American Society of Military Comptrollers

The American Society of Military Comptrollers is a non-profit profession educational and training organization for military and civilian financial managers who support United States military organizations. The society sponsors research, provides professional development programs to keep members abreast of current government accounting, finance, and budget issues. It administers a professional certification examination. The organization also publishes a professional journal called Armed Forces Comptroller.
History and organization
American Society of Military Comptrollers (ASMC) was established in 1948 San Antonio, Texas. It was originally called the Society of Military Accountants and Statisticians, and was only open to active duty military officers. Since then, the organization has grown to include both military officers, enlisted members of the armed forces, and civilian personnel from all the military services in the United States Department of Defense and the United States Coast Guard, including persons retired from those categories. It also includes employees of contractors to military organizations. Civilian employees now constitute a majority of all ASMC members. Over the years, the society has also expanded membership to include many comptroller related fields. Today, the organization promotes professional development in general financial management, accounting and finance, budgeting, resource management, auditing, statistics and cost analysis, management analysis, manpower management, program analysis, acquisition management, and comptroller related administrative support activities.
The society’s current membership is approximately 18,000 individual members along with 150 corporate members. There are 150 active chapters located in 43 states. There are also a number of chapters located outside the United States. The organization’s headquarters is in Alexandria, Virginia.
Certification program
Because defense financial management is complex, military comptrollers are encouraged to seek professional certification. The most common certifications are state administered Certified Public Accountant examinations and the national Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM) examination which was developed by the American Society of Military Comptrollers.
The CDFM examination is composed of four separate test modules. The first three must be passed to receive basic CDFM certification.
Professional publication
The American Society of Military Comptrollers publishes a quarterly professional journal called the Armed Forces Comptroller. The purpose of the journal is to encourage professional development and provide a forum for military comptroller personnel to share best practices and new ideas. It also helps keep society members informed of current trends and issues of interest to financial managers working in military organizations. The journal publishes diverse viewpoints on a wide range of comptroller related topics. Because the American Society of Military Comptrollers is a private organization, their journal does not have to reflect the official Government position any given topic. As a result, the Armed Forces Comptroller is widely read and respected as a professional publication.
Awards and scholarships
The American Society of Military Comptrollers sponsors an annual awards program to recognize the outstanding professional accomplishments of military and civilian financial managers working in the Department of Defense and the United States Coast Guard. Society chapter nominate individuals for awards in various comptroller disciplines. Nominees do not have to be a member of the society to be nominated for an award. Award are presented to recognize outstanding accomplishments in the areas of senior level comptrollership; budgeting; resource management; accounting and finance; analysis and evaluation; auditing; manpower management; education, training and career development; and an exceptional intern or trainee award. Awards are presented at two levels Distinguished and Meritorious. Awards are presented at the society’s annual Professional Development Institute.
The American Society of Military Comptrollers also offer scholarships to high school seniors interested in pursuing a college degree in business, economics, accounting, auditing, computer science, or mathematics. The national organization sponsors eleven scholarships each year. There is one $3,000 scholarship, five $2,000 scholarship, and five $1,000 scholarship. Some local chapters sponsor additional scholarship, some offering as much as $4,000.
The Society also sponsors an annual essay competition. The three winners receive cash awards of $750 for first place, $500 for second place, and $250 for third place. All three winners receive a plaque, presented at the society’s Professional Development Institute. The winning essays are also published in the Armed Forces Comptroller magazine.

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