GFOA Scholarship Spotlight: Koby Starman

Koby Starman has worked a variety of jobs within state and local government. He currently works as Senior Accountant in the Auditor’s Office for Ada County, Idaho. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from California State University Sacramento in 2016, and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Administration at Boise State University and expects to graduate in May 2024. He wants to work in management positions within local government finance and to serve his community.

Q & A with Koby

Where and what are you currently studying, and why did you choose this?

I am attending Boise State University and I am studying in their Master of Public Administration program. I chose this because it will strengthen my public management and leadership development, particularly in the area of public finance and budgeting where I hope to set the standard and make a strong impact for local government.

What government are you working in or hope to work at in the future?

I currently work as a senior accountant for the Ada County Auditor’s Office. We are the largest county within the state of Idaho, and we have seen large population growth which brings many benefits along with many challenges to work through. I focus on the preparation and execution of the personnel budget for all county departments along with the financial management and reporting of grants that Ada County is awarded.  I am also assisting with the implementation of a new cloud-based financial and budgeting system to replace our old legacy systems.

What are your future career goals?

I want to use my knowledge and experience to become a strong leader within public finance. I would like to stay with Ada County and continue growing into management positions within the local government in Idaho. 

How will GFOA’s scholarship help you achieve those goals?

Relieving some of the financial burden of graduate school is very helpful. This scholarship has also given me a stronger sense of confidence in my purpose with financial management in public service.