Course Information
State Auditor's Office 2023 Audit Conference
The cost of parking is included in your registration. Go to https://commons.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/prc-wprparkingmap.pdf to see parking options.
Course Description
The Texas State Auditor's Office invites you to attend the 2023 Audit Conference on August 2-3, 2023. The conference will be held at the Commons Conference Center (formerly the Pickle Center) at 10100 Burnet Rd. Building 137, Austin, Texas. Check out the agenda below!
All sessions meet Texas Administrative Code requirements for technical training and Government Auditing Standards requirements for governmental CPE. Estimated 14 hours of CPE.
For Your Information:
• An electronic version of session materials will be provided a week prior to conference start date.
• You are responsible to print out any session material you would like to use at the conference. A QR code will be provided at the conference for digital copies. Paper copies of the agenda, session descriptions and speaker bio's will be available in paper form.
• Lunch each day is on your own. There is a café in the building, and we will provide a list of restaurants nearby.
August 2, 2023
7:30 am – 8:30 am Check in and Registration
8:30 am – 8:35 am Welcome and Announcements
8:35 am – 8:45 am Opening Remarks, Lisa Collier, State Auditor
8:45am – 9:35 am Keynote: Data Visualization and Analytics, Becky Beachy and Adam Berry, State Auditor's Office
9:45 – 10:45 am Breakout Sessions
Creating a Fraud Response Plan, Laura Soileau, Postlethwaite & Netterville
Harnessing the Power of Coaching and Mentoring Skills, Shakira M. Brown, SMB Strategic Media
11:00 am – 12:00 pm Breakout Sessions
Procurement Fraud: How to Identify and Reduce Procurement Fraud in the Public Sector, Ivy Williams, Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker
Understanding the Platinum Rule of Leadership, Quilesha Patterson, Straight Path Solutions
12:00 pm – 1:05 pm Lunch on your own
1:05 pm – 2:00 pm Keynote: Detecting Lying and Deception, Jerry Balisteri
2:15 pm – 3:15 pm Breakout Sessions
Secrets, Conspiracies & Hidden Patterns: Detecting and Combatting Fraud in the Public Sector, Shauna Woody-Coussens, Forvis
Artificial Intelligence for Auditing and Real-Time Process Improvement, Jeri Hale, Tunabear
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Breakout Sessions
External Vendors and External Threats, Jim Kreiser and Sundeep Bablani, Clifton, Larsen, Allen LLP
Visualizing a Cybersecurity Plan: Out of the Mind and onto Paper, Trip Hillman, Weaver
August 3, 2023
8:30 am – 8:35 am Welcome and Announcements
8:35 am to 9:35 am Keynote: Relationship Management for the Critical Thinker, Tali Ploetz, GoldSRD
9:45 – 10:45 am Breakout Sessions
Risk, Rapport, Ethics and the Audit Plan, Christine Dever Homack, Cherry Bekaert LLC
3 Habits to Boost Productivity While Decreasing Stress and Anxiety, Tondee Lutterman, FORVIS
11:00 am – 12:00 pm Breakout Sessions
Strategic Risk Assessments, Mark Maraccini, Crowe LLP
Creating a Culture of Feedback, Bhakti Patel, Clifton, Larson, Allen LLP
12:00 pm – 1:05 pm Lunch on your own
1:05 pm to 2:00 pm Leadership in Audit - Executive Panel
2:15 pm – 3:15 pm Breakout Sessions
How to Issue Audit Findings that Deliver Results, Tali Ploetz, GoldSRD
Principles for Effective Sustainable Leadership, Terry Pankratz, PHT Partners
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Breakout Sessions
GASB Update, Tony Boras, Crowe LLP
The Five Languages of Appreciation at Work, Denise Messina, State Auditor's Office
Instructors
Becky Beachy is an audit manager with the Texas State Auditor’s Office where she has worked for over 20 years. Her primary area of focus is performance audits, including work with the criminal justice agencies, state contracts, and foster care. In addition, she has gained expertise in SEFA. An area of impact for Becky at the SAO is leading a group that reviews and updates audit processes for performance audits. She graduated from Texas State University with a business degree in Economics and is a Certified Internal Auditor and a Certified Government Audit Professional. She loves to crochet blankets while waiting for her 3 kids at their various activities.
Adam Berry is a Data Analyst with the Texas State Auditor’s Office where he has worked for over 9 years. His primary focus is leading the SAO’s Data Solutions Group, bringing innovative data analytics techniques to governmental auditing, and building interactive dashboards to supplement audit reports and for internal decision making. He graduated with a BBA in Finance from Stephen F. Austin State University and is a Certified Fraud Examiner. In what little spare time he has, he enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.
Additional Information
TAC Rule 523.142(g) requires the CPE Sponsor to monitor individual attendance and assign the correct number of CPE credits. Participants will be asked to document their time of arrival and departure in compliance with this Rule. Additionally, attendance will be monitored throughout the day and CPE certificates will reflect actual attendance of each participant.
To see answers to our Frequently Asked Questions, visit http://www.sao.texas.gov/training/faq.html.