Alaska Department of Revenue Commissioner Angela Rodell has appointed Pamela Leary, former state comptroller, as the state's new treasurer.
She will lead Alaska's treasury division, the bank and trust center for the state. The division provides cash management, investment and portfolio management, debt management and accounting services for the state's general fund, the constitutional budget reserve fund, and various retirement funds.
The treasury division also acts as staff to the Alaska Retirement Management Board, the State Bond Committee, and the Alaska Municipal Bond Bank Authority.
Leary's new position became effective on Jan. 1. Rodell served as treasurer in her capacity as Deputy Commissioner for over two years before she was appointed Commissioner of Revenue in August.
Prior to becoming state treasurer, Leary had been with the Department of Revenue since 2007, serving as state comptroller. Before that, she worked at the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation, and as a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
She received a degree in economics from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
Leary received the American Institute of Certified Accountants 2013 Outstanding CPA in Government Impact Award. The institute recognized her work in creating a transparent accounting system of the state's $49 billion portfolio comprised of general funds, budget reserves, and retirement trust accounts.
"Her work has been essential in allowing the state to actively manage its funds in a time of market volatility," Rodell said in an earlier statement. "Ms. Leary's contributions are a credit to the sound financial management of the state."
Alaska currently carries triple-A ratings from all three credit rating agencies.
Scott Jones, previously assistant comptroller since 2007, will become the new state comptroller. Jones holds a degree in business with an emphasis on accounting from the University of Alaska Southeast.
The commissioner also named Michael Pawlowski deputy commissioner for strategic finance.
He previously served as petroleum fiscal systems advisor to the commissioner. In his new position, Pawlowski will lead special projects and teams within the revenue department.
