DECODED® at the 2026 NGMA Annual Grants Training - Booth 22
2026-03-23 - 2026-03-26 | Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20009, United States
Join us at the 2026 NGMA Annual Grants Training (AGT) in Washington, D.C.! As the largest grants-focused training event in the country, AGT offers an unmatched opportunity to connect with peers, learn from national experts, and deepen your grants management expertise.
Stop by the DECODED® booth to explore our full library of compliance publications, practical tools, and in-depth trainings. Whether you’re navigating Uniform Guidance, building a grants team, or leading subrecipient monitoring, DECODED® makes complex requirements clear and actionable.
Whether you’re new to grants or a seasoned pro, we’d love to meet you and learn more about your journey. Let’s simplify compliance—and turn it into opportunity.

The Compliance Carousel
2026-03-24 09:15 - 10:15 UTC | Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20009, United States
NGMA AGT Breakout Session
Session Description: The Compliance Feedback Loop is a continuous cycle that ensures subrecipients not only receive oversight but also take timely corrective action — and that those corrective actions are fully implemented. This loop builds accountability, reduces repeat findings, and creates a culture of compliance.
It moves through three repeating stages:

Monitor: Identify issues through site visits, desk reviews, or audits. Issue audit report(s) with findings.
Correct: Review findings, issue corrective action requests, and support grantees in resolving them.
Verify: Follow up to confirm corrective actions are implemented. If not, continue monitoring until corrective actions are implemented. Once verified as complete, standard monitoring resumes.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Explain the three stages of the Compliance Feedback Loop.
Identify how the Corrective Action follow-up framework (AGA CAROI) fits into the monitoring cycle.
Recognize the importance of closing out Corrective Actions in reducing repeat findings.
Apply the loop to their own monitoring processes to strengthen accountability.

Format: Lecture (60min)
Course Level: Intermediate. This is an intermediate-level session designed for participants with a foundation in subrecipient monitoring. A working knowledge of basic audits principles is essential to participating in discussions.
Presenter Information:
Name: Mara Ash, CIA, CICA, CGFM, CMRA, CGAP
Title: CEO, BFS and North American Representative Institute of Internal Auditors, Public Sector Advisory Board

So You Got an Audit Finding...Now What? Understanding Findings, Impacts, and Next Steps for Grantees
2026-03-25 08:00 - 09:00 | Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20009, United States
NGMA AGT Breakout Session
Session Description: Ever wondered what an audit finding really means for your organization? It can feel like a four-alarm fire — but most of the time, it’s a wake-up call, not a crisis. This session breaks down what an audit finding really means for grantees, how to interpret the language, and what to do next. Using real examples pulled from the Federal Audit Clearinghouse (FAC) Single Audit database, we’ll explore the difference between material weaknesses, significant deficiencies, and compliance findings — and how each affects your organization, funding, and future audits.
Participants will learn how to respond effectively, develop corrective action plans that actually work, and turn audit feedback into operational improvements. Because knowing what a finding means is the first step to fixing it — and staying out of the next one.
Learning Objectives:
This session uses real examples from the FAC database to explain what findings signal, what to do about them, and how to turn audit results into stronger grant performance. By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Decode common audit finding terminology — including material weaknesses, questioned costs, and compliance findings — and understand what each means for grantees.
Assess the potential impact of different types of findings on funding, internal controls, and future audits.
Develop a practical response strategy, including effective Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) and timely communication with grantors.
Interpret real-world examples from the FAC Single Audit database to identify red flags and best practices.
Transform audit findings into opportunities for improving compliance, accountability, and performance.

Format: Case Study 60min
Course Level: Beginner. If the words “audit finding” make your pulse quicken, this session is for you. Perfect for new grants managers, fiscal staff, or program leads who want to understand what those findings really mean — and what to do when they show up. No audit experience required, just curiosity and a desire to stay compliant (and calm).
Presenter Information:
Name: Mara Ash, CIA, CICA, CGFM, CMRA, CGAP
Title: CEO, BFS and North American Representative Institute of Internal Auditors, Public Sector Advisory Board

Managing Up When the Stakes Are High: What Leadership Needs to Hear (and How to Say It)
2026-05-13 11:30 - 12:30 | Virtual Event, Your Computer
Session Snapshot
Course Length & Format: 1-hour live, interactive online training (Group Internet Based)
CPE Credits: 1.0 CPE (Communications and Marketing)
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Field of Study: Communications and Marketing
Prerequisites: None
Knowledge Level: Basic
Advance Preparation: None
Target Audience: Grants managers, compliance officers, grant auditors, and program administrators at all levels.
Attendance and CPE Credit Requirements: To receive CPE credit, participants must attend the full session, respond to all required attendance monitoring prompts, and complete any required evaluation or attendance verification steps communicated during the program.
Click here to Register Now!

Event Details
Date: May 13, 2026
Time: 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Central Time
Location: Live, Online, via Zoom
Cost: Free (registration required)

Session Description
This course is designed for grants managers, compliance officers, auditors, and other professionals responsible for ensuring grant compliance. Effective compliance communication is not only about meeting requirements — it is about building trust, demonstrating transparency, and aligning stakeholders at every level of the organization.
Participants will learn how to clearly convey the importance of compliance to diverse audiences, from executives and board members to program staff, recipients, community partners, and the public. The session explores practical communication frameworks and stakeholder-specific messaging strategies that help compliance professionals prepare for difficult conversations before problems escalate.

Participants Will Gain Practical Tools To

Deliver compliance messages that inspire confidence and action.
Foster a proactive compliance mindset across the organization.
Use dashboards, templates, FAQs, and other tools to support consistency and clarity.
Navigate challenging conversations while maintaining professionalism and credibility.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will describe the importance of compliance communication.
Attendees will identify potential stakeholders and their perspectives and concerns.
Attendees will select communication methods that strengthen trust and support transparency.
Attendees will evaluate proactive approaches to better prepare for potential future funding challenges.

Presented By
National speakers and experts in federal fiscal compliance, indirect cost rates, 2 CFR 200, monitoring, internal controls, and public-sector compliance implementation.

Mara Ash, CIA, CGFM, CICA, CRMA, CGAP
CEO, BFS Strategic Partners
Mara Ash is the CEO of BFS Strategic Partners and a nationally recognized public-sector compliance and accountability professional with more than 28 years of experience in financial management, audit, internal controls, federal assistance compliance, and grants management. Her work focuses on helping public-sector organizations translate complex requirements into practical, defensible systems that strengthen accountability, transparency, and operational performance.
Mara develops and delivers professional education for external public-sector, grants management, audit, and compliance audiences through BFS Strategic Partners and DECODED®. She is the author of the 2 CFR 200 Federal Assistance Guidance Series and founder of DECODED® Academy.

Cindy Watson, CICA
Managing Director, BFS Strategic Partners
Cindy Watson is the Managing Director of BFS Strategic Partners and a senior compliance and financial management professional with more than 25 years of experience in accounting, federal and state grant compliance, internal controls, audit readiness, monitoring, and corrective action. She helps organizations build practical processes, improve documentation, and prepare for state and federal oversight.
Cindy’s expertise includes 2 CFR Part 200, EDGAR, subrecipient monitoring, program and fiscal testing, indirect cost rates, cost allowability, procurement compliance, maintenance of effort, excess cost, audit procedures, policy analysis, automated reporting, and corrective action implementation. She is the co-author of the 2 CFR 200 Federal Assistance Guidance Series.

Call to Action
Click here to Register Now!
Advance registration is required.

CPE Statement
This program is designed to support continuing professional education for government accountability and technical training purposes. Participants should confirm acceptance with their licensing body, employer, or audit organization.
This class is designed to meet 1.0 hours of the 24-hour governmental CPE requirement under Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book), in most cases.

Policies

Refund Policy
DECODED® offers both free and paid Group Internet Based programs. For paid live Group Internet Based programs, cancellations made at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the scheduled program are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations made three (3) to six (6) calendar days prior to the scheduled program may incur a 30% cancellation fee. Cancellations made within forty-eight (48) hours of the scheduled program may incur a 50% cancellation fee.
For free Group Internet Based programs, no refund applies.
To request a refund or ask questions about a registration, please contact Cindy Watson, Managing Director, at stickguys@decoded.expert or 512-945-0144.

Program Cancellation Policy
If DECODED® cancels a Group Internet Based program, registered participants will be notified by email no later than twenty-four (24) hours before the scheduled program start time, unless an emergency or other unforeseen circumstance requires shorter notice.
When applicable, DECODED® will provide additional information regarding rescheduling options or refunds for paid registrations.

Complaint Resolution Policy
DECODED® is committed to addressing participant concerns in a timely and professional manner. Participants who wish to report a complaint or concern regarding a Group Internet Based program should contact Cindy Watson, Managing Director, at stickguys@decoded.expert or 512-945-0144.
Complaints will be reviewed by the appropriate DECODED® representative, and DECODED® will make a reasonable effort to respond in a timely manner.

The Compliance Feedback Loop: Monitor, Correct, Verify
2026-05-20 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event, Your Computer
Session Snapshot
Course Length & Format: 1-hour live, interactive online training (Group Internet Based)
CPE Credits: 1.0 CPE (Specialized Knowledge)
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge
Prerequisites: None
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Advance Preparation: None
Target Audience: Grant monitoring teams, pass-through entities, compliance officers, internal auditors, and leadership overseeing subrecipients or high-risk funding environments.
Attendance and CPE Credit Requirements: To receive CPE credit, participants must attend the full session, respond to all required attendance monitoring prompts, and complete any required evaluation or attendance verification steps communicated during the program.
Click Here to Register Now!

Event Details
Date: May 20, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Central Time
Location: Live, Online, via Zoom
Cost: $99 (registration required)

Session Description
Sustainable compliance requires more than issuing findings. It requires a structured feedback loop that ensures corrective actions are implemented, verified, and sustained.
This session introduces a practical monitoring framework built around three stages: Monitor, Correct, and Verify. It explores how weak follow-up drives repeat findings, how oversight can stall between stages, and how structured tracking improves accountability across funding portfolios.

Participants Will Gain Practical Tools To

Use the Monitor, Correct, Verify model to strengthen oversight.
Identify where follow-up breaks down after findings are issued.
Improve tracking and verification practices across funding portfolios.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will explain the three stages of the compliance feedback loop.
Attendees will evaluate how inadequate follow-up increases repeat findings.
Attendees will integrate corrective action oversight into monitoring structures.
Attendees will assess accountability mechanisms across decentralized programs.
Attendees will strengthen verification practices to ensure implementation.

Presented By
National speakers and experts in federal fiscal compliance, indirect cost rates, 2 CFR 200, monitoring, internal controls, and public-sector compliance implementation.

Mara Ash, CIA, CGFM, CICA, CRMA, CGAP
CEO, BFS Strategic Partners
Mara Ash is the CEO of BFS Strategic Partners and a nationally recognized public-sector compliance and accountability professional with more than 28 years of experience in financial management, audit, internal controls, federal assistance compliance, and grants management. Her work focuses on helping public-sector organizations translate complex requirements into practical, defensible systems that strengthen accountability, transparency, and operational performance.
Mara develops and delivers professional education for external public-sector, grants management, audit, and compliance audiences through BFS Strategic Partners and DECODED®. She is the author of the 2 CFR 200 Federal Assistance Guidance Series and founder of DECODED® Academy.

Cindy Watson, CICA
Managing Director, BFS Strategic Partners
Cindy Watson is the Managing Director of BFS Strategic Partners and a senior compliance and financial management professional with more than 25 years of experience in accounting, federal and state grant compliance, internal controls, audit readiness, monitoring, and corrective action. She helps organizations build practical processes, improve documentation, and prepare for state and federal oversight.
Cindy’s expertise includes 2 CFR Part 200, EDGAR, subrecipient monitoring, program and fiscal testing, indirect cost rates, cost allowability, procurement compliance, maintenance of effort, excess cost, audit procedures, policy analysis, automated reporting, and corrective action implementation. She is the co-author of the 2 CFR 200 Federal Assistance Guidance Series.

Call to Action
Click Here to Register Now!
Advance registration is required.

CPE Statement
This program is designed to support continuing professional education for government accountability and technical training purposes. Participants should confirm acceptance with their licensing body, employer, or audit organization.
This class is designed to meet 1.0 hours of the 24-hour governmental CPE requirement under Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book), in most cases.

Policies

Refund Policy
DECODED® offers both free and paid Group Internet Based programs. For paid live Group Internet Based programs, cancellations made at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the scheduled program are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations made three (3) to six (6) calendar days prior to the scheduled program may incur a 30% cancellation fee. Cancellations made within forty-eight (48) hours of the scheduled program may incur a 50% cancellation fee.
For free Group Internet Based programs, no refund applies.
To request a refund or ask questions about a registration, please contact Cindy Watson, Managing Director, at stickguys@decoded.expert or 512-945-0144.

Program Cancellation Policy
If DECODED® cancels a Group Internet Based program, registered participants will be notified by email no later than twenty-four (24) hours before the scheduled program start time, unless an emergency or other unforeseen circumstance requires shorter notice.
When applicable, DECODED® will provide additional information regarding rescheduling options or refunds for paid registrations.

Complaint Resolution Policy
DECODED® is committed to addressing participant concerns in a timely and professional manner. Participants who wish to report a complaint or concern regarding a Group Internet Based program should contact Cindy Watson, Managing Director, at stickguys@decoded.expert or 512-945-0144.
Complaints will be reviewed by the appropriate DECODED® representative, and DECODED® will make a reasonable effort to respond in a timely manner.

Grants Monitoring 101 – Basics
2026-06-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event, Your Computer
Session Snapshot
Course Length & Format: 2-hour live, interactive online training (Group Internet Based)
CPE Credits: 2.0 CPE (Specialized Knowledge)
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge
Prerequisites: None
Knowledge Level: Basic
Advance Preparation: None
Target Audience: Grant managers and administrators; Monitoring and compliance staff; Finance and program personnel; and Internal auditors.
Attendance and CPE Credit Requirements: To receive CPE credit, participants must attend the full session, respond to all required attendance monitoring prompts, and complete any required evaluation or attendance verification steps communicated during the program.
Click Here to Register Now!

Event Details
Date: June 10, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Central Time
Location: Live, Online, via Zoom
Cost: $295 (registration required)

Session Description
This course is part of the DECODED® Grants Monitoring Series, a practical training program designed to help public sector professionals build, implement, and sustain effective subrecipient monitoring programs grounded in 2 CFR Part 200.
This course provides a clear, practical introduction to subrecipient monitoring under 2 CFR Part 200. Participants will learn what monitoring is, why it matters, and how it fits into the overall grant lifecycle. The session focuses on translating regulatory requirements into real-world expectations, helping participants understand how monitoring operates within their organization.
Common misconceptions, roles and responsibilities, and the foundational components of an effective monitoring framework are addressed, giving participants a strong starting point for building or improving their approach.

Participants Will Gain Practical Tools To

Apply monitoring concepts to real grant oversight environments.
Strengthen documentation, consistency, and accountability in monitoring work.
Build skills that support defensible monitoring decisions across the grant lifecycle.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will understand the purpose and requirements of subrecipient monitoring.
Attendees will identify roles and responsibilities of pass-through entities and subrecipients.
Attendees will recognize key components of an effective monitoring framework.
Attendees will distinguish between different types of monitoring activities.
Attendees will identify common monitoring pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Course Topics

Introduction to Grants Monitoring
Purpose and regulatory foundation
Monitoring vs. oversight vs. audit
Roles and Responsibilities
Pass-through entity responsibilities
Subrecipient expectations
Types of Monitoring
Desk reviews
Site visits
Ongoing monitoring
Common Challenges and Pitfalls
Inconsistent application
Documentation gaps
Over/under monitoring

Presented By
National speakers and experts in federal fiscal compliance, indirect cost rates, 2 CFR 200, monitoring, internal controls, and public-sector compliance implementation.

Mara Ash, CIA, CGFM, CICA, CRMA, CGAP
CEO, BFS Strategic Partners
Mara Ash is the CEO of BFS Strategic Partners and a nationally recognized public-sector compliance and accountability professional with more than 28 years of experience in financial management, audit, internal controls, federal assistance compliance, and grants management. Her work focuses on helping public-sector organizations translate complex requirements into practical, defensible systems that strengthen accountability, transparency, and operational performance.
Mara develops and delivers professional education for external public-sector, grants management, audit, and compliance audiences through BFS Strategic Partners and DECODED®. She is the author of the 2 CFR 200 Federal Assistance Guidance Series and founder of DECODED® Academy.

Cindy Watson, CICA
Managing Director, BFS Strategic Partners
Cindy Watson is the Managing Director of BFS Strategic Partners and a senior compliance and financial management professional with more than 25 years of experience in accounting, federal and state grant compliance, internal controls, audit readiness, monitoring, and corrective action. She helps organizations build practical processes, improve documentation, and prepare for state and federal oversight.
Cindy’s expertise includes 2 CFR Part 200, EDGAR, subrecipient monitoring, program and fiscal testing, indirect cost rates, cost allowability, procurement compliance, maintenance of effort, excess cost, audit procedures, policy analysis, automated reporting, and corrective action implementation. She is the co-author of the 2 CFR 200 Federal Assistance Guidance Series.

Call to Action
Click Here to Register Now!
Advance registration is required.

CPE Statement
This program is designed to support continuing professional education for government accountability and technical training purposes. Participants should confirm acceptance with their licensing body, employer, or audit organization.
This class is designed to meet 2.0 hours of the 24-hour governmental CPE requirement under Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book), in most cases.

Policies

Refund Policy
DECODED® offers both free and paid Group Internet Based programs. For paid live Group Internet Based programs, cancellations made at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the scheduled program are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations made three (3) to six (6) calendar days prior to the scheduled program may incur a 30% cancellation fee. Cancellations made within forty-eight (48) hours of the scheduled program may incur a 50% cancellation fee.
For free Group Internet Based programs, no refund applies.
To request a refund or ask questions about a registration, please contact Cindy Watson, Managing Director, at stickguys@decoded.expert or 512-945-0144.

Program Cancellation Policy
If DECODED® cancels a Group Internet Based program, registered participants will be notified by email no later than twenty-four (24) hours before the scheduled program start time, unless an emergency or other unforeseen circumstance requires shorter notice.
When applicable, DECODED® will provide additional information regarding rescheduling options or refunds for paid registrations.

Complaint Resolution Policy
DECODED® is committed to addressing participant concerns in a timely and professional manner. Participants who wish to report a complaint or concern regarding a Group Internet Based program should contact Cindy Watson, Managing Director, at stickguys@decoded.expert or 512-945-0144.
Complaints will be reviewed by the appropriate DECODED® representative, and DECODED® will make a reasonable effort to respond in a timely manner.

Aligning Written Policies with What Staff Actually Do
2026-06-17 11:00 - 12:30 | Virtual Event, Your Computer
Session Snapshot
Course Length & Format: 90-minute live, interactive online training (Group Internet Based)
CPE Credits: 1.5 CPE (Specialized Knowledge)
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge
Prerequisites: None
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Advance Preparation: None
Target Audience: Compliance officers, internal control professionals, finance leaders, program managers, and executive leadership seeking to strengthen governance without over-engineering processes.
Attendance and CPE Credit Requirements: To receive CPE credit, participants must attend the full session, respond to all required attendance monitoring prompts, and complete any required evaluation or attendance verification steps communicated during the program.
Click Here to Register Now!

Event Details
Date: June 17, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Central Time
Location: Live, Online, via Zoom
Cost: $199 (registration required)

Session Description
Well-written policies do not guarantee compliant operations. When procedures diverge from real workflows, organizations accumulate risk while believing they are compliant.
This session focuses on diagnosing misalignment between policy and practice, identifying root causes of procedural drift, and redesigning guidance that reflects operational realities. It emphasizes documentation discipline and defensible decision-making without sacrificing flexibility.

Participants Will Gain Practical Tools To

Identify where policies look compliant but fail in execution.
Distinguish needed flexibility from undocumented exceptions.
Develop practical documentation habits that support defensible operations.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will assess gaps between documented policies and operational workflows.
Attendees will analyze root causes of procedural drift.
Attendees will redesign procedural guidance to reflect realistic execution.
Attendees will document discretionary decisions and deviations defensibly.
Attendees will strengthen internal control consistency across teams.

Presented By
National speakers and experts in federal fiscal compliance, indirect cost rates, 2 CFR 200, monitoring, internal controls, and public-sector compliance implementation.

Mara Ash, CIA, CGFM, CICA, CRMA, CGAP
CEO, BFS Strategic Partners
Mara Ash is the CEO of BFS Strategic Partners and a nationally recognized public-sector compliance and accountability professional with more than 28 years of experience in financial management, audit, internal controls, federal assistance compliance, and grants management. Her work focuses on helping public-sector organizations translate complex requirements into practical, defensible systems that strengthen accountability, transparency, and operational performance.
Mara develops and delivers professional education for external public-sector, grants management, audit, and compliance audiences through BFS Strategic Partners and DECODED®. She is the author of the 2 CFR 200 Federal Assistance Guidance Series and founder of DECODED® Academy.

Cindy Watson, CICA
Managing Director, BFS Strategic Partners
Cindy Watson is the Managing Director of BFS Strategic Partners and a senior compliance and financial management professional with more than 25 years of experience in accounting, federal and state grant compliance, internal controls, audit readiness, monitoring, and corrective action. She helps organizations build practical processes, improve documentation, and prepare for state and federal oversight.
Cindy’s expertise includes 2 CFR Part 200, EDGAR, subrecipient monitoring, program and fiscal testing, indirect cost rates, cost allowability, procurement compliance, maintenance of effort, excess cost, audit procedures, policy analysis, automated reporting, and corrective action implementation. She is the co-author of the 2 CFR 200 Federal Assistance Guidance Series.

Call to Action
Click Here to Register Now!
Advance registration is required.

CPE Statement
This program is designed to support continuing professional education for government accountability and technical training purposes. Participants should confirm acceptance with their licensing body, employer, or audit organization.
This class is designed to meet 2.5 hours of the 24-hour governmental CPE requirement under Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book), in most cases.

Policies

Refund Policy
DECODED® offers both free and paid Group Internet Based programs. For paid live Group Internet Based programs, cancellations made at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the scheduled program are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations made three (3) to six (6) calendar days prior to the scheduled program may incur a 30% cancellation fee. Cancellations made within forty-eight (48) hours of the scheduled program may incur a 50% cancellation fee.
For free Group Internet Based programs, no refund applies.
To request a refund or ask questions about a registration, please contact Cindy Watson, Managing Director, at stickguys@decoded.expert or 512-945-0144.

Program Cancellation Policy
If DECODED® cancels a Group Internet Based program, registered participants will be notified by email no later than twenty-four (24) hours before the scheduled program start time, unless an emergency or other unforeseen circumstance requires shorter notice.
When applicable, DECODED® will provide additional information regarding rescheduling options or refunds for paid registrations.

Complaint Resolution Policy
DECODED® is committed to addressing participant concerns in a timely and professional manner. Participants who wish to report a complaint or concern regarding a Group Internet Based program should contact Cindy Watson, Managing Director, at stickguys@decoded.expert or 512-945-0144.
Complaints will be reviewed by the appropriate DECODED® representative, and DECODED® will make a reasonable effort to respond in a timely manner.

Grants Monitoring 101 – Basics
2026-06-24 10:00 - 12:30 | Virtual Event, Your Computer
Session Snapshot
Course Length & Format: 2-hour live, interactive online training (Group Internet Based)
CPE Credits: 2.0 CPE (Specialized Knowledge)
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge
Prerequisites: None
Knowledge Level: Basic
Advance Preparation: None
Target Audience: Grant managers and administrators; Monitoring and compliance staff; Finance and program personnel; and Internal auditors.
Attendance and CPE Credit Requirements: To receive CPE credit, participants must attend the full session, respond to all required attendance monitoring prompts, and complete any required evaluation or attendance verification steps communicated during the program.
Click Here to Register Now!

Event Details
Date: June 24, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Central Time
Location: Live, Online, via Zoom
Cost: $295 (registration required)

Session Description
This course is part of the DECODED® Grants Monitoring Series, a practical training program designed to help public sector professionals build, implement, and sustain effective subrecipient monitoring programs grounded in 2 CFR Part 200.
This course provides a clear, practical introduction to subrecipient monitoring under 2 CFR Part 200. Participants will learn what monitoring is, why it matters, and how it fits into the overall grant lifecycle. The session focuses on translating regulatory requirements into real-world expectations, helping participants understand how monitoring operates within their organization.
Common misconceptions, roles and responsibilities, and the foundational components of an effective monitoring framework are addressed, giving participants a strong starting point for building or improving their approach.

Participants Will Gain Practical Tools To

Apply monitoring concepts to real grant oversight environments.
Strengthen documentation, consistency, and accountability in monitoring work.
Build skills that support defensible monitoring decisions across the grant lifecycle.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will understand the purpose and requirements of subrecipient monitoring.
Attendees will identify roles and responsibilities of pass-through entities and subrecipients.
Attendees will recognize key components of an effective monitoring framework.
Attendees will distinguish between different types of monitoring activities.
Attendees will identify common monitoring pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Course Topics

Introduction to Grants Monitoring
Purpose and regulatory foundation
Monitoring vs. oversight vs. audit
Roles and Responsibilities
Pass-through entity responsibilities
Subrecipient expectations
Types of Monitoring
Desk reviews
Site visits
Ongoing monitoring
Common Challenges and Pitfalls
Inconsistent application
Documentation gaps
Over/under monitoring

Presented By
National speakers and experts in federal fiscal compliance, indirect cost rates, 2 CFR 200, monitoring, internal controls, and public-sector compliance implementation.

Mara Ash, CIA, CGFM, CICA, CRMA, CGAP
CEO, BFS Strategic Partners
Mara Ash is the CEO of BFS Strategic Partners and a nationally recognized public-sector compliance and accountability professional with more than 28 years of experience in financial management, audit, internal controls, federal assistance compliance, and grants management. Her work focuses on helping public-sector organizations translate complex requirements into practical, defensible systems that strengthen accountability, transparency, and operational performance.
Mara develops and delivers professional education for external public-sector, grants management, audit, and compliance audiences through BFS Strategic Partners and DECODED®. She is the author of the 2 CFR 200 Federal Assistance Guidance Series and founder of DECODED® Academy.

Cindy Watson, CICA
Managing Director, BFS Strategic Partners
Cindy Watson is the Managing Director of BFS Strategic Partners and a senior compliance and financial management professional with more than 25 years of experience in accounting, federal and state grant compliance, internal controls, audit readiness, monitoring, and corrective action. She helps organizations build practical processes, improve documentation, and prepare for state and federal oversight.
Cindy’s expertise includes 2 CFR Part 200, EDGAR, subrecipient monitoring, program and fiscal testing, indirect cost rates, cost allowability, procurement compliance, maintenance of effort, excess cost, audit procedures, policy analysis, automated reporting, and corrective action implementation. She is the co-author of the 2 CFR 200 Federal Assistance Guidance Series.

Call to Action
Click Here to Register Now!
Advance registration is required.

CPE Statement
This program is designed to support continuing professional education for government accountability and technical training purposes. Participants should confirm acceptance with their licensing body, employer, or audit organization.
This class is designed to meet 2.0 hours of the 24-hour governmental CPE requirement under Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book), in most cases.

Policies

Refund Policy
DECODED® offers both free and paid Group Internet Based programs. For paid live Group Internet Based programs, cancellations made at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the scheduled program are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations made three (3) to six (6) calendar days prior to the scheduled program may incur a 30% cancellation fee. Cancellations made within forty-eight (48) hours of the scheduled program may incur a 50% cancellation fee.
For free Group Internet Based programs, no refund applies.
To request a refund or ask questions about a registration, please contact Cindy Watson, Managing Director, at stickguys@decoded.expert or 512-945-0144.

Program Cancellation Policy
If DECODED® cancels a Group Internet Based program, registered participants will be notified by email no later than twenty-four (24) hours before the scheduled program start time, unless an emergency or other unforeseen circumstance requires shorter notice.
When applicable, DECODED® will provide additional information regarding rescheduling options or refunds for paid registrations.

Complaint Resolution Policy
DECODED® is committed to addressing participant concerns in a timely and professional manner. Participants who wish to report a complaint or concern regarding a Group Internet Based program should contact Cindy Watson, Managing Director, at stickguys@decoded.expert or 512-945-0144.
Complaints will be reviewed by the appropriate DECODED® representative, and DECODED® will make a reasonable effort to respond in a timely manner.

Policy Implementation Gaps That Lead to Findings: What Mature Organizations Still Get Wrong
2026-07-01 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event, Your Computer
Session Snapshot
Course Length & Format: 1-hour live, interactive online training (Group Internet Based)
CPE Credits: 1.0 CPE (Specialized Knowledge)
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge
Prerequisites: None
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Advance Preparation: None
Target Audience: Experienced grant professionals, finance and compliance teams, and internal audit functions seeking to strengthen mature control environments.
Attendance and CPE Credit Requirements: To receive CPE credit, participants must attend the full session, respond to all required attendance monitoring prompts, and complete any required evaluation or attendance verification steps communicated during the program.
Click Here to Register Now!

Event Details
Date: July 1, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Central Time
Location: Live, Online, via Zoom
Cost: $99 (registration required)

Session Description
Compliance failures often result from implementation gaps — where written policies appear compliant, but day-to-day execution diverges.
This session examines recurring breakdown points in mature organizations, including cost allowability, internal control documentation, and oversight practices. It focuses on identifying vulnerabilities before they result in repeat findings.

Participants Will Gain Practical Tools To

Spot implementation gaps that can hide inside otherwise mature systems.
Strengthen documentation around allowability and internal control decisions.
Prioritize practical fixes that reduce repeat-findings risk.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will identify high-risk implementation gaps in mature organizations.
Attendees will analyze disconnects between written policy and operational practice.
Attendees will evaluate allowability determinations for documentation sufficiency.
Attendees will assess internal control effectiveness in real-world execution.
Attendees will develop strategies to reduce recurring compliance breakdowns.

Presented By
National speakers and experts in federal fiscal compliance, indirect cost rates, 2 CFR 200, monitoring, internal controls, and public-sector compliance implementation.

Mara Ash, CIA, CGFM, CICA, CRMA, CGAP
CEO, BFS Strategic Partners
Mara Ash is the CEO of BFS Strategic Partners and a nationally recognized public-sector compliance and accountability professional with more than 28 years of experience in financial management, audit, internal controls, federal assistance compliance, and grants management. Her work focuses on helping public-sector organizations translate complex requirements into practical, defensible systems that strengthen accountability, transparency, and operational performance.
Mara develops and delivers professional education for external public-sector, grants management, audit, and compliance audiences through BFS Strategic Partners and DECODED®. She is the author of the 2 CFR 200 Federal Assistance Guidance Series and founder of DECODED® Academy.

Cindy Watson, CICA
Managing Director, BFS Strategic Partners
Cindy Watson is the Managing Director of BFS Strategic Partners and a senior compliance and financial management professional with more than 25 years of experience in accounting, federal and state grant compliance, internal controls, audit readiness, monitoring, and corrective action. She helps organizations build practical processes, improve documentation, and prepare for state and federal oversight.
Cindy’s expertise includes 2 CFR Part 200, EDGAR, subrecipient monitoring, program and fiscal testing, indirect cost rates, cost allowability, procurement compliance, maintenance of effort, excess cost, audit procedures, policy analysis, automated reporting, and corrective action implementation. She is the co-author of the 2 CFR 200 Federal Assistance Guidance Series.

Call to Action
Click Here to Register Now!
Advance registration is required.

CPE Statement
This program is designed to support continuing professional education for government accountability and technical training purposes. Participants should confirm acceptance with their licensing body, employer, or audit organization.
This class is designed to meet 1.0 hours of the 24-hour governmental CPE requirement under Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book), in most cases.

Policies

Refund Policy
DECODED® offers both free and paid Group Internet Based programs. For paid live Group Internet Based programs, cancellations made at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the scheduled program are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations made three (3) to six (6) calendar days prior to the scheduled program may incur a 30% cancellation fee. Cancellations made within forty-eight (48) hours of the scheduled program may incur a 50% cancellation fee.
For free Group Internet Based programs, no refund applies.
To request a refund or ask questions about a registration, please contact Cindy Watson, Managing Director, at stickguys@decoded.expert or 512-945-0144.

Program Cancellation Policy
If DECODED® cancels a Group Internet Based program, registered participants will be notified by email no later than twenty-four (24) hours before the scheduled program start time, unless an emergency or other unforeseen circumstance requires shorter notice.
When applicable, DECODED® will provide additional information regarding rescheduling options or refunds for paid registrations.

Complaint Resolution Policy
DECODED® is committed to addressing participant concerns in a timely and professional manner. Participants who wish to report a complaint or concern regarding a Group Internet Based program should contact Cindy Watson, Managing Director, at stickguys@decoded.expert or 512-945-0144.
Complaints will be reviewed by the appropriate DECODED® representative, and DECODED® will make a reasonable effort to respond in a timely manner.

Grants Monitoring 201 – Risk Assessment
2026-07-08 10:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event, Your Computer
Session Snapshot
Course Length & Format: 2-hour live, interactive online training (Group Internet Based)
CPE Credits: 2.0 CPE (Specialized Knowledge)
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge
Prerequisites: None
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Advance Preparation: None
Target Audience: Grant managers and administrators; Monitoring and compliance staff; Finance and program personnel; and Internal auditors.
Attendance and CPE Credit Requirements: To receive CPE credit, participants must attend the full session, respond to all required attendance monitoring prompts, and complete any required evaluation or attendance verification steps communicated during the program.
Click Here to Register Now!

Event Details
Date: July 8, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Central Time
Location: Live, Online, via Zoom
Cost: $295 (registration required)

Session Description
This course is part of the DECODED® Grants Monitoring Series, a practical training program designed to help public sector professionals build, implement, and sustain effective subrecipient monitoring programs grounded in 2 CFR Part 200.
This course focuses on developing a risk-based approach to monitoring that is both practical and defensible. Participants will learn how to identify, evaluate, and score risk across subrecipients, and how those risk decisions drive monitoring frequency and depth.
The session emphasizes usability—avoiding overly complex models while ensuring decisions are well-supported and documented.

Participants Will Gain Practical Tools To

Apply monitoring concepts to real grant oversight environments.
Strengthen documentation, consistency, and accountability in monitoring work.
Build skills that support defensible monitoring decisions across the grant lifecycle.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will identify key risk factors impacting monitoring.
Attendees will develop a structured risk scoring methodology.
Attendees will document risk assessments in a defensible manner.
Attendees will align monitoring activities with risk levels.

Course Topics

Understanding Risk in Grants
Financial, programmatic, and compliance risk
Risk Factors and Data Sources
Prior findings, funding size, complexity
Building a Risk Model
Scoring approaches
Weighting factors
Applying Risk to Monitoring
Frequency and scope decisions
Documentation expectations

Presented By
National speakers and experts in federal fiscal compliance, indirect cost rates, 2 CFR 200, monitoring, internal controls, and public-sector compliance implementation.

Mara Ash, CIA, CGFM, CICA, CRMA, CGAP
CEO, BFS Strategic Partners
Mara Ash is the CEO of BFS Strategic Partners and a nationally recognized public-sector compliance and accountability professional with more than 28 years of experience in financial management, audit, internal controls, federal assistance compliance, and grants management. Her work focuses on helping public-sector organizations translate complex requirements into practical, defensible systems that strengthen accountability, transparency, and operational performance.
Mara develops and delivers professional education for external public-sector, grants management, audit, and compliance audiences through BFS Strategic Partners and DECODED®. She is the author of the 2 CFR 200 Federal Assistance Guidance Series and founder of DECODED® Academy.

Cindy Watson, CICA
Managing Director, BFS Strategic Partners
Cindy Watson is the Managing Director of BFS Strategic Partners and a senior compliance and financial management professional with more than 25 years of experience in accounting, federal and state grant compliance, internal controls, audit readiness, monitoring, and corrective action. She helps organizations build practical processes, improve documentation, and prepare for state and federal oversight.
Cindy’s expertise includes 2 CFR Part 200, EDGAR, subrecipient monitoring, program and fiscal testing, indirect cost rates, cost allowability, procurement compliance, maintenance of effort, excess cost, audit procedures, policy analysis, automated reporting, and corrective action implementation. She is the co-author of the 2 CFR 200 Federal Assistance Guidance Series.

Call to Action
Click Here to Register Now!
Advance registration is required.

CPE Statement
This program is designed to support continuing professional education for government accountability and technical training purposes. Participants should confirm acceptance with their licensing body, employer, or audit organization.
This class is designed to meet 2.0 hours of the 24-hour governmental CPE requirement under Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book), in most cases.

Policies

Refund Policy
DECODED® offers both free and paid Group Internet Based programs. For paid live Group Internet Based programs, cancellations made at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the scheduled program are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations made three (3) to six (6) calendar days prior to the scheduled program may incur a 30% cancellation fee. Cancellations made within forty-eight (48) hours of the scheduled program may incur a 50% cancellation fee.
For free Group Internet Based programs, no refund applies.
To request a refund or ask questions about a registration, please contact Cindy Watson, Managing Director, at stickguys@decoded.expert or 512-945-0144.

Program Cancellation Policy
If DECODED® cancels a Group Internet Based program, registered participants will be notified by email no later than twenty-four (24) hours before the scheduled program start time, unless an emergency or other unforeseen circumstance requires shorter notice.
When applicable, DECODED® will provide additional information regarding rescheduling options or refunds for paid registrations.

Complaint Resolution Policy
DECODED® is committed to addressing participant concerns in a timely and professional manner. Participants who wish to report a complaint or concern regarding a Group Internet Based program should contact Cindy Watson, Managing Director, at stickguys@decoded.expert or 512-945-0144.
Complaints will be reviewed by the appropriate DECODED® representative, and DECODED® will make a reasonable effort to respond in a timely manner.

Grants Monitoring 201 – Risk Assessment
2026-07-22 10:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event, Your Computer
Session Snapshot
Course Length & Format: 2-hour live, interactive online training (Group Internet Based)
CPE Credits: 2.0 CPE (Specialized Knowledge)
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge
Prerequisites: None
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Advance Preparation: None
Target Audience: Grant managers and administrators; Monitoring and compliance staff; Finance and program personnel; and Internal auditors.
Attendance and CPE Credit Requirements: To receive CPE credit, participants must attend the full session, respond to all required attendance monitoring prompts, and complete any required evaluation or attendance verification steps communicated during the program.
Click Here to Register Now!

Event Details
Date: July 22, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Central Time
Location: Live, Online, via Zoom
Cost: $295 (registration required)

Session Description
This course is part of the DECODED® Grants Monitoring Series, a practical training program designed to help public sector professionals build, implement, and sustain effective subrecipient monitoring programs grounded in 2 CFR Part 200.
This course focuses on developing a risk-based approach to monitoring that is both practical and defensible. Participants will learn how to identify, evaluate, and score risk across subrecipients, and how those risk decisions drive monitoring frequency and depth.
The session emphasizes usability—avoiding overly complex models while ensuring decisions are well-supported and documented.

Participants Will Gain Practical Tools To

Apply monitoring concepts to real grant oversight environments.
Strengthen documentation, consistency, and accountability in monitoring work.
Build skills that support defensible monitoring decisions across the grant lifecycle.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will identify key risk factors impacting monitoring.
Attendees will develop a structured risk scoring methodology.
Attendees will document risk assessments in a defensible manner.
Attendees will align monitoring activities with risk levels.

Course Topics

Understanding Risk in Grants
Financial, programmatic, and compliance risk
Risk Factors and Data Sources
Prior findings, funding size, complexity
Building a Risk Model
Scoring approaches
Weighting factors
Applying Risk to Monitoring
Frequency and scope decisions
Documentation expectations

Presented By
National speakers and experts in federal fiscal compliance, indirect cost rates, 2 CFR 200, monitoring, internal controls, and public-sector compliance implementation.

Mara Ash, CIA, CGFM, CICA, CRMA, CGAP
CEO, BFS Strategic Partners
Mara Ash is the CEO of BFS Strategic Partners and a nationally recognized public-sector compliance and accountability professional with more than 28 years of experience in financial management, audit, internal controls, federal assistance compliance, and grants management. Her work focuses on helping public-sector organizations translate complex requirements into practical, defensible systems that strengthen accountability, transparency, and operational performance.
Mara develops and delivers professional education for external public-sector, grants management, audit, and compliance audiences through BFS Strategic Partners and DECODED®. She is the author of the 2 CFR 200 Federal Assistance Guidance Series and founder of DECODED® Academy.

Cindy Watson, CICA
Managing Director, BFS Strategic Partners
Cindy Watson is the Managing Director of BFS Strategic Partners and a senior compliance and financial management professional with more than 25 years of experience in accounting, federal and state grant compliance, internal controls, audit readiness, monitoring, and corrective action. She helps organizations build practical processes, improve documentation, and prepare for state and federal oversight.
Cindy’s expertise includes 2 CFR Part 200, EDGAR, subrecipient monitoring, program and fiscal testing, indirect cost rates, cost allowability, procurement compliance, maintenance of effort, excess cost, audit procedures, policy analysis, automated reporting, and corrective action implementation. She is the co-author of the 2 CFR 200 Federal Assistance Guidance Series.

Call to Action
Click Here to Register Now!
Advance registration is required.

CPE Statement
This program is designed to support continuing professional education for government accountability and technical training purposes. Participants should confirm acceptance with their licensing body, employer, or audit organization.
This class is designed to meet 2.0 hours of the 24-hour governmental CPE requirement under Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book), in most cases.

Policies

Refund Policy
DECODED® offers both free and paid Group Internet Based programs. For paid live Group Internet Based programs, cancellations made at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the scheduled program are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations made three (3) to six (6) calendar days prior to the scheduled program may incur a 30% cancellation fee. Cancellations made within forty-eight (48) hours of the scheduled program may incur a 50% cancellation fee.
For free Group Internet Based programs, no refund applies.
To request a refund or ask questions about a registration, please contact Cindy Watson, Managing Director, at stickguys@decoded.expert or 512-945-0144.

Program Cancellation Policy
If DECODED® cancels a Group Internet Based program, registered participants will be notified by email no later than twenty-four (24) hours before the scheduled program start time, unless an emergency or other unforeseen circumstance requires shorter notice.
When applicable, DECODED® will provide additional information regarding rescheduling options or refunds for paid registrations.

Complaint Resolution Policy
DECODED® is committed to addressing participant concerns in a timely and professional manner. Participants who wish to report a complaint or concern regarding a Group Internet Based program should contact Cindy Watson, Managing Director, at stickguys@decoded.expert or 512-945-0144.
Complaints will be reviewed by the appropriate DECODED® representative, and DECODED® will make a reasonable effort to respond in a timely manner.

Managing Compliance Across Complex Funding Portfolios
2026-08-05 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event, Your Computer
Session Snapshot
Course Length & Format: 1-hour live, interactive online training (Group Internet Based)
CPE Credits: 1.0 CPE (Specialized Knowledge)
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge
Prerequisites: None
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Advance Preparation: None
Target Audience: Organizations managing multiple federal funding streams, research environments, decentralized programs, or layered oversight structures.
Attendance and CPE Credit Requirements: To receive CPE credit, participants must attend the full session, respond to all required attendance monitoring prompts, and complete any required evaluation or attendance verification steps communicated during the program.
Click Here to Register Now!

Event Details
Date: August 5, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Central Time
Location: Live, Online, via Zoom
Cost: $99 (registration required)

Session Description
As funding portfolios expand, compliance risk multiplies. Decentralized departments, layered funding streams, subrecipient relationships, and cost sharing requirements create environments where oversight can fragment quickly.
This session explores how to maintain centralized compliance visibility across complex portfolios and prepare documentation structures that withstand monitoring and audit scrutiny.

Participants Will Gain Practical Tools To

Improve visibility across programs, departments, and funding streams.
Identify risk points created by decentralization and layered requirements.
Build documentation structures that help leadership see portfolio-wide exposure.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will differentiate subrecipients from contractors in complex environments.
Attendees will evaluate decentralized oversight models for risk exposure.
Attendees will analyze cost sharing, effort, and procurement documentation challenges.
Attendees will design monitoring approaches that improve portfolio-wide visibility.
Attendees will prepare documentation frameworks that withstand audit review.

Presented By
National speakers and experts in federal fiscal compliance, indirect cost rates, 2 CFR 200, monitoring, internal controls, and public-sector compliance implementation.

Mara Ash, CIA, CGFM, CICA, CRMA, CGAP
CEO, BFS Strategic Partners
Mara Ash is the CEO of BFS Strategic Partners and a nationally recognized public-sector compliance and accountability professional with more than 28 years of experience in financial management, audit, internal controls, federal assistance compliance, and grants management. Her work focuses on helping public-sector organizations translate complex requirements into practical, defensible systems that strengthen accountability, transparency, and operational performance.
Mara develops and delivers professional education for external public-sector, grants management, audit, and compliance audiences through BFS Strategic Partners and DECODED®. She is the author of the 2 CFR 200 Federal Assistance Guidance Series and founder of DECODED® Academy.

Cindy Watson, CICA
Managing Director, BFS Strategic Partners
Cindy Watson is the Managing Director of BFS Strategic Partners and a senior compliance and financial management professional with more than 25 years of experience in accounting, federal and state grant compliance, internal controls, audit readiness, monitoring, and corrective action. She helps organizations build practical processes, improve documentation, and prepare for state and federal oversight.
Cindy’s expertise includes 2 CFR Part 200, EDGAR, subrecipient monitoring, program and fiscal testing, indirect cost rates, cost allowability, procurement compliance, maintenance of effort, excess cost, audit procedures, policy analysis, automated reporting, and corrective action implementation. She is the co-author of the 2 CFR 200 Federal Assistance Guidance Series.

Call to Action
Click Here to Register Now!
Advance registration is required.

CPE Statement
This program is designed to support continuing professional education for government accountability and technical training purposes. Participants should confirm acceptance with their licensing body, employer, or audit organization.
This class is designed to meet 1.0 hours of the 24-hour governmental CPE requirement under Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book), in most cases.

Policies

Refund Policy
DECODED® offers both free and paid Group Internet Based programs. For paid live Group Internet Based programs, cancellations made at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the scheduled program are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations made three (3) to six (6) calendar days prior to the scheduled program may incur a 30% cancellation fee. Cancellations made within forty-eight (48) hours of the scheduled program may incur a 50% cancellation fee.
For free Group Internet Based programs, no refund applies.
To request a refund or ask questions about a registration, please contact Cindy Watson, Managing Director, at stickguys@decoded.expert or 512-945-0144.

Program Cancellation Policy
If DECODED® cancels a Group Internet Based program, registered participants will be notified by email no later than twenty-four (24) hours before the scheduled program start time, unless an emergency or other unforeseen circumstance requires shorter notice.
When applicable, DECODED® will provide additional information regarding rescheduling options or refunds for paid registrations.

Complaint Resolution Policy
DECODED® is committed to addressing participant concerns in a timely and professional manner. Participants who wish to report a complaint or concern regarding a Group Internet Based program should contact Cindy Watson, Managing Director, at stickguys@decoded.expert or 512-945-0144.
Complaints will be reviewed by the appropriate DECODED® representative, and DECODED® will make a reasonable effort to respond in a timely manner.

Grants Monitoring 301 – Building the Monitoring Program
2026-08-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event, Your Computer
Session Snapshot
Course Length & Format: 2-hour live, interactive online training (Group Internet Based)
CPE Credits: 2.0 CPE (Specialized Knowledge)
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge
Prerequisites: None
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Advance Preparation: None
Target Audience: Grant managers and administrators; Monitoring and compliance staff; Finance and program personnel; and Internal auditors.
Attendance and CPE Credit Requirements: To receive CPE credit, participants must attend the full session, respond to all required attendance monitoring prompts, and complete any required evaluation or attendance verification steps communicated during the program.
Click Here to Register Now!

Event Details
Date: August 12, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Central Time
Location: Live, Online, via Zoom
Cost: $295 (registration required)

Session Description
This course is part of the DECODED® Grants Monitoring Series, a practical training program designed to help public sector professionals build, implement, and sustain effective subrecipient monitoring programs grounded in 2 CFR Part 200.
This course provides a structured approach to designing a monitoring program that is scalable, repeatable, and aligned with organizational operations. Participants will learn how to build policies, procedures, workflows, and monitoring plans that support effective oversight and compliance.

Participants Will Gain Practical Tools To

Apply monitoring concepts to real grant oversight environments.
Strengthen documentation, consistency, and accountability in monitoring work.
Build skills that support defensible monitoring decisions across the grant lifecycle.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will design a monitoring framework.
Attendees will develop policies and procedures.
Attendees will establish roles and workflows.

Course Topics

Program Structure and Design
Roles and Responsibilities
Policies and Procedures Development
Monitoring Plans and Schedules
Close-out
Annual Reporting

Presented By
National speakers and experts in federal fiscal compliance, indirect cost rates, 2 CFR 200, monitoring, internal controls, and public-sector compliance implementation.

Mara Ash, CIA, CGFM, CICA, CRMA, CGAP
CEO, BFS Strategic Partners
Mara Ash is the CEO of BFS Strategic Partners and a nationally recognized public-sector compliance and accountability professional with more than 28 years of experience in financial management, audit, internal controls, federal assistance compliance, and grants management. Her work focuses on helping public-sector organizations translate complex requirements into practical, defensible systems that strengthen accountability, transparency, and operational performance.
Mara develops and delivers professional education for external public-sector, grants management, audit, and compliance audiences through BFS Strategic Partners and DECODED®. She is the author of the 2 CFR 200 Federal Assistance Guidance Series and founder of DECODED® Academy.

Cindy Watson, CICA
Managing Director, BFS Strategic Partners
Cindy Watson is the Managing Director of BFS Strategic Partners and a senior compliance and financial management professional with more than 25 years of experience in accounting, federal and state grant compliance, internal controls, audit readiness, monitoring, and corrective action. She helps organizations build practical processes, improve documentation, and prepare for state and federal oversight.
Cindy’s expertise includes 2 CFR Part 200, EDGAR, subrecipient monitoring, program and fiscal testing, indirect cost rates, cost allowability, procurement compliance, maintenance of effort, excess cost, audit procedures, policy analysis, automated reporting, and corrective action implementation. She is the co-author of the 2 CFR 200 Federal Assistance Guidance Series.

Call to Action
Click Here to Register Now!
Advance registration is required.

CPE Statement
This program is designed to support continuing professional education for government accountability and technical training purposes. Participants should confirm acceptance with their licensing body, employer, or audit organization.
This class is designed to meet 2.0 hours of the 24-hour governmental CPE requirement under Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book), in most cases.

Policies

Refund Policy
DECODED® offers both free and paid Group Internet Based programs. For paid live Group Internet Based programs, cancellations made at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the scheduled program are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations made three (3) to six (6) calendar days prior to the scheduled program may incur a 30% cancellation fee. Cancellations made within forty-eight (48) hours of the scheduled program may incur a 50% cancellation fee.
For free Group Internet Based programs, no refund applies.
To request a refund or ask questions about a registration, please contact Cindy Watson, Managing Director, at stickguys@decoded.expert or 512-945-0144.

Program Cancellation Policy
If DECODED® cancels a Group Internet Based program, registered participants will be notified by email no later than twenty-four (24) hours before the scheduled program start time, unless an emergency or other unforeseen circumstance requires shorter notice.
When applicable, DECODED® will provide additional information regarding rescheduling options or refunds for paid registrations.

Complaint Resolution Policy
DECODED® is committed to addressing participant concerns in a timely and professional manner. Participants who wish to report a complaint or concern regarding a Group Internet Based program should contact Cindy Watson, Managing Director, at stickguys@decoded.expert or 512-945-0144.
Complaints will be reviewed by the appropriate DECODED® representative, and DECODED® will make a reasonable effort to respond in a timely manner.

Grants Monitoring 301 – Building the Monitoring Program
2026-08-27 10:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event, Your Computer
Session Snapshot
Course Length & Format: 2-hour live, interactive online training (Group Internet Based)
CPE Credits: 2.0 CPE (Specialized Knowledge)
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge
Prerequisites: None
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Advance Preparation: None
Target Audience: Grant managers and administrators; Monitoring and compliance staff; Finance and program personnel; and Internal auditors.
Attendance and CPE Credit Requirements: To receive CPE credit, participants must attend the full session, respond to all required attendance monitoring prompts, and complete any required evaluation or attendance verification steps communicated during the program.
Click Here to Register Now!

Event Details
Date: August 27, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Central Time
Location: Live, Online, via Zoom
Cost: $295 (registration required)

Session Description
This course is part of the DECODED® Grants Monitoring Series, a practical training program designed to help public sector professionals build, implement, and sustain effective subrecipient monitoring programs grounded in 2 CFR Part 200.
This course provides a structured approach to designing a monitoring program that is scalable, repeatable, and aligned with organizational operations. Participants will learn how to build policies, procedures, workflows, and monitoring plans that support effective oversight and compliance.

Participants Will Gain Practical Tools To

Apply monitoring concepts to real grant oversight environments.
Strengthen documentation, consistency, and accountability in monitoring work.
Build skills that support defensible monitoring decisions across the grant lifecycle.

Learning Objectives

Attendees will design a monitoring framework.
Attendees will develop policies and procedures.
Attendees will establish roles and workflows.

Course Topics

Program Structure and Design
Roles and Responsibilities
Policies and Procedures Development
Monitoring Plans and Schedules
Close-out
Annual Reporting

Presented By
National speakers and experts in federal fiscal compliance, indirect cost rates, 2 CFR 200, monitoring, internal controls, and public-sector compliance implementation.

Mara Ash, CIA, CGFM, CICA, CRMA, CGAP
CEO, BFS Strategic Partners
Mara Ash is the CEO of BFS Strategic Partners and a nationally recognized public-sector compliance and accountability professional with more than 28 years of experience in financial management, audit, internal controls, federal assistance compliance, and grants management. Her work focuses on helping public-sector organizations translate complex requirements into practical, defensible systems that strengthen accountability, transparency, and operational performance.
Mara develops and delivers professional education for external public-sector, grants management, audit, and compliance audiences through BFS Strategic Partners and DECODED®. She is the author of the 2 CFR 200 Federal Assistance Guidance Series and founder of DECODED® Academy.

Cindy Watson, CICA
Managing Director, BFS Strategic Partners
Cindy Watson is the Managing Director of BFS Strategic Partners and a senior compliance and financial management professional with more than 25 years of experience in accounting, federal and state grant compliance, internal controls, audit readiness, monitoring, and corrective action. She helps organizations build practical processes, improve documentation, and prepare for state and federal oversight.
Cindy’s expertise includes 2 CFR Part 200, EDGAR, subrecipient monitoring, program and fiscal testing, indirect cost rates, cost allowability, procurement compliance, maintenance of effort, excess cost, audit procedures, policy analysis, automated reporting, and corrective action implementation. She is the co-author of the 2 CFR 200 Federal Assistance Guidance Series.

Call to Action
Click Here to Register Now!
Advance registration is required.

CPE Statement
This program is designed to support continuing professional education for government accountability and technical training purposes. Participants should confirm acceptance with their licensing body, employer, or audit organization.
This class is designed to meet 2.0 hours of the 24-hour governmental CPE requirement under Government Auditing Standards (Yellow Book), in most cases.

Policies

Refund Policy
DECODED® offers both free and paid Group Internet Based programs. For paid live Group Internet Based programs, cancellations made at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the scheduled program are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations made three (3) to six (6) calendar days prior to the scheduled program may incur a 30% cancellation fee. Cancellations made within forty-eight (48) hours of the scheduled program may incur a 50% cancellation fee.
For free Group Internet Based programs, no refund applies.
To request a refund or ask questions about a registration, please contact Cindy Watson, Managing Director, at stickguys@decoded.expert or 512-945-0144.

Program Cancellation Policy
If DECODED® cancels a Group Internet Based program, registered participants will be notified by email no later than twenty-four (24) hours before the scheduled program start time, unless an emergency or other unforeseen circumstance requires shorter notice.
When applicable, DECODED® will provide additional information regarding rescheduling options or refunds for paid registrations.

Complaint Resolution Policy
DECODED® is committed to addressing participant concerns in a timely and professional manner. Participants who wish to report a complaint or concern regarding a Group Internet Based program should contact Cindy Watson, Managing Director, at stickguys@decoded.expert or 512-945-0144.
Complaints will be reviewed by the appropriate DECODED® representative, and DECODED® will make a reasonable effort to respond in a timely manner.
