Ellington

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A deputy state treasurer will become the new director of the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration.

Laura D. Jackson has more than 27 years' experience in state government.

Gov. Phil Bryant announced Thursday that he's appointing her to succeed Kevin Upchurch, who's retiring June 30.

Jackson has been deputy treasurer since January 2012. Before that, she was bond advisory director for DFA and bond and collateral director for the treasurer's office.

DFA has about 400 employees and oversees financial matters for state government, including maintenance of public buildings and payment of contracts.

As director of the agency, Jackson will be the state's chief fiscal officer, overseeing management of Mississippi's budget. She will also serve on the five-member group that estimates how much revenue the state will collect each year.