Agoura Hills Seeks New City Treasurer

Agoura Hills is looking for a new city treasurer, and the city is currently accepting applications for the position, which is appointed by the city manager. 

It is a part-time job that requires about five hours of service per month with a monthly stipend. Nevertheless, it is a vital job, according to Mayor Harry Schwarz.

“It’s a key position,” said Schwarz. “It’s the person who takes care of all of our finances and works with the director of finance …They look at all our bond holding, how they’re performing.”

Other duties include signing checks, serving on the finance committee, and reviewing and advising the city on its investments in compliance with Agoura Hills’ Investment Policy, as well as with federal and state laws, according to Christy Pinuelas, Director of Finance. In addition, the city treasurer looks over the city’s banking needs and contracts and makes recommendations to the city council and finance committee, she said.

The job also entails providing public information, said Schwarz. “It’s really about an overview of how to manage public funds,” he said. “Helping the public understand what we’re doing on a fiscal level.”

The city expects the applicants to have a wealth of experience and knowledge in fiscal matters. Pinuelas said candidates should have a bachelors degree and ten years of experience in investing in compliance with the California State Code.

The best candidates/applicants are those with knowledge in principles and practices of financial record-keeping, banking, state and city laws, and ordinances pertaining to financial administration of municipal government, said Pinuelaas. “In addition, they should have knowledge in principles of computer technology and systems analysis; governmental accounting and budgeting; and investment management practices within a municipal environment.” 

“The position is important because it serves a vital community service to the city and we hope to recruit a financial professional who would like to help the city maximize its budget and guard its resources,” Pinuelas said.

The new city treasurer will replace Lily Ruff, who passed away on March 4 after serving as the city’s founding treasurer for 28 years. “She was an amazing person, a warm person, a person of incredible integrity,” said Schwarz. “You could just feel that she was a very honest person as well as an expert on what she was doing.”

Applications are available online or at city hall and must be submitted along with a resume and a supplemental questionnaire by 5 p.m. on Aug. 31. For more information, go to the city web site.