Finance School transformation to merge three MOSs

Chris Rasmussen/Leader Staff

The U.S. Army Finance School will undergo a transformation in the coming years that will merge three Military Occupational Specialties into one and rename the Fort Jackson-based institution.

Plans are to combine Finance Officer and Comptroller and merge them with the field of Financial Management. The school will also be renamed U.S. Army Financial Management School.

The move, slated for either 2009 or 2010, is intended to produce qualified Soldiers skilled in those three finance disciplines.
“This merger will enhance our flexibility in providing the Army with multifunctional and multi-disciplined financial management officers who are trained and ready with the right skills, knowledge and experience,” said Lt. Col. McConachie, Doctrine Division chief, Finance School.

The merger has been prompted from lessons coming out of theater that have illustrated that financial management’s two core functions –– finance operations and resource management operations –– are dovetailing into an overall capacity that requires officers who understand and can provide both of these functions.
“While the idea of a merger has been around for several years, merging finance and comptroller officers markedly supports current operational requirements and the ongoing Army transformation,” said Maj. Oswald Arroyo, chief, Proponency Division, Finance School.

To meet the transition timeline and provide commanders with multifunctional financial managers, the school is currently reviewing its course offerings to see if changes are needed.

“The goal is to modify our curriculum providing a balance of training in both finance and resource management operations,” McConachie said.
A finance officer analyzes the commander’s financial management tasks and priorities; develops finance estimates; provides finance advice to the commander and staff; develops policy and guidance; prepares, justifies and manages budgets; disburses funds; maintains accounting records and captures costs; procures goods and services (contracting and commercial vendor services) and provides banking support.

A comptroller provides policy recommendations to the commander that meets current statutory and regulatory guidance, as well as with the guidance/policies issued by the higher headquarters.

The comptroller performs myriad tasks, such as developing command resource requirements, identifying sources of funding, establishing a management control process, performing other managerial and reimbursement procedures, contingency operations and  monitoring the execution of the logistics civil augmentation program.
Leaders at the school do not expect any major hurdles during the transformation.

“Currently we do not anticipate challenges because of the officer merger,” Arroyo said. “It will not change how financial management operations are conducted on the battlefield.