1. Accounting and Finance Survey 2010

To: SGA Accounting & Finance Representatives

The SGA Accounting and Finance Committee is finalizing the training calendar for 2010. These programs will benefit you and your staff by providing excellent, low cost professional development, all which qualify for CPE’s. To assist us in planning, please complete this brief survey.

Your assistance is greatly appreciated. (Projected fees, dates and locations are subject to change)

Questions? Pat Downey pdowney@southergas.org (972) 620-4026

Please indicate how many people you estimate your company will send to the training programs listed below.


Question Title

* 1. YOUR INFORMATION

Question Title

* 2. GAS ACCOUNTING 202

Probable Date: Mid-May – Houston
Length: 1.5 days
Fee: $425

Topics include: Imbalances; Lost and Unaccounted for Gas; Revenue Recognition; Nominations, Confirmations and Allocations; Rate Recovery/Regulatory Issues; Key Reports; IFRS; Ensuring Accuracy of Data.

Target Audience: Gas Accounting Personnel with 2-5 years experience.
Projected Attendance:

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* 3. INTRODUCTION TO REGULATED NATURAL GAS ACCOUNTING

Probable Date: Mid-May – Houston
Length: 1.5 days
Fee: $425

Provides a broad overview of various accounting functions. Designed to help new personnel get up to speed quickly on a wide range of accounting/financial processes.

Target Audience: Entry level accountants from all departments, including gas accounting; property; budget/planning; tax; general accounting; rates; or other departments interfacing with accounting.

Projected Attendance:

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* 4. PROPERTY / PLANT ACCOUNTING (New workshop)

Probable Date: June 16 – Houston
Length: 1 day
Fee: $395 to $445

Participants learn best practices for recording/tracking company property and assets. The agenda will focus on projected changes resulting from the proposed IFRS. Covers continuing property records; depreciation; department interfaces; and other property issues.

Target Audience: 0-3 years accounting professionals who track property/plant assets; or personnel who need a refresher on plant accounting fundamentals.


Projected Attendance:

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* 5. GAS ACCOUNTING 101

Probable Date: September – Nashville or Houston
Length: 1 day
Fee: $345 to $395

Designed to provide accountants and non-gas accounting personnel with a better understanding of the unique aspects of gas accounting and how their role is influenced by other departments.

Target Audience: 0-3 years accounting professionals.


Projected Attendance:

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* 6. CAPITAL PROJECT ANALYSIS & VALUATION

Probable Date: September – Atlanta, Dallas or Houston
Length: 1.5 or 2 days
Fee: $$475 to $575

Designed to provide an overview of the complexities of capital project planning and provide tools that will assist management in the decision making process, with emphasis on ratemaking considerations.

The agenda covers the factors involved in the initial stage of new project evaluation, and carries it through a step by step process to completion, including rate case implications and strategies. Agenda items include: Financial Benchmarks; Discounted Cash Flow/Free Cash Flow; Market Analysis; Returns – What They Really Mean; Cost Based Rates; Establishing Regulated Return; Modeling Contingencies and Simulations.

Target Audience: Personnel involved with project planning, analysis and evaluation will benefit.


Projected Attendance:

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* 7. HEDGING: FROM STRATEGY TO ACCOUNTING

Probable Date: August/September – Houston
Length: 1.5 days
Fee: $695

As derivative legislation considers over-the-counter clearing and FASB continues to update its fair value standards, hedging decisions continue to become more complicated. Is hedging worth it?

This course will discuss the new regulatory and accounting changes and how they impact the hedging decision. We also discuss tying the hedge decision to capital requirements, long-term corporate strategy, and investor communications. Additional areas covered include the mechanics of deal execution, risk reporting and analytics, and hedge accounting.

Target Audience: Senior level commercial, finance and treasury professionals will benefit.


Projected Attendance:

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* 8. OTHER

Please list other workshops or topics that you would like to see, or other suggestions you have regarding SGA programs.

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