CGFM Profile - Linda Bagwell, CGFM
It
wasn’t enough for Linda “Birdie” Bagwell to rely upon the
governmental accounting courses she took toward her undergraduate
and graduate degrees. She wanted more depth, and looked to the CGFM
as a way to bridge the gap between her professional and educational
experiences.
And now that Bagwell has passed the
three CGFM Examinations, she is glad she decided to earn the
certification because she learned new skills and gained knowledge
that she uses on the job every day.
Bagwell is the assistant director
of Auxiliary Services at Texas State University-San Marcos, the
third-largest university in the state. Auxiliary services oversees
activities at the university that generate income, such as food
service, the bookstore, print shop, copy service, shuttle bus,
vending and more. Auxiliary Services also assists in providing
financial oversight for the Department of Residential Life.
As assistant director, Bagwell
helps create strategic plans and monitors progress toward achieving
the goals and objectives laid out in those plans. Her duties are
many and varied, and often involve overlapping deadlines and working
with many departments. She develops and manages budgets, conducts
strategic planning for technology needs for Auxiliary Services,
helps determine room and board rates and assesses the budget impact
of housing replacement. She also oversees various aspects of vendor
service contracts.
Bagwell says her career is at a
crossroads, and she is deciding whether she wants to pursue a career
as a director or an assistant vice president in administration or as
an instructor of college-level accounting courses. In fact, she
recently applied for a position as an adjunct professor at Austin
Community College, and found that the CGFM opened new doors for her.
“The accounting program coordinator
was very impressed with my CGFM certification and is interested in
expanding the number of governmental accounting classes offered,”
Bagwell said. “Having my CGFM certification will allow me to teach
upper-level courses and is considered the equivalent to a CPA, CMA
or CIA in this situation. I am finding that the CGFM is becoming
more recognized and, in some government positions, is considered
more valuable than a CPA.”
Bagwell added, however, that she is
also studying for the CPA exam, which she hopes to take later this
year. She believes another certification will broaden her base of
knowledge and she’ll be poised for any opportunities that arise.
Bagwell’s employer was so
supportive of the CGFM certification that the university paid all
the expenses for her to attend the preparatory class for CGFM Exam
2, Governmental Accounting, Financial Reporting and Budgeting,
which is offered through a partnership with AGA and Management
Concepts.
“I had heard that Exam Two was
particularly difficult, and they were right,” Bagwell said. “But,
after having taken the study course and the exam I feel that I have
a much better understanding of the material than I would have
otherwise.”
Bagwell encourages others to go for
the CGFM. ”I think that for individuals working in government
positions, the CGFM certification indicates a higher level of
expertise. For individuals who are in the job market, this gives
them a bit of an edge over the competition.”
Not only does Bagwell feel she has
a professional edge, but also a confidence boost. “I feel a sense of
pride in obtaining my CGFM certification. It is not easy to achieve,
which makes achieving it all the sweeter.”