By Lookout Staff

December 20 -- Carol O. Swindell – who has headed administrative and finance departments in two Southern California cities – has been tapped as Santa Monica’s new finance director.

Selected by City Manager Lamont Ewell after a nationwide search, Swindell will replace Steve Stark, who resigned the post to head the financial department in Pasadena. She will assume the post on January 12.

"Santa Monica is lucky to find someone with the range of financial skills and public sector experience that Carol offers and these attributes will greatly enhance our city’s fiscal position," Ewell said.

"Further, her management style is oriented to collaboration and customer service,” he said. “She is highly effective in training and motivating staff. I’m eager to have Carol join our team.”

Swindell -- who has a strong background in government finance and information technology -- will ensure that the City focuses on sound financial practices, budget development and fiscal oversight “so that the community is properly served,” Ewell said.

She will help craft Santa Monica's budget, which during the current fiscal year is a record $457.8 million.

Swindell served most recently as director of administrative services for the City of Walnut Creek for two years, overseeing a $97-million budget and supervising 30 employees.

She was credited with implementing major changes to that city’s budget process, including changing from a 24-month budget to two 12-month budgets to improve control, and adding performance measures.

Before that, Swindell was the director of financial services and chief financial officer for the City of Oceanside for three years, managing a $250-million budget and supervising 60 employees.

At Oceanside, she was responsible for developing a multi-year strategic plan to improve the delivery of services. She also implemented the city’s first financial trends analysis and long-term financial plan as a framework for budget development.

“Santa Monica is a beautiful, vibrant and progressive community, and its city government is recognized as one of the best in the country," Swindell said. “I’m thrilled and honored to have been selected to become a member of the city team.”

From 1995 to 2001, Swindell was assistant manager for financial and management services for James City County, Virginia, where she was part of a team that developed a cash flow and investment model that increased the county’s investment return by 5 percent. Under her watch, the city achieved an AA3 bond rating upgrade from Moody’s.

Swindell also served as director of finance for the City of Poquoson, Virginia from 1988 to 1995, as internal auditor for The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, Virginia from 1987 to 1988, and as an auditor for Cooper & Lybrand in Newport News, Virginia from 1986 to 1987.