Mr. Watkins assumed his current position in August, 2012 following his service as the Director of Accountability and Audit Readiness. He is responsible for Army policies, programs, systems, and procedures pertaining to finance and accounting activities and operations, Army financial management systems and data integration activities, Army programs for internal control, internal review and audit compliance, the Army Travel Charge Card program, fraud, waste and abuse, and other management evaluation activities. Financial operations programs encompass approximately 15,000 military and civilian U.S. employees worldwide (plus several hundred more foreign nationals), annual operating budgets exceeding $200 billion distributed to more than 1,000 Army-wide fund holders, and net assets exceeding $260 billion. Mr. Watkins provides advice and guidance on financial accountability, audit readiness and finance operations to senior members of the Army staff, administers a departmental-level quality assurance program, develops financial improvement program milestones, and serves as the focal point for all financial compliance and accounting issues, including follow-up activities for the General Accounting Office (GAO), DoD Inspector General and Army Audit Agency audit reports related to financial management operations.


CAREER CHRONOLOGY:

• Director of Accountability and Audit Readiness, HQDA
• Director of Army Audit Readiness, HQDA
• Project Manager, Resource Management Tool, HQDA
• Chief of Staff, Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command, Arlington, VA
• Director of Executive Services, Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Arlington, VA
• Chief Financial Officer, Dominican Sisters of Peace, Columbus, Ohio
• Chief Operating Officer, Miller Orthopedic Clinic, Charlotte, NC
• Commandant, US Army Finance School, Ft. Jackson, SC
• Resource Manager, V Corps, Germany
• Commander, 5th Finance Group, Germany
• Branch Chief, Finance Branch, Army Personnel Command (now Human Resources Command)
• Battalion Commander, 9th Finance Battalion, Ft. Lewis, WA
• Executive Officer, Army Finance and Accounting Center (now Defense Finance and Accounting Service)

COLLEGE:

• MBA, Syracuse University
• BS, Business Administration (Major in Accounting), The Ohio State University
• Industrial College of the Armed Forces
• US Army Command and General Staff College

SIGNIFICANT TRAINING:

• South Carolina Executive Institute
• Federal Executive Institute
• Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses

CERTIFICATIONS:

• Certified Public Accountant, State of Ohio since 1981
• Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM)

AWARDS AND HONORS:

• Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf
• Meritorious Service Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters
• Army Commendation Medal
• National defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf
• Army Service Ribbon
• Overseas Service Ribbon with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
• Expert Infantryman Badge
• Parachutist Badge
• The Ohio State University ROTC Hall of Fame
• Distinguished Member, Finance Corps Regimental Association

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:

• Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants
• American Society of Military Comptrollers
• Association of Government Accountants