I love engaging my people/relationship building and creative skill sets in this role! My key roles include: Research, creates and assists with marketing communications & strategies; Initiates outreach to prospective clients and maintains relationships with current client family to maximize customer retention and internal contracts growth; Creates and manages digital platform content, especially website content, blog posts, and company LinkedIn page with posts and professional articles to enhance traditional marketing & communication strategies; Develops & maintains relationships with business and industry-related organizations of the tax-exempt bond community; Informs and educates debt issuers for post-issuance compliance, arbitrage reporting & verification services provided by Bingham Arbitrage; Advises & assists prospects and clients with their professional challenges when requested.

Planned, organized and directed the activities of the Financial Services Department, including accounting and financial reporting, treasury operations, capital projects management, debt management, internal audit, risk management, payroll, deposit operations, purchasing, and warehousing operations. Primary duties included advising & assisting elected City Council, City Manager, appointed committees, and other departments with the development and implementation of all financial matters; evaluating business operations and/or work process activities in City departments and recommending improvements and modifications; and preparing and presenting reports on operations, recommendations, and implementing cost-reduction strategies; designing & recommending implementation of various budgetary control systems and procedures; advising City departmental and other administrators on matters of fiscal and budgetary management and internal controls; preparing long-range financial planning and analysis (FP&A) for municipal and utility operations and incorporating analytical scenarios for annual update of five and ten-year capital improvement plans; and leading & organizing business process and customer service improvement initiatives and facilitate change management practices.Issued $375.5MM in bonds to leverage projects called for in the comprehensive Infrastructure rebuilding and improvement plan during my tenure. Also issued an additional $203.4MM refunding bonds with accumulated savings of $21.1MM to benefit taxpayers and ratepayers and achieving AAA/AA1/AA+ bond ratings.

As senior member of city management, I was responsible to plan, organize, implement and coordinate accounting, information services, payroll, purchasing, accounts payable, and customer services/billing and collection activities for the City. I assisted the City Manager and other departments with the development and implementation of financial matters and coordinated Annual Budget preparation and review process; cooperatively working with other department directors and managers to monitor and administer annual operating and capital project budgets. In my advisory role, evaluated operations and activities in City departments, recommending improvements and modifications, and prepared and presented reports on operations and recommendations. I coordinated and assisted external auditors and prepared the City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. I was also responsible to prepare long-range financial forecasts of municipal and utility operations and incorporate analytical scenarios for annual update of five-year capital improvement plan, including the approval and issuance of various long-term debt obligations.Proud to use my business and IT skills in the assessment, development and implementation of solutions to address the Year 2000 problem in Shelby. I was pleased that this project quickly developed momentum and the City of Shelby resolved its Year 2000 problems by March 1999 and was accomplished by pulling the city’s human capital together and focusing their synergistic efforts in a cohesive project.

In my responsibilities, I planned, prioritized, and supervised staff responsibilities in accounting and financial reporting, payroll, accounts payable, and business office. With my public background, I evaluated operations and activities in City departments and recommended improvements and modifications. I coordinated and assisted external auditors and prepared the City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. My position also supervised the Finance Department in Finance Director’s absence. I monitored capital construction projects for compliance with capital project ordinances and grant programs. I also prepared weekly cash flow analysis and monitored a comprehensive cash management program, including the investment of idle cash in permitted instruments.

Hired as an entry-level auditor, I was quickly promoted to In-Charge where I planned, conducted, and completed audit, review, and compilation engagements for a variety of industries in several states, especially local governments, not-for-profit agencies, credit bureaus, textile manufacturers, foundationsand trusts, and employee benefit plans. I prepared and presented financial reports and management letters to clients. I also prepared personal and corporation tax returns and researched tax issues, originated management advice suggestions to client staff, and supervised and trained staff in audit procedures.