OLYMPIA — Today Governor Bob Ferguson announced the appointment of Cindy Kay as Washington’s new executive director of the Board of Accountancy. Kay, a Certified Public Accountant, will lead the Board following more than 15 years of work in state government and more than 20 years in the private sector.

Most recently, Kay served for one year as a Board of Accountancy board member, contributing to regulatory oversight and policy advancement. She is also the co-chair of the Washington State Financial Management Advisory Council and has served as president of the Washington State Association of Government Accountants. 

“Cindy Kay’s passion for accounting, longtime experience and commitment to public service will make her an excellent executive director,” Governor Ferguson said.

“Serving on the Board of Accountancy has been an incredibly fulfilling experience, and I am inspired by the opportunity to lead an agency that plays such a vital role in maintaining public trust and professional excellence,” Kay said.

Kay grew up in the Pacific Northwest. She began her accounting career in Tucson, Ariz. with a Big Five accounting firm, followed by six years at a smaller CPA firm in Washington, where she honed her expertise in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) compliance and fraud accounting. She later transitioned into the private sector, serving within high-level financial reporting, budgeting and internal controls roles at various publicly traded companies.

Kay then transitioned to public service, joining the Washington State Department of Transportation with her most recent role as the director of the Accounting and Financial Services Division.

Kay earned a bachelor’s degree in business management with an emphasis in accounting at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey.