Christopherson in place as Agriculture Department CFO

Charles Christopherson took the reins as chief financial officer at the Agriculture Department this week, where he will oversee $128 billion in assets and $77 billion in total annual spending.

Deputy CFO Patricia Healy has been acting CFO since Ted McPherson left Agriculture for the Education Department two years ago.

Christopherson's duties involve accounting and reporting responsibilities for program funds totaling more than $90 billion. Among the CFO programs and offices, the National Finance Center processes the payroll for one-fifth of the federal workforce?550,000 individuals?and operates components of the more than $100 billion Thrift Savings Plan for federal employees, the world's largest 401(k) retirement plan.

Prior to coming to USDA, Christopherson was president of CB Solutions LLC, a Texas-based business consulting firm specializing in high-technology, accounts-receivable collections.

He earned a bachelor of science degree from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and an M.B.A. from the University of Oregon.

Mary Mosquera is a staff writer for Washington Technology's sister publication, Government Computer News.