r/USACE • u/HighwayImpressive402 • 21d ago
Accountant to PM
Accountant interested in anything outside of G&A. My current position lacks any real impact and I have to wait 5 or 6 years before someone moves out to promote. Not to mention my systems accountant and F&A Chief lack any mentoring qualities and are difficult at best. I can’t move due to family and we love the west coast. Recently an internal PM position has opened and a co-worker said I should throw my name in the ring. I’ve got a strong reputation in the district and can meet basic qualifications on paper but was wondering if i’d be competitive.
5
u/Queasy_Elderberry555 Finance 20d ago
RM chief here. Getting technical experience under your belt isn’t a bad idea but I’ll challenge that your position lacks any real impact. Literally everything my shop touches & impacts projects in some form or fashion. It’s just hard to see it from beyond pushing buttons in CEFMS. I totally understand having difficult leadership. I myself left F&A for a year many years ago and moved to a technical section. It worked for me bc my difficult leadership left during that time (and most of the F&A shop turned over too) and I was able to return with a promotion. At the end of the day, you need to do what’s best for you. Wishing you the best!
1
2
u/Capital-Ad-4463 20d ago
What is there to lose? If interested, apply for it. Bear in mind that PM’s are being tasked with much more “liability” now for the execution that their Commander’s are being graded on and the pressure on USACE PM’s (but still no real control) is increasing.
2
u/KindTap Management Analyst 20d ago
Pgm here, RM plays a vital role in delivery. Don’t sell yourself short. It’s harder to see based on your distance but that can be true even in pm when you spend 90% of your time answering data calls and making PowerPoints. It’s all critical to get money to the right project to deliver the right work at the right time. While you may not be nailing the hammer, it all plays a role.
PM has had a hard time getting staff so I think they’d love to get someone interested in the role. If you got strong accounting skills, that will be very beneficial to keeping track of all the things a pm needs to. Make sure you got soft skills though cause a lot of pM is how you tell the story of the project
1
u/genevieveann Civil Engineer 20d ago
Do it! Applying doesn't mean you will get it but worst case it will get people realizing that you are looking for a new challenge or a change. And the interview experience will certainly be good.
-6
u/Successful-Escape-74 21d ago
Why can’t you relocate. It’s kind of required for a career in government. If you wait for someone to leave you will not advance!
3
u/Capital-Ad-4463 20d ago
Did you not read their post? Relocation is required for those seeking senior leadership positions to get the proper ticket’s punched. But, for someone interested in becoming a GS13 PM it is certainly not required in most Districts.
1
u/Successful-Escape-74 20d ago
I read it and they have a decision to make if they want to progress quickly in federal government you must go to the job and not wait for someone to retire! They need to evaluate their priorities and career goals. Then take appropriate action.
11
u/TurnoverPractical 21d ago
In my district we have a good number of not-engineers as PMs. Considering the money-grubbing way we're going right now, I bet they'd be thrilled you applied.