Who has any financial government certifications?

[Skooby]

I'm currently trying to get a bachelor’s in Finance(i'll probably minor in accounting). Right now accounting tech (GS-5).

I know to get your Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM) and Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) you have to have a bachelor's first.

My question is, when is the best time to try to get one? After you receive your bachelor's? Should I take some graduate courses(MBA) first? When do people normally get theirs?

I still have about two years before I even get my bachelor's, but I want to try to move up the ladder as soon as I get mine since I'm already 30 years old. I feel like I'm already behind.

How much weight does these certifications hold vs. MBA/some graduate school experience.

By the way, my goal is to try to get a GS 7/11 job as a Financial Management Analyst.

 

[Skooby]

I'm currently trying to get a bachelor’s in Finance(i'll probably minor in accounting). Right now accounting tech (GS-5).

I know to get your Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM) and Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) you have to have a bachelor's first.

My question is, when is the best time to try to get one? After you receive your bachelor's? Should I take some graduate courses(MBA) first? When do people normally get theirs?

I still have about two years before I even get my bachelor's, but I want to try to move up the ladder as soon as I get mine since I'm already 30 years old. I feel like I'm already behind.

How much weight does these certifications hold vs. MBA/some graduate school experience.

By the way, my goal is to try to get a GS 7/11 job as a Financial Management Analyst.

A year and a half later.

I'm now majoring in Accounting and i'm a GS-6 Accounting Tech. My goal is now is to be a 510 Accountant.

I also know you do not have to have a bachelors to get a CDFM. But you do need one for the CGFM.

I don't plan on leaving the DoD.

I plan on getting my CPA but that's still quite a few years away. I want to first start with a secondary certification.

With that being said...should I go for the CDFM or the CGFM?

 

[sdouglas3]

A year and a half later.

I'm now majoring in Accounting and i'm a GS-6 Accounting Tech. My goal is now is to be a 510 Accountant.

I also know you do not have to have a bachelors to get a CDFM. But you do need one for the CGFM.

I don't plan on leaving the DoD.

I plan on getting my CPA but that's still quite a few years away. I want to first start with a secondary certification.

With that being said...should I go for the CDFM or the CGFM?

Good Morning,

Just my two cents here. Continue to get your bachelors in accounting while at the same time work on your certs at work. Once you get close to graduating look at an organization that specializes in Accounting like the IRS. They seem to always look for accountants (can't imagine why). Reason I say this is they offer higher grades. So, for the longer term persue your degree, look for higher paying organization and work on your CPA. If you have not started investing with TSP then make that a priority as well.

Good luck to you!

Steve

 

[Skooby]

Good Morning,

Just my two cents here. Continue to get your bachelors in accounting while at the same time work on your certs at work. Once you get close to graduating look at an organization that specializes in Accounting like the IRS. They seem to always look for accountants (can't imagine why). Reason I say this is they offer higher grades. So, for the longer term persue your degree, look for higher paying organization and work on your CPA. If you have not started investing with TSP then make that a priority as well.

Good luck to you!

Steve

Thanks.

I've actually thought about going to the IRS. I would prefer to stay within the Department of Defense at one of their agencies (I'm a current DFAS employee), but I would be open to moving outside of it if the conditions were right.

I start working for DFAS in '07. But I worked for the Army from '01 - '05. During all of these years and currently i've always invested the 5% matching in the TSP. Currently i'm 100% equities since i'm still about 30 years from retirement (I'm 32).

 

[Scout333]

Thanks.

"I've actually thought about going to the IRS. I would prefer to stay within the Department of Defense at one of their agencies (I'm a current DFAS employee), but I would be open to moving outside of it if the conditions were right."

IRS is a good organization to work for if you're not afraid of hard work. They prefer to hire internally for most positions and give opportunities to move up fairly quickly. Some positions can be stressful and you have to be flexible. Old manager I had told me early in my career that with IRS not to worry too much if I didn't like a particular procedure or rule just to wait a little while it would change! Only bad thing is- If you like the way something works---
You got it-It will change! Good luck with your career planning.

 

[Jackbnimble]

Skooby,
There has been some good advice already thrown your way. I would like to add some. The IRS has several distinct divisions and the 0512 series has a journeyman level of grade 13, in the division I work. Some divisions it is 11. You may want to start concentrating on income tax while you are still in school and consider getting your masters degree. We don't sit around and compute long division all day. We actually get into very complex structured transactions and do a lot more investigative work than most people think.

Contrary to Scouts' analysis, the division I work for has actually hired more from the outside than internally, much to the unions chagrin.

As for the certifications you mention, none of the managers I know have any of these designations. Some have MBA's and post graduate work.

Hope this helps.

 

[FUTURESTRADER]

Check out USAJobs.gov and the different jobs in finance/related fields - Resource Analyst, etc. Come to NASA and manage the budget for some neat projects/spacefcraft.