State's Chief Accountant to Lead National Accounting Group

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee’s chief accounting officer has been named vice-chair of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), after serving seven years as a board member. Jan Sylvis, Chief of Accounts in the Department of Finance & Administration (F&A), begins her new role with the board on January 1, 2015. The GASB (www.gasb.org) is responsible for establishing and improving financial accounting and reporting standards for state and local governments.

“Jan’s service to Tennessee has been highlighted by national recognition for financial reporting received by her division, and the exceptional leadership she’s provided,” F&A Commissioner Larry Martin said.  “With her experience at the state level, she brings to the board an invaluable stakeholder perspective, along with well-respected expertise in preparing financial statements.”

As state’s chief of accounts, Sylvis is responsible for maintaining the state’s centralized accounting records, processing state payments and payroll, preparing the state’s financial statements and developing state accounting policy.  

Sylvis was appointed to her first term as a member of the GASB in 2007.  She was re-appointed to her second five-year term in 2012. As the leadership appointment will require a greater time commitment, Sylvis will retire from state government with 36 years of service. Her replacement has not yet been named. 

She has been chief of accounts for the state since 1995. The division’s accomplishments include receiving prestigious recognition from the Government Finance Officers Association for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).

Sylvis has also held a variety of senior accounting positions with the state, including director of auditing and consulting services.  She is a past president of the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers and the National Association of State Comptrollers. She also was a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ (AICPA) State and Local Government Expert Panel. A CPA and author of numerous essays about government financial matters, she holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Memphis.

The GASB is the independent, not-for-profit organization formed in 1984.