North Allegheny School District’s business and finance department received high marks recently, winning national recognition for excellence in two categories.
The district received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association for its annual comprehensive report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, according to Randy Gore, spokesperson for the district.
The certificate is considered the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management, according to an Aug. 13 announcement by the district.
The North Allegheny Business Office also recently received a Certificate of Excellence from Digital Assurance Certification Bond, recognizing the district for five years of dedication to compliance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 15(c)2-12.
The office includes the departments of Finance, Accounting and Budget, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Payroll and Purchasing.
It is the first year North Allegheny received these awards, according to Kermit Houser, director of finance for North Allegheny.
“One of the most rewarding aspects for the finance department is our commitment to being vigilant stewards of taxpayer funds to support the educational needs of our students even in times of uncertainty in local, state and federal funding,” he said.
He acknowledged his team’s hard work and dedication.
“We take great pride in ensuring that every dollar is spent wisely and effectively. This not only enhances our students’ educational experience but also honors the trust our community has placed in us,” said Houser, a North Allegheny graduate who has been with the district’s finance department since 2017.
Superintendent Brendan Hyland complimented the business department’s teamwork.
The certificate validates that the district recognizes its responsibility to be good stewards with taxpayers’ money, working diligently to offer the best financial and budgetary management practices.
This recognition “demonstrates that we are on the right track and will continue to hold ourselves to the highest standards possible,” Hyland said.
Other local school districts that received the certificate of achievements include Hampton for 2020-24 and Peters Township for 2024. The Pittsburgh Public School District also received the COA award between the years of 2016-19, according to the GFOA.
North Allegheny’s financial report was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which include demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report, according to the district’s announcement.
The GFOA was established in 1945 to encourage and assist state and local governments to go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles to prepare annual comprehensive financial reports that are transparent and offer full disclosure, according to Michele Mark Levine, director of technical services for the GFOA.
The goal of the program is not to assess the financial health of participating governments, but rather to ensure that users of their financial statements have the information they need to do so themselves, Levine said.
For details about the Government Finance Officers Association, visit gfoa.org.
Natalie Beneviat is a Trib Total Media contributing writer.
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