ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER FOR FINANCE AND COMPLIANCE

Education-Board of Regents; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Louisiana Board of Regents seeks an executive-level Associate Commissioner for Finance and Compliance to serve as Comptroller and Lead Auditor. The role directs financial reporting, GASB compliance, and internal control design to safeguard agency assets.

Based in Baton Rouge, this unclassified position requires deep government accounting expertise, a CPA license, and at least ten years in public higher education finance, with strong leadership and collaboration across auditors and state

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's in business, accounting, finance or related field.
• CPA license is required.
• Minimum 10 years of professional-level experience in higher education or public sector (7+ years with related graduate degree).

Responsibilities

• Oversees financial reporting and GASB compliance.
• Directs submission of financial reports including AFR and federal reports.
• Monitors compliance with federal/state requirements.
• Supervises staff responsible for fund disbursements, audits, cash management, grants, and higher education financial compliance.
• Advises Deputy Commissioner on audit and fiscal matters.

Skills

Senior-level financial leadership

Governmental accounting

Audit & compliance

Financial reporting

Regulatory requirements

Risk management

Collaborative leadership

Public service integrity

Education

Baccalaureate degree in business administration, accounting, finance

CPA license

10+ years public-sector or higher education finance experience

Tools

LaGov software

Job description

The Louisiana Board of Regents is seeking a highly experienced financial leader to serve as Associate Commissioner for Finance and Compliance. This executive-level role serves as the Board’s Comptroller and Lead Auditor and provides staff support to the Board’s Audit Committee.

The Associate Commissioner interprets complex accounting, audit, and regulatory requirements; oversees critical fiscal operations and reporting; monitors Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) compliance; and designs internal fiscal and compliance policies that protect the integrity of the agency’s financial operations.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

The Board of Regents is established in the Louisiana Constitution as the state’s coordinating board for higher education. Regents works with four management boards, thirty-two public degree-granting institutions, and four special-purpose institutions. It sets statewide higher education policy, advocates for systems and institutions, distributes state-provided funding in accordance with legislative actions, and administers grant programs that advance postsecondary education.

The Board of Regents includes three programs: the Board of Regents, the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA), and the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON). The Division of Finance and Administration oversees the agency’s financial and budget matters, administrative policies and procedures, and facilities, and supports Regents’ constitutional role in reviewing operating and capital needs and recommending capital construction priorities.

IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE

• Senior-level financial leadership and sound professional judgment
• Deep knowledge of governmental accounting, audit, compliance, and financial reporting
• Ability to translate complex regulatory and accounting requirements into clear operational practices
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and risk‑management capabilities
• Collaborative leadership with internal teams, auditors, state agencies, and higher education partners
• High standards of accountability, integrity, precision, and public service

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:Baccalaureate degree in business administration, accounting, finance, or another related field.

Licensure:A current Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license is required.

Experience:Minimum ten years of professional-level experience in a higher education or public‑sector setting; or a graduate degree in a related field with at least seven years of professional‑level experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in business or public administration, accounting, finance, or another related field.
• Professional-level experience in postsecondary education finance.
• Experience with the State of Louisiana’s LaGov software program.

Applications will be rejected if the applicant fails to meet the minimum qualifications, submits an incomplete application, or fails to apply by the closing date of the announcement.

JOB DUTIES

Financial Reporting & GASB Compliance

• Interprets complex financial, accounting, and regulatory concepts and techniques used in financial management, reconciliation, and financial statement preparation.
• Directs development and submission of Board of Regents financial reports, including federal reports, Annual Financial Reports (AFR), START financial statements and notes, and implementation of new and revised GASB requirements.
• Oversees the annual Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA).

Audit, Grants, & Compliance

• Coordinates with auditors, provides required documentation and responses, and implements corrective actions when needed to address audit findings.
• Monitors and assists with subrecipient monitoring requirements for federal grants under Uniform Guidance, including on‑site visits to higher education institutions when necessary.
• Designs, develops, and manages internal fiscal and accounting programs, policies, and procedures with Finance and Administration leadership to ensure compliance with federal and state requirements.

Higher Education Fiscal Analysis & External Partnerships

• Performs analytical reviews of quarterly fiscal reports and annual health index reports for Louisiana public higher education institutions.
• Communicates and collaborates with the Office of Statewide Reporting and Accounting Policy (OSRAP), State Treasury, Legislative Auditors, federal and state officials, internal auditors, U.S. Department of Education staff, and lending institutions regarding agency accounting and compliance matters.

Financial Leadership & Supervision

• Supervises staff responsible for fund disbursements and cost allocations, classification and bank reconciliation, audit, cash management, accounts payable/receivable, grants fiscal management, and higher education financial compliance.
• Advises the Deputy Commissioner for Finance and Administration on audit and fiscal matters affecting postsecondary education.

POSITION‑SPECIFIC DETAILS

Appointment Type:This position is unclassified and will be filled by a new hire or by promotion of a current Regents employee.

Worksite Location:The position is based in the Claiborne Building in downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Standard office computing equipment is provided, including laptops for off‑site work.

Security Requirements:This position is designated as a security‑sensitive position. A criminal history check will be conducted on all new hires as well as employees changing positions including promotions, demotions, details, reassignments, transfers and every five years. Annual safety training is required for all state employees. Access to driving records is required to operate state-owned vehicles or rentals on state contract.

Travel & Schedule:Statewide travel to institutions and, occasional weekend and evening work and travel may be necessary.

Physical Demands:The position is primarily office‑based. Typing is essential. Minimal standing, stooping, and light lifting of up to twenty pounds may be required. Reasonable accommodations are available for persons unable to meet the physical requirements of the position.

BENEFITS INFORMATION

• The Louisiana Board of Regents, as part of Louisiana state government, offers a wide range of career opportunities for individuals committed to advancing public higher education and making a meaningful impact through public service. With positions supporting institutions and initiatives across the state, employment with the Board of Regents provides a unique opportunity to contribute to Louisiana’s academic, workforce, and research priorities.
• As a Regents employee, you will receive competitive compensation, access to a comprehensive benefits package, and opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Health & Life: Fulltime employees are eligible for group health and life insurance coverage through the Office of Group Benefits.
• Retirement: Full‑time employees are required to contribute 8% of their base pay to a Louisiana retirement system. The retirement system provides retirement allowances and other benefits for state officers and employees and their beneficiaries. Regents’ employees have the option of joining the Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL) or the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP). ORP is also available to some part‑time positions.
• Accrued Leave: Unclassified state employees earn sick and annual leave in accordance with Executive Order Number JML 24-122, Rules on Leave for The Unclassified Service.

The Board of Regents is a State as a Model Employer (SAME) agency that supports the recruitment, hiring and retention of individuals with disabilities. For more information on employment resources for individuals with disabilities, see the Louisiana Employment Resources Guide. (Download AdobeAcrobatReader)

CONTACT INFORMATION

For more information about this posting, please contact:
The Board of Regents’ Human Capital Management Office
Kim Langlois
Employee Relations Specialist
[e-mail] or [e-mail]