Elizabeth McCullough, Chief Financial Officer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
As a Certified Defense Financial Manager for 10 years and a USACE Chief Financial Officer, Elizabeth McCullough uses her experience in DoD financial management — and her commitment to lifelong learning — to advocate for Certified Defense Financial Manager™ (CDFM™) certification and help others navigate the certification process.
What is your professional background?
I am the Chief Financial Officer and Director of the Resource Management Directorate of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineering and Support Center in Huntsville, Alabama since August 2018. I am the principal advisor to the Center Commander, for all matters pertaining to resource/financial management program and business operations for a $2.6 billion program and 1,100 workforce. My days are filled with solving problems and taking care of people ---the greatest opportunities to serve and make a difference.
A certification is not just something that you hang up on a wall and feel self-important about. From a mentoring perspective, it’s our charge as leaders to inspire others to pursue their goals and succeed in their careers.
—Elizabeth McCullough
What factors initially motivated you to pursue CDFM and then CDFM-A certification?
One of my goals after graduating from college was to obtain a professional certification or license. When the CDFM certification launched in 2000, I was employed with the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) and my leadership highly encouraged everyone working in financial management to obtain the CDFM certification for professional development and to establish credibility with our valued customers. I took the CDFM preparatory course, the Enhanced Defense Financial Management Training Course (EDFMTC), which was centrally funded through the Department of the Army and available at multiple locations.
After I completed the EDFMTC, I studied the course textbook and other preparatory CDFM materials after work and on the weekends for several weeks. I successfully passed all three modules on the first attempt, earning my CDFM in May 2011, and the CDFM with Acquisition Specialty (CDFM-A) in April 2012.
Congratulations on holding CDFM certification for 10 straight years! What impact has the CDFM/CDFM-A had on your career?
As a lifelong learner, the CDFM-A certification, coupled with my work experience, helps me apply the new things I learn and encounter every day to advance the mission of my organization. What’s more, the certification helps me assist in solving complex problems as we prepare for the future. My certification bolsters my dedication and hard work, paving the way for me in the comptroller field.
Those with the desire to climb the career ladder and pursue greater levels of responsibilities with promotion opportunities should obtain their CDFM and then the CDFM-A.
—Elizabeth McCullough
What does holding CDFM/CDFM-A certification mean to you personally?
In 2018, I had a person ask me to be their mentor, looking for advice on how to prepare for the CDFM certification exams. I shared my experience and lessons learned in hope to inspire the mentee in their pursuit of the CDFM certification. The mentee attended a local EDFMTC. About a month and a half later, she successfully passed all three CDFM exam modules on the first attempt. The mentee attributed her success to being inspired by my story and having someone to coach her through the test preparation process.
A certification is not just something that you hang up on a wall and feel self-important about. From a mentoring perspective, it’s our charge as leaders to inspire others to pursue their goals and succeed in their careers. I have shared my story countless times with others seeking advice and needing a little encouragement that they, too, can obtain their CDFM. One just has to put in the adequate study time to prepare for the exams.
Why is it important to you to be CDFM certified even though you also hold another financial management certification?
As a leader and professional, it’s important to set the right example that you want others to emulate and follow. The CDFM is one of the most esteemed test-based credentials, which is recognized both inside and outside of the Department of Defense. Those with the desire to climb the career ladder and pursue greater levels of responsibilities with promotion opportunities should obtain their CDFM and then the CDFM-A.
The CDFM credential covers all aspects of dealing with money and fiscal accountability and shows your commitment and perseverance as a lifelong learner and professional at the top of your field. You must understand how money works, how to account for it, and how to apply and stay within the boundaries of public law and fiscal law as good and responsible stewards of trust. You can apply that across all career programs since the majority of public and government positions deal with managing or accounting for resources.