GROWING PROFICIENT &
PROFESSIONAL
FINANCIAL MANAGERS
Martin J. Rajk
Deputy Assistant Commandant for Resources/
Deputy Chief Financial Officer
US Coast Guard
ASMC DC Chapter
May 15, 2013
Homeland
Security
Assistant Commandant for Resources
Financial Management Certifications
• Annual audit findings pushed to institute a more comprehensive program to
increase number of professionally certified financial managers
• Open to both civilian and active duty military; concentrated week long
intensive review course work in a sequestered environment with immediate on
site testing
• Program created explosive growth in number of certified financial managers
‒ 9 to 70 Certified Defense Financial Managers (CDFM) from 2010 to 2013
‒ 14 to 128 Certified Government Financial Managers (CGFM) from 2010 to 2013
‒ 1 new Post Grad Student CPA and 9 military officers have passed portions of or are actively
pursuing CPA
• Intensive review program for the CGFM was less expensive and utilized fewer
days away for training then sending members to full training program with
local vendors
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Security
Assistant Commandant for Resources
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Continuing Education
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Provided more formalized continuing education program for the workforce to
ensure maintenance of professional certifications and encourage life long
professional learning
Available for civilian employees, officers and enlisted members.
Traditional in person courses offered by commercial vendors such as MCI that
target specific competency deficiencies as identified by management, etc.
Utilizes online CPE services from varying sources, e.g., CEB/Government Finance
Round Table and Becker
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permits the delivery of hundred of CPEs to all certified financial management professionals
cost is less then $10 per CPE making this a best value in tight fiscal environment
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Integration with Coast Guard Academy
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Signed first of kind integrated Executive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
with Coast Guard Academy
MOU allows for:
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Guaranteed internships for management majors within FM community
Faculty research opportunities
CFO input into academic curriculum to ensure courses meet changing needs of service
Integration of 1/C cadet capstone course with real world CG projects
Allows for opportunities for professional certification at accession point
MOU results in seamless integration of officers at accession point into financial
management
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Encourages early attraction of officers to the FM career
Homeland
Security
Assistant Commandant for Resources
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Post Graduate Education
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Audit findings revealed issues drove enhancement of post graduate education in
financial management
Conducted major restructure of program in 2009
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changed in program length from 18 to 24 months
Includes dual degree opportunity - Master of Business/Public Administration & Master of Accounting
students emerge from program with academic credentials to sit for CPA
focus on smaller number of schools with best curriculum fit
provided direct control of all classes students will take; heavily increased emphasis on accounting and
quantitative analysis and decision making
encouraged testing for professional certifications while in school
increased number of students in school by 50%
Takes 3 years to graduate candidate; changes have already led to more qualified &
professionally certified officers and several CPA candidates
Homeland
Security
Assistant Commandant for Resources
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