GASB chair role opens, apply May 15

Government accounting is getting one of those jobs that almost nobody talks about but a lot of public finance runs through. The Financial Accounting Foundation is hiring the next chair of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board — the body that writes accounting rules for U.S. state and local governments. The term starts July 1, 2027 and runs seven years, which means this person will shape a long stretch of how cities, counties, school districts, and states present their finances. The immediate news is simpler: applications are due May 15, 2026. (accountingfoundation.org) ### What is GASB, exactly? GASB is the standard-setter for accounting and financial reporting rules used by U.S. state and local governments. Think balance sheets, pension disclosures, infrastructure reporting, and the definitions that decide what gets recognized and how. The Financial Accounting Foundation oversees the organization and appoints the board, but GASB itself handles the technical standard-setting. (accountingfoundation.org) ### Why does the chair matter so much? Because this is not just a meeting-runner job. The chair is the only full-time GASB member and leads the board’s agenda, staff work, stakeholder outreach, and the long process that turns messy public-finance questions into formal accounting standards. A bad chair can slow everything down. A strong one can move complicated issues from endless debate into actual guidance governments can use. (govhrusa.com) ### What is the foundation hiring for? The brief is pretty specific. FAF wants someone with strong working knowledge of current GASB standards, distinguished technical governmental accounting expertise, leadership ability, communication skills, and experience working with a wide mix of stakeholders. This is a senior, visible appointment — not a generic nonprofit board role, and not(govhrusa.com)(accountingfoundation.org) ### Where is the job, and how long is it? The role is based in Norwalk, Connecticut, where FAF is headquartered, and the position is full time and in office in the listings that are circulating. The term begins July 1, 2027 and ends June 30, 2034. That seven-year runway matters because accounting standard-setting moves slowly — proposals, comment periods, revisions, board votes, implementation. The chair hired now will still be steering well into the next decade. (nationalnonprofits.org) ### Why open the search this early? Basically, succession in standard-setting takes time. The foundation announced the call for nominations on January 8, 2026, alongside searches for a FASB chair, a FASB board member, and FAF trustees. That gives the appointments committee time to recruit, vet, interview, and line up a transition before the term starts in mid-2027. For a role this specialized, the candidate pool is not huge. (accountingfoundation.org) ### What kinds of issues will this person inherit? GASB already has active work underway. Right now one visible project is proposed guidance on infrastructure assets — including how they’re defined, recognized, measured, and di(accountingfoundation.org)rds forward. (gasb.org) ### Who should care? Public finance officers, auditors, muni analysts, state and local officials, and anyone who relies on government financial statements. Accounting rules sound dry, but they decide what becomes visible. That is the real power here. ### Bottom line This is one of the most important quiet jobs in U.S. public-sector accounting. The deadline is May 15, 2026 — and the person chosen will help define how governments tell the truth(gasb.org) years. (accountingfoundation.org)