FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: 3404

3404 Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)

INTRODUCTION:

Financial Management is a challenging but rewarding MOS that offers the opportunity to lead Marines, manage large budgets, and make critical decisions. The financial management MOS is divided into two functional areas – finance and comptroller. The finance side consists of disbursing operations such as military pay, travel and fiscal. The comptroller side pertains to budgeting, accounting, and conducting internal reviews.

WHAT IS THIS MOS LIKE?

If you want to work in a fast paced but stable environment and like to work with money, you might like this MOS. To be successful you must be able to interpret regulations, make sound decisions and employ creativity to get the most out of diminishing budgets. There are not any unique qualifications or requirements for the MOS.

WHAT WILL I DO AFTER TBS BEFORE I GET MY FIRST TOUR?

You will attend Financial Management School, located at Camp Johnson, North Carolina. This 5-week course begins in January, March and July. Additional training is available through the Navy and Marine Corps Practical Comptrollership courses and the Professional Military Comptroller School.

WHAT WILL MY FIRST TOUR BE LIKE?

Disbursing/Finance

As a lieutenant serving in a finance/disbursing billet, you can expect to be assigned to either to an FSSG (Force Service Support Group) or a base/station. In the FSSG’s, you may be assigned to serve as the Officer in Charge (OIC) of travel, military pay or fiscal. If you are assigned to a base or station, anticipate becoming a finance officer or deputy finance officer charged with auditing and certifying military pay and travel payments.

As the OIC for Travel in an FSSG, you are primarily responsible for auditing travel advances and settlements.

As the OIC for Military Pay in an FSSG, you will audit military pay computations for Commanding Officer authorized payments and discharge payments.

As an OIC for fiscal, you will be tasked with maintaining accountability for the FSSG’s disbursing officer (DO) and producing the DO’s balance sheet ensuring all payments are properly supported.

When serving in an FSSG, you may deploy with a Marine Expeditionary Unit as the DO.

Comptroller/Budget

A lieutenant serving in a comptroller billet can expect to be assigned to either the operating forces (division, FSSG, wing) or to a base or station. The responsibilities are essentially the same.

When serving in a budget billet, anticipate being assigned as a budget analyst or possibly as a deputy budget officer. Duties include tracking the spending of one or more accounts.

If assigned to a Resource Evaluation and Analysis position, you are responsible for the proper implementation and tracking of your command’s internal controls program.

As an accounting officer, you may work in a managerial accounting office or possibly with DFAS-KC (Defense Finance Accounting Service-Kansas City) in Field Accounting and will track the posting of transactions in the accounting system.

Typically, you will spend 12-18 months in each billet during your initial tour to give you exposure to both the finance and comptroller sides of the MOS.

WHERE MIGHT I GO AFTER MY FIRST TOUR?

As a captain, you will be assigned to either another financial management billet, B-billet, or school. As a financial manager, you will compete for selection to the appropriate level school such as Amphibious Warfare School or Command and Staff College. You can also possibly obtain a master’s degree through the Special Education or Advanced Degree Programs.

Most B-billet tours are available at the recruit depots or in recruiting. A tour at Parris Island, South Carolina or San Diego, California will most likely include at least one rotation on the drill field. A tour on the drill field is also your best opportunity for command. However, you will serve as a leader beginning with your first assignment and continuing throughout your career.

WHERE ELSE CAN I LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON THIS MOS?

CONCLUSION:

As you can see there is a lot of diversity associated with the financial management MOS. You have opportunities to deploy, make crucial decisions and improve the morale and welfare of the Marines you serve with during your career.

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