The Board of Regents of Southeast Missouri State University Thursday named William J. Duffy as assistant vice president for financial affairs.

"Mr. Duffy brings to his new post a broad base of financial and accounting knowledge acquired while working for a major public accounting firm and further honed over the last 10 years in higher education," said Kala M. Stroup, president of Southeast.

Duffy began his career with Arthur Andersen & Co. in Chicago and then accepted a position with DePaul University, where he rose to assistant controller and administered a $70 million annual budget.

He has spent the past six years at Santa Clara University, where he most recently served as controller. In that position, he reorganized the accounting and financial functions.

Two of his major responsibilities were the administration of a $100 million annual operating budget and a $115 million endowment.

In his position at Southeast, Duffy will be responsible for the operation of the controller's office, the bursar's office, student receivables, and collections and purchasing (including insurance and property management). He replaces Roy Drury, who retired as the university's treasurer and business manager in 1991.

"I was attracted to Southeast because its environment and administration seemed dynamic and open to new ideas and perspectives," said Duffy. "While my primary responsibility is to maintain the fiscal integrity of the university, I believe in the broader goal of serving its students."