Ms. Cara LeConte
Cara LeConte was appointed as the Chief Financial Officer of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) in April 2019. In this position, she leads the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) and is responsible for providing expertise on budget formulation, execution and performance; communicating the Agency’s policy on financial management and accounting operations, systems and plans; and for integrating and executing technical leadership through strategic planning. These responsibilities support FSIS’ Strategic Goal 3: Achieve Operational Excellence.
Before this appointment, LeConte served as the Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Management. She was responsible for all human resource and administrative services for the Agency.
From 2016-2018, LeConte was the Chief of Staff in the FSIS Office of the Administrator. As Chief of Staff, she provided oversight on all programs, including the formation and execution of the Agency’s budget and workforce of nearly 10,000 employees. In this role, she led major cross-cutting initiatives related to financial management, strategic planning, communication, management controls, audit resolution, acquisition, information technology and human resources.
Previously, LeConte served in several FSIS leadership roles including the Deputy Director of Financial Management Division (FMD) and the Financial Accounting Operations Branch Chief in OCFO. In 2011, she became FMD Director, where she was responsible for the oversight of FSIS’ financial accounting operations and systems, payment processes, accounts receivable, travel, employee relocations and payroll through numerous national offices. As FMD Director, she led the development and implementation of financial systems, reorganized the Agency’s travel services through a one-stop customer service delivery, and improved the overall delivery and efficiency of FSIS financial services.
LeConte has 15 years of leadership experience in both the private and public sectors. Prior to her entry into federal service, she worked as an accounting manager for multi-employer trust funds and was a senior financial consultant for International Business Machines. She is a certified public accountant and has an educational background in business, including a bachelor’s degree in International Business from Plattsburgh State University of New York and an a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Baltimore.