Education & Events
 

Municipal Accounting & Finance Program (MAFP)



 
 

Municipal Accounting and Finance Program (MAFP)

MAFP provides the fundamentals of finance as well as an overview of the legislation that impacts accounting and financial management within the municipal environment. MAFP is a stand-a-lone certificate program consisting of two units. Although it is recommended that you register to take one unit at a time, we do leave the decision up to the individual. You are the best person to determine if you can commit to the curriculum and schedule for more than one unit during the same term. Successful completion of the two units within a two-year timeline is one of the four elements of AMCTO's Diploma in Municipal Administration (DMA).

Each year, AMCTO presents an award for excellence to the student who attains the highest cumulative mark upon completion of the two units of this program.

Correspondence Offering - Registration closed January 11th and we are no longer accepting late registrations
Registration will open July 2nd for the Fall Term that will run from September to December 2019 for the correspondence courses. Details will be posted by the end of June 2019.

Classroom Offering - details to register are at the bottom of this page.
Spaces are limited. Registration is open from December 1st and will close when capacity is reached or three (3) weeks before the first class, which ever comes first.

After you receive the immediate confirmation of your online registration transaction, the instructor will circulate the specific agenda and materials 3 weeks before the first cass.

If your municipality is interested in offering this certificate program in a classroom environment, consider bringing the MAFP Units in-house. Contact Jeanne Moon, Coordinator of Programs & Services.

MAFP Unit 1 - Introduction to Municipal Accounting and Financial Reporting

Provides a general introduction to municipal accounting and financial reporting. It defines and discusses the two major objectives of accounting in the public sector as well provide an overview of the nature and significance of reporting entities with respect to public sector accounting, including the legal framework within which municipal accounting occurs. The discussion also examines municipal budgeting, distinguishing between capital and current budgets and explaining the links between them.  Some of the lessons further discuss Municipal expenditures, addressing key concepts such as the expenditure, disbursement, and expense, and cash versus accrual versus encumbrance accounting.  The Unit also covers two aspects of municipal revenues; the first relating to transfers and miscellaneous local revenues; and the second focusing on property taxation, including the system of property assessment in Ontario, the calculation of property taxes and the methods of collecting and enforcing payment of taxes.
MAFP Unit 1 Outline

MAFP Unit 2 - Capital Infrastructure, Fund Accounting and Reporting

Addresses concepts, methods and issues relating to capital infrastructure, fund accounting and reporting. The discussion begins with an overview of the changing world of capital expenditures, explaining key concepts like municipal capital expenditures, and distinguishing between capital expenditures, a capital budget, and a long term capital program. Some lessons also examine capital project control and debt administration, including capital project supervision and reporting techniques, measurement of a municipality’s debt capacity and the legal documentation related to debenture issues. Other topics explore Boards and Commissions and miscellaneous fund accounting matters as well as explain the financial relationships, both current and capital, between Municipal councils and boards.  Finally, some of the lessons in the Unit address Municipal Audit and Financial Statements and the concepts, processes and issues relating to the Financial Information Return (FIR).
MAFP Unit 2 Outline

Correspondence Tuition Fees

All course materials are provided through online access

Fee for each unit is $406.80 (360.00 + 46.80 HST #R106732936)

If you would like a hardcopy of the textbook, an additional fee applies - $446.35 (360.00 + 35.00 + 51.35 HST #R106732936)
Note: Hardcopy textbook will be shipped after registration closes.

If you will not be regisering online, forms can be found on the Assignment Schedule page.

Challenging a MAFP Unit

Applicants must have a minimum of five-years related municipal experience in a senior supervisory role and/or courses to receive approval to challenge any unit of MAFP. Challenging any unit of MAFP is an opportunity to receive credit for a specific MAFP Unit without submitting assignments. Approved applicants will be required to submit a paper and write an exam for each unit. An overall minimum passing grade of 70% must be attained to gain credit for the specific MAFP Unit you are challenging.
 

Challenge Fee with PDF version of textbook: $259.90 per unit (230.00 + 29.90 HST #R106732936)
Challenge Fee with PDF and Hardcopy of textbook: $299.45 per unit (230.00 + 35.00 + 34.45 HST #R106732936)

Those who meet the minimum requirements mentioned above and are interested in applying to challenge any MAFP Unit, submit the MAFP Challenge Application to Rosita Bourke.

 

Refund Policy: A student who cancels from any Unit before the first scheduled assignment due date is entitled to a partial refund of fees less a refund levy of $113.00 (includes HST). In order to receive the partial refund, you must submit written notice of your cancellation to Rosita Bourke. No refunds will be granted for cancellations received after the first scheduled assignment due date. A student cannot transfer their registration or payment to a later date. No returns accepted or no refunds for the hard copy textbook.

MAFP Classes in Mississauga

Registration opend Dec. 1/18 and is now closed. The Classroom is FULL and we are no longer taking names for the waiting list. Registration is open from December 1st and will close when capacity is reached or three (3) weeks before the first class, which ever comes first. Registering for the MAFP Unit 1 classes will reserve your space for the MAFP Unit 2 classes. Registration for Unit 2 will take place after the MAFP Unit 1 classes start.

INSTRUCTOR: Jim McQueen, AMCT, MPA
Jim comes from a background in municipal finance, administration and human resources having retired as Director, Corporate Services and Treasurer for the Town of Milton. He has an MPA from the University of Western Ontario. Jim has been Marking/Instructing for AMCTO's Education Programs, Professor with Seneca College, prepared and conducted training in local government subjects for several years, and also does consulting for municipalities.

CURRICULUM:
The topics that will be discussed in this program are located in the outlines posted above, with the MAFP Unit descriptions and will be covering the same curriculum. Therefore, each unit will have a number of assignments and exam. However, the curriculum will be delivered differently, which may have a combination of in-class group assignments, homework assigned and the exam. The Instructor will determine the exam dates and schedule one with you after the classes start. The exam is 24-hour open book via emailed exam from the instructor.

TUITION FEES PER UNIT: $587.60 ($520.00 + $67.60 HST #R106732936, includes unit materials provided through online access, refreshments and lunch each day of classes).

LOCATION:
AMCTO Office
2680 Skymark Ave., Suite 610
Mississauga, ON L4W 5L6

Classroom Delivery Dates for each MAFP Unit are from 9am to 4pm with sign-in at 8:30am each day.

Dates for MAFP Unit 1 - Introduction to Municipal Accounting and Financial Reporting
April 11th, April 12th, May 2nd and May 3rd (2019)
Exam dates TBD

Dates for MAFP Unit 2 - Capital Infrastructure, Fund Accounting and Reporting
August 19th, August 20th, September 9th and September 10th (2019)
Exam dates TBD

Attendance is essential to this format of learning. Although there will be no opportunity for make-up assignments, it will be permitted that you may miss one class per unit with a 10% deduction from your overall unit grade.

Refund Policy:
All cancellations must be confirmed in writing to AMCTO to Rosita Bourke. A refund levy of $113.00 per unit(100.00 + 13.00HST) will be applied to all cancellations received up to Fourteen (14) business days prior to the event. Refunds are not granted for cancellations made within Thirteen (13) business days or less of the event.