The University of Hawaii Board of Regents on Thursday confirmed the appointment of Kalbert Young as vice president for budget and finance and chief financial officer of the entire UH System, school officials announced.

Young served four years as finance director under Gov. Neil Abercrombie, overseeing the state’s $12 billion operating budget. He’s credited with helping turn Hawaii around financially during his tenure.

But with a new administration comes a new Cabinet, which left Young looking for a new job. Gov. David Ige announced Wednesday that Wes Machida, who headed the Employees’ Retirement System under Abercrombie, would be his budget director.

Hawaii Finance Director Kalbert Young and the governor’s chief of staff, Bruce Coppa, in 2013.

Civil Beat file photo

“Kalbert Young is highly regarded as a finance professional and as an outstanding communicator,”UH President David Lassner said in a release. “He will be a tremendous asset to the entire University of Hawaii as we work together with Gov. Ige and the Legislature to build a better future for our students and residents.”

Starting sometime around Jan. 5, Young will be UH’s chief financial affairs officer, responsible for leading and directing the university’s systemwide financial management and budgetary functions, the release says.

“I am excited for the opportunity to work with everyone on the UH management team and within the UH community to implement improvements that will advance everyone’s goal of evolving, growing and building our state university toward even greater prominence,” Young said.

“I look forward to my role in guiding the System’s financial, fiscal, and budget aspects in order to improve transparency and accountability for UH and our stakeholders – including students, faculty, staff, Regents, Legislature, and taxpayers. As the only public university system with our state, UH is a valuable asset that is essential to Hawaii’s economic progress. ”

Young was recommended for the appointment after a comprehensive, nationwide search, the release says. He succeeds retiring Howard Todo, who held the position since 2005.