Book excerpt: Discover how the author transformed a massive government department in just a few years and fixed seemingly unfixable problems In Transforming a Federal Agency: Management Lessons from HUD’s Financial Reconstruction, finance and strategy expert Irving (Irv) L. Dennis delivers an insightful and eye-opening exploration of the lessons he learned in bringing private sector experience to the transformation of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s financial systems. Pulled out of retirement after a 37-year career at Ernst & Young (EY), the author’s tenure at HUD involved a rapid and surgical rejuvenation of their financial infrastructure. The book details the ten management areas he focused on and also includes: The transformation process and the barriers and roadblocks the author encountered on his journey Ensuring an enduring transformation even after changes in administration Functional differences between the private sector and governmental organizations How the author approached his first 100 days as Chief Financial Officer of the Department Insights into the innerworkings of the Executive Branch of government Perfect for government employees, finance professionals in the public and private sectors, and business students, Transforming a Federal Agency is a simultaneously fascinating and instructive journey through the remediation of seemingly intractable financial mismanagement.