Members of the San Jacinto College fiscal affairs team include, from left (seated): Cynthia Safford, grants management accounting specialist; Jennifer Anderle, financial aid associate director; Minelia Izaguirre, budgets director; Tomoko Olson, grants management associate director; and Sherri Childs, purchasing buyer; (second row): Blanca Carrasco, general ledger senior accounting specialist; Sukki Choi, cash management supervisor; Karina Trevino, bond programs accountant; Andrew Hoang, budget control senior accounting specialist; Esmeralda Parrales, accounts receivable supervisor; Vanessa Salazar, grants management senior administrative assistant; Robert Merino, financial aid director; Tiffany Brinks, grants management accounting specialist; Malinda Velchansky, budget control senior accounting specialist; Jonna Barnett, cash management accounting assistant; Rebeca Mata, fixed assets coordinator; Martha Martinez, accounts receivable accounting assistant; and Abigail Dias, accounts receivable accounting assistant; (back row): Becky Turner, accounts payable supervisor; Dr. Kelly Simons, resource development assistant vice president; Severin Zindler, purchasing buyer; Michael Moore, grants management director; Bill Dickerson, accounting and financial services director; Dena Carlson, auxiliary services and financial aid accountant; Karla Silva, accounts receivable accounting assistant; and Patsy Laredo, purchasing senior administrative assistant. Photo credit: Rob Vanya, San Jacinto College marketing department.

College earns 3 prestigious financial reporting awards

Rob Vanya, January 16, 2013

PASADENA, Texas – For a fifth consecutive year, San Jacinto College has received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting (CAFR) award in recognition of upholding the highest standards in financial reporting.

“This achievement is the result of our fiscal affairs team’s diligence in accounting procedures to ensure accuracy in reporting and compliance,” commented Bill Dickerson, director of accounting and financial services for the College. “In addition to the CAFR award, San Jacinto College also earned the Distinguished Budget award, and the Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR). That’s the type of excellence we continue to pursue and perfect each year.”

The College’s fiscal affairs team submitted the comprehensive annual financial report for the year ending Aug. 31, 2011 for consideration for the 2010-2011 CAFR award. The report was reviewed and scored against established quality criteria by selected members of the GFOA professional staff, as well as independent reviewers who work in public-sector financial reporting. 

The GFOA serves state and local governments by enhancing and promoting the financial management of governmental administration for public benefit by identifying and developing financial policies and best practices. With 17,500 members, the national association is headquartered in Chicago with offices in Washington, D.C. 

This is the College’s fourth consecutive year to receive the GFOA Distinguished Budget Award, and the second year to receive the PAFR award. The College has already submitted its application for all three awards for fiscal year 2011-2012.

“I am extremely proud of our financial services team,” commented Kenneth Lynn, vice chancellor of fiscal affairs for the College. “GFOA, the acknowledged beacon of excellence in governmental financial management, has developed three award categories that recognize excellence. The San Jacinto College financial team has demonstrated their professionalism by earning these prestigious awards multiple times – the CAFR award for five consecutive years, the budget award for four consecutive years, and the new PAFR award for two consecutive years.”

Lynn stated that as far as he knows, San Jacinto College is the only community college in Texas that holds all three GFOA excellence awards for the same year (2010-2011). “To me, that indicates world-class standards in financial operations,” he added. “I congratulate our team for its dedication and commitment to excellence in all aspects of financial accounting and reporting.”

Reports related to the awards can be viewed at: http://internal.sanjac.edu/college-administration/fiscal-affairs/annual-financial-reports.

 About San Jacinto College

Surrounded by monuments of history, industries and maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has been serving the citizens of East Harris County, Texas, for more than 50 years. The Achieving the Dream Leader College is committed to the goals and aspirations of a diverse population of 30,000 students in more than 200 degree and certificate options, including university transfer and career preparation. Students also benefit from the College’s job training programs, renowned for meeting the needs of growing industries in the region. San Jacinto College graduates contribute nearly $630 million each year to the Texas workforce. San Jacinto College. Your Goals. Your College.

For more information about San Jacinto College, please call 281-998-6150, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.