ATLANTA -- Mayor Shirley Franklin, joined by Council President Cathy Woolard and several members of the Atlanta City Council, today announced that Richard “Rick” Anderson is her nominee for the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Anderson, who has more than 25 years experience in finance with the City of Atlanta, has served as the interim chief financial officer since January of this year.
In making the announcement Mayor Franklin said, “I committed to find the best person possible to work with us through this difficult financial period as our CFO, and in the end, we found him in our midst. We searched nationally, but none of the candidates had the personal experience and understanding of this city and our budgetary needs as Rick. He has demonstrated his commitment by serving on an interim basis and coming out of a comfortable semi-retirement to serve once again.”
Rick Anderson began his career with the City of Atlanta in 1972 as an accounting assistant. Through 1991, he held a variety of positions including director of Budget and Management Analysis, deputy commissioner of the Department of Finance and chief financial officer. During his tenure, he restructured the city’s budget process and managed the issuance of $640 million in bonds for improvements to Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport. Anderson established an outstanding reputation amongst his peers, receiving the Award for Distinguished Budget Presentation four times and the Certificate for Achievement of Excellence in Financial Reporting five times from the Government Finance Officers Association.
Prior to returning to city government, Anderson served as director of financial services for the Atlanta Regional Commission and as the owner of Rick Anderson & Associates, which provided financial and management consulting services. Anderson originally served on the transition team for Mayor Franklin. The Mayor says, “Rick graciously resigned from the transition team to join us as the Interim CFO after realizing the daunting financial straits of the city.”
Anderson serves on numerous boards and professional committees including the American Society for Public Administrators, the Georgia Municipal Association and the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia.
Mayor Franklin thanked the search committee of the transition team led by Lawrence Ashe, partner in the law firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky and Walker, as well as the firm of Ray & Berndtson, which conducted a pro bono search for the Chief Financial Officer, for their dedication and success.
President Cathy Woolard congratulated Mr. Anderson for accepting the post of Chief Financial Officer, which reports both to the Mayor and the City Council, saying, “I am delighted to hear that Rick Anderson has agreed to continue on with the City as Chief Financial Officer pending City Council approval. In the past several months, I have been highly impressed with Mr. Anderson’s in-depth review of the City’s financial structure and conditions. I believe his credibility and professionalism are impeccable, and he will be an instrumental part of bringing the highest accountability and efficiency to City finances and budgeting.”
“I am honored and humbled by the confidence Mayor Franklin has placed in me by making this appointment. I am committed to rebuilding the financial structure of Atlanta City government and returning us to financial stability,” said Rick Anderson.
The recommendation of Anderson will be presented to the City Council on Monday July 15, 2002 and is expected to be referred to the Finance/Executive Committee and the Committee on Council for consideration.