Why I'm a Finance Officer

There is no single roadmap to becoming a finance officer. Across GFOA’s 30,000+ members, professionals arrive at public finance through a wide range of roles, disciplines, and experiences. What unites them is a shared responsibility to maintain public trust, support their communities, and help build resilient organizations in an environment shaped by workforce constraints, heightened scrutiny, and growing complexity in local government.

In this session, experienced public finance professionals will share their career journeys and reflect on how their backgrounds have prepared them to navigate today’s challenges. Speakers will discuss the skills, experiences, and motivations that sustain their commitment to the profession, as well as how public finance leaders can continue to strengthen the field for the next generation.