by T. Scott Boatright

The buck at Grambling State University now again stops with Raymond Abraham. Abraham, a 1976 graduate of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, has returned as the new controller for GSU.

The licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) worked for the state of Louisiana for more than 44 years in various roles.

He started as an accountant for a mental health institution and spent four years as a state department internal auditor before serving a 28-year stint with the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office (LLA).

Abraham then retired from auditing and began a new career in higher education, serving four years as Controller at Grambling State and seven years as Bossier Parish Community College’s (BPCC) Associate Vice Chancellor for Finance before now returning to Grambling State University as Controller.

“It is great to be back at GSU and a part of the GramFam,” Abraham said. “Grambling offered me my first opportunity to work in higher education back in 2010, after a long career auditing colleges and universities. I had a great experience here before being called away for seven years. Now, I am privileged to be back in my former position as Controller, working with many of the same staff and faculty.”

During his career, Abraham has chaired Student Financial Aid committees, served on Strategic Planning Committees with the LLA, served on BPCC’s Executive Council and Planning Council, and as the Louisiana Community and Technical College System’s (LCTCS) Chief Financial Officer as well as being a member of the LCTCS Finance and Administration Peer group.
GSU Interim Vice President for Finance Sheilah Faucette said Abraham’s experience will help the university in several ways.

“I am confident that his wealth of knowledge, experience, skills, and proven track record as a retired Louisiana Legislative Auditor and as former Controller will be an invaluable asset to the Division of Finance and Grambling State University,” Faucette said.

Abraham has held memberships in the Louisiana Society of Certified Public Accountants (LCPA) and the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations (LANO) and has also served on LCPA’s Not-for-Profit Issues Committee.

In his off time, Abraham enjoys spending time with his wife, Beverly, their two children and leading his church’s Celebrate Recovery Ministry while also assisting nonprofit organizations with their financial needs.