Becky East, CSLF advisory board member, takes a few minutes to give advice to public finance professional interested in advancing their careers.
Q: Why has being in finance been a rewarding career for you?
A: When I’m able to find funding or identify resources for a program, personally I just find that to be rewarding – I enjoy making a difference. I believe you have to be detailed and make sure you express what’s behind the numbers, what services will be affected and how that will affect people’s lives.
Q: What advice could give to others seeking to move up the ladder?
A: It’s very different once you start actually working in the area of finance. But, if you work hard, and have a good reputation oftentimes people will come to you with opportunities. I think you always have to be prepared to take that next step in your career.
Q. Why is continuing education an important aspect of professional growth?
A. It is important to be open to learning every day. You should always be familiar with the latest changes in polices and any applicable regulations.
Q. Why did you get involved with the CSLF advisory board?
A. I thought it was a great opportunity to give input and hopefully guide the curriculum of the classes. I live it every day; so I thought it was important to bring that perspective into the classroom.
Q: Why should interested individuals enroll in CSLF’s executive education courses?
A: It provides a strong foundation for advancement. Oftentimes, you may have the students doing one or two pieces in their daily work, but then the classes are going to provide that overall big picture, why they’re doing the job that they’re doing, and what the end results could be.
About Becky East
Becky East is the chief financial officer for the Georgia Department of Revenue. She previously worked at the Georgia Department of Corrections, where she served as both administration division director/chief financial officer and budget director. She has also held positions at the Georgia Department of Public Safety and the Georgia Department of Human Resources.
