With a career defined by navigating complex challenges across numerous state agencies, Gerlda Hines brings a wealth of experience and a forward-thinking vision to her role as Georgia's state accounting officer.
Julie Colwell
Principal Strategist
Workday
When Gerlda Hines stepped into the role of state accounting officer for the State of Georgia in September 2021, she was immediately handed a monumental project. "My first task was to select an ERP for our new platform," Hines recalls. This was no small feat. The state was running on a heavily customized, 25-year-old system, with an urgent need for change.
For Hines, a certified public accountant with over two decades of experience across seven different state agencies, this challenge was the culmination of a career dedicated to public service and problem-solving. Her appointment to lead this critical transformation was not only a recognition of her deep expertise, but also a historic moment for the state, as she became the first Black woman to hold the position.
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Hines’s journey prepared her perfectly for this moment. With a career spanning roles from deputy CFO at the Department of Community Health to commissioner for the Department of Human Services, she brought a unique, holistic understanding of the state's inner workings. "It was the perfect precursor to today," she explains. "My job is like working at a different company every single day."
"My job is like working at a different company every single day."
This diverse background gave her firsthand insight into the challenges agencies faced. She had already led a major IT transformation in a previous role, giving her a playbook for navigating complex, large-scale projects. She cemented her reputation as a pragmatic problem-solver years earlier when she tackled a major accounting issue at another agency. Her solution was surprisingly simple, "I went back to the basics," she notes. That ability to distill complex problems into fundamental solutions is what ultimately led leaders to tap her for the state accounting officer role.
For years, Georgia’s state agencies operated on an outdated platform that made accessing timely information a significant hurdle. Simple data requests could take days, hindering the ability of state leaders and legislators to make informed, real-time decisions.
"We were looking for a modern solution to provide us with standardization across different agencies and give us more real-time data," Hines says.
The mission was clear—find a modern, cloud-based platform to overhaul the state's financial, HR, and payroll systems. After an extensive evaluation, the state selected a new enterprise resource planning partner, kicking off a massive transformation project in December 2023. The goal wasn't just to replace old technology but to fundamentally change how the government operates, making Georgia only the second state to go live on the new integrated financial system.
With this new system, Hines and her team are introducing a new era of efficiency and transparency for Georgia. The most significant impact will be the availability of real-time data.
"We used to talk about it taking days trying to get data out of the system. Soon it will be in a matter of minutes," Hines says.
This newfound speed will be a critical advantage, especially for lawmakers. In a move that Hines describes as truly innovative, the state is giving legislative staff direct access to the new platform to run their own reports and conduct research. This level of transparency will empower them to analyze spending and model the impact of policy changes instantly, a process that was previously slow and burdensome.
The project is also built on a foundation of a strong partnership. Hines praises the close collaboration with Deloitte, Georgia’s technology partner, noting that it has been a crucial element of the project's success. "That experience of working with your vendor throughout your deployment is something that you don't normally see," she says.
"When people talk about how AI is going to take our jobs, it's really not going to take your job, it's going to transform the way you do the work."
This technological leap is also a core part of Georgia’s strategy to become an employer of choice. Hines understands that attracting the next generation of public servants requires modern tools. The new system will streamline the hiring process and offer a more intuitive, user-friendly experience from day one.
Furthermore, automation and AI will empower state employees by transforming the nature of their work. Hines sees AI not as a tool to replace people, but to augment their capabilities. "When people talk about how AI is going to take our jobs, it's really not going to take your job, it's going to transform the way you do the work," she explains. For her, the introduction of intelligent automation is about elevating the role of the public servant. By automating manual, repetitive data entry, employees are freed from mundane tasks and can evolve their skill sets.
This strategic shift allows them to focus on higher-value activities that require critical thinking and expertise. "They want to do more analytical work, and trends and analysis, and predictive things like that," Hines adds. In this vision, state finance and HR professionals become data-driven advisors, using predictive analytics to forecast budget needs, identify spending trends, and provide deeper insights to agency leaders. This not only improves the state's operational efficiency but also makes for more engaging and rewarding careers, helping Georgia attract and retain top talent in a competitive market.
As the project nears its go-live date, Hines is focused on the lasting impact this transformation will have. "This is something that's going to live for 25 years or more," she says. For the team involved, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape the future of public service in Georgia.
With her extensive experience, problem-solving mindset, and clear vision, Gerlda Hines is not just upgrading a system; she's building a more efficient, transparent, and modern government for the citizens of Georgia.
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