Brian J. Gaines has been employed with South Carolina state government since May 2007. He has spent the majority of his state government career with the South Carolina Department of Administration and its predecessor agency, the South Carolina Budget and Control Board. He has held various positions within the two agencies to include Human Resources Consultant, Budget Research Coordinator, Director of Governmental Affairs, Policy and Public Affairs Director, and Deputy State Budget Director. 

On January 1, 2017, he was appointed as the State Budget Director where he managed the state’s operating and capital budgeting processes, the state’s accountability reporting process, and assisted the Governor with his annual Executive Budget recommendations to the General Assembly. On May 12, 2023, he was appointed by Governor Henry McMaster to serve as Comptroller General until such time as the General Assembly shall elect a successor or a successor shall otherwise qualify as prescribed by law.

He is a proud graduate of the University of South Carolina where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Master of Public Administration degrees. He is also a 2014 graduate of the state’s Certified Public Manager Program.