New Hire: City selects new finance director | News

“St. Helens really caught my interest when I learned about the Riverfront Project,” Butsch said. “It closely parallels the projects I’ve been involved with in Independence. After visiting the area a couple times and reading staff testimonials, I knew that St. Helens is a place that I want to live and work.”

Prior to working at the City of Independence, Butsch was an audit manager for a public accounting firm in Newport where she performed audit fieldwork for various government entities. She was also a finance manager for two years at the Seal Rock Water District.

“We look forward to welcoming Gloria to our team,” St. Helens City Administrator John Walsh said. “As our budget season gets underway and we have several major infrastructure and redevelopment projects starting, we are happy to have someone in St. Helens with extensive knowledge of government finances. Her experience with riverfront development and financing will be an added benefit for St. Helens.”

Butsch is heavily involved with the Oregon Government Finance Officer’s Association (OGFOA). She is the association’s current president-elect and becomes president on February 28, 2023. She has served on OGFOA’s Board of Directors since March 2017 and has led the Small Jurisdictions Forum program since 2019. She has also served on the Education Committee since 2010 and the Hospitality Committee since 2017. She has also served as a reviewer of OGFOA’s Distinguished Budget award program.

Butsch has been a member of Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL) since 2015 and served on the Oregon Public Performance Improvement Association (OPPIA) from 2018 to 2020.

Butsch has spent most of her life on the West Coast. She grew up in a small town in Northern California before living in Alaska for almost 13 years. She moved to the Oregon Coast in 1996 and has remained in Oregon since. In her free time, she enjoys travel and golf with her husband.

The following details are from the City of St. Helens.

Benefits package includes:

• Medical, dental, & vision insurance
• HRA VEBA
• STD, LTD, & $20,000 Life Insurance
• PERS Retirement
• 12 days sick leave, 11 Holidays + 2 floating days per year
• Vacation leave beginning at 8hrs/month
• Longevity pay beginning at 5 years
• $75/month wellness reimbursement

Finance Director Summary of Duties

Reporting to the City Administrator, the Finance Director manages and coordinates the activities of Finance and Utility Billing as well as staff in both divisions.

The Finance Director develops concepts and a philosophy that guides the operations of both divisions as well as procedures and performance standards to assure efficient and accurate activities in compliance with City policies, guidelines, goals, and objectives.

The Finance Division of the Administration Department provides professional financial services and information to the City Council, City Administrator, and City departments in order to promote fiscal stability and integrity.

In addition to providing financial services related to accounting and payroll, Finance prepares the annual budget, works with the City’s auditors to prepare the annual audit and Annual Financial Report, performs utility billing and fee analysis, and manages the City’s investments and debts. The Finance Director also serves as the Budget Officer for both the City and the City’s Urban Renewal Agency.

Butsch replaces Matt Brown who left the position in 2022.