A state treasurer is in charge of managing all of a state’s tax revenue and expenditures. There are two distinct paths to this position, as well as a wide range of skills and experiences that will aid your preparation. You must be an expert in both numbers and politics if you want to be a state treasurer.
Aside from a high school diploma, there are few educational requirements for becoming a state treasurer, at least in the United States. However, you won’t find many treasurers with just that diploma. Many treasurers have bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees in economics, accounting, political science, or a combination of these disciplines. These studies provide great mathematical, logistical, and political skills for a state treasurer to have.
State treasurers come from a variety of backgrounds in order to be successful in this position. A local government treasurer or an assistant in the state treasury office are two of the most common jobs because they provide a solid understanding of how budgeting and politics interact. Working as an accountant can also be beneficial in terms of preparation because it sharpens your understanding of taxes and budgeting. Working in economics, such as as a professor of economics, is a less likely but still useful role because it will help you understand various monetary theories that are applicable to treasury jobs.
In the United States, there are two ways to become a state treasurer. Like a governor, mayor, or other public official, the majority of states elect their treasurer popular vote. If you want to be a state treasurer, you should know that only about 15 states allow the governor to appoint this position.
If you want to be a state treasurer, you must fully understand the job’s responsibilities, regardless of how you get it. The top priority of the state treasurer is to monitor and manage state taxes and to ensure that the correct amount of money is distributed to the appropriate state agencies. As state treasurer, you will serve on committees that plan the annual budget. You’ll also have to work closely with the governor and other agency heads to resolve any issues that arise in the state’s finances, such as bankruptcy or tax code changes. When running for office, you may also need to know how to give a campaign speech and deal with the rigors of fundraising.