Brentwood Hires a Finance Director

The City of Brentwood announced Thursday afternoon in a press release that it has hired a finance director, a new position for the city.

"We need to be more accountable," Bola Akande, city administrator, said. "It's one of a few steps I hope to put in place," . Akande was named city .

The job description at the time included:

• Analysis and maintenance of city accounts
• Preparation of financial statements
• Coordination with audit firm to establish an annual certified audit of city's "operation, purchasing, business, merchant and liquor license, and all other activities within the department"

Following is the text of the press release:

The City of Brentwood will start 2012 with a finance director in place, city officials announced today.

Gina L. Jarvis, a CPA with more than 20 years of accounting experience, formally assumes her responsibilities today. For the last 14 years Jarvis worked in finance positions with the two municipalities in Washington State. Most recently she served as the fiscal services director for the City of Renton, WA, the 10th largest city in the state, with a $225 million budget.

In that capacity, Jarvis managed all areas of finance, including budgeting, financial reporting, payroll, accounts receivable and payable, and the capital, cash, and investment functions for the city. She also prepared the city’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) and helped coordinate annual state audits conducted by the Washington State Auditor’s Office.

A graduate of Drury College in Springfield, MO, Jarvis began her accounting career in 1990 as a staff auditor in the Missouri State Auditor’s Office. She earned her CPA and became licensed in Missouri in 1992 and in Washington State in 1998.

Creating the finance director position was a key objective of City Administrator Bola Akande, Mayor Pat Kelly, and the Board of Alderman. This new position will provide
additional financial oversight for the city and serve as a balance with the city administrator.

“We are fortunate to bring on board someone with Gina’s professionalism and depth of experience with municipalities,” said Akande. “She will be a welcome addition to our staff and will help with our efforts to strengthen the City of Brentwood’s fiscal management.”

In addition to her work responsibilities, Jarvis is a also a member of several professional organizations, including the Puget Sound Finance Officers Association, the Washington Finance Officers Association, and the Government Finance Officers Association.

“Just in the 10 years since I have been mayor, we have seen our annual operating budget increase from $8.8 million to $15.6 million,” said Mayor Pat Kelly. “Hiring Gina as finance director increases the level of transparency and professionalism in our financial management and enables us to better serve the citizens of Brentwood.”