Federal Grant Policy Updates: Turning Uniform Guidance Changes into Better Procedures
Federal grant compliance is easier to manage when policies and daily procedures stay aligned. Recent updates to the Uniform Guidance, including revisions to 2 CFR Part 200 and related federal financial assistance rules, took effect on October 1, 2024. These updates give organizations an opportunity to do more than revise policy language. They create a […
Year-End ALM Checkup: Deposits, Liquidity, and Rate-Sensitive Earnings
As banks move toward year-end planning, asset-liability management deserves a fresh look. Interest rate pressure, changing deposit behavior, funding costs, and securities positioning continue to shape earnings and liquidity conversations. The FDIC’s 2026 Risk Review points to funding, interest rates, liquidity, net interest margins, deposit growth, and wholes
A Beginner’s Guide to GASB Standards for New Finance Directors
Stepping into a finance director role for a city, county, school district, or other public entity comes with a long list of responsibilities. Among the most important is understanding how Governmental Accounting Standards Board standards shape financial reporting. GASB establishes accounting and financial reporting standards for U.S. state and local governments
Executive Compensation and Nonprofit Tax Risk: A 2026 Planning Reminder
Executive compensation is an important governance issue for nonprofit organizations. Competitive pay helps attract and retain effective leaders, but compensation decisions also carry tax, reporting, and reputational considerations. As organizations look ahead to 2026 planning, boards and leadership teams may benefit from revisiting how executive pay is reviewed
Model Risk Management After SR 26-2: A Practical Review for 2027 Planning
Model risk management has long been a core part of sound governance for financial institutions, but the expectations around it are changing. In April 2026, the Federal Reserve, OCC, and FDIC issued revised model risk management guidance through SR 26-2 and related agency releases. The guidance replaces SR 11-7 and SR 21-8 and places greater […]
Common Uniform Guidance Audit Issues for Smaller Organizations
Federal funding can create meaningful opportunities for smaller organizations, but it also brings added responsibility. The Uniform Guidance, found in 2 CFR Part 200, sets government-wide rules for federal awards, including administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements. For smaller entities, the challenge is often not a lack of effort. It
Brady Martz Recognized as One of the Region’s 50 Best Places to Work for Third Consecutive Year
Top 100 nationally ranked and independently owned accounting and advisory services firm Brady Martz today announced that it has been selected as one of the region’s 50 Best Places to Work in 2026 by Prairie Business magazine. Each year, Prairie Business recognizes companies and organizations rated in areas including benefits, culture, and personal job satisfa
Charitable Solicitation Registration: What Nonprofits Should Know
For many nonprofits, fundraising is a central part of carrying out the mission. Annual appeals, online campaigns, event sponsorships, grant requests, and donor outreach all help support programs and services. But before an organization asks for contributions, it may need to consider charitable solicitation registration requirements. Charitable solicitatio
Section 1071 Reset: What Financial Institutions Should Do Before 2028
The CFPB’s May 1, 2026 final rule revised parts of Regulation B, subpart B, which implements Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act for small business lending data collection. The rule amended coverage for certain financial institutions and credit transactions, changed certain data point requirements, and extended the compliance date to January 1, 2028. For
Year-End Audit Prep: Reducing Bottlenecks Before the Auditors Arrive
For many government finance teams, year-end audit prep begins long before auditors arrive for fieldwork. The quality of year-end preparation can influence how quickly questions are resolved, how many follow-up requests are needed, and how smoothly the overall process moves. A well-organized audit file does more than support compliance. It helps finance teams