Objective, Scope, and Methodology

The objective of this assignment is to provide information on the formal education, professional work experience, training, and professional certifications of personnel serving in key financial management positions in the Army. The Assistant Secretary had spent 30 years at DOD. The three Deputy Assistant Secretaries’ DOD careers ranged from 29 to 38 years. Two executives were Certified Government Financial Managers. The 63 officers served mainly as resource managers at major commands and installations, and the 170 civilians served most often in resource manager and budget officer positions at installations. Formal Education Attained

Of the 233 respondents, over 90 percent (including the 63 officers and 148 of 170 civilians) reported holding bachelor’s degrees, and about 57 percent (53 officers and 79 civilians) reported holding master’s degrees. Of the 132 respondents holding master’s degrees, 17 reported more than one major. One civilian also reported holding a doctoral degree in public administration. Professional Work Experience Acquired

A review of the profiles showed that the 63 officers’ careers ranged from 10 to 31 years, averaging 23 years, while the 170 civilians’ careers ranged from 15 to 42 years, averaging 27 years. Training Completed During 1995 and 1996

During 1995 and 1996, about 56 percent of the officers and 75 percent of the civilians reported completing some training in one or more of the categories included in our review. Professional Certifications Held

Almost 20 percent of the 233 respondents reported holding one or more professional certifications. A review of the profiles showed that, of these 46 managers,
11 civilians were CPAs,
37 were CGFMs (6 officers and 31 civilians),
2 civilians held other financial management-related certifications, including the Certified Cost Estimator/Analyst and Certified Internal Auditor, and
3 civilians reported nonfinancial management-related certifications. The four senior executives in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller) ASA(FM&C) included the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller), the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller), the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Operations, and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Budget. One manager held a master’s degree in accounting, while 32 managers reported 33 other business-related majors. Four of these managers majored in accounting, while five managers reported six other business-related majors. As shown in table VI.3, 11 respondents also held master’s degrees, with 2 reporting more than one major.
Why GAO Did This Study

Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO provided information on the qualifications, including formal education, professional work experience, training, and professional certifications of personnel serving in key financial management positions in the Army.

What GAO Found

GAO noted that: (1) the four Army financial management executives included in its review are the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller), the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller), the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Operations, and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Budget; (2) each of the executives had attained master's degrees; (3) the Assistant Secretary had spent 30 years at the Department of Defense (DOD); (4) the Deputy Assistant Secretaries had DOD careers ranging from 29 to 38 years, with one of the three also spending part of his career in the private sector; (5) two of the executives held certifications in government financial management; and (6) of the 233 other key Army financial managers responding to GAO's review: (a) about 27 percent (63) were miliary officers, serving mainly as resource managers and budget officers at major commands and installations; and 73 percent (170) were civilian personnel serving mainly in resource manager and budget officer positions at installations; (b) all 63 officers and 148 of the 170 civilians reported holding bachelor's degrees, with 17 of these respondents reporting more than one major; (c) about one-third of these 211 managers majored in accounting, while approximately 40 percent reported degrees in business-related majors other than accounting; (d) 132 respondents (53 officers and 79 civilians) also reported holding advanced degrees, with 17 of these respondents reporting more than one major; (e) five of the 132 managers held master's degrees in accounting, while about 75 percent reported degrees in business-related majors other than accounting; (f) the officers' careers ranged from 10 to 31 years, averaging 23 years, while civilians' careers ranged from 15 to 42 years, averaging 27 years; (g) 163 respondents reported completing training in one or more of the categories included in GAO's review during 1995 and 1996; (h) about 20 percent of the 233 respondents reported holding one or more professional certifications; and (i) of the 46 managers in this group, 44 reported holding accounting and other financial management-related certifications, as follows: 11 were Certified Public Accountants, 37 were Certified Government Financial Managers, and 2 held other certifications, including the Certified Cost Estimator/Analyst and Certified Internal Auditor.