Mayor Mike Ragsdale announced today that Clifford Tucker, CPA, will be retained on a contract basis to serve as Financial Compliance Officer for Knox County Government. Tucker, a 32-year veteran of the State Comptroller's Office, was the Knoxville-based state official in charge of assisting Knox County with the Purchasing Card Audit.
At the time of his retirement from the State, Tucker was the East Tennessee Audit Manager for the State Comptroller's Office, and was responsible for oversight of financial and compliance audits of 23 East Tennessee counties. Tucker will take the place of David Skinner, who has accepted a position with the Trustee's Office.
"Clifford's professional expertise and years of service with the Comptroller will help ensure that all employees understand Knox County's policies, business systems and our expectations,” observed Chief Financial Officer John Troyer. "Having worked with him for many years, I know first hand that he is a skilled and independent auditor, with an in-depth understanding of government finance.
Mayor Ragsdale created the position of Financial Compliance Officer as part of a series of financial safeguards instituted in response to issues associated with county purchasing cards. Additional safeguards include an annual reapplication and review process for employees seeking to use a purchasing card, centralized control of purchasing card records, redundant statement reconciliation, and the posting of monthly purchasing card statements on the county website, at www.knoxcounty.org
Due to a hiring freeze initiated on July 1, 2008, Tucker will be employed as an hourly contract employee, and will not receive county benefits.
Tucker holds a degree in accounting from the University of Tennessee. He and his wife Karen are residents of Blount County, and have two adult children.
