The year 1986 was a pivotal one for Larry White’s career in the U.S. Coast Guard. After entering the Coast Guard Academy in 1976 and graduating in 1980, White advanced through a series of operational roles before deciding to pursue an MBA at Columbia University. The Coast Guard agreed to underwrite this move, enhancing his resume and eventually making him an attractive candidate for high-profile roles in Fortune 100 companies. Still, White had no intention of leaving the Coast Guard.
Read MoreGoing forward, a decision by White to specialize in finance, rather than following the traditional rotation between operational and financial roles, was initially met with skepticism inside the military. Early in his career, it was suggested that his focus on finance could limit his promotion prospects. However, White’s commitment to his specialty, combined with his strategic use of professional certifications and active involvement in organizations like the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), proved this view to be incorrect.
As the first active-duty military officer to serve as the global chairman of the IMA, White distinguished himself in his field. He also contributed to the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board while serving as a captain in the Coast Guard, highlighting his expertise in public sector financial management.
Following his retirement from the USCG, White’s career continued to flourish. The very next day, he signed agreements with Deloitte and the Resource Consumption Accounting Institute, where he served as executive director for 14 years. His post-retirement work focused on improving cost management practices and advocating for better education for management accountants, reflecting his dedication to enhancing financial practices.
White’s ongoing involvement with organizations such as COSO (Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission), where he works on internal controls and enterprise risk management, underscores his commitment to advancing the field. He also helped to establish the Profitability Analytics Center of Excellence, which now engages a broad audience as it aims to advance internal decision support practices.
White’s career is a testament to how specialization, supported by continuous education and professional development, can lead to impactful leadership and meaningful contributions within both the public and private sectors. His journey reflects the lessons learned from his Coast Guard service and his dedication to fostering change and innovation in financial management. –Jack Sweeney
“Very often, finance people are stuck with whatever the financial reporting systems and general ledger puts out, but this information has all of the really interesting operational detail pretty much stripped away from it. In order to find out what’s really going on, you have to go out and talk to people. I learned to understand people first and always began by going around and asking them, ‘What is it that you really want to achieve?'” –Larry White, commanding officer (emeritus), U.S. Coast Guard Finance Center
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