The Metropolis of Covington’s new Finance Director hopes this information isn’t the least learn within the Metropolis’s historical past. In any case, Steve Webb factors out, it’s “in regards to the new finance man.”
To Webb, nevertheless, numbers are supremely fascinating. And he’s fast to confess that he was at all times “actually good with math,” which is clear in his physique of labor.
As controller for the Indiana Division of Incapacity and Rehabilitative Companies, Webb developed and managed a $1.65 billion price range composed of state, federal, and devoted funding sources. As a chief monetary officer for the Indiana Division of Enterprise and Neighborhood Companies, he elevated general division revenues and decreased bills. And as a senior monetary analyst, and monetary specialist with the Indiana Public Retirement System, he constructed an annual price range of $230 million and managed quarterly forecast replace processes.
As Covington leaders sought to switch Muhammed Owusu, who retired and returned house to Virginia after 4 years operating the Finance Division, they stated Webb’s background stood out.
Steve Webb (Picture from Metropolis of Covington)
“Steve has been an ideal addition to our management workforce,” stated Covington Metropolis Supervisor Ken Smith. “His intensive native and state authorities expertise made him a really perfect match for Covington. I sit up for working with him to streamline our operations and to offer even higher customer support to our residents and companies.”
Whereas working with numbers was an apparent alternative for Webb, it was his father’s clever counsel that satisfied him to make use of his eager math abilities within the employment of state and native governments.
“Once I was a child, my dad at all times talked about how working in authorities was such a noble occupation,” stated Webb. “He stated, ‘It’s not the place you go to get wealthy, however they do make a distinction.’ Regardless that I used to be a child, that sat behind my thoughts.”
Webb, who was finance director with the Northern Kentucky Space Improvement District earlier than coming to Covington, brings an eye fixed for efficiencies and modernization to the place.
Certainly one of his priorities is to increase a web-based fee possibility with restricted software (property taxes and waste and stormwater charges) so it may be used for a variety of different charges and taxes, similar to occupational license charges and the insurance coverage premium tax.
One other precedence is to make the Metropolis’s price range, audit, and different monetary reviews extra accessible and straightforward to know for “lay” individuals.
“My plan is to proceed down the trail of transparency for our residents,” Webb stated. “Arising with a report that you simply don’t need to be a finance skilled to know as a stakeholder in our metropolis is among the issues that I want to create.”
As finance director, Webb will implement the strategic actions mandatory to perform the Metropolis’s mission and targets.
He’s chargeable for planning, organizing, directing, controlling, and evaluating the actions of the Finance Division. He’ll assist monetary accounting processes and supply fiscal accountability via coordination, formulation, monitoring, and presentation of budgets.
He’ll additionally keep a scientific, disciplined method to figuring out dangers and evaluating and enhancing the effectiveness of the division via monetary controls and governance processes.
Webb is well-suited for the duty.
“I’m very process-oriented, environment friendly, at all times interested by how we are able to do issues higher and faster,” he stated. “I’m that approach in my private life too. I’m the individual with all of the hangers within the closet going through the identical approach.”
As he settles into the place, Webb stated it’s clear that there’s sturdy management at Metropolis Corridor.
“There are actual visionaries, individuals who excel at what they do,” stated Webb. “So many individuals are enjoying a job within the growth that’s taking place in Covington. It looks like there’s sturdy management throughout the board, and everyone seems to be working collectively, pulling in the identical course. That makes a job that’s actually exhausting straightforward to return in and do each day. I hope I’m including to that or a part of it.”
Exterior of the enjoyment of working with numbers, Webb and his spouse take pleasure in journey and have attended video games at all the Main League Baseball stadiums within the nation. The couple moved to Northern Kentucky when Webb’s spouse acquired a job provide in Cincinnati. They’ve discovered the area, significantly Covington, to be match.
“Covington has my ‘really feel,’ ” stated Webb. “I just like the native enterprise vibe.”
And by “native enterprise vibe,” he means “the meals.”
“One of many issues I do once I journey anyplace is to solely eat at locations that I can’t get at house,” stated Webb. “I just like the native enterprise vibe in Covington. Plus, it’s a particularly numerous metropolis and a really walkable metropolis.”
Metropolis of Covington
