Why Wait? Senior Auditor Tackles CGFM
Early in her Career
Toni Jo Howard, CGFM,
has been with the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts since she
was a junior in college. It was then that she decided to make
governmental accounting her career, to further her education and to earn
the credentials that would show she was well-qualified.
“Once I decided I was going to
work here, I first focused on passing the CPA exam, the biggest hurdle
to overcome, and I knew I would continue on and get as many
certifications as possible,” she said. ”The next one was obvious—the
CGFM.”
Howard interned with the
department for two years and accepted a staff auditor position upon
graduation from the State University of West Georgia. Now, five years
into her career, she is a senior auditor in the Nonprofit and Local
Government Audits Division whose main responsibility is the review of
local government audit reports.
In examining reports from
counties, municipalities, other political subdivisions and the like,
Howard is often working with city managers, city clerks and elected
officials. Those frequent interactions made gaining the prestigious CGFM
certification a must in her career development plan, Howard said.
Several colleagues in the
department had already earned their CGFM certification and encouraged
her to go for it. Howard’s supervisor gave her time off work to take the
three examinations, and allows her the flexibility to alter her schedule
to juggle the demands of work, continuing education and a busy family
life. “I’ve been really blessed to find this job,” said Howard, who is
back at her alma mater working toward her master’s of professional
accounting.
Preparing for the examinations
gave her a wider perspective of financial issues from the point of view
of the local officials themselves. “It made me feel more easily able to
relate to them,” Howard said. “It did give me a broader awareness of
what the city managers go through on a daily basis.”
Anyone who is serious about a
career in governmental accounting should consider the CGFM, she said.
“The preparation for the exam is a good tool for furthering your
understanding of governmental accounting. Also, I feel that the CGFM is
an important certification that can help further anyone's governmental
accounting career.”
Another motivator for Howard was
a salary incentive. The department allows employees to receive a maximum
of $4,200 a year for attaining certain certifications. Howard said she
will get $1,200 added to her base salary every year for passing the
three CGFM Examinations.
She acknowledged that the salary
incentive was a “big factor” in her decision to earn the CGFM. “The
other one was I’m very interested in trying to broaden my credentials as
much as possible.”
Howard said earning the CGFM has
given her a sense of personal accomplishment. “Obtaining the CGFM has
affirmed my beliefs that I have a comprehensive understanding of the
governmental accounting concepts covered by the exams. Professionally, I
feel that it has strengthened my credentials and has given me more
confidence when speaking with my peers.”