Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of Canada Report on Activities

Aboriginal Financial Officers Associationof Canada

Report on ActivitiesPresented by: Dana Soonias, CAFM, Chair

AFOA Chapters Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario“Working Together & Sharing Information”

October 11 & 12, 2011

OVERVIEW

• Background / Eight Strategic Objectives• Membership• Education Program• Certified Aboriginal Financial Managers (CAFM)• Professional Development On-line courses• Workshops and Publications• Leadership Awards• Youth Initiatives• JAM – Journal of Aboriginal Management• National Conference

BACKGROUND - AFOA CANADA

• Founded in 1999 to help First Nations better manage and govern their communities and organizations through a focus on enhancing finance and management practices

• AFOA’s premise - effective management is key to building social and economic prosperity and essential to successful Aboriginal governance

• All of AFOA’s work is undertaken to support above premise

MISSIONContributing to Aboriginal social and economic prosperity by building a professional, educated workforce that supports effective governance and administration

VISIONAFOA is the centre for excellence, information and certification in Aboriginal management

WHAT DOES AFOA DO?

• Conduct capacity development research aimed at enhancing competency in financial management, general management and program management;

• Develop capacity development programs, products and services;

• Provide professional development training;

• Certify Aboriginal financial managers;

• Participate in the development of Aboriginal financial management, accounting and reporting standards;

• Promote best practices;

• Encourage Aboriginal youth to enter into the finance and management professions;

• Provide a forum to share knowledge, experience and best practices; and

• Support Aboriginal accountability and governance efforts.

FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN (2009-2014)

EIGHT STRATEGIES

1. Support Aboriginal Self-Governance Efforts2. Promote Enhanced Financial and Management Practices and

Standards in Aboriginal Communities and Organizations3. Enhance AFOA and CAFM Profile Among Aboriginal and other

Stakeholders4. Strengthen and Augment AFOA Products, Programs and

Services5. Increase and Stabilize AFOA Revenue and Funding6. Increase Membership and CAFMs and Continue to Improve

Member Services7. Support Chapters and Regional Network Development and

Strengthen Coordination Among Chapters and with AFOA Canada

8. Continue to Enhance AFOA Canada Governance and Management

1. SUPPORT ABORIGINAL SELF-GOVERNANCE EFFORTS

1.1 Build new and enhance existing partnerships with organizations whose focus includes supporting Aboriginal self-governance efforts

1.2 Support efforts of First Nations to access capital

1.3 Participate in developing capacity at leadership level

1.4 Participate in government initiatives impacting Aboriginal governance

1.5 Communicate to members all relevant developments

2. PROMOTE ENHANCED FINANCIAL AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND STANDARDS IN ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS

2.1 Certification for AFOA Band Administrators

2.2 Encourage Aboriginal youth to enter into the finance and management professions

2.3 Develop capacity of First Nations to meet GAAP requirements

2.4 Build on partnerships with CGA and CICA

2.5 Ensure all AFOA National and Chapter programs, products & services promotes enhanced financial and management practices and standards

3. ENHANCE AFOA AND CAFM PROFILE AMONG

ABORIGINAL AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS

3.1 Augment name and branding of organization to attract management and leaders as well as financial managers

3.2 Increase demand among Aboriginal employers for CAFM designation

3.3 Implement successful communications and marketing strategies maintaining high standards

3.4 Enhance and expand website www.afoa.ca

4.1 Introduce an Aboriginal Management degree program

4.2 Improve success with CAFM Examination

4.3 Review Special Arrangement provisions

4.4 Tailor additional AFM courses to Aboriginal context and offer on-line

4.5 Increase number of students in AFM programs currently being offered by colleges, and increase number of educational institutions offering AFM program

4.6 Pursue articulation and/or transfer credit agreements with educational institutions

4.7 Implement Prior Learning Assessment (PLAR) principles in CAFM Special Arrangement criteria

4.8 Successful delivery of 2 course semesters per year with optimum number of students registered and completed

4.9 Identify and develop new AFOA management certificate on-line courses

4.10 Establish qualified pool of course instructors, exam markers and exam preparation facilitators

4.11 Provide comprehensive support to course instructors

4.12 Translation of on-line courses into French

4.13 Provide targeted programs to Inuit

4.14 Development of revised, updated version of AFOA Fiscal Calendar

4.15 Delivery of capacity development workshops across Canada

4.16 Publish new resources on needed capacity development areas

4.17 Reinstitute and stabilize Fellowship Program

4.18 Institute Community Leadership in Financial Management Award

4.19 Successful delivery of Annual National Conference with optimum attendance and sponsorship

4.20 Annual presentation of Excellence in Leadership Awards

4.21 Production of two bilingual issues of JAM annually

4.22 Increase use of Distributed Knowledge Sharing (DKS) System

4.23 NEW –Bilingual Delivery of all AFOA programs and communications

4. STRENGTHEN AND AUGMENT AFOA PRODUCTS, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

5. INCREASE AND STABILIZE AFOA REVENUE AND FUNDING

5.1 Build and implement a Corporate Relations Strategy

5.2 Secure charitable status for AFOA or set up new charitable entity

5.3 Secure increased and multi-year core funding from INAC

5.4 Identify and seek funding from alternative government departments

5.5 Solicit donations from philanthropic organizations

5.6 Review all product pricing

6. INCREASE MEMBERSHIP AND CAFMS AND CONTINUE TO IMPROVE MEMBER SERVICES

6.1 Increase distribution of membership into more First Nations

6.2 Increase number of Band Administrators as AFOA members

6.3 Develop programs/services that meet member needs

6.4 Enhance and augment member-only area at www.afoa.ca

6.5 Expand Affinity Program

6.6 Continue and enhance on-line communications with members

6.7 Enhance and maintain membership statistics & analysis

7.1 Sharing of Chapter and National Resources with all Aboriginal organizations across Canada.

7.2 Adherence by all Chapters to Chapter protocols

7.3 Development of Chapter annual business plans and sharing of business plans among all Chapters and National.

7.4 Develop shared National and Chapter branding

7.5 Development of Chapter or Network in Nunavut & Yukon

7.6 Strengthen NWT Chapter; enhance programs and member services

7.7 Route Chapter core funding through National office

7.8 Continue to hold annual Chapter /AFOA Board meetings

7. SUPPORT CHAPTERS AND REGIONAL NETWORK DEVELOPMENT AND STRENGTHEN COORDINATION AMONG CHAPTERS AND WITH AFOA CANADA

8.1 Ensuring AFOA has the capacity to sustain and increase its efforts to fulfill its mandate

8.2 Diversify and enhance competency of Board of Directors and Committees

8.3 Produce Annual Reports

8.4 Enhance office database

8.5 Enhance office efficiency

8.6 Enhance IT

8. CONTINUE TO ENHANCE AFOA GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

AFOA MEMBERSHIP

Band Managementand/or Governance 25%

75%Financial Management

Member CompositionAFOA members include:• First Nation financial managers• Band Administrators• Elected leaders• Directors• Program managers• Economic development officers• Band and Tribal Council members• Executives and decision-makers

1,449 Members – September 30, 2011

EDUCATION PROGRAMS

● CAFM designation• Developed with CGA Canada• Only of its kind in the world • Over 400 in Canada • CAFMs can fast track into CGA Program up to 4th Level• Based on competencies, ethical standards, education and

experience• Professional Examination and Maintenance of Certification (MOC)

● Aboriginal Financial Management (AFM) Program • 14 courses leading to the CAFM designation • 5 tailored to Aboriginal context and offered on-line through AFOA

● New Certified Aboriginal Public Administrator (CAPA)

CAFM PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

AFM 1 – Financial Accounting Fundamentals AFM 2 – Business Communications AFM 3 – Aboriginal Business Law * AFM 4 – Aboriginal Strategy & Decisions ** AFM 5 – Values and Ethics in the Aboriginal Workplace** AFM 6 – Aboriginal History & Developments **

* Offered on on-line through AFOA and at accredited colleges and universities

** Offered on-line through AFOA only

Diploma Level CoursesAFM 7 – Managing Information SystemsAFM 8 – Micro & Macro Economics AFM 9 – Financial Accounting -Assets AFM 10 – Financial Accounting-Liabilities & Equities AFM 11 – Business Quantitative Analysis AFM 12 – Management Accounting FundamentalsAFM 13 – Corporate Finance FundamentalsAFM 14 – Aboriginal Human & Fiscal Issues **

Certificate Level Courses

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

● Management Certificate Courses8 courses focusing on management skills:

AFOA 1 – Community Economic DevelopmentAFOA 2 – Aboriginal Management Practices IAFOA 3 – Aboriginal Program ManagementAFOA 4 – Aboriginal Management Practices IIAFOA 5 – Values and Ethics in the Aboriginal WorkplaceAFOA 6 – Performance Measurement & Reporting in First NationsAFOA 7 – An Introduction to Comprehensive Community Planning in First NationsAFOA 8 – Developing an Effective Management Action Plan

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS

● Performance Measurement & Reporting in First Nations● Developing an Effective Management Action Plan● An Introduction to Comprehensive Community Planning● Strategic Planning for First Nations● First Nations Financial Reporting Workshop - Tangible Capital Assets● Values and Ethics in the Aboriginal Workplace● An Introduction to Economic Development

NEW WORKSHOPS FOR ELECTED & APPOINTED ABORIGINAL LEADERS

● The Politics of Ethical Decision-Making for Elected Leaders● Demystifying Finance for Elected Leaders

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Series of Publications on:● Performance Measurement & Reporting in First Nations● An Introduction to First Nations Comprehensive Community Planning● Developing an Effective Management Action Plan● Presenting and Understanding Financial Information● Developing Business Plans and Funding Proposals● Understanding Debt Management● Audits● Risk Management● Project Management● Technology and Operations Management● Managing Employee Performance● Introduction to Document Management

● Awardso Youth Awardso Excellence in Leadership

● Youth Initiatives

o Scholarshipso Bursaries [NEW!]

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

● Financial Literacy Publicationo Dollars & Sense designed for

Youth [NEW!]

● JAM: The Journal of Aboriginal Management

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

National Conference ● Largest Aboriginal capacity development conference –

900 - 1,000 attending● 11 held to date● Leading edge issues● Pre-conference workshops● 2012 National Conference

February 14-16, 2012TCU Place – Saskatoon’s Arts &Convention Centre

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

1. Chair - Dana Soonias, CAFM, Saskatchewan2. Vice-Chair - Janice Rose, director-at-large, British Columbia3. Secretary-Treasurer - Allan Munroe, CAFM, Manitoba4. Gloria Allen, Northwest Territories5. Deboraha Christmas, CAFM, Atlantic6. John Carter, CAFM, CGA director-at-large, Northwest Territories7. Clay Harmon, CAFM, British Columbia8. Dennis Meeches, director-at-large, Manitoba9. Daniel Richard, CAFM, membership director-at-large, Manitoba10. Andre Richer, CAFM, Quebec11. Stan Sabourin, CAFM, Ontario12. Gerald Whitford, Alberta

AFOA CANADA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS

February 15, 2012 TCU – Saskatoon’s Arts & Convention Centre at 4:30pm

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON AFOA AND

ITS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

– See www.afoa.ca– Contact AFOA at:AFOA Canada1066 Somerset Street WestSuite 301Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 4T3Tel: (613) 722-5543Fax: (613) 722-3467