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Michael Binder

Michael is the Director of the Graduate School USA, Government Audit Training Institute. Hes has served over forty two years in federal audit staff, management and executive positions in GAO, the Inspector General community and as Acting Inspector General of the National Endowment for the Arts. As Assistant Inspector General, Deputy Chief of Staff, Senior Resource Official/CFO, and Supervisory Forensic Auditor, U.S. EPA Office of Inspector General (OIG), he directed the EPA OIG's internal risk assessment, audit follow-up, audit and investigative planning, budget development and execution, legislative analysis, program evaluation, policy review, performance measurement and financial reporting, human resources, audit peer review, procurement, quality assurance assessments, Hotline, and cost accounting program. He led EPA OIG's strategic planning, and pioneered the application of logic models and SWOT Analysis for planning and performance measurement in the OIG, for EPA and the federal IG community. He created the President's Council for Integrity and Efficiency (PCIE) Environmental Consortium, and chaired the PCIE Government Performance and Results Act Committee.

Michael has a BBA and MBA in Finance and Economics from the George Washington University, attended Harvard University, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and the Federal Executive Institute. He is a Certified Internal Auditor, a Certified Fraud Examiner, and a former national officer of the Association of Government Accountants.

Michael has been an adjunct professor of management, finance, white collar crime and auditing since 1975. He is currently a faculty member of the Graduate School USA, the University of Maryland, and a Certified Seminar Leader with Fred Pryor. He has been a guest lecturer/instructor at Salisbury University, George Mason University, University of Michigan, Florida Atlantic University, the Federal Air Marshall Academy, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and the Council of Inspectors General Training Academy. He is a principal contributor to the development of the University of Maryland's White Collar Crime Certification curriculum. He created The Montgomery Summer Tennis Camps, published several professional articles and course texts, is a professional orchestra leader including performing at the Kennedy Center and for Presidential Inaugural Balls, and is commissioner of several adult sports leagues.

Michael Binder: APIPA 2019 Course Listing

Great audit organizations need leaders who see their role differently than just being super auditors. This highly interactive session will help audit staff cross that threshold toward becoming super leaders by understanding what makes a good leader, how to motivate others, and create an environment of accountability for high performance.  This session will examine the traits, characteristics and styles of successful managers and leaders that can be learned and practiced, as well as why people in leadership positions often fail.  We will explore ways to inspire and motivate staff through constructive coaching, growth opportunities and appreciation.  This session will also explore the communication tools, approaches and techniques to inspire a new level of performance accountability, self-awareness and commitment through empowerment and ownership.       

Creative Thinking for Auditors explores why creative and critical thinking are essential tools of auditor proficiency that should be applied throughout all phases of the audit process.  The class will discuss personal and organizational challenges to creative thinking and change, and ways to overcome the natural resistance to change for breakthrough ways of seeing root causes of problems and considering new possible solutions.  The presentation will include brain training exercises and tools to get participants thinking more abstractly to look beyond the obvious, to challenge the status quo and use process techniques for generating new ideas for action.  This class will explore the power of “why” in looking for root causes of problems, and the power of the possible in considering new opportunities and threats for forward thinking recommendations. 

Selecting performance audits to conduct is like building a successful investment portfolio. Developing meaningful objectives helps ensure each audit efficiently and effectively achieves meaningful results. Together, selecting the right audits with strong objectives provide a return on investment that is highly valued, relevant and meaningful to the stakeholders it serves. This seminar explores techniques and factors in selecting and planning audits based upon measureable factors of risk, materiality, public interest and public benefit as valued by its many stakeholders. This seminar will help you identify stakeholder interest and needs, future opportunities and external threats, apply a cost benefit approach using measures of outcome value to score proposals, formulate compelling audit objectives and measuring long term audit results based upon return on investment.

The course is designed for auditors and finance professionals at all levels to assess and improve their ability to make clear, well- structured and convincing presentations. Professionals must use the power of clear communication and the power of persuasion to give effective formal and informal presentations, including briefings to audit management, budget committees, auditees, peers, at entrance and exit conferences and others in conducting business. An effective presentation requires a focused message, addressing the concerns of the audience that is well arranged and skillfully delivered. This is a practical course where participants will prepare, give and critique several presentations with the opportunity for self-assessment, coaching and improvement.

Meet the Instructors

Find out more about the 2019 APIPA Instructors...

Arakaki
Diane
Arakaki

Honolulu, HI

Binder
Michael
Binder

Washington, DC

Crawford
Frankie
Crawford

Oklahoma City, OK

Kahn
Drummond
Kahn

Portland, OR

Ray
Dianne
Ray

Denver, CO

Yamamura
Jeanne
Yamamura

Reno, NV