OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio — The post-pandemic labor shortage continues to affect all industries and occupations nationwide.
This includes municipalities, which require certain qualifications and experiences unique to civic operations.
That’s the case in Olmsted Falls where the upcoming departure of longtime Assistant Finance Director Terry Veloski finds the city scrambling to find a qualified replacement.
“Unfortunately, the market for any type of government finance position is not very good,” Finance Director Cory Swaisgood said. “I’m not getting a lot of responses.
“The last year or so the government finance industry has just been tough to fill those positions because people are both retiring and not coming into government finance anymore.”
The full-time assistant finance director listing has a Friday (Nov. 25) deadline for resumes.
“I’m definitely struggling and very concerned,” Swaisgood said. “It’s been posted for almost two weeks and the applicants I’m getting, if they’re qualified, they’re only qualified in accounting and not government.
“We’re not getting any government experience, which is crucial for that position.”
The assistant finance director is the city’s only full-time position in a finance department that Swaisgood described as already being very lean.
If a qualified candidate isn’t identified, the finance director said there are options. This includes breaking up the assistant position into either smaller full-time or part-time roles.
“One of the other options I’m looking into is working with vendors to automate accounts payable, reconciliations and financial reporting,” Swaisgood said.
“If we can’t fill the position, that will help everyone else out.”
As for Veloski’s departure, Swaisgood said, “She’s very good at what she did. The city as a whole — residents and staff — are going to miss her.”
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