City of Chico hires new finance director
Staff Reports
03/29/2013
CHICO — The day after the city of Chico's finance director announced her resignation, City Manager Brian Nakamura today announced the hiring of a new finance director — this one with a background as an auditor and financial watchdog.
Chris Constantin's resume says he has served as assistant city auditor in San Diego since February 2010, and before that worked in the San Jose city auditor's office. His resume says he is a certified internal auditor, fraud examiner and law enforcement auditor. He also has worked as a reserve police sergeant with the city of Hayward.
The city of Chico has never had an auditor, but some councilors have said a thorough audit of Chico's budget and various special funds is necessary, and that some expenses need to be reviewed to see if money is well spent.
"I had the pleasure of recently meeting with Mr. Constantin for several hours and am extremely impressed with his knowledge of municipal finance, operations and auditing," City Councilor Mark Sorensen said in an emailed statement, "and I am thrilled and honored to have Mr. Constantin join the management team at the city of Chico."
"The addition of Mr. Constantin to the management team is a fantastic development for the betterment of the city of Chico and its governance."
Hennessy announced her resignation Thursday morning to become the finance director in Temecula in Southern California. On Friday, Nakamura informed the council that Hennessy's last day will be April 14 and Constantin's first day will be April 10 so the two can "coordinate and collaborate."
Sorensen noted it was helpful that Constantin understands police and fire operations well, since those "account for over 80 percent of the city budget."
Constantin's resume lists many audits performed, including ones that evaluated economic development and public arts programs, emergency response times, spending on nonprofits, oversight of grant spending and reducing wasteful spending on city employees' cellphones.
"Mr. Constantin's qualifications and extensive experience as a city auditor will greatly enhance our ability to assess the current financial condition of the city," Sorensen said, "and to identify operational areas where we can achieve greater efficiencies." (link to source)
Staff Reports
03/29/2013
CHICO — The day after the city of Chico's finance director announced her resignation, City Manager Brian Nakamura today announced the hiring of a new finance director — this one with a background as an auditor and financial watchdog.
Chris Constantin's resume says he has served as assistant city auditor in San Diego since February 2010, and before that worked in the San Jose city auditor's office. His resume says he is a certified internal auditor, fraud examiner and law enforcement auditor. He also has worked as a reserve police sergeant with the city of Hayward.
The city of Chico has never had an auditor, but some councilors have said a thorough audit of Chico's budget and various special funds is necessary, and that some expenses need to be reviewed to see if money is well spent.
"I had the pleasure of recently meeting with Mr. Constantin for several hours and am extremely impressed with his knowledge of municipal finance, operations and auditing," City Councilor Mark Sorensen said in an emailed statement, "and I am thrilled and honored to have Mr. Constantin join the management team at the city of Chico."
"The addition of Mr. Constantin to the management team is a fantastic development for the betterment of the city of Chico and its governance."
Hennessy announced her resignation Thursday morning to become the finance director in Temecula in Southern California. On Friday, Nakamura informed the council that Hennessy's last day will be April 14 and Constantin's first day will be April 10 so the two can "coordinate and collaborate."
Sorensen noted it was helpful that Constantin understands police and fire operations well, since those "account for over 80 percent of the city budget."
Constantin's resume lists many audits performed, including ones that evaluated economic development and public arts programs, emergency response times, spending on nonprofits, oversight of grant spending and reducing wasteful spending on city employees' cellphones.
"Mr. Constantin's qualifications and extensive experience as a city auditor will greatly enhance our ability to assess the current financial condition of the city," Sorensen said, "and to identify operational areas where we can achieve greater efficiencies." (link to source)