City to pick from 4 treasurer finalists

Four finalists are vying for the position of Scottsdale’s city treasurer, and the City Council is expected to select a candidate by the end of the month.

David Smith vacated the position in July. In Scottsdale, the treasurer is the city’s primary chief financial officer. The four finalists: » Douglas Allen, financial operations officer for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community education division. Previous positions include deputy county administrator for Yuma County and director of administrative services for Buckeye.

The education division includes a $29.5 million annual budget and a workforce of 452 people. Allen compiles and prepares financial statements and budget reports.

» Lee Guillory, Scottsdale’s acting city treasurer and finance director.

Previous positions include finance manager with Arizona Public Service and revenue manager with the Arizona Cor- poration Commission.

Guillory is responsible for issuing and administering the city’s debt portfolio of more than $1.2 billion. She also monitors and reports on the city’s $400 million investment portfolio.

» Jeff Nichols, chief financial officer/vice president of the Scottsdale Cultural Council. Previous positions include accounting director for Scottsdale and deputy director/controller for the Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department.

Nichols works with the directors of the council’s various operating divisions to prepare the annual operating budget. He also is responsible for managing the year-end audit process and compiling the annual financial statement.

» Diane Ruscitti, former deputy assistant director of finance/treasury for Houston’s department of aviation. Previous positions include director of fuel hedging for Alaska Airlines and director of structured finance for Bombardier Aerospace.

In Houston, Ruscitti man- aged a $3 billion debt portfolio, and evaluation of strategic priorities and expenditures for a large airport system with $500 million in annual revenue.

The planning agenda for the council’s Sept. 17 work-study session/special meeting includes introductions, presentations and interviews with the finalists. The council may also make a final selection and instruct staff to negotiate a contract.

“This will be a good opportunity for people to hear the candidates and council comments,” said Kelly Corsette, the city’s communications and public-affairs director.

Thirty-three applications were received during the recruitment period, June 27Aug. 4.

Smith’s annual salary was $142,812. The next city treasurer’s salary isn’t tied to how much Smith was earning in the position, Corsette said.

“There is no particular range associated with the city treasurer’s position,” he said. “The posting indicated that salary is ‘commensurate with experience.’ ”