Government entities operate in increasingly complex environments, facing risks that differ significantly from those in the private sector. This course provides a clear, practical introduction to identifying, assessing, and managing risks within governmental organizations, with a strong emphasis on the latest Green Book internal control requirements. Participants will explore how risk assessments support accountability, transparency, compliance, and operational effectiveness across public programs and activities.
Through government specific scenarios, the course examines risk drivers such as fraud, operational failures, natural disasters, system vulnerabilities, and regulatory noncompliance. Attendees will also learn how internal controls mitigate risks, how to align risk management with organizational goals, and how to document risk assessments in accordance with federal standards.
Publication Date: September 2026
Designed For
This course is appropriate for CPAs, CFEs, internal auditors, CIAs, CMAs, MAFFs, CFFs, CGMAs, external auditors, managers, CFOs and others responsible for risk management or internal controls for government entities. This course is ideal for government professionals, auditors, and financial leaders responsible for assessing and managing risks within public sector entities.
Topics Covered
- Types of risks affecting government entities (operational, financial, compliance, strategic)
- Risk assessment process: identification, analysis, and prioritization
- Government risk appetite, tolerance, and response strategies
- Internal controls and their role in risk mitigation
- Green Book internal control requirements and recent updates
- Fraud risks unique to government programs
- Documentation expectations and best practices for risk assessments
- Risk failures and successful mitigation strategies
Learning Objectives
- Identify common internal and external risks faced by government entities and programs
- Apply a structured risk assessment process, including identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing risks
- Explain how internal controls mitigate government risks and support compliance with the Green Book
- Evaluate government risk appetite and determine appropriate risk responses
- Interpret and apply the updated Green Book requirements within a governmental risk management framework
- Document risk assessments and internal control evaluations in alignment with federal guidelines
Level
Basic
Instructional Method
Self-Study
NASBA Field of Study
Accounting (Governmental) (2 hours)
Program Prerequisites
None
Advance Preparation
None
Instructor
Robert K Minniti
DBA, CPA, CFE, Cr.FA, CVA, MAFF, CFF, CGMA, PI
Dr. Minniti is the President and Owner of Minniti CPA, LLC. Dr. Minniti is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Forensic Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Valuation Analyst, Certified in Financial Forensics, Master Analyst in Financial Forensics, Chartered Global Management Accountant, and is a licensed private investigator in the state of Arizona.
Dr. Minniti received his doctoral degree in business administration from Walden University, received his MBA degree and Graduate Certificate in Accounting from DeVry University’s Keller Graduate School of Management, and received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix. Dr. Minniti taught graduate and undergraduate courses in forensic accounting at DeVry University, Grand Canyon University, Kaplan University, Northwestern University, and the University of Phoenix. He designed graduate and undergraduate courses for Grand Canyon University, Northwestern University, and Anthem College.
He is a writer and public speaker. He has experience in forensic accounting, fraud examinations, financial audits, internal audits, compliance audits, real estate valuations, business valuations, internal control development, business continuation planning, risk management, cyber security, privacy laws, data security, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance work and business consulting. In addition to his practice Dr. Minniti is an instructor teaching continuing professional education classes for a variety of providers and CPA Societies.
Dr. Minniti is currently serving as a board member on the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts' (NACVA) Litigation Forensics Board (LFB) and as a committee member on the Arizona State Board of Accountancy's Law Review Advisory Committee.