Sen. Dankwambo's professional journey started in 1985 at Coopers & Lybrand, a renowned accountancy firm, now Price Waterhouse Coopers International Limited.

In 1988, he joined the Central Bank of Nigeria, where he learnt the ropes of his profession until his appointment in 1999 as the Accountant General of Gombe State, a position he held till 2005, when he was appointed as the Accountant General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by President Olusegun Obasanjo. He held that position until he resigned in 2011 to contest for the Office of the Governor of Gombe State, Nigeria.