Financial Management Consultant Services

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Providing internal financial management consultancies to Non Profit Organizations and consulting firms, plus short term financial management consultancies overseas.

Welcome to Fisken & Company

Bernard J. Fisken

Objective:

Consulting opportunities with organizations working in international development utilizing my skills in: US Government contract/grant compliance (particularly with USAID); the development and monitoring of indirect cost (overhead) rates that meet US Government standards; administrative and accounting systems that support US Government funding; and taxation of Expatriate American staff working overseas.

Key Skills:

  • Over 25 years of International Development experience.
  • More than 30 consultancies on 5 continents, primarily for non-profit and commercial organizations receiving USAID funds. Countries where these consultancies were performed include: Kenya, Republic of South Africa, Egypt, Pakistan, Tonga, United Kingdom, and numerous Latin American countries.
  • Technical expertise in US Government Contract/Grant compliance, including extensive familiarity with OMB Circulars, Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), and USAID rules and regulations.
  • Technical expertise in the development and monitoring of Indirect Cost (Overhead) Rates and fringe benefit rates that meet US Government standards.
  • Excellent Trainer. Have been teaching courses in Financial Management of US Government awards for over 20 years, sponsored by APVOFM (Association of PVO Financial Managers), American University & George Washington University.
  • Evaluation and technical assistance capability. Have been both an evaluator and technical assistance provider on consulting teams. My focus on these consulting teams was the administrative infrastructure required to support US Government awards.
  • 5 years living overseas as a Peace Corps Volunteer and USAID contractor.

  • Fluency in Spanish.

Education:

M.A., Management, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.


B.S.A., Accounting, Bentley College, Boston, Massachusetts. Graduated Summa Cum Laude.

H.S. Diploma, Classical Education, Boston Latin School, Boston, Massachusetts.

Experience:

Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman, CPA’s, Bethesda MD
Senior Manager, Director of International Department, Jan 2000 to June 2004.

  • Coordinated the International activities for this CPA firm in the functional areas of taxation, audit, government contracting and management consulting.
  • Upgraded the firm’s capacity in International Taxation. Firm’s principal expert in tax preparation and tax planning for Overseas Americans.
  • Increased the firm’s capacity in US Government Contract/Grant Compliance, particularly OMB Circulars, Federal Acquisition Regulations (FARS), and USAID Rules/Regulations. This included presenting 2 Seminars on US Government Contract/Grant Compliance: one in Chicago and the other in Charleston, SC.
  • Enhanced the firm’s capability to develop Indirect Cost Rates and Fringe Benefit Rates that meet US Government standards. Firm’s expert on rates that meet USAID standards.
  • Managed a staff of 3 technical professionals.
  • Presented various seminars on the Financial Management of US Government awards.

Fisken & Company, Washington DC & Arlington VA
President & CEO, 1978 to December 1999.

  • Created and directed for over 20 years this professional corporation providing Financial Management, Government Contracting, Accounting, and Taxation services to commercial businesses, nonprofit organizations, and individuals.
  • Managed a staff of 5 professionals and administrative staff.
  • Exercised over-all direction for the corporate functions of marketing, administration and technical quality control.
  • Conducted numerous short-term international consultancies in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle-East, the South Pacific, and Europe.
  • Taught various courses as an Adjunct Professor at George Washington University, American University, the University of Maryland, Georgetown University and the Woodrow Wilson Graduate School at Princeton University. Course titles included: Owning & Operating a Small Business for Profit, Accounting and Financial Management of Arts Organizations; Financial Management for Organizational Fundraisers; Preparation of Business Development Plans; and Introductory Accounting.
  • Executed the successful sale of Fisken & Company’s public accounting clients to Gelman, Rosenberg and Freedman, CPA’s.

Other Experience (pre-1978):

Senior Consultant, Financial Management, for The Transcentury Corporation and Development Associates, two Washington, DC-based Government Contractors.

  • Senior Consultant, Financial Management, for Public Administration Service (PAS), Washington DC-based Consulting firm. Worked under USAID contracts to the Government of Bolivia (La Paz) and to the Government of Nicaragua (Managua).
  • Peace Corps Trainer & Volunteer, United States Peace Corps. Trained Peace Corps candidates to work in Ecuador, South America; as a Peace Corps volunteer specialized in the development of credit unions in Ecuador, S.A.

Honors:

Awarded SBA’s Accounting Advocate for the Year by US Government, Small Business Administration; former member of DC Board of Accountancy, which establishes standards and procedures for all accountants in public practice in Washington, DC.

Languages:

Fluency in Spanish; familiarity with French, Swahili, Portuguese and Arabic.

Licenses and Certifications:

Licensed Public Accountant, Washington, DC; Certified to Represent Taxpayers as an Enrolled Agent before the Internal Revenue Service; Accredited Tax Advisor.

Professional Affiliations:

Greater Washington Society of CPA’s, Maryland Society of Enrolled Agents. Active member of Wharton School Alumni-DC Area Chapter. Founding and current Board member of Association of PVO Financial Managers.