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36A Career Guide

Army

36A: Financial Management Officer

Career transition guide for Army Financial Management Officer (36A)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 36A veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Financial Manager

$150K
High matchHigh demand

Budget Analyst

$85K
High matchHigh demand

Management Analyst

$90K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Civilian sector knowledgeConsulting skills

Compliance Officer

$75K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Regulatory knowledgeIndustry-specific certifications

Internal Auditor

$77K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) certificationKnowledge of GAAP

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 36A training built — and where they transfer.

Resource Optimization

As a financial management officer, you are constantly balancing competing resource demands, allocating funds strategically to maximize mission effectiveness while adhering to strict budgetary constraints.

This translates directly to the ability to optimize resources in any organization, ensuring efficient allocation of capital, personnel, and materials to achieve strategic goals.

System Modeling

You create and maintain financial models to predict future budgetary needs, assess the impact of policy changes, and track the flow of funds through complex organizational structures.

This ability to build and interpret complex models is highly valuable in the civilian sector for forecasting, risk management, and strategic planning.

Procedural Compliance

Your role demands meticulous adherence to financial regulations, auditing standards, and reporting requirements, ensuring transparency and accountability in all financial transactions.

Your expertise in procedural compliance ensures you can maintain high standards of accuracy and integrity, essential for mitigating risks and ensuring regulatory compliance in a variety of industries.

Rapid Prioritization

Quickly assessing and prioritizing competing financial demands is crucial, especially in dynamic operational environments where immediate funding decisions can significantly impact mission success.

This skill allows you to quickly identify and address critical issues, ensuring resources are directed where they are most needed to minimize disruptions and maintain operational efficiency.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Management Consultant

SOC 13-1111

You've been an advisor to commanders on complex financial matters, providing insights and recommendations to improve efficiency and effectiveness. This experience translates perfectly to management consulting, where you'll analyze business operations, identify areas for improvement, and develop strategies to optimize performance.

Financial Risk Analyst

SOC 13-2051

You've honed your ability to assess financial risks and implement controls to safeguard resources. This is directly applicable to the role of a Financial Risk Analyst, where you'll be responsible for identifying, analyzing, and mitigating financial risks to protect the organization's assets and ensure financial stability.

Healthcare Administrator

SOC 11-9111

You're skilled in budget management and resource allocation. You can apply these skills in healthcare, where resource optimization is critical. You'll ensure efficient use of resources to maximize patient care quality and organizational effectiveness.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC) and Financial Management Officer Qualification Course (FMOQC), Fort Jackson, SC

480 training hours12 weeksUp to 6 semester hours recommended in accounting and finance

Topics Covered

  • •Army Financial Management Principles
  • •Budget Execution
  • •Accounting and Financial Reporting
  • •Resource Management
  • •Internal Controls
  • •Auditing Procedures
  • •Defense Travel System (DTS)
  • •Command Supply Discipline Program (CSDP)

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)70% covered

Requires study of specific GASB standards, governmental accounting, auditing, and financial reporting principles not explicitly covered in military financial management.

Certified Management Accountant (CMA)60% covered

Requires focused study on advanced cost management techniques, corporate finance, and specific aspects of financial planning and analysis relevant to the private sector.

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)40% covered

Requires extensive study of US GAAP, auditing standards, taxation, and business law. Military experience provides a foundation in accounting principles, but significant additional study is needed.

Recommended Next Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP)Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM)Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC)

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Standard Operation and Maintenance Army Research and Development System (SOMARDS)SAP or Oracle ERP systems (budgeting module)
General Fund Enterprise Business System (GFEBS)SAP Financial Accounting (FI) module
Defense Travel System (DTS)Concur Travel & Expense
Automated Time Attendance and Production System (ATAAPS)Kronos Workforce Ready
Integrated Facilities System (IFS)IBM Maximo
Resource Management Tool (RMT)Tableau, Power BI

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