This month’s “Happenings” features Darlene Eddy, Health
Facility Comptroller.
A little background first, I have my Bachelors of Science in
Professional Accounting from SUNY Plattsburgh.
I worked eight years as a senior accountant at a private business and 17
years here at CCHD as the Health Facility Comptroller. Governmental & Business accounting are
really similar; however, our funding is mainly provided by taxpayer dollars,
whether it is through grants, Medicaid billings, sales or property taxes. With that, it is very critical that we be
good stewards of those funds entrusted to us and function with a high degree of
integrity. This is what I love most
about CCHD, the high degree of professionalism, accountability and integrity
that staff emulate.
At CCHD, I am the Chief Financial Officer and the Leader of
the Finance & Information Technology (FIT) division which consists of one
Senior Computer Programmer and six account clerks (entry level to principal
level). Our acronym, FIT, fits with how
we embrace CCHD’s motto “Working Together for a Healthier Community” J. I work with managers, supervisors, front
line, clerical staff and my own team here at CCHD focusing on the outcomes and impact
we are making on our community!
Today, January
27, 2016 was yet another fun-filled, fast-paced day.
·
The accounting year closed 12/31/2015 and there is
lots to do with very tight deadlines to ensure the books are closed out
properly. We focused on some critical accounts
payable transactions that relate to “special” state aid funding that ends
01/31/16 thus maximizing revenues from New York State.
·
We are working together on the details and
different phases for several projects involving much needed renovations: new
office furniture, staff movement, VOIP phones and new network switches to
improve connection speeds. All of this
helps organize us and keeps the infrastructure running smoothly, so staff can
do what needs to be done for the public.
·
At the Agency meeting today, I discussed the
2016 Budget highlights and ended with this comment to all staff: “In order to support the programs of our
department it is imperative that we all work together towards our Department’s
vision and keep the communication lines open, since none of us function in a
vacuum. We are reliant on each other to
do their part. And, we don’t know, what
we don’t know, so share the knowledge and information with each other so we can
be the best Public Health Department.”
It is truly a team effort requiring active listening, asking
questions, and requesting help when needed.
We are all here to make our vision come true “Clinton County.….Healthy
People in a Healthy Community”!
