KINGSTON, N.Y. — The Ulster County Legislature confirmed CJ Rioux as the county’s commissioner of finance.
Legislators approved his appointment unanimously and without discussion during their meeting on Tuesday.
A former Ulster County deputy finance commissioner, Rioux is returning to head the department in which he served for nine years.
He will replace Interim Commissioner of Finance Max Cordella, who stepped into the role following the departure of former Commissioner Roseann Daw in July.
A certified public accountant with nearly two decades of experience in public finance, accounting, and administration, Rioux will be paid $167,463, a county official said on Monday.
According to a release announcing his appointment, Rioux most recently served as assistant vice president for administration/controller at SUNY New Paltz, where he oversaw departments including accounting services, purchasing, internal controls and facilities contract management.
He has held multiple leadership roles at SUNY Ulster, including dean for administration and acting vice president for administrative services, where he managed budget development, capital projects, labor negotiations, and campus operations.
From 2012 to 2021, Rioux was the county’s deputy commissioner of finance, where he was responsible for accounting and financial reporting for the county and its component units, prepared the comprehensive annual financial report and supervised a staff of more than 25 employees.
He also served as Acting Commissioner of Finance during his tenure.
He began his career in public accounting at Sedore & Company, CPA’s, PC, specializing in municipal and nonprofit auditing and consulting. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s of business administration with a concentration in public accountancy from SUNY New Paltz.
