Each year, the services spend billions of dollars on personnel, equipment, and supplies. Only through careful management can military funds be put to their best use. Finance and accounting managers direct and manage the financial affairs of the military. They also advise commanders on financial and accounting matters.
What They Do
Finance and accounting managers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:
- Set policies for the use of military funds
- Direct the preparation of budgets and financial forecasts
- Advise management personnel on accounting, budgeting, and fiscal matters
- Develop ways to track financial transactions
- Prepare and examine financial records and reports
- Direct the activities of finance and accounting staff
Helpful Attributes
Helpful attributes include:
- Interest in planning and directing the work of others
- Interest in work requiring accuracy and attention to detail
- Preference for working with numbers and statistics
Training Provided
Job training consists of classroom instruction. Training length varies depending on specialty. Course content typically includes:
- Financial management techniques, including budget preparation and review
- Military accounting
- Duties of finance and accounting managers
- Personnel management and payroll procedures
- Statistical analysis and fiscal planning
Work Environment
Finance and accounting managers work primarily in offices.
Civilian Counterparts
Civilian finance and accounting managers work for businesses, accounting firms, universities, hospitals, or government agencies. They perform duties similar to those performed by military finance and accounting managers. They usually specialize in certain areas of finance and accounting, such as budgets, internal auditing, or cost accounting. In large business firms, they may be called executive controllers or company treasurers.
