CU’s work in online financials takes national spotlight

The University’s Annual Financial Report and Illustrated Guide were in the spotlight at the recent NACUBO (National Association of College and University Business Officers) Higher Education Accounting Forum in San Francisco.

Robert Kuehler, assistant vice president/University Controller, took center stage in the Grand Ballroom-Hyatt Regency to describe how creative thinking and technical savvy helped the OUC radically re-engineer its presentation of financial information. Co-speaker Paul Niedermuller, principal at CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, presented the external auditor’s perspective. The session was titled “User-Enhanced Online Financial Statements.”

Forum participants continued to discuss the session – and brainstorm improvements to their own report formats and delivery mechanisms – throughout the remainder of the conference. “A few years from now, this is how all annual reports should look,” said one attendee.

Identifying the result as inspirational and a cutting-edge best practice, NACUBO selected the session for videotaping to ensure broad availability to attendees of the face-to-face forum. The video also will be part of a subset of top sessions offered as a virtual forum.

The new HTML version of the Annual Financial Report is posted here; the accompanying Illustrated Guide, an interactive website that translates complex financial information into plain English for non-accountants, is here. Together, the report and guide received a NACUBO Innovation Award for effective communication of financial information.

The Higher Education Accounting Forum offers the latest information on trends and best practices in financial accounting and reporting, managerial analysis, and leadership issues for all types of institutions.