Finance

Finance

Providing financial structure for city operations, infrastructure replacement, and economic development.

Caroline Moe, director of finance, Cambridge

Why she shows up every day: Working in city finance is a perfect way to achieve my personal goal to improve the world while using my finance, organization, and communication skills.

Governments in Minnesota do a wide variety of things. Working in city finance, you can be involved in helping to make things happen in your community and finding creative ways to finance projects.

Over my years I have played a critical role in completing key city infrastructure projects in a fiscally responsible manner including the construction of streets, bridges, water towers, parks, and a library. Watching projects that once were on a “dream board” come to completion is exhilarating to me.

How she got the job: I have a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Minnesota-Duluth (UMD) along with a master’s degree in business administration from Saint Cloud State University. When I graduated from UMD in 1987, I worked for KPMG, a large public accounting firm in their Public Services practice primarily auditing cities, counties, and non-profit clients. In 1996, I went to work for one of my clients, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, as the commissioner of finance. After getting married and the birth of my son three years later, I sought a job with more stability but still plenty of challenge. I joined the City of Cambridge Finance Department as director of finance in February 2002 and have enjoyed the ride since then. 

What’s the job like? Since I work for a smaller city, I enjoy participating in so many aspects of Cambridge including police, fire, streets, utilities, housing, economic development, and parks. Some job activities are routine but still important like reviewing payroll and vendor checks to make sure employees and vendors are paid. However, other job responsibilities require a tremendous amount of creativity such as long-range financial planning. Cambridge has a long history of using a detailed long-range financial plan to guide its operations.

I enjoy working with the city council, city administrator, and department heads to lay out a plan that accomplishes proper staffing levels, equipment purchases, and infrastructure replacement while considering the impact on property tax and utility rate levels. In addition, my day is sprinkled with other excitement such as investment/cash management, risk management, information technology coordination, and employee safety/wellness program implementation.

To top off the challenge, I often must figure out how to explain financial complexity in terms that citizens and coworkers can understand. I take pride in our city’s financial transparency and commitment to always do our best for citizens. I sleep well most nights, knowing I have played a key role in making things happen each day in our city.

Are you interested in learning more about a city career? One great way to get advice is to contact someone in your own city or a city nearby. You can ask questions about the job and learn more about training programs that may be available. Connect to city websites and city contact information through the League of Minnesota Cities.