#WomenAtCPA: Tetyana Melnyk

Women in Leadership: Tetyana Melnyk, Director of Revenue Estimating

Tetyana Melnyk moved to Texas from Ukraine in 2007 and joined the Comptroller’s office not long after. “After becoming eligible to work in June 2008, I started applying for jobs at state agencies because I heard from a family member that state employment is secure,” she says. Later that year, she joined CPA and has been an invaluable asset to the agency ever since. She will be celebrating her 14-year anniversary this November.

She began her career at CPA as a program specialist in the Local Government Assistance and Economic Development Division, the precursor to today’s Data Analysis and Transparency Division. She helped conduct economic impact analyses of various events and programs, including the Texas Economic Development Act (or Chapter 313). Two years later, she moved to the Revenue Estimating Division and eventually worked her way up to become the division’s director. She now manages 14 employees.

Melnyk oversees the day-to-day operations of one of CPA’s core functions — forecasting the state’s revenue. “I oversee division administrative functions, including the business plan, budget, contracts, division policies and personnel issues, and I also provide supervision and guidance for all revenue tracking, cash flow tracking and analyses and certification issues,” she says.

“When you develop employees, and they feel comfortable in their roles, the team will function at its highest potential."

The job is rewarding but also inherently challenging. “We are producing revenue estimates for 2.5 years in the future, and as much as we strive to be as accurate as possible, we must accept that the process will always be prone to errors,” Melnyk explains. “It’s difficult to come to terms with the fact that there are constantly things we can’t control, regardless of our preparations and best efforts, such as the war in Ukraine affecting oil prices.”

Reflecting on her time at the agency, Melnyk says “it was amazing that somebody like me, who, 14 years ago, was an ordinary person, can reach the director level.” She explains that because CPA is dedicated to promoting people within the organization, anybody can move up the career ladder if they are hardworking, dedicated, curious, humble, helpful and not afraid to take initiative.

As director of Revenue Estimating, Melnyk works to inspire and motivate her staff. “I believe that when you have a great team of high professionals who are motivated and supported, your team will be successful,” she says.

She also sees herself as a teacher or a coach, which comes naturally to her. “In Ukraine, I was an associate professor, so I feel like that teaching experience affects my managerial style at CPA,” she says. She is always looking for professional development opportunities, such as trainings and conferences, for staff to take advantage of and learn from. “When you develop employees, and they feel comfortable in their roles, the team will function at its highest potential,” she says.

When she’s not in the office tracking and projecting the state’s revenue, Melnyk enjoys gardening and cooking — two activities she learned to love from her grandparents.