Why Become a Certified Government Financial Manager?

Working for a federal, state, or local level government agency of the U.S. as a financial manager is similar to working for a private business or non-profit except that these agencies work with public funds and must therefore be held to high-level standards of conduct. You may work for the federal government, the military, public schools, or even for law enforcement or a city-level agency. These agencies and others need their funds to be carefully managed so that they are able to purchase needed equipment and pay their employees. Working for the government also means that you’ll work within a well-defined job role, following clear expectations from your supervisors in order to achieve effective government action.

As a federal government employee, you’ll be able to choose from a huge number of agencies and job opportunities in financial accounting, auditing, and financial reporting such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), among others. The United States military (all branches) also needs professionals in accounting and finance to help them manage their various financial matters and ensure public accountability.

As a certified government financial manager, you’ll hold a reqpected credential with complex requirements, a code of ethics, and special knowledge that allows you to gain professional-level experience, oversee employees and other financial professionals, prepare financial records, review reporting systems, analyze finance reports, maintain internal controls and perhaps reporting internal issues, monitor payroll, and answer questions from elected officials on technical subjects.