Charlestown Accepting Applications For Treasurer

Charlestown is currently without a Town Treasurer and is accepting applications for the position. This hire will be exceptionally important for the day-to-day financial operations of the town because, after a new Treasurer is hired, the town will still be exceptionally understaffed, with just three people involved in processing of all financial transactions.

This search is the latest in a series of significant events since January affecting the town’s finance department and resulting in a loss of experienced staff and auditors and in an inability to address important issues that put the town at risk (see below).

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance accounting or related field and five or more years of progressively responsible related experience.
• Supervisory experience and ability to be bonded in RI is required.
• Working knowledge of General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and standards under the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
• Certified Government Accounting (CGA), Certified Public Accounting (CPA), or advanced degree preferred.
• Salary ranges from $114,762.30 to $118,205.17 with excellent benefits.

Deadline to Apply: Tuesday, October 3rd, 2023

Check the Town’s website for details on how to apply

Below is the timeline of significant changes since January that have adversely affected the town’s ability to conduct its financial affairs and to prepare for the upcoming budgeting process:

• In January, the new Town Council forced out Charlestown’s town administrator, Mark Stankiewicz, an outstanding town administrator with extensive experience and who is now Finance Director of Pawtucket, a city with a population of over 70,000.
• On May 26 Charlestown’s Treasurer, hired in December 2020, resigned to take a job in Pawtucket at a reduced salary.
• On June 26, the new Town Council hired a new Treasurer, but this month she handed in her resignation.
• Two audit firms have decided not to continue as the town’s auditor. The first had been the town’s auditor for over 20 years and, even though it had another year under contract, decided not to continue. The second, which had been hired by the new Town Council under a three-year contract, performed one audit (fiscal year 2022) and decided not to continue. This firm presented recommendations that have not been addressed.
• An analysis of Charlestown’s financial operations, proposed by former Town Administrator Mark Stankiewicz and awarded to an outside consultant, Clifton, Larson and Allen LLP, by the previous Town Council, was completed. The report was presented, adopted, and approved by the new Town Council at a special meeting on March 29, 2023. However, none of the many issues and recommendations have been addressed even though the consultant stated in its report, “At this time, there are no fully-trained individuals to backup the positions of Treasurer and Tax Assessor. This poses a significant risk to continuation of operations within the Town.” The report cannot be found on the town’s website, other than in the agenda backup for the March 29, 2023, special meeting.
• A new Town Administrator has just this month been hired, after a few months as acting administrator. He faces significant day-to-day challenges in the operation of the Finance Department and in the budget process that begins shortly.