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Northborough Town Administrator John Coderre discusses best practices in municipal finance from the Government Finance Officers Association during the final class of the new MMA-Suffolk University Municipal Finance Management Seminar on March 29 in Westborough.
The first class of students in the Municipal Finance Management Seminar held by the MMA and Suffolk University graduated on March 29.
The seminar, held in Westborough over five Fridays, covered nine topics in municipal finance. Modules included municipal finance fundamentals, accounting and financial reporting, state-required reports, treasury and collections functions, costing out union contracts, and best practices.
The seminar concluded with a panel discussion led by Sean Cronin, senior deputy commissioner from the Division of Local Services. The panel discussed the importance of sound financial practices at the local level and the Division of Local Services’ partnership with cities and towns.
The finance seminar was taught by municipal finance practitioners from across the state.
Jon Steinberg, the chief assessor in Westborough and an instructor in the program, said retirements and the advancing age of officials in municipal finance positions creates “a great opportunity for advancement” into these fields.
“The MMA-Suffolk Finance Seminar gives students exposure to all of the machinations of the finance process within municipal government,” Steinberg said. “The program provides an immersive view of municipal finance beyond the narrow scope of their current positions. Hopefully this may propel them to pursue one of the many avenues of government that they may not have previously understood as a potential career path.”
The seminar will be held again this fall in New Bedford. Classes will be held on Nov. 1, 8, 15 and 22 and on Dec. 6.
• Download application for Fall 2019 Municipal Finance Management Seminar held in New Bedford (236K PDF)