Profile of Navy Financial Management Executives

Table 1 provides information on the formal education, careers, and professional certifications of the Department of the Navy’s four executives included in our review. All four held bachelor’s degrees and three also held master’s degrees. The Assistant Secretary had spent 27 years at DOD and 5 years in the private sector. The other three executives’ DOD careers ranged from 23 to 32 years. About 23 percent of the 194 respondents were military officers. The 44 officers served mainly as comptrollers at major commands and installations, and the 150 civilians served most often as comptrollers and budget officers at installations. Five of the 166 respondents holding bachelor’s degrees reported more than one major. A review of the profiles showed that 47 managers, or about 28 percent of these respondents, reported accounting majors, 73 managers reported other business-related majors, and 48 managers reported that one or more of their majors were not business related. Professional Work Experience Acquired

A review of the profiles showed that the 44 officers’ careers ranged from 4 to 33 years, averaging 21 years, while the 150 civilians’ careers ranged from 8 to 55 years, averaging 27 years. Training Completed During 1995 and 1996

During 1995 and 1996, about 64 percent of the officers and 88 percent of the civilians reported completing some training in one or more of the categories included in our review. Professional Certifications Held

About 22 percent of the 194 respondents reported holding one or more professional certifications. The four senior executives in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller) (ASN/FM&C) included the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller); the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller); the Director, Office of Financial Operations; and the Director, Office of Budget. One manager held a master’s degree in accounting and another manager reported a business-related major. As shown in table III.4, 31 respondents also held master’s degrees, with 3 reporting more than one major. Seven of these managers majored in accounting, while 10 managers reported other business-related majors. Additional copies are $2 each.
Why GAO Did This Study

Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO provided information on the qualifications and experience of the Department of Defense's (DOD) financial management workforce, focusing on the Navy's and the Marine Corps' key financial managers.

What GAO Found

GAO noted that: (1) the four Navy financial management executives included in this review are the Assistant Secretary of the Navy; the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy; the Director, Office of Financial Operations; and the Director, Office of Budget; (2) each of the executives had attained bachelor's degrees and three of the four executives also held master's degrees; (3) the Assistant Secretary had spent 27 years at DOD and 5 years in the private sector; (4) the other three executives had DOD careers ranging from 23 to 32 years, with two of these executives also spending part of their careers in another government agency or the private sector; (5) about 23 percent were military officers, serving mainly as comptrollers at major commands and installations, and 77 percent were civilian personnel serving mainly in comptroller and budget officer positions at installations; (6) all 44 officers and 122 of the 150 civilians reported holding bachelor's degrees, with 5 of these respondents reporting more than one major; (7) about 28 percent of these 166 managers majored in accounting, while approximately 43 percent reported degrees in business-related majors other than accounting; (8) eighty respondents also reported holding master's degrees, with 8 of these respondents reporting more than one major; (9) six of these 80 managers held master's degrees in accounting, while about 78 percent reported degrees in business-related majors other than accounting; (10) the officers' careers ranged from 4 to 33 years while civilians' careers ranged from 8 to 55 years; (11) 166 respondents reported completing training in one or more of the categories included in GAO's review during 1995 and 1996; (12) about 22 percent of the 94 respondents reported holding one or more professional certifications; and (13) the 42 managers in this group reported holding accounting and other financial-related certifications.