Announcements

ASMC Buckeye Chapter’s CDFM Study Group

Are you looking for information on the Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM) certification? Do you need assistance in registering for the CDFM examination? Could you use a study group to help keep you accountable towards your goal of obtaining the CDFM? The ASMC Buckeye Chapter can help!

We’re hosting study groups for those interested in obtaining their CDFM or CDFM-A. If you are interested in joining the group, please let us know at https://forms.office.com/r/HwF5Qcm4FS. 

Still have questions? Email Megan Bratton at megan.s.bratton.civ@mail.mil or Emilee McLarnan at emilee.j.mclarnan.civ@mail.mil.

PDI 2024 in Phoenix will be supported by the Thunderbird, Cochise and San Diego chapters - but we need more volunteers to make this event even better.  Please complete the interest form if you would like to lend a hand with hospitality, program support, administration, philanthropy or special events. The interest form contains a short description of each committee. 

Would you like to share your thoughts and experiences to potentially influence the future of the defense financial management profession? This year's member essay contest is open for submissions until February 28! See the rules and prizes here! 

Authors may choose to write on any one of three current topics:

• The Growth of Artificial Intelligence: We are currently witnessing the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI), defined as "systems with intellectual processes characteristic of humans, such as the ability to reason, discover meaning, generalize, or learn from past experience." While we have long embraced related capabilities like robotic process automation, AI represents a distinct paradigm shift. What roles should artificial intelligence play in the future of financial management? Please provide examples of potential applications and their potential impacts.
• Centralization in Decision Making within Defense Financial Management: Budget execution may seem relatively straightforward in times of financial abundance; however, when budgets become constrained, organizations tend to gravitate toward centralizing resource decision making. As a general premise, should decision making within defense financial management be more centralized or less? Please provide examples to substantiate your viewpoint.
• Accelerating DoD's Path to Financial Auditability: The Department of Defense (DoD) is on a path towards achieving financial auditability, but this journey is lengthy and challenging. What improvements should be prioritized now, such as policy guidance, systems integration, training/education, etc., to expedite audit readiness within the DoD?

Submit your Essay Here!

Read the 2023 winning essay.

The Armed Forces Comptroller journal was first published in 1956 and is ASMC's primary means of sharing professional information. Articles are received from a variety of sources, including academia, government, and the membership at large. Each issue of the Armed Forces Comptroller is available to all members of ASMC at no cost, as well as universities and libraries around the world. To submit an article for consideration, please review the article submission template and guidelines. 

Your membership allows you to access the Armed Forces Comptroller journal archives going back to 1956. Copies can be viewed using the AFC Journal Archives tab in the main navigation of Engage.

Please take a look and see what's changed, or in some cases, what's remained the same!

Do you want to help shape the future of ASMC? Sign up to be part of a focus group onsite at PDI! No marketing experience is required or expected. As an ASMC member, you're the expert we're looking for! 

All participants will receive complimentary ASMC swag as thanks for their time and contributions.

Please complete the below form as soon as possible confirm your availability onsite on June 1. Someone from our marketing team will follow up to confirm your focus group time slot. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.

The spring issue of the Armed Forces Comptroller Journal had an article on page 82 by Gary Evans, who is conducting a PhD research study on the DoD annual financial statements audit.

He is asking for ASMC members who know about or support audit remediation in their organizations to join the research project. Your participation would consist of an interview with Mr. Evans.

Take a look at his article, and if you are interested in participating in the project, contact Gary at: charityandfaith@comcast.net or (717) 460-8490.

The Recording of the ASMC Roundtable for Decoding the Audit is now available: https://youtu.be/hiZMR8s2XjU

We hope you enjoy the presentation. Thank you.

Title: Decoding the Audit

Description: Have you ever sat through a meeting with the auditor and walked away with more questions than answers?  Do you get lost in whether downgrading a weakness or obtaining an opinion is the biggest priority?  In this session you’ll hear from former auditors who now serve as audit coaches on leading best practices to improve the outcomes of your audit and translating the “audit speak”.

Moderator: Shalay Ward, Director, KPMG

Panelists: 

• Niki Lizarraga, Division Director, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Real Estate, Department of the Navy
• Sarah Shuey, Director, KPMG
  
• Jacob Sones, Non-Asset Remediation Financial Management Office (FMO) Branch Chief for the Assistant Secretary of the Navy Financial Management and Comptroller (FM&C), Department of the Navy