Building the Next Finance Director

1. Building the Next Finance Director • Diane Reichard, City of Temple Terrace • Mark Fostier, Orange County Comptroller’s Office • Binh Nguyen, Lake County BCC • Jamie Roberson, Osceola County – Property Appraiser • Mary-Lou Pickles, St. Johns River Management District

2. City Manager Qualifications in a Finance Director • Technically qualified and accurate • Objective • Provide clear and concise communication • Be flexible and compromisable • Globally focused • Honest and up front • Sense of humor

3. CFO Skill Set • Strategist • Translator • Leader • Technical Generalist • Facilitator

4. Strategist • Understand problems and their implications • View organization at the 10,000 foot level • Consider other alternatives • Take on new projects, be a go-to person

5. Translator • Use performance measures to provide information to CEO • Be a good listener • Enhance critical thinking that leads to consensus • Align solution with CEO’s strategy

6. Leader • Motivate people • Improve interpersonal communications • “Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it.“ – Dwight Eisenhower

7. Technical Generalist • Expand knowledge to know a little bit about a lot • Know when and how to ask questions • “Knowledge is of two kinds; we know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it.” – Samuel Johnson

8. Facilitator • Good ideas come to die in accounting • Be a proactive problem solver • Respect others and their ideas

9. FGFOA Mentoring Program • A Case Study

10. FGFOA Mentoring Work Plan • Strategic Goal • Objectives • Actions

11. Strategic Goal • To be a Finance Director for a city or county government

12. Objectives • Increase governmental accounting and finance knowledge through job shadowing opportunities and additional education and certification • Expand professional contacts and networking opportunities to broaden information sharing possibilities • Increase participation in FGFOA and the Central Florida Chapter

13. Actions • Participate in job shadowing opportunities with the Comptroller’s Office in the following functional areas: • Accounting (general ledger/budgetary accounting; CAFR preparation; grants accounting; MSTU accounting) • Treasury (investments; cash management; debt issuance and administration)

14. Actions(Continued) • Participate in job shadowing opportunities with the Comptroller’s Office in the following functional areas: • Accounts Payable (preaudit function; quality control; contracts administration) • Payroll (preaudit function; union contract administration; benefits administration) • Information Systems – Advantage Financial System and Oracle/PeopleSoft HRIS (functional responsibilities; system upgrades and support; system implementation)

15. Actions (Continued) • Complete a college level governmental accounting course • Obtain GFOA’s CPFO certification • Pursue becoming the 2012 FGFOA Conference Host Committee Chair • Serve on an FGFOA committee each year with the intent of serving two years and becoming the Chair in the third year • Serve as a Director of the Central Florida Chapter • Serve as a Director of the FGFOA

16. Preparation • Prepared well for all job shadowing opportunities • Preparation in relation to CFO Skill as a Technical Generalist

17. Get Involved • Networking in relation to CFO Skill as a Facilitator • Volunteer with professional organizations

18. Motivation • Planning and organization are important management skills • Self motivation is a crucial skill for success

19. Strategist • Special Projects • Learn other aspects of your organization • Don’t limit yourself to the financial function

20. Translator • Special Projects • Translation of strategy into a measurable and accountable plan

21. Leader • Motivation of the stakeholders • Understanding the stakeholders in the organization both external and internal and having the ability to motivate them

22. Technical Generalist • Specialization vs. experience in various functions of the organization • Do not limit yourself solely to the numbers. All functions within an organization impact the numbers. If you understand various aspects of the organization, it will allow you to become a better CFO or Finance Director

23. Facilitator • Finance Office deemed as ‘gloom & doom’

24. CFO Skill Set • Strategist • Translator • Leader • Technical Generalist • Facilitator

25. Closing Thoughts • Curiosity and Opportunity have No Limits! • Edison said – Good things happen when opportunity meets a prepared mind.

26. …And also Opening Thoughts • Edison said – Good things happen when opportunity meets a prepared mind. • Can’t be satisfied with the status quo • The CGFO program provides career-building value

27. CGFO Background Information • The original examination was purchased from the Government Finance Officers Association of Texas in 1990 • The first CGFO examination was given in the early 1990s

28. CGFO Certification Committee • Evaluates and administers the semi-annual certification examinations • Monitors requirements for reporting continuing professional education • Future projects include exploring on-line feasibility for review courses and exams

29. CGFO Program Purpose • Encourage a level of knowledge and professionalism in the field of government finance • Encourage development and maintenance of professional competence for practicing governmental finance officers

30. Minimum Qualifications • Active FGFOA member • Bachelor’s degree in accounting, public or business administration or a closely related field • Three years government work experience • Two letters of recommendation • Accept the FGFOA Code of Ethics

31. Achieving Your CGFO Designation • Pass* an open book Ethics Exam • Pass* all five sections of the CGFO examination in five years • * Achieve a minimum score of 75 percent • .

32. CGFO Exam Preparation • Review Sessions - Offered at the School of Governmental Finance • Strategies • Reference Materials • http://www.fgfoa.org/CGFOprogram

33. CGFO Examinations • Are offered twice a year in November at the School of Governmental Finance and in the spring (usually in March) at various locations throughout the state depending on demand • .

34. CGFO Examination Contents – Accounting & Financial Reporting .

35. CGFO Examination Contents – Debt Administration .

36. CGFO Examination Contents – Financial Administration .

37. CGFO Examination Contents – Municipal Budgeting .

38. CGFO Examination Contents – Treasury Management .

39. How does the CGFO Designation Benefit YOU? • You will distinguish yourself as a business professional who is committed to a strict code of ethics • You will demonstrate your commitment to personal professional development and lifelong learning

40. How does the CGFO Designation Benefit YOU? • You will confirm substantial knowledge of accounting, finance, and important related fields specific to local governments • Opportunity to assess and demonstrate your capabilities and expand your knowledge base

41. How does the CGFO Designation Benefit YOU? • Recognition of achievement • Expanded career opportunities • Personal Satisfaction • Enhance your self-confidence, your sense of accomplishment, and your resume

42. What are you waiting for? • Take the Challenge! • “Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing” – Barry Finlay • “All of life is a constant education” – Eleanor Roosevelt

43. CGFO Program • Questions? • Additional Information • www.fgfoa.org • mpickles@sjrwmd.com