Lenoir finance director receives certification
May 17—LENOIR — City of Lenoir Finance Director Donna Bean was recently certified as a Local Government Finance Officer by the North Carolina Government Finance Officers Association.
Bean achieved the certification after completing more than 150 hours of instruction from the UNC School of Government and passing exams related to the courses of study. The five core courses are Introduction to Local Government Finance, Governmental Accounting and Financial Reporting, Budgeting in Local Government, Capital Financing in Local Government, Cash Management and Investment of Public Funds, and Effective Supervisory Management.
Bean said the program took a lot of time and work to complete, but it was worth the effort.
"It was a lot of good information, and the course instructors were really good," Bean said. "It was a lot of work and a lot of studying, but the program was very beneficial for what I do day-to-day in the Finance Department."
Bean is responsible for managing the Lenoir's Finance Department, which includes 13 employees, and she ensures that city staff follow all state laws and best accounting practices for the city's $30 million annual budget.
The Finance Department manages the city's financial accounts; assists the City Manager in preparing the annual budget; manages accounts payable, payroll, billing, and collections; collects utility bills and tax bills for about 10,000 customers; processes employment applications; maintains personnel records and benefits plans for full-time and part-time employees; provides information technology services for the city; and manages the city's insurance policies, safety programs, procurement, and purchasing.
City Manager Scott Hildebran said having dedicated employees that go the extra mile improves services to everyone in Lenoir.
"I really appreciate the fact that Donna took the initiative and invested the time and effort to complete this rigorous certification program," Hildebran said. "She is dedicated to continuing her education and staying up-to-date on state law and accounting standards, and she is an asset to the city of Lenoir. I'm thankful to have her on staff."
Bean has worked for the city of Lenoir since 2016. Prior to coming to the city, she worked for Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute for 26 years, most recently serving as Department Chair for Corporate & Continuing Education from 2004 to 2016. Bean earned a Master of Science degree in Accounting from Appalachian State University and has served as an Adjunct Accounting Professor at Gardner-Webb University.
The goals of the Certified Local Government Finance Officer program are to ensure that local government finance staff provide greater service to the public; to recognize achievement, competency, and proficiency among finance officers; and to promote continuing professional development among finance staff.
