Moving up or moving on: advice on how to get that next job: technical skills alone are not enough to propel you to the upper echelons of local government management and finance. Learn what today's employers are looking for and how you can best position yourself for a promotion or new job.

• Author: Nollenberger, Karl

If you have aspirations and goals in the field of public finance, now is the time to start thinking about your next move. What will it take to get promoted or get a new job with a different government? What are employers looking for in their next finance professional? How do you set yourself apart from other qualified candidates? The answers to these and other questions are critical to your career development. This article offers some practical career advice based on my 30 years of experience in public sector management (nine of which were in public finance) and five years in executive recruitment and academia.

Demographic data points to a pending talent gap in professional positions as the baby boomer generation reaches retirement age. Whereas only 5 percent of public sector managers were over 50 years old in 1970, 43 percent of today's managers are over 50. While many fear that the retirement of these experienced professionals will cause a brain drain in government, it will also create many opportunities for younger professionals over the next decade. Keep in mind, however, that elected officials and chief executives today are looking for more than a numbers cruncher in their financial staff. The role of finance professionals, particularly managers, has expanded as the complexity of government itself has grown over the last few decades. To be successful in this environment, you need to be able to show that you have the right combination of skills, style, and traits to meet a prospective employer's needs.

THE PROFILE

While different governments look for different qualities in their financial staff, they share many of the same expectations (see exhibit). For example, today's finance manager needs to be able to work creatively with elected officials, senior management, and staff to solve organizational problems. Many government employers are looking for finance professionals with skills and experience in using software applications and evaluating economic development proposals.

EXHIBIT I: THE PROFILE Education/Experience: * Progressively responsible experiences in financial management * Knowledge of governmental accounting, budgeting, auditing, purchasing, debt management, and risk management * Experience in capital improvement financing and economic development proposals * Strong administrative skills and responsiveness to requests from others * An approachable problem solver who likes to assist others * Familiar with state-of-the-art...