The City of Algood has added two new additional Certified Municipal Finance Officers.
Algood City Administrator Keith Morrison said certified municipal finance officers help other city employees understand how the government works including topics like budgeting, accounting, reporting, and cash and grant management. Morrison said the state requires every municipality to have at least one certified municipal finance officer but with the new hires, the city now has four.
“Typically our accountant and finance director would be the main CMFO,” Morrison said. “But having the other employees certified gives them those skills to assist the finance director and accountant in the tasks that they do and better understand how things should operate and improve our overall operation.”
Morrison said the city hired Anna Walker and Roy Phipps who were already city employees but recently completed their certified municipal finance officer certifications. Morrison said the city likes to have more than one certified municipal finance officer in case staffing changes are made.
“Some municipalities struggle to get one,” Morrison said. “We are one of the few you know that are lucky to have multiples and you know it takes a year to get that certification.”
Morrison said it takes extensive work to not only become certified but also maintain certification. Morrison said Walker and Phipps putting the work into becoming certified meant a lot to the city.
“There are 11 classes and 11 exams that have to be passed,” Morrison said. “Then each year after that you have to maintain 16 hours of continuing education with the comptroller’s office to remain certified.”
