Beth Kelly To Serve As Financial Services Director

The City of Sanford has selected Beth Kelly to serve as Director of Financial Services.

As director, Kelly will manage all financial aspects for the City, including financial reporting, debt issuance, budgeting, and revenue analysis and projections for the general and utility funds. Kelly has served as Interim Director since August 19, 2013 when the position was vacated by Melissa Cardinali.

Kelly’s experience makes her a natural fit for the position, says Hal Hegwer, City Manager. She has served as Assistant Director of Financial Services for the City of Sanford since March of 2005. Prior to that, she worked as an auditor of North Carolina local governments (counties and municipalities) for public accounting firm Dixon Hughes Goodman, formerly Dixon Hughes, PLLC.

This new role will place Kelly in the position to directly manage $14.5 million in debt issuance for the general obligation bonds passed in the September 10 municipal primary. Her previous bond experience shows she is up to the task. “Beth Kelly was integral in obtaining excellent interest rates for the $54 million in revenue bonds necessary for the Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion, a project that totaled $72 million,” Hegwer says.

“I have a great deal of confidence in Beth Kelly. Her accounting background and prior auditing experience are strong assets for the City. Serving as Assistant Director of Financial Services and Interim Director of Financial Services has prepared her to hit the ground running,” Hegwer says.

Kelly graduated from Meredith College in 1998 with a degree in accounting. She is an active member of the North Carolina Governmental Finance Officers Association and the North Carolina Governmental Investment Association.