Shelton names new school finance director

SHELTON — Superintendent Ken Saranich has rounded out his central office team.

The Board of Education, at its meeting last week, approved the hiring of Frank T. “Todd” Heffelfinger as the district’s director of finance and business services. Heffelfinger replaces Allan Cameron, who had been filling in on an interim basis since former finance director Rick Belden’s retirement on July 1.

Heffelfinger’s salary for 2021-22 is $145,000.

“Todd comes to us with an extensive background in corporate finance,” Saranich said, adding that Heffelfinger served in finance leadership positions.

“As a financial leader, he brings international and domestic leadership experience in finance, analysis, strategy, operations, and quality control,” Saranich said. “I believe Todd will enhance our Shelton team in addressing our needs in budgeting, operational management, and financial planning.”

Cameron had spent 18 years as the district’s finance director before retiring in 2014. He was hired as an interim finance director in July.

According to Saranich, the district is presently performing an operational financial audit focused on how the school’s finance department can be run more efficiently. PKF O’Connor Davies has been hired to perform the operational audit of the district’s financial-related policies and procedures.

“(The board) feels the timing could not be better as we work with the auditing firm that was hired over the summer on their findings and recommendations,” board Chair Kathy Yolish said. “Todd will be involved from the start and his overall expertise should benefit long-standing results for our school system.”

The director of finance and business services’ responsibilities include supervising school finances, budgets including budget requests, accounting and reporting, fiscal management and reporting of special funds, accounts payable, procurement, revenue management, benefits reporting and accounts receivable and payroll.

Additional responsibilities, Yolish said, include supervision and evaluation of the Finance Department and other staff.

“Heffelfinger comes to Shelton with a wealth of experience as a seasoned financial leader with many years of experience in budgeting, operational planning, financial planning and analysis, and reporting and accounting,” Yolish said.

She said he has “communication, leadership and analytical skills paramount to the successful operational and organizational needs of the Shelton Public School System.”