Contact: Sammy McDavid
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A former Starkville resident and Mississippi State accounting graduate is returning as the university's budget and finance director.
Christopher B. Clifford formerly was manager of global financial planning and analysis for synthetic business with the Houston, Texas-based ExxonMobil Chemical Co. Prior to that, he was finance manager with the company's Hong Kong operations.
In his new role, the Starkville High School graduate provides leadership and oversight to operations of the controller's and treasurer's office, as well as the accounts payable and travel, procurement and contracts, and receiving and property control departments. He reports to Ray Hayes, vice president for finance and administration.
Clifford received a bachelor's degree in professional accountancy in 1990. During his time as a Mississippi State student, he served as president of Beta Alpha Psi accounting honor society and was named the University Honors Program's most outstanding senior.
In 1996, Clifford completed a master's in business administration from Dartmouth College's Tuck School of Business. Between graduating from MSU and entering graduate school, he worked for four years in New York City with the Ernst & Young financial services company. He joined Exxon after earning the MBA.
Clifford's office is located in McArthur Hall.