When I graduated from the University of Utah in 1999 and started my career as a professional accountant, the internet was rapidly transforming the communications landscape for business worldwide.  In 1999 many of the trusted resources that we use today could only be found in printed books, magazines, and articles that were circulated around the office or found in the company library.

With the explosion of information on the internet from 2000 to the present, the challenge that we have in 2021 and the future is to filter through and quickly access only trusted resources that will lead us down the right trail.

Since the start of the worldwide pandemic and the various U.S. Government relief plans that have followed, I have noticed a significant uptick in inquiries from my local government clients regarding the CARES act and the most recent American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.  Besides these current issues, I also get calls and emails from clients on what best practices should be used in their organization and where to find reliable information for their local government.  In light of these requests, I would like to provide a few trusted resources that I frequently access to assist my local government clients with their questions.

The list below is not an all-inclusive list of trusted resources for local governments, but I access these websites and their resources frequently for guidance.  If you are a finance professional in local government, consider adding these websites to your favorites list in your internet browser as trusted resources for local governments.

Government Finance Officers Association – Industry guidance, best practices, training, accounting resources.

AICPA Government Audit Quality Center – Auditee resources, single audit resources, training.

Governmental Accounting Standards Board – Governmental accounting standards and resources