Accounting and Public Policy Courses

Accounting and Public Policy

The Washington Campus offers graduate Accounting and Public Policy capstone courses, designed for students completing a graduate accounting, tax, or similar degree. Students are offered an intensive, distinctive, personal and professional development experience.  These 3-5 day courses in Washington, D.C., address critical public policy institutions, issues, and trends affecting the profession of accounting.  Participants meet with and gain a greater understanding of the role of regulatory agencies such as the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Participants also have meetings and discussions with organizations governing the accounting profession, such as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Center for Audit Quality, as well as more informal but important organizations such as trade associations and think tanks.  The Washington Campus accounting and policy courses also include visits with members and staff from Congress and officials from the Executive Branch in order to understand their institutional roles in governing the profession.  These meetings include discussions of the relevant tax, securities, commodities, and oversight committees in Congress, for example.  Within the Executive Branch, discussions typically include the operations of forensic accounting and compliance within agencies such as the U.S. Treasury and Internal Revenues Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Participants also gain practical insights into the strategic role of government relations, as well as the role of public policy lobbying and advocacy by the overall profession and individual firms, regarding issues that affect them and their clients.  Other topical sessions often include discussions of cybersecurity policy, tax policy, and other topics relevant to the profession and to key clients.

  

Accounting & Public Policy Highlights

 

Accounting and Public Policy Symposium: Sample Course Outline Pre-Program                             “Washington by Night” Guided Monument Tour Day 1 Public Affairs, Politics, & Public Policy: How Washington Works Congress, The Executive Branch, and Policy Making Tax Policy & Understanding The New Tax Legislation The Role of Professional Associations: The AICPA Issues in Public Policy Affecting The Accounting Industry: Why Washington Matters to the Big 4                  Day 2 The Role of the Securities and Exchange Commission: Key Priorities and Challenges All About Auditing Oversight at the PCAOB The Role of the Center for Audit Quality Understanding The Role of Federal Auditors Understanding Forensic Accounting: Federal Bureau of Investigation Day 3 Cybersecurity Policy: Threats and Opportunities Looking at the Big Picture: Challenges Facing the Federal Budget How Politics Makes Policy Visit the U.S. House of Representatives Chamber & Guided Tour Adjournment

Key staff from the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)  discuss the agency's operations, priorities, and challenges. Discussion at the PCAOB with Board Members and various divisional staff. Panel discussion with the FBI's Forensic Accounting Unit.