Finance as a Career Health Article

FINANCE AS A CAREER

As the amount of money spent on public health continues to increase—from $6.7 billion in 1980 to $36.6 billion in 1998 in the United States, according to the Health Care Financing Administration—the role of the fiscal officer in not-for-profit public health programs and organizations becomes more demanding, more diverse, and more important. Concentrated in city and county health departments, the major responsibilities of fiscal officers are budgeting and grant reporting. New sources of funding and tighter standards for performance require that the fiscal officer be an integral part of management teams. Active participation in professional organizations such as the American Public Health Association is essential to the career development of fiscal officers working in public health. Training in government is a prerequisite for this career path.

ANDREW J. DOYLE

(SEE ALSO: American Public Health Association; Benefit-Cost Analysis; Budget; Economics of Health)