CPFO Spotlight: Mandi O'Dea
Mandi O'Dea, CPFO, is senior accountant for the City of Enid, Oklahoma.
Why did you want to become a CPFO?
To be honest, I wasn’t sure I wanted to become a CPFO until our Chief Financial Officer asked if I would accompany her on the journey for her own CPFO certification. After researching the CPFO program, I realized becoming a CPFO was exactly the journey I needed for myself as well. I worked in the private sector most of my career and the transition to the public sector was eye-opening, with the unique rules, regulations, and reporting standards. I saw the CPFO program as a way to ensure I have the tools I need for budgeting, debt management, treasury, and financial reporting for my city.
What did you learn going through the process?
Going through the process of becoming a CPFO, I was able to immediately apply the best practices and ideas. As I was studying, I could relate the concepts to how my city is already operating. This has helped me examine our existing approaches and uncover opportunities for growth.
How has becoming a CPFO made an impact on you in your profession or how do you hope it will make an impact?
Becoming a CPFO has increased my understanding of governmental finance and GFOA’s best practices. With my increased understanding and confidence, I’m able to assess my city’s current financial practices more critically and make recommendations for improvements. The CPFO certification also has helped me gain credibility within my city.
What would you say to others thinking about becoming a CPFO?
If you are thinking of becoming a CPFO, I say do it! Take one step and then another. I had the benefit of going through the CPFO journey with our CFO. The accountability of having a study partner was a tremendous help. We would schedule time to watch the videos together and found ways to celebrate after each test passed. The CPFO program may seem like an overwhelming amount of information, but the GFOA’s Learning Management System sets up each section in a way that make studying easy and convenient. I have referenced the study materials multiple times since gaining my certification in order to apply what I have learned. The effort of this certification is well worth it!