Programs, Courses & Services

The Information Resources Management (IRM) College of National Defense University, in partnership with the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer, has created the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Academy. The academy, located on NDU’s campus at Fort Lesley J. McNair (Washington DC), offers leadership courses toward the new CFO Leadership Certificate. With endorsement from the Federal CFO Council, the certificate program is designed to develop the next generation of leaders in government financial management. This new certificate leverages the IRM College’s current leadership courses while concentrating on the challenges and opportunities facing members of the government financial community, including personnel who work in accounting and finance, budget and cost analysis, auditing, and resource management.

Successful graduates of the CFO Leadership Certificate can:

Lead within and across organizational boundaries by leveraging financial management strategies, policies, and processes.
Link critical decisions regarding resources, people, processes, and technologies to mission performance, business outcomes, and financial system security requirements.
Balance continuity and change in the development, implementation, and evaluation of financial management strategies, processes, and policies, while meeting legislative and executive mandates.
Commit to on-going leadership development of self and others in their organizations.

Applicants must have at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, rank/grade of GS-14 or O-5 or equivalent with three years of financial management experience, and documented knowledge of financial management.

Nomination letters from CFOs must address the applicant’s leadership potential and attest to his or her knowledge of financial management as evidenced by undergraduate or graduate degrees in a business field, C.P.A., or Certified Government Financial Management or Certified Defense Financial Management.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Pay Grade/Rank: Federal civilian government employees must be at least GS/GM-14 or equivalent, and military officers must hold at least the grade of O-5. Non-federal government employees, to include state and local government employees, must be of an equivalent grade.
Experience: Three years of federal financial management experience is required.
Documented Knowledge of Financial Management: Undergraduate or Graduate degree in finance or business field, CPA, CGFM or CDFM.
Education: All students must possess a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.

APPLICATION INFORMATION
Applying for the CFO Leadership Certificate is temporarily a paper process. Please do not apply through the regular IRM College on-line application, or you will not be processed for this program. You may down load the application and supporting forms (with complete instructions) here:

Application for Admission to the CFO Leadership Certificate Program

Employer Verification Form for the CFO Leadership Certificate Program

CFO Certificate Information Packet: (doc) / (pdf)

Please contact your agency CFO office or Dr. Elizabeth McDaniel (mcdaniele@ndu.edu, 202-685-3884) with questions or for more information.