2021 Small Communities’ Forum

Working as a Finance Officer in a small community is a very rewarding and challenging career. Aside from a short commute, there are other benefits. As the finance officer you are a key part of the municipality’s management team and will gain experience and face challenges that you might not be exposed to in a larger municipality. This is a result of the large span of responsibilities that the finance officer takes on in a small community.

Often finance officers in small communities are unable to have regular interactions with other financial professionals. Attending conferences and taking professional development can be difficult due to the financial cost and time limitations. GFOABC committed to providing additional support by holding a Small Communities’ Forum during the 2020 virtual conference.

In May 2021, I was pleased to work with Nyla Attiana – District of Tofino and Lyle Smith – District of Peachland to present the second Small Communities’ Forum.

The forum was well attended and extended past the scheduled time frame to address all the topics that were submitted. The forum was recorded and is included in the 2021 Conference APP and can be viewed by those who were unable to participate in the live forum.

It was an opportunity for finance officers to ask questions and to share solutions and resources with each other. The grant checklist Nyla Attiana mentioned during the forum, has been shared to the 2021 Conference APP under the agenda item for the Small Communities’ Forum.

The discussion covered many items. Some of the key points were:

• Ongoing communication with other departments is key, especially for asset management, controlling operating and capital costs and grant funding.

• IT support is often difficult for smaller communities due to cost and availability, and is a major consideration when considering software solutions.

• Asset management and ARO’s are projects that require support of the whole organization, finding time to do the required work is challenging.

• Managing expectations for service levels and taxation needs to involve both the public and the internal stakeholders.

The participants appreciated the chance to ask questions and share their issues and successes. In order to provide this support on an ongoing basis, it has been suggested that the Small Communities’ Forum be held more often, possibly quarterly. LET US KNOW.

This is a group of dedicated finance officers who are rising to the many challenges as they provide outstanding financial stewardship to the small communities of BC. The fact that they are willing to work together by sharing and supporting each other, is impressive. I am proud to have worked with this outstanding group and consider my experience in small municipalities one of the highlights of my career.

SHEILA

THIESSEN, CPA, CMA retired in 2020 after working in a variety of positions over her 20-year municipal finance career. Having worked at the Thompson Nicola Regional District and the City of Surrey she found her work at the small communities of Clearwater and Merritt as the Director of Finance the most rewarding.