Provident Financial Services, Inc. has promoted Diane Gigliotti to Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, strengthening the leadership structure behind the company’s financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and accounting operations. The appointment reflects a broader trend across regional banking as financial institutions prioritize experienced finance executives to navigate increasing regulatory complexity, digital transformation, and long-term growth strategies.

Regional banks are placing renewed focus on financial governance and operational resilience as the banking industry adapts to evolving regulatory expectations, technology investments, and changing market conditions.

Against this backdrop, Provident Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE: PFS) and Provident Bank have appointed Diane Gigliotti as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer. Gigliotti previously served as the bank’s Controller and will now oversee the accounting function for both the company and the financial institution.

Reporting to Adriano Duarte, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Gigliotti will lead key areas including accounting policy, financial reporting, regulatory reporting, internal controls, tax oversight, and accounting operations. She will also serve as a strategic advisor on complex accounting matters as Provident continues executing its business priorities.

The appointment highlights the increasing importance of financial leadership roles within banking organizations. Chief accounting officers today are responsible not only for traditional reporting functions but also for ensuring compliance with evolving accounting standards, strengthening internal controls, and supporting technology-driven financial operations.

“Diane is an exceptional leader whose expertise, judgment, and commitment to excellence have made a significant impact on our Finance organization,” said Adriano Duarte, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Provident.

Duarte noted that Gigliotti has demonstrated expertise across accounting, regulatory reporting, and financial management while contributing to a culture of accountability and collaboration within the organization.

Gigliotti brings more than 20 years of experience across accounting, finance, regulatory reporting, and financial services leadership. Before joining Provident, she served as Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director of BBVA’s New York Branch, where she managed accounting, financial reporting, regulatory reporting, tax oversight, audit coordination, and executive financial management.

During her tenure at BBVA, Gigliotti led several initiatives involving regulatory compliance, accounting standards implementation, and operational improvements. Her experience reflects the increasingly complex responsibilities facing financial executives as banks manage changing regulatory frameworks and technology-enabled operating models.

Earlier in her career, Gigliotti held finance and accounting roles at Merrill Lynch and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), developing expertise in technical accounting, financial reporting, audit management, and regulatory compliance.

She holds a Master of Business Administration from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Rutgers University. She is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

The move comes as banks continue investing in modernization initiatives across finance operations. Financial institutions are increasingly adopting automation, artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, and advanced analytics to improve reporting accuracy and operational efficiency.

According to Deloitte’s banking industry research, financial institutions are prioritizing stronger data governance, regulatory technology, and finance transformation programs as reporting requirements become more complex. Similarly, Gartner has identified automation and analytics as important drivers of modernization across finance departments.

For regional banks such as Provident, strong accounting leadership is particularly important as institutions balance growth strategies with regulatory oversight. Accurate financial reporting, effective internal controls, and compliance management remain foundational requirements for maintaining investor confidence and customer trust.

The appointment also reflects a broader shift in the role of finance executives. Modern banking finance leaders increasingly serve as strategic partners to business units, helping organizations evaluate investments, manage risk, and improve operational decision-making.

“I am honored to assume the role of Chief Accounting Officer and grateful for the confidence that Provident’s leadership has placed in me,” Gigliotti said. “Provident has a strong culture centered on teamwork, integrity, and serving our customers and communities.”

As financial institutions continue navigating digital transformation and regulatory change, experienced accounting executives will remain central to maintaining operational stability while enabling future growth.

Market Landscape

The banking sector is undergoing significant transformation as institutions invest in finance automation, regulatory technology (RegTech), AI-powered analytics, and improved data governance.

Regional and community banks face increasing pressure to modernize operations while maintaining strong compliance frameworks. Finance leaders are playing a larger strategic role by connecting regulatory requirements with technology investments and business growth initiatives.

Research from Deloitte and Gartner indicates that financial institutions are prioritizing automation, data management, and digital infrastructure improvements to strengthen resilience and improve decision-making.

Top Insights

• Provident Bank promoted Diane Gigliotti to Chief Accounting Officer, expanding leadership oversight across financial reporting, compliance, and accounting operations.
• Gigliotti brings more than 20 years of banking and accounting experience, including senior leadership roles at BBVA, Merrill Lynch, and PwC.
• The appointment reflects growing demand for finance executives who can manage regulatory complexity and support digital banking transformation.
• Modern chief accounting officers increasingly influence strategic decisions through governance, analytics, risk management, and operational improvements.
• Regional banks are strengthening finance leadership as technology adoption and regulatory expectations reshape financial operations.

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