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Finance director outlines staffing changes after deputy treasurer's retirement
Summary
With the deputy treasurer retiring June 28, finance staff proposed moving an accountant into an interim treasury role and exploring a longer-term merger of management functions to reduce redundancy while preserving segregation of duties.
Danielle, the City of Franklin Director of Finance and Treasurer, told the Finance Committee that the city's deputy treasurer, Roseanne, has announced her retirement effective June 28 and that staff are preparing short- and medium-term options to maintain treasury operations.
The discussion focused on cross-training, segregation of duties, and a possible 12- to 18-month plan to merge management functions in finance and treasury if auditors and job analyses support the change. Danielle said she plans to have an interim assignment for an existing accountant while meeting with auditors and evaluating potential job-description changes.
Why it matters
Treasury and finance functions involve collections, disbursements and reconciliation; maintaining proper segregation of duties is a standard internal-control expectation for municipal finance. Committee members expressed concern that combining certain duties without appropriate controls could increase operational risk. Danielle said the plan is exploratory and would return to the committee with auditor feedback and a proposed structure.
Key points from staff
- Retirement timing and interim staffing: Danielle announced the deputy treasurer's retirement date as "June 28" and said her preference is to have an experienced accountant (Sarah) move into an interim deputy-treasurer role to learn treasury tasks ahead of tax deadlines and settlements.
- Possible position changes: Staff discussed offering Cheryl, the long-time payroll clerk who has performed accounts-payable duties in the past, full-time status and adjusting duties so reconciliation and disbursement tasks remain segregated.
- Audit and internal-control review: Danielle said she will meet with auditors (referred to as CLA) to review segregation-of-duty implications and quantify any cost savings from reorganizing two management positions into one.
- Procurement and contract oversight: The discussion noted the city lacks a centralized procurement function and recommended exploring contract and vendor-management improvements as part of a larger finance reorganization.
Next steps and timeline
Danielle said she will move Sarah to an interim role, consult with auditors, update job descriptions, and return to the committee in June with findings and a recommended path forward. No formal personnel actions were taken at the meeting.
Ending
Committee members asked that any restructuring preserve internal controls and seek auditor guidance; Danielle will report back after consulting auditors and testing the interim assignment.
