CUC still in process of finding new CFO and deputy executive director
The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. is still in the process of looking for a chief financial officer and a deputy director to fill two of the three highest positions within the agency.
CUC executive director Alan Fletcher said that they have had nationwide searches for qualified applicants for their chief financial officer and have had several possible candidates for the deputy executive director.
“We have had possible candidates but we are close to identifying [the most likely ones],” Fletcher told Saipan Tribune.
CUC’s chief financial officer Charles Warren resigned on July 18, 2014.
Since then, a certified public accountant has been appointed acting CFO, Fletcher said. She is Joanne Paraiso, who is CUC’s chief accountant. She will be handling the CFO position during the recruitment period.
“Paraiso has 10 years of management level of utility experience and she has also been working directly with our Stipulated Order issues, and has been responsible for managing approximately $70 million in grant monies that CUC receives,” Fletcher said.
He said that Paraiso also does the technical reporting and compliance required by grantors for four years.
Fletcher conceded that CUC has been unable to recruit a suitable candidate for deputy executive director and has asked the U.S. Environmental Protection for more time to hire one.
According to Fletcher, CUC conducted a nationwide search in the summer of 2013 for qualified applicants to fill the position.
He said they did a thorough review of 48 applicants and held six interviews and CUC submitted four final candidates to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency for review and approval.
“Of the four candidates submitted, EPA did not comment on one applicant, rejected two additional contenders, and approved one candidate meeting the required qualifications,” Fletcher said.
That candidate later withdrew the application from being considered.
“CUC has diligently attempted to hire for this position, but it has been unsuccessful. As a result the position has been advertised as part of a new nationwide search and formally requested an additional 150 days to recruit,” Fletcher said.
He said the request was made on March 25 and they still hasn’t gotten a response from EPA.
First of all, Ms. Pariaso would have to apply. Second, EPA would have to approve her qualfications. Third, CUC would have to decide if she was the best of all of the EPA approved candidates. And, Juan, just so you get your facts straight, the job is for a CFO, not Comptroller.
John8:32, thank you for the clarification…
please if you don’t mind educating me further, what is the difference between a Comptroller and Chief Financial Officer? I asked because multiple times on contracts, letters, Warren used to be labelled as CFO or Comptroller. Thank you. (am not a figure guy).
At the 30,000 foot level, the comptroller is responsible for the operations of the accounting department while the CFO is responsible for the overall financial health of the utility. One of the primary duties of a CFO is to develop, and then execute, the utility’s strategic financial plan. An analogy I like is that if the utility were a car, the ED/Board would be the driver. The comptroller would be the rear-view mirror, showing where the car has been. The CFO would be the windshield and headlights, showing the driver where he is going and preparing him to slow down, speed up, turn to avoid problems, etc.
The best analogy by far!…I would have settled for a Comptroller is nothing more than a high level bean counter…
i like your analogy. as your name implies “the truth shall set you free” Please get into the truth, not everything what was said is true. Know the light.