ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER FOR FINANCE AND COMPLIANCE

State of Louisiana; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Louisiana Board of Regents seeks an Associate Commissioner for Finance and Compliance to lead financial reporting, audit, and compliance. The role acts as Comptroller and Lead Auditor, guiding GASB alignment and internal control policies across the agency’s operations in Louisiana.

The ideal candidate will translate complex regulations into actionable processes, oversee critical reporting, and collaborate with auditors, state agencies, and higher education partners.

Qualifications

• Senior-level leadership and sound professional judgment in a public-sector finance role.
• Deep knowledge of governmental accounting, audit, compliance, and financial reporting.
• Ability to translate regulatory and accounting requirements into clear operational practices.

Responsibilities

• Oversee GASB reporting, financial statements, AFRs, and federal reports.
• Direct audit liaison activities, subrecipient monitoring, and compliance with federal/state requirements.
• Design and manage internal fiscal policies and controls with Finance leadership.

Skills

Senior-level leadership

Governmental accounting

Audit

Financial reporting

Regulatory compliance

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration, accounting, or finance

CPA license

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