CDFM Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the CDFM exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 CDFM Exam Format at a Glance
📚 CDFM Topics to Study (21)
✍️ Sample CDFM Questions & Answers
1. Under DoD WCF policy, what does the term 'cash balance' requirement mean for a business area?
WCF activities are required to maintain adequate cash balances to meet day-to-day operating expenses and obligations without resorting to Treasury borrowing.
2. The Federal Managers' Financial Integrity Act (FMFIA) requires the head of each executive agency to annually evaluate and report on the effectiveness of which two major areas?
The FMFIA requires agency heads to provide an annual Statement of Assurance on the effectiveness of their internal controls (Section 2) and the conformance of their financial management systems with government-wide requirements (Section 4). This ensures accountability for safeguarding assets, complying with laws, and producing reliable financial reports.
3. Which report provides a comprehensive overview of an agency's financial position, including assets, liabilities and net position?
The Balance Sheet is a fundamental financial statement that presents an agency's financial position at a specific point in time. It provides a snapshot of its assets (what it owns), liabilities (what it owes), and net position (the difference between assets and liabilities), offering a comprehensive overview of its financial health.
4. What are the three main lines of effort outlined in the National Defense Strategy?
The National Defense Strategy (NDS) outlines these three core lines of effort to address evolving global threats and maintain U.S. competitive advantage. Rebuilding readiness ensures forces are prepared for conflict, strengthening alliances builds collective security, and reforming business practices improves efficiency and resource allocation within the DoD.
5. Which DoD financial management system replaced STANFINS and serves as the Army's primary general ledger system?
GFEBS (General Fund Enterprise Business System) replaced legacy systems like STANFINS and serves as the Army's enterprise resource planning system for financial management.
6. A financial manager is reviewing the process for determining manpower requirements. The core principle of DoD manpower management is that requirements should be driven by what primary factor?
According to DoD Directive 1100.4, manpower requirements are driven by workload and must be established at the minimum levels necessary to accomplish mission and performance objectives. Manpower is a resource that is allocated based on validated mission needs, not simply based on who is available, historical budgets, or international comparisons.