Yonkers Insider: Yonkers City Hall Beat: For Immediate Release: ***NEWS RELEASE***: CITY OF YONKERS AWARDED HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT IN GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL REPORTING.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

CITY OF YONKERS AWARDED HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT IN GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL REPORTING.

 

City’s Department of Finance Awarded Certificate of Achievement for Excellence by Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA).

 

YONKERS, NY – June 16, 2025 – Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano today announced the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the City of Yonkers for its annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2024.

 

The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

 

“Our talented and professional finance team, led by Commissioner John Liszewski, has put Yonkers back on the path towards fiscal stability,” said Mayor Spano. “This award, along with our strong bond ratings, recognizes the transparent and diligent work demonstrated by them each day, supporting our city and residents. Congratulations and keep up the great work!”

report was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive "spirit of full disclosure" to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report.

 

“Receiving the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting is a reflection of our department’s unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and the highest standards in public financial management,” said Commissioner of Finance John Liszewski. “This recognition from GFOA underscores our efforts to provide residents, stakeholders, and policymakers with clear, comprehensive, and trustworthy financial information.”

 

The GFOA established the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program (COA) in 1945 to encourage and assist state and local governments to go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles to prepare annual comprehensive financial reports that evidence the spirit of transparency and full disclosure and then to recognize individual governments that succeed in achieving that goal. The goal of the program is not to assess the financial health of participating governments, but rather to ensure that users of their financial statements have the information they need to do so themselves. GFOA advances excellence in government finance by providing best practices, professional development, resources, and practical research for more than 25,000 members and the communities they serve.