Agenda for Spring FOCUS 2025

Tuesday May 20

3:00-5:00 pm VSCPA Ethics Training (separate fee)

5- 7:00 pm Happy Hour sponsored by Workday &  Nelnet, Skyline Room

Wednesday May 21

  • 8:00 am -8:05 am Welcome & Introduction of Keynote
  • 8:10 am - 8:55 am General Session I: NACUBO Washington Update:  Federal agency actions and legislative developments continue to shape the future of higher education in profound ways. With the 119th Congress setting new legislative agendas, colleges and universities must stay agile in the face of changing mandates and opportunities. This session will highlight recent developments from Washington, examine the impacts for campus leaders, and offer practical guidance for business officers looking to navigate this complexity and position institutions for success.
  • 9:00 am - 10:15 am General Session II:  FORVIS Higher Ed Accounting Update: GASB continues to issue new standards and refine guidance that directly impact financial reporting in higher education. This session will cover recent and upcoming GASB updates, emerging issues in financial reporting, and highlight NACUBO's advisory on treatment of financial aid as a discount. Stay informed and prepared to navigate these changes while supporting your institution's mission with clarity and compliance.
  • 10:15 am - 10:30 am Break
  • 10:30 am - 11:20 am General Session III:  APA Update: Get the latest updates from the Office of the Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts including key takeaways from recent higher education audits, current financial reporting guidance, and a look forward to upcoming GASB standards.
  • 11:30 am - 12:20 pm General Session IV - Workday Presentation "Leveraging Workday's AI to Increase Visibility, Reduce Risk, and Improve Efficiency": Discover how Workday's AI capabilities are transforming financial and procurement operations across higher education. This session will explore Workday's vision for leveraging AI to drive smarter decision-making, streamline processes, and uncover new insights. The session will conclude with a live demo showcasing how intelligent contract automation simplifies complex tasks, enhances data visibility, and delivers predictive insights to empower institutions like never before.
  • 12:20 pm - 1:30 pm Lunch
  • 1:30 pm - 2:20 pm  General Session V - Ernst & Young "Finance as a Catalyst: Transformation through Process Innovation": Discover how finance professionals are driving institutional transformation by leveraging accurate data, streamlined processes, and strategic change management. This session will explore the expanding role of finance in enabling smarter decisions, solving operational challenges, and unlocking greater organizational value through process innovation.
  • 2:30 pm - 3:20 pm Concurrent Sessions
    • A. GASB/Financial Reporting: This session takes a deeper dive into the latest GASB pronouncements and their implications for FY25 financial statements as well as timely insights from recent audits and other emerging trends that are reshaping the higher education financial reporting landscape. Bring your questions – an interactive Q&A will offer practical guidance on the issues most critical to your institution to help you stay ahead of evolving standards and strengthen readiness for what’s next in financial reporting. 
    • B Payroll Roundtable: Join fellow payroll professionals for a dynamic roundtable on the latest trends and challenges in higher education payroll. From compliance updates to process improvements, this session is your chance to ask questions, share experiences and gain practical insights from your peers.  
    • C. Bursar Roundtable: Join us for a collaborative discussion regarding the evolving landscape of student finance and bursar operations. This interactive session, driven by a pre-session survey to FOCUS members, will explore challenges, provide practical solutions, and highlight emerging trends that reflect the issues that matter most for the changing student finance experience. 
  • 3:20 pm - 3:40 pm Break
  • 3:40 pm - 4:30 pm Concurrent Sessions
    • D. ARMICS "From Compliance to Excellence: Elevating Fiscal Responsibilitly and Internal Controls through ARMICS": At UVA, we are transforming ARMICS compliance from a routine obligation to a strategic tool that drives fiscal stewardship, accountability, and operational excellence. This session will explore how we are using ARMICS to gain a deeper understanding of our processes, risks, and controls while identifying areas for meaningful improvement. We will share key lessons learned along the way and highlight the tools and resources that are helping strengthen internal controls and elevate financial responsibility across the institution. 
    • E. Fixed Assets: Managing fixed assets in higher education presents a unique set of challenges! Join us for an interactive roundtable discussion that offers a space to explore shared pain points, discuss practical strategies, and uncover emerging best practices. Come ready to engage, ask questions, and walk away with actionable insights from peers across the field.  
    • F. OSP "Managing Sponsored Programs at UVA":  Explore how the University of Virginia manages the full grant lifecycle – from pre-award setup to post-award financial oversight – through integrated systems and Workday functionality. This session will highlight key internal controls, spending restrictions, and essential tools such as Workday-delivered reports, custom dashboards, and Office of Sponsored Programs reporting resources. Gain practical insights into how UVA ensures compliance, transparency, and efficiency across sponsored programs.  
  • 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Primary Representatives Meeting
  • 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Reception Sponsored by Transact CBORD, Ballroom
  • 6:30 pm  Dinner, Ballroom

Thursday, May 22

  • 8:00 am - 8:50 am General Session  Accounts Payable "Failing to Succeed: UVA's OCR Journey and the Realities of Touchless Invoice Processing":  In 2020, the University of Virginia set out to modernize its invoice processing with OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology to reduce manual effort and streamline payments. Four years later, we're sharing what it really took - what worked, what didn't, and the lessons learned along the way. We'll explore key challenges like supplier compliance and system limitations, the importance of audit trails, and the realities of automation. Whether you're just starting or optimizing your approach, you'll gain candid insights into balancing technology, process, and people for long-term success. 
  • 9:00 am - 9:50 am General Session SCHEV Update: Join us for an informative session highlighting key developments from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). Learn about the new strategic plan for Virginia, upcoming changes in the state budget for higher education, and other important policy updates. This session will provide valuable context for how state-level initiatives and funding decisions are shaping the future of colleges and universities across Virginia.  
  • 10:00 am - 10:50 am General Session Controller Roundtable: Connect with controllers from FOCUS member institutions for a dynamic conversation on the evolving financial landscape in higher education. This session will provide a collaborative space to explore common challenges, share emerging opportunities, and highlight actionable strategies shaping the future of higher education finance.  
  • 11:00 am - 11:50 am General Session DOA Update: Get the latest updates from the Virginia Department of Accounts, including a review of the mission and purpose of the organization, current priorities – such as the Cardinal System, Financial Reporting, ARMICS, and Quality Assurance Reviews – and a look at the long-term vision for the future! 
  • 12:00 pm - 12:50 pm Lunch
  • 1:00 pm - 1:50 pm Tax Update: Stay current on the tax developments that are impacting higher education institutions. This session will cover critical updates on tax policy, recent developments affecting exempt organizations, changes to the IRS Priority Guide, and the latest on IRA Credit and Direct Pay. We will also explore a range of other impactful topics shaping the higher education tax landscape including Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), fringe benefits, and UBTI. 
  • 1:50 pm - 2:10 pm Wrap Up Session