Finance and Administration Cabinet
Controller, Commonwealth of Kentucky, Edgar C. Ross, to Receive William R. Snodgrass Distinguished Leadership Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                
Alexandria, VA (Feb. 19, 2009) – Edgar C. Ross, State Controller, Commonwealth of Kentucky, received the prestigious William R. Snodgrass Distinguished Leadership Award from the Association of Government Accountants (AGA) today. Mr. Ross’ award was presented at the Association’s 7th Annual National Leadership Conference and Exposition in Washington, D.C.

The Snodgrass Award was formally established to recognize the outstanding leadership of individuals in state government that led to improved financial management practices, policies, systems or operations and consistently exhibited the highest personal and professional standards.

This award is given to Mr. Ross, in recognition of his dedication to government financial management as the Chief Accounting Officer for the Commonwealth of Kentucky for over 30 years.  As the Controller, he maximizes the use of best practices throughout all state agencies, eliminates sub-standard operations, creates single points of responsibility for similar and related functions, and eliminates under-utilized services.  Throughout his career in the Commonwealth and through his involvement in national professional organizations, Mr. Ross has worked to improve financial accountability and fiscal responsibility in governmental accounting.

The Office of the Controller, through the leadership of Ed Ross, maximizes the use of best practices throughout all state agencies, eliminates sub-standard operations, creates single points of responsibility for similar and related functions and eliminates under-utilized services.  The significant changes made in the past few years have substantially altered processes to yield faster, higher quality, fiscal throughput.  The decentralized processing model permanently reduced duplication and the resources necessary to support an ever-growing area of work in state government.

The implementation of the MARS accounting system in 1999 allowed the Office of Statewide Accounting Services to shift its personnel needs away from clerical orientation to a combination of accounting and technology skills where fewer employees can accomplish more.  This Office has reduced staffing from 78 employees in 1997 to 30 today. 

Ross has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kentucky. He is past president of the National Association of State Comptrollers and is an active member of NASACT, NASC, GFOA and AGA.

The Association of Government Accountants is a 15,000-member professional Association that serves government accountability professionals by providing quality education, fostering professional development and certification, and supporting standards and research to advance government accountability. For more information about the Association, call 800.AGA.7211, or visit our website at www.agacgfm.org.

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