During a recent government meeting, officials discussed the urgent need to reclassify the finance officer position within the county, citing significant challenges in financial management and recruitment. The current finance officer role has been deemed critical, second only to the county manager, yet the county has struggled to fill the position permanently, leading to reliance on external financial assistance.

The county has incurred over $425,000 in costs to the Eisley Group for outside financial support since February 2022, and the audit process has fallen behind schedule, raising concerns about potential payback situations for grant money. The finance officer's responsibilities include ensuring timely audits, budget compliance, and accurate reporting, which are essential for the county's financial health.

A presentation highlighted alarming trends in the accounting profession, with 75% of CPAs expected to retire in the next 15 years and a reported shortage of 340,000 accountants compared to five years ago. This shortage has led to increased competition for qualified candidates, with neighboring counties offering higher salary ranges for similar positions.

The proposal includes raising the finance officer's salary grade from 78 to 81, aligning it with the importance of the role and the compensation offered by comparable counties. The recommendation aims to attract qualified candidates and reduce reliance on external financial services, ultimately saving the county money in the long run.

Officials acknowledged the challenges of recruitment, particularly with an interim manager in place, and outlined a multi-faceted approach to attract candidates. This includes advertising the position widely and considering creative solutions, such as sharing a finance officer with another county or contracting the role if necessary.

The meeting underscored the pressing need for a qualified finance officer to ensure the county's financial stability and compliance, as well as the broader implications of a statewide shortage of accounting professionals.