Five-Course, Practical Program Geared Towards Training NFP Accountants and Other Financial Employees
Employment in the not-for-profit (NFP) sector in the U.S. has grown faster than overall employment in 46 of the 50 states, according to a recent report. In New York alone, there are over 100,000 registered not-for-profit organizations.
To answer the business needs of this growing sector, the New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies is starting a new professional certificate in not-for-profit accounting and governmental reporting. The first course, Introduction to NFP Accounting and Governmental Reporting, will run in spring 2008.
Four additional courses (NFP accounting fundamentals, two advanced NFP accounting courses that cover the rules governing contributions, investments and preparing NFP financial statements, and governmental and donor reporting and information return preparation) will be begin in subsequent semesters. Offered through Accounting, Taxation, and Legal Programs at NYU, the certificate is specially designed for students who are interested in, or already working in, a NFP or governmental accounting position.
Faculty coordinator and clinical adjunct professor of accounting, Laurence Scot, states: “There exists today an acute shortage of accountants in the workforce and in no area more than the not-for-profit sector. With the right training, recent graduates, new hires, and existing employees can gain the theoretical and practical knowledge they need to succeed as a productive member of a typical NFP accounting department.”
“This type of program is desperately needed and should be enthusiastically welcomed by every type of not-for-profit organization, from the small local trade association to the large, national public charity” says John Gamino, chair and clinical assistant professor, accounting, taxation, and legal programs at NYU-SCPS. “This real-world certificate will offer its participants a chance to learn from the bottom up what is involved in accounting for not-for-profit transactions and activity”.
Laurence Scot, who developed the new certificate, joined NYU-SCPS’ Accounting, Taxation, and Legal Programs in December 2007 as faculty coordinator and clinical adjunct professor. A New York Certified Public Accountant who has specialized in servicing non-profit organizations for almost 20 years, Mr. Scot saw the need for NYU to provide a structured accounting and finance program geared towards training NFP accountants and other financial employees.
Mr. Scot holds a M.B.A. from Pace University and a B.A. from Queens College. He is managing partner and co-founder of Skody Scot & Company, a New York CPA firm, and has many years of experience working at firms such as Coopers and Lybrand, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and Shearman & Sterling.
About the NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies
Founded in 1934, the School of Continuing and Professional Studies (NYU-SCPS) is among the 14 colleges and schools that comprise New York University, one of the largest private research universities in the United States. Through its faculty, curricula and vibrant professional and academic networks, NYU-SCPS captures the expertise of key sectors where New York leads globally: Real Estate and Construction Management (through the NYU Real Estate Institute); Hospitality, Tourism, Sports Management (through the NYU Preston Robert Tisch Center); Philanthropy (through the NYU George H. Heyman Center);Global Affairs; Communications Media, Publishing, Digital Arts, Design; Business, Leadership and Human Capital Management, Integrated Marketing, Public Relations, Legal Studies, Finance, Taxation, Accounting, Management and Technology (through the Division of Programs in Business); and the Liberal and Applied Arts, among others. Rigorous and timely programs in these and related areas attract full-time undergraduate and graduate students immersed in university life, working professionals in 14 graduate programs, motivated adults earning undergraduate degrees (through the Paul McGhee Division), and New Yorkers of all backgrounds enrolled in approximately 2,500 continuing education courses, certificate programs, conferences, and seminars annually.