Jeanine M. Gilson was appointed as the Deputy Chief Financial Officer for Accounting and Business Operations at the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) on May 20, 2023. As a key member of VBA’s Senior Leadership team, Jeanine provides expert advice and counsel in all financial management matters involving accounting policy and reporting; financial systems; administrative accounting; benefit payment and accounting; and fraud, waste, and abuse operations to ensure the integrity of VBA’s $164 billion budget and protect over $140 billion in disability compensation benefits.
Prior to this appointment, Jeanine was detailed as the Acting Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives and the Acting Deputy Chief Financial Officer. In these roles, she provided advice and counsel in all matters aligned with implementing the Office of Financial Management’s (OFM) strategic plan and in all financial management matters related to VBA’s $158 billion budget. On her watch, VBA’s outstanding contributions to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) financial statement reports resulted in VA receiving the Association of Government Accountants’ Certificate of Excellence in Accountability Reporting award for the third and fourth consecutive times. She also served as the OFM Finance Services Staff Director, where she provided strategic direction and leadership to a team focused on delivering operational support, financial policy review and analysis, internal control, improper payment avoidance, and training.
Jeanine previously served as the Director of VBA’s Compensation Service Training Management Staff where she oversaw all technical skills training provided to 12,500+ VBA disability claims processing staff, the joint VBA/Department of Defense (DOD) Warrior Training and Advancement Course program, VBA’s National Training curriculum, training for DOD staff on the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities, and training for Veterans Service Organizations on their responsibilities and involvement in claims preparation.
