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65AX Career Guide

Air Force

65AX: Financial Management and Comptroller

Career transition guide for Air Force Financial Management and Comptroller (65AX)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 65AX veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Internal Auditor

$75K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) certification

Compliance Officer

$78K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Knowledge of specific industry regulations (e.g., HIPAA, SOX)Compliance certification (e.g., Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional - CCEP)

Management Analyst

$87K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Consulting experienceMBA or relevant Master's degree

Fraud Examiner

$72K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) certificationKnowledge of forensic accounting techniques

Financial Analyst

$85K
Moderate matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Financial modeling skillsChartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 65AX training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

As a 65AX, you build comprehensive models of Air Force systems and operations to identify vulnerabilities and inefficiencies during audits.

This translates to an ability to understand complex systems, predict their behavior, and identify areas for improvement, valuable in many civilian sectors.

Adversarial Thinking

You use adversarial thinking to probe systems and controls, seeking weaknesses and potential points of failure to ensure compliance and effectiveness.

This skill becomes the ability to anticipate risks and challenges, assess vulnerabilities, and develop strategies to mitigate potential threats.

Procedural Compliance

Your role demands strict adherence to US Comptroller General, Department of Defense, and Air Force directives, ensuring all audit work is meticulously compliant.

This translates to a deep understanding of regulations, policies, and procedures, and the ability to ensure all activities align with legal and ethical standards.

After-Action Analysis

You conduct thorough after-action analyses of audit operations to determine overall effectiveness, identify areas for improvement, and implement corrective actions.

This skillset means you can systematically evaluate past performance, identify lessons learned, and implement changes to improve future outcomes.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Fraud Examiner

SOC 13-2023

You've been trained to detect irregularities, assess compliance, and think critically about systems. As a fraud examiner, you'll leverage these skills to uncover and prevent fraudulent activities, ensuring financial integrity for organizations.

Compliance Officer

SOC 13-1041

Your meticulous attention to detail, understanding of regulations, and ability to identify vulnerabilities make you an ideal candidate for a Compliance Officer. You'll develop, implement, and oversee compliance programs, ensuring organizations adhere to legal and ethical standards.

Management Consultant

SOC 13-1111

You've honed your skills in system modeling, resource optimization, and after-action analysis. As a management consultant, you'll analyze business operations, identify inefficiencies, and recommend strategies for improvement, leveraging your expertise to drive organizational success.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Financial Management Apprentice Course, Sheppard AFB, TX

320 training hours8 weeksUp to 6 semester hours recommended in accounting or business administration

Topics Covered

  • Air Force Financial Management Overview
  • Accounting Principles and Practices
  • Budget Execution and Analysis
  • Internal Controls and Auditing Standards
  • Financial Systems (e.g., DEAMS)
  • Travel Pay and Entitlements
  • Contracting Fundamentals
  • Resource Management

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)70% covered

Requires study of the IIA's International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF), including mandatory guidance (Definition of Internal Auditing, Code of Ethics, and the Standards) and recommended guidance (Practice Advisories, Position Papers, and Global Technology Audit Guides). Also requires a deep understanding of business acumen, information security, and IT.

Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP)75% covered

Requires specific knowledge of government auditing standards, practices, and the government environment. Focus on areas like government accounting, budgeting, and legal frameworks.

Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)60% covered

Requires specialized knowledge in IT governance, systems development, information asset protection, and disaster recovery. The 65AX needs to focus on the technical aspects of auditing information systems.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)Project Management Professional (PMP)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Automated Civil Engineer System (ACES)Construction project management software (e.g., Procore, Autodesk Build)
RemedyIT service management (ITSM) platforms (e.g., ServiceNow, Jira Service Management)
Defense Travel System (DTS)Travel and expense management software (e.g., Concur, Expensify)
Air Force Audit Agency (AFAA) Audit Management SystemGovernance, risk, and compliance (GRC) platforms (e.g., MetricStream, RSA Archer)
Comprehensive Cost and Requirement System (CCaR)Cost accounting software (e.g., Deltek Costpoint, Oracle NetSuite)
Standard Base Supply System (SBSS)Inventory management software (e.g., Fishbowl Inventory, Zoho Inventory)

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