Rene Newkirk has 22 years of Washington State service. She has extensive experience in finance, including; accounting, budget, cost allocation, and grants management.
At the beginning of her career, she worked for the State Auditor’s Office as an Assistant State Auditor. She later joined DSHS, Children’s Administration, in 2006 and ultimately served as the Office Chief overseeing budget, cost allocation, and contracts. In 2016 she was offered an opportunity to expand her knowledge base and went to work for the Health Care Authority as the Controller overseeing accounting, budget, cost allocation, and grants management. Rene joined the Department of Children, Youth, and Families in December of 2019 as the Budget Director and is currently serving as the Interim Chief Financial Officer.
Rene earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting and Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Saint Martin’s College.