Latoya Claxton

Latoya Claxton is a friendly and outgoing professional whose passion for problem-solving and helping others has shaped both her personal and professional journey. Born on St. Croix and raised in Tortola alongside her three siblings, Latoya comes from a culturally rich Caribbean background, with roots in Saint Lucia through her mother and Saint Kitts and Nevis through her father. She has been married for three years and is the proud mother of a beautiful nineteen-month-old daughter. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, listening to Soca music, spending time with family and friends, and even works part-time as a bartender. Latoya’s love for mathematics and problem-solving began during her school years and continues to fuel her passion for her work today. What she enjoys most about working at OMB is the opportunity to assist GVI agencies in resolving budgetary challenges and finding solutions to complex financial issues. While she believes communication within the organization could improve, she values the strong relationships she has built with her coworkers and genuinely enjoys being part of the OMB team. Currently serving as a Grants Financial Analyst while transitioning into her newly promoted role as Financial Manager, Latoya’s responsibilities include reviewing federal budget plans, ensuring personnel and fringe costs are accurately calculated for all fiscal years, reviewing grant awards, assigning grant application numbers, and ensuring grant funds are utilized according to approved budgets and federal guidelines. Latoya’s career journey began while attending the University of the Virgin Islands as an undergraduate accounting student. During that time, she worked part-time as an Office Assistant at VI-EPSCoR, a federally funded research program, where she gained valuable exposure to budgeting, payroll review, and reconciliations. After graduation, she accepted a full-time position as a Budget Analyst and later advanced to Budget Manager. Eager to continue growing professionally, she eventually joined OMB as a Grants Financial Analyst. Looking toward the future, Latoya envisions herself advancing into a senior leadership role, such as Associate Director, where she hopes to mentor, supervise, and train others entering the profession. Among her proudest professional accomplishments is being selected as the Budget Lead for Federal Grants during the FY 2024 Executive Budget cycle and successfully guiding her team through the budget process despite having no prior year experience. Personally, she takes the greatest pride in being both a devoted mother and supportive wife. What motivates Latoya most is the ability to work in a job she genuinely enjoys. She thrives on daily challenges, problem-solving, and the satisfaction that comes from helping GVI agencies find solutions. Positive feedback from those she assists inspires her to continue working hard and striving for excellence. Outside of her professional life, Latoya has a deep passion for cooking, a skill she developed while learning alongside her mother in the kitchen. She especially enjoys preparing Saint Lucian inspired dishes, with macaroni pie and pan-fried salmon in coconut cream sauce ranking among her favorites. She is also an entrepreneur and owner of an online swimsuit business called SunKissed Swimwear, which offers swimwear and accessories for all body types. Additionally, she is the co-owner of Carnival XclusiveOSS, a business that provides carnival essentials and accessories. If given the opportunity to travel anywhere in the world, Latoya would choose Egypt, drawn by its rich history, famous temples, and the legendary Nile River. For anyone beginning a career in her field, Latoya encourages continuous learning. She advises attending every grant-related training possible, taking detailed notes, asking questions, and building strong relationships with personnel across GVI departments. Above all, she believes enjoying your work is essential because passion and dedication will always reflect in the quality of your work.