Rickey Manbahal Great Leadership Qualities

Rickey Manbahal has spent the past eight years pursuing excellence in his chosen career in Accounting & Business Administration. He is currently the Finance Director for his local government. He also is instructor teaching extension courses at the University of California in Los Angeles. He teaches accounting and business management.

Rickey Manbahal is a graduate of the University of Phoenix where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting & Business Administration. He went on to earn his Master’s degree in Public Administration at California State University-Northridge and graduated in 2012. He began his career in accounting directly after graduation at a very basic level. He has experienced a variety of different industries along his path such as the manufacturing industry, the entertainment industry and as a public accountant. Each industry and position brought him to a higher professional level. He did not take his education for granted. He continued to educate himself obtaining all of the credentials required to elevate his position to an executive level.

In his current position as finance director for his local government, Manbahal is responsible for the administration of several departments such as finance, human resources, and purchasing. He has great leadership qualities that are demonstrated thru his well-trained staff, who are all team players. He is a skillful negotiator who can communicate with people at all levels from the office staff to executives, and administration and to the public.

Manbahal is involved with a professional organization within his community where he serves as treasurer and conveys all necessary information to the community. The organization serves the community as an outreach program.

Tell us a bit about what you do.

I manage accounting and finance for a local government agency. I manage a budget of one hundred and sixty million dollars. I manage seventeen to twenty staff members on a daily basis. As a daily routine, I review documents, authorize disbursements, make bank transactions and conduct investigative hearings. I also prepare financial statements.  I conduct internal audits to make sure that we are in compliance with all rules and regulations that govern us. I answer any questions that the public may have. This is a summary of requirements for my position.

What gave you the idea for you to become an accountant for the government? How did it start?

I was inspired by the guidance of a former manager who mentored, coached, and encouraged me. He saw a lot of potential in me. He advised me to continue to defer to my education to stay in the accounting field. I appreciated and respected his guidance. The decisions I made then is what gave me the experience and brought me to the position I have now.

What’s your favorite thing about your chosen profession?

My favorite thing about my profession is that I am involved with the diversity of my profession. It is not just simply numbers. I interact with the public. I interact with the staff and the entire organization. I make decisions that can actually change and enhance people’s lives. It is a very rewarding feeling when I can make those kinds of things happen for people. Those are just some of the things that I like about my job. I also enjoy the flexibility of the job, and I really like the people that I work for as well. It is a very nice combination of what I consider to be amenities of my position.

What keys to being productive can you share with us?

The key to my position is always staying calm. You have to stay open to criticism but also to complements. You have to be assertive and stern along with getting things done.

Tell us one long-term goal in your career.

A long-term goal that I have is to obtain a position that is financially rewarding where I can apply my knowledge in an unbiased atmosphere.

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned through the course of your career?

The most valuable lesson that I have learned during the course of my career is to be open and transparent. Also, to communicate. I interact with people at all different levels. I interact with staff thru executive-level people. I also interact with the public. I provided information to the public as well as answering any questions that they put forward.

What advice would you give to others aspiring to succeed in your field?

Some advice anyone aspiring to enter the accounting field to be willing to learn, be open to some criticism. Don’t ever be personally offended, just take the advice and run with it. Always ask a lot of questions.

What are your favorite things to do outside of work?

I like to camp; I like to bike ride. I like to barbecue. I like doing things around the house. Actually, I like to do anything that I don’t have to do on a daily basis for work.

Name a few influential books you’ve read and/or websites you keep up with that you’d recommend to readers.

I keep up with the government websites. I stay in tune with accounting websites that provide information that governs accounting and finance. I read a lot of articles on LinkedIn; they have a great pool of resources who provide information from many contributors. I also read a lot of inspirational quotes and magazines. To enhance my skill set, I listen to several informative speakers. I am also a very spiritual person. I am devoted to my faith which is the one thing that guides me through my daily routine, each and every day.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I would say do not follow me. I would tell my younger self to obtain your credentials right away when you are young, then put it to work for you. Don’t wait and don’t delay because it is something that no one can take away from you.   It is the foundation for your life. The younger you earn your credentials the better.

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