CPFO Spotlight: Micah Snead

1. Why did you want to become a CPFO? 

I wanted to become a CPFO to learn about other areas of government finance that I have not yet had the chance to experience. I believe I am able to do my job better when I have an understanding of how it connects to other processes throughout the organization. I also wanted to prepare myself to take on a leadership role, should the opportunity arise.

2. What did you learn going through the process? 

I learned a lot of information about areas of finance, such as procurement, treasury management, compensation and benefits, and risk management, that I have not yet had opportunities to experience through my responsibilities on the job. As far as the process of studying for and taking the exams for the certification, I learned that the program is very convenient to complete. Everything is provided through the LMS and the exams can be completed as quickly or as slowly as one prefers.

3. How has becoming a CPFO made an impact on you in your profession?  

Becoming a CPFO has given me an increased understanding and increased level of knowledge about local government finance that I would not have if I had not pursued the certification. It has also given me a greater level of confidence in performing my job and in taking on additional responsibilities for my department. In the future, I hope that being a CPFO continues to motivate me in the pursuit of being a better government finance professional, so that I can continue serving my community to the best of my ability.

4. What would you say to others thinking about becoming a CPFO? 

For others thinking about becoming a CPFO, I would say to go for it! It is worth the effort and it is very convenient to complete. The knowledge gained is invaluable and it is always helpful to learn new concepts and processes to understand how our responsibilities fit into the bigger picture of our organizations.