Central Coast Council no longer has a Chief Financial Officer.
Instead, it has a Director of Corporate Affairs – Natalia Cowley.
It was only in October last year that Council announced Cowley’s appointment to the role of Chief Financial Officer.
She came to the Coast to start her role only days after the Council announced it was facing immediate and serious financial liquidity issues.
The Minister for Local Government soon after suspended the councillors and installed an administrator on October 30.
Then on November 30, Council adopted a new organisation structure which created the new position of director of corporate affairs.
Under Corporate Affairs there are nine units including finance.
So technically there is no Chief Financial Officer anymore but there is a Unit Manager of Finance.
The Director of Corporate Affairs reports directly to the CEO.
Cowley’s directorate delivers a wide range of internal and external services and advises on governance and legislative framework obligations and existing and emerging risks.
“The Director Corporate Affairs manages a team of professionals responsible for the delivery of strategic and operational management for: Finance, Information and Technology, People and Culture, Procurement and Project Management, Plant and Fleet, Governance and Risk, Legal, Economic Development and Property, Building Maintenance, Depots and Administration and Customer Service and Communication,” the Council said.
Cowley’s experience spans Local Government, financial services and Big Four audit professional services in Australia and overseas.
She has been acting in the director’s role but it was confirmed on March 9 that her position was now permanent.
Merilyn Vale