I'm fairly new to government. I've been here almost two years and I spent 18 years in a non-profit. So things are similar, but there's a lot of differences as well. I thought it'd be a good way to prove my knowledge for my current position and increase my skill set.
What did you learn going through the process?
The biggest thing I learned was the why behind things. We do the annual comprehensive financial report every year and we just kind of follow the path that was laid before us. We don't really know why we're going down the path. But with the big blue book, it tells us the statistics and why it goes in this order. So instead of just following the path, we know why we're going down the path. It also forced me to research on the GFOA website for best practices, and the GASB website to really dig in and figure out why things are created, why things are done a proper a certain way.
How has becoming a CPFO made an impact on you in your profession or how do you hope it will make an impact?
It's still very new to me, but I hope it improves my credibility as a subject matter expert amongst peers.
What would you say to others thinking about becoming a CPFO?
It was very intimidating at first, but then once I got into it, it's very doable. Start with the exams that you have some experience in and then go to the other ones. It's challenging, but that's what makes it valuable. If it wasn't challenging, then it wouldn't be worth its weight.
You have to be self-motivated. The forums were helpful if you had questions or just needed support. It's the best learning that I could see strictly for government finance. You don't learn this in college.