THE Army finance officer of today is far from the pointy-headed bean counter poring over a spreadsheet while feverishly punching in numbers on a calculator to balance a mystical accounting ledger.
Today, the Army finance officer is highly trained and professional and every Army member is accountable for financial management.
So that Army members remain skilled and fully aware of the relevant financial policies, processes and procedures, the Finance Executive is introducing a Financial Workforce Certification Program.
It is designed to ensure Army members have:
- the relevant competencies to meet their financial responsibilities;
- competencies that are certified to industry standards, where appropriate; and
- competencies that are aligned to Army business policies, processes and procedures.
The program is not targeting everyone in Army. Areas requiring certification will be determined by their level of risk to the financial statements.
The program will also work within existing Army frameworks to provide the best solution for everyone.
Chief Finance Officer Phillip Prior issued a discussion paper last month and is encouraging feedback on the paper so the final certification program meets business needs and requirements.
A series of briefings are also scheduled to provide additional information on the program.
The discussion paper can be found at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/find/. To register to attend a briefing or to provide feedback on the discussion paper, contact DFCF.suggestions@defence.gov.au.
