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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg 2024-09-16 Item 4 - Appointment - Aaron BeMiller to Finance Director PositionCOUNCIL AGENDA SYNOPSIS Initials Meeting Date Prepared by Mayor's review Council review 9/16/24 CT ITEM INFORMATION ITEM No. 4 STAFF SPONSOR: THOMAS MCLEOD ORIGINAL AGENDA DATE: AGENDA ITEM TITLE Confirm appointment of Aaron BeMiller to the position of Finance Director CATEGORY ❑ Discussion M tg Date ® Motion Mtg Date 9/16/24 ❑ Resolution Mtg Date ❑ Ordinance Mtg Date ❑ Bid Award Mtg Date ❑ Public Hearing Mtg Date ❑ Other AugtDate SPONSOR ❑ Council ® Mayor ❑ Admin Svcs ❑ DCD ❑ Finance ❑ Fire ❑ P&R ❑ Police ❑ PW SPONSOR'S Council is being asked to confirm the appointment of Aaron BeMiller to the position of SUMMARY Finance Director, effective October 1, 2024. REVIEWED BY ❑ Trans&Infrastructure Svcs ❑ Community Svcs/Safety ❑ Finance & Governance ❑ Planning & Community Dev. ❑ LTAC DATE: N/A ❑ Arts Comm. ❑ Parks Comm. ❑ Planning Comm. COMMITTEE CHAIR: RECOMMENDATIONS: SPONSOR/ADMIN. COMMITTEE N/A COST IMPACT / FUND SOURCE EXPENDITURE REQUIRED AMOUNT BUDGETED APPROPRIATION REQUIRED Fund Source: Comments: MTG. DATE RECORD OF COUNCIL ACTION 9/16/24 MTG. DATE 9/16/24 ATTACHMENTS Informational Memorandum dated 8/27/2024 Aaron BeMiller Resume 1 2 City of Tukwila Thomas McLeod, Mayor INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM TO: City Council FROM: Mayor McLeod DATE: September 9, 2024 SUBJECT: Confirmation of Aaron BeMiller as Finance Director ISSUE The Mayor is requesting the confirmation of Aaron BeMiller to the position of Finance Director, effective October 1, 2024. BACKGROUND After a competitive hiring process, including multiple rounds of interviews, I am pleased to appoint to the position of Finance Director, Aaron BeMiller. Pursuant to Tukwila Municipal Code 2.84.020, the appointment requires City Council confirmation. Mr. BeMiller has over 25 years of experience in municipal finance, serving as the finance director for the Cities of Olympia, Shelton, and Kent. He has a Master of Public Administration from Seattle University and did his undergraduate work at Western Washington University. Mr. BeMiller is a highly skilled finance professional with over 25 years of experience with significant experience as a municipal Finance Director. He brings a collaborative management style and will be a great resource in mentoring the City's finance staff. RECOMMENDATION I recommend the appointment of Aaron BeMiller as Finance Director, effective October 1, 2024, be confirmed by Council at the September 16, 2024, Council meeting. ATTACHMENTS Resume 3 4 Aaron BeMiller SUMMARY I am a highly skilled government finance professional with over twenty-five years of experience. I have proven to be an effective communicator and positive change agent, a leader that looks toward collaboration, and an individual with a strong sense of emotional intelligence. I believe in leading by example and bring an open-door management philosophy. I am known for leading teams that excel at customer service and anticipating customer needs, establishing best practices, limiting risk, and finding creative strategies for solving operational issues. CORE STRENGTHS • Written and oral communication • Accountability and integrity • Collaboration and consensus building • Situational and self-awareness • Financial presentations • Champion of workforce DEI • Managing/educating/empowering staff • Long-term planning/forecasting PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS • Building & motivating highly effective and accountable teams. • Creating award winning Budget and Financial Reporting documents. • Establishing performance metrics for evaluating success. • Successfully guiding organizations through recessions and revenue loss. • Improving fund balances and organizational financial outlook. • Facilitating community meetings designed to create partnerships. • Implementing investment, budget, and accounting best practices. • Building relationships with internal & external customers based on trust. PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT HISTORY Finance Director, City of Olympia, WA (2021 — Present) Charged with rebuilding the culture of the finance department and establishing positive relationships with other city departments through open communication and a culture trust. Facilitate the implementation of a new enterprise financial system with significant changes to current business processes and the established chart of accounts. Other duties include managing the day-to-day operations of the City's full -service finance department including managing the City's annual budget process and administering the adopted budget. Facilitate and participate on cross jurisdictional executive level work teams assigned to address and find solutions to obstacles as they relate to City interests, policy direction, and long-term planning. Prepare short-term, intermediate, and long-range financial forecasts and analyze financial implications related to City business decisions. Manage, develop, educate, and mentor professional staff charged with oversight of and compliance with applicable federal, state, and 5 local rules and regulations. Participate on panel discussions informing and educating on government financial processes, best practices, and effective operations. Present to City elected officials, City staff, and City residents on fiscal conditions and governmental accounting rules. Finance Director, City of Shelton, WA (2019 — 2021) Charged with building trust with city residents, elected officials, and departments after an instance of fraud and a period of high turnover in financial leadership. Managed the day-to-day operations of the City's full -service finance department. Managed the City's annual operating and capital budget development process and administered the adopted budget. Hired, mentored, developed, educated, and managed professional accounting, budgeting, and financial staff in a customer service and teamwork orientated environment. Made formal presentations on fiscal policy and direction including advising elected officials on City financial matters. Implemented and administered the City's investment portfolio including investment strategies and evaluation of performance outcomes. Developed and implemented financial and accounting policies, procedures, and controls in alignment with established best practices. Participated on multi -jurisdictional and multi -professional panel discussions designed to inform and educate on government processes or potential changes in practice. Finance Director, City of Kent, WA (2014 — 2019) Charged with re -imagining the City's finance department, updating current practices, and creating a high -quality and motivated team while partnering with other departments to meet operational goals in a fiscally responsible manner. Managed the day-to-day operations of the City's full -service finance department including managing the City's annual operating and capital budget process and administering the adopted budget. Managed, developed, educated, and mentored professional staff charged with oversight of and compliance with applicable federal, state, and local rules and regulations. Developed and implemented City investment policy and processes designed to maximize safety, liquidity, and yield. Educated and provided training to City elected officials, City staff, and City residents on fiscal conditions and governmental accounting rules. Budget and Finance Director & County Treasurer, Clatsop County, OR (2013 — 2014) Manage the day-to-day operations of the County's Budget and Finance Department including budget, accounts payable and receivable, cash management, payroll, investment strategies, and purchasing. Budget Manager, Pierce County, WA (2007 — 2013) Finance Analyst, Sr. Finance Analyst, Manager 2, City of Seattle/Renton (1998 — 2007) EDUCATION Seattle University Western Washington University Colorado State University - Global Campus Master's of Public Administration Bachelor of Arts Post Graduate Work / Continuing Education June 2003 June 1997 6