addressing federal fiscal issues and recommended practices that the GFOA suggests state and local governments follow.

Early in 1993, the GFOA Executive Board reviewed the various policy statements of the organization, which are developed initially by the GFOA standing committees then approved by the Executive Board and the membership. Recognizing the value of "recommended practices" and the important role they play in helping GFOA members implement what the profession accepts as preferred practice, the board decided to give greater emphasis to this activity. To embark on this new direction, the board asked the standing committees and the staff to carefully review current GFOA recommended practices and to identify areas for which recommended practices should be developed. This fundamental shift in focus is already bearing fruit.

During the 1994 Annual Conference in Minneapolis, work was completed on a number of recommended practices covering such diverse topics as funding practices of pension plans and the importance of meaningful performance measures. These new recommended practices have been added to a GFOA publication--a compilation of GFOA's recommended practices--which is updated annually and made available at no charge on a request basis. Other recommended practices that have been developed over the years are concerned with following generally accepted accounting principles, adhering to the GFOA Disclosure Guidelines for State and Local Government Securities, and investing public funds prudently. The GFOA now has 31 current recommended practices. However, GFOA members are strongly encouraged to suggest areas for future recommended practices, as our work has only just begun.

Recommended practices serve other purposes that extend beyond the association's goals. The GFOA Code of Professional Ethics sets forth several standards of conduct that all government finance officers are enjoined to adhere to in the fulfillment of their professional responsibilities to enhance...