The new director of finance for North Battleford has arrived in the city.
Matthew Hartney and his wife Caley were at North Battleford city council Monday, where they were introduced from the gallery by City Manager Jim Toye.
The city announced Hartney's hiring Feb. 10, with his official start date March 1.
Hartney, 29, previously worked in the internal audit group for NAV Canada in Ottawa, and holds both an MBA degree as well as a CMA (Certified Management Accountants) designation. He achieved his CMA designation while working with the firm of Ernst and Young in Ottawa.
This will be his first position in municipal government, and also his first senior finance role.
"It's a real pleasure to be moving to North Battleford," said Hartney, who says he has a long family history in the area and province.
His mother is in Saskatoon and his father is in Moose Jaw, he said, and the family had property in Turtle Lake.
"We've been going between Saskatoon and Turtle Lake for almost 30 years."
The first big priority for Hartney is, of course, moving. He says he and his wife are looking to buy a home here.
"We're going to be buying our first home in the province of Saskatchewan," said Hartney. "We plan on being here for quite some time."
He expects his wife Caley, a trained teacher who currently works at a national non-profit in Ontario, will be joining him at the end of March.
Hartney also told reporters he looks forward to an exciting year ahead, pointing in particular to the 2013 centennial celebrations for the city.
The hiring concludes an extensive search by the City to fill the shoes left by former Finance Director Byron Tumbach. Tumbach handed down his final city budget in December before moving on to his new position as chief administrative officer for the Town of Lumsden.
Toye said a number of out-of-province candidates were considered including several from Ontario.
Toye told reporters the City hired Hartney because they were impressed with his qualifications and community volunteer activities, as well as his desire to return to Saskatchewan and live in the area.
Toye described Hartney as an "up-and-coming young man," and "very knowledgeable and intelligent. We're very happy to have him."
