# RUS Borrower Accounting (Electric) Course (Self-Paced) Canonical URL: ## Overview This course is designed for persons who are now, or who intend to be, Office Managers, Accountants, or Bookkeepers in offices of electric utilities that have been financed by the Rural Utility Service (RUS), USDA. It may also serve as a guide to directors, managers, Certified Public Accountants, Lawyers, and Engineers. It is inevitable that there are variations in some of the procedures used by individual utilities. We have attempted to teach the basic and specialized principles and procedures of accounting that are common to all organizations engaged in this type of enterprise. ## What you'll learn - Explain the specific accounting principles and terminology that apply to RUS borrowers. - Use appropriate forms, reports, statements, and other documents, as well as the Universal System of Accounts, correctly. - Detail the accounting and administrative controls, both internal and from RUS. - Recognize the accounting procedures for the typical sequence of events that occur during the organization, preloan, original construction, and operating period of an electric utility cooperative. - Use the applicable federal regulations and RUS issuances to guide their practice. ## Curriculum #### Module 1: RUS Books of Account - Introduction to the principal books of account used by RUS borrowers - Overview of the General Ledger and General Journal systems - Structure and use of Specialized Journals and Journal Voucher systems - Explanation of Cash Received Records and Check Registers - Subsidiary records including Accounts Payable Register and Consumers' Ledger #### Module 2: Accounting for Cash - Internal controls for managing cash and ensuring data integrity - Procedures for receiving, depositing, and documenting cash transactions - Roles of office personnel in handling cash, ledgers, and daily reconciliations - Posting and reconciling accounts receivable with the General Ledger - Establishing controls between cash receipts and consumer account balances #### Module 3: Bank Reconciliations - Step-by-step bank reconciliation process - Identifying and resolving discrepancies between bank statements and ledger - Handling outstanding checks, deposits in transit, and service charges - Importance of accurate and timely reconciliation procedures #### Module 4: Depositories and Disbursement Controls - Requirements for federally insured depositories - Policies for managing large balances and selecting multiple depositories - Best practices for issuing voucher checks and wire transfers - Internal documentation and approval procedures for disbursements #### Module 5: Cash Fund Accounts and Payroll Disbursements - Maintaining separate cash accounts for general and construction funds - Establishing payroll accounts and handling direct deposits - Tracking membership fees, deposits, and reimbursement transactions - Clearing cash transactions through appropriate ledgers and accounts ## Instructors ### Alan B. Robinson — Instructor Mr. Robinson is a seasoned legal and federal employment expert with over two decades of experience. He recently retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, where he spent 11 years as Deputy Director/Director for the Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity (ODEO) and 8 years as Chief of Employee and Labor Relations. In these roles, he provided extensive guidance on federal employment matters, showcasing his deep expertise in labor relations and diversity initiatives. A graduate of the University of Virginia with a B.A. in Government, Mr. Robinson earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Before his federal service, he built a robust legal career, starting as a law clerk for the Baltimore City Orphan’s Court, followed by 10 years as a civil defense litigator with a D.C. law firm, and later operating his own solo practice for 5 years. His private practice focused on representing federal agencies, employees, municipalities, and private entities in employment-related cases before the EEOC, Merit Systems Protection Board, and various courts. Currently, Mr. Robinson shares his wealth of knowledge as an adjunct instructor with the Graduate School USA and serves as a registered arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). His extensive background in law, federal employment, and diversity makes him a valuable resource in his field. ### Kent Miller — Instructor Kent D. Miller, Jr., MBA, CDFM-A, is a highly accomplished financial management expert and educator with over 40 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. A retired U.S. Army officer, Kent has held leadership roles such as Controller/CFO for the U.S. Army Missile Command and Program Manager/Financial Analyst for the Assistant Secretary of the Army. His expertise spans budgeting, cost analysis, managerial accounting, and financial systems implementation. Notably, he managed a $9 billion organization, supervised a financial staff of 150, and developed funding requirements and congressional testimony for senior Army leadership. Kent’s career also includes consulting and training, where he has developed over 50 courses and taught more than 20,000 students from federal agencies and contractors. As an adjunct instructor at Graduate School USA since 2005, Kent specializes in financial management training for federal employees. His courses cover a wide range of topics, including appropriations law, budget formulation and execution, and performance-based budgeting. Kent’s teaching is informed by his extensive experience in planning, programming, and budgeting, as well as his work in reengineering processes to achieve cost savings. He is also a Certified Defense Financial Manager with Acquisition Specialty (CDFM-A) and has been recognized for his leadership in professional organizations such as the Society of Defense Financial Management and the Association of Government Accountants. ### Alan McCain — Curriculum Program Manager Alan McCain is a retired combat veteran who served as both an Air Force enlisted member and a Navy officer. He brings over 30 years of experience spanning federal and commercial budgeting, auditing, programming, operations, global logistics support, supply chain and inventory management, as well as major IT acquisition. He possesses extensive, hands-on budget and audit experience across Federal, State, and Local government operations, including work within the Executive Office of the President and the Departments of State, Defense, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Education, as well as the Office of the Mayor of Washington, D.C., among others. Alan’s consulting background includes strategic planning and business development with the District of Columbia government, multiple federal agencies, Lockheed Martin, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. He is a Certified Government/Defense Financial Manager (CGFM/DFM), holds a Teaching Certification from Harvard University’s Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, and earned an Executive MBA in International Business from The George Washington University. ## Pricing **Tuition:** $1200