Ellsworth’s top finance official is leaving his post for another job, continuing a pattern of turnover in the city’s finance office.
The city is now seeking to fill the position after finance director Nate Moore, who served in an interim capacity before his 18-month stint as director, departs the city for a senior budget analyst role with the City of Manitou Springs, Co., according to Ellsworth City Manager Charles Pearce.
Prior to Moore being hired for the job in the summer of 2024, his two predecessors in the post each served about a year and a half in the role. Before Moore, former finance head Anne Laine abruptly resigned in April 2024 after spending less than 18 months on the job.
The city will now be hiring its sixth finance director in eight years.
“It is no secret to those who were here when Nate arrived that the Finance Department was facing significant challenges,” Pearce said in an email to city employees. “Core processes were underdeveloped, multiple accounts had not been reconciled for years, prior-year actuals were unavailable to departments, the city was 3 years behind on audits, and the annual budget process lacked structure and coordination. In short, the system was not set up to support a $60 million municipal operation.”
The City listed the Chief Financial Officer position on its website the morning of Feb. 3, a day after Pearce sent out a memo about Moore’s pending departure. The position has a starting salary of between $95,000 and $150,000, contingent on the candidate’s qualifications. The City hopes to fill the position by early March, the listing says.
“The city is looking for the right candidate to lead the department for multiple years, not the candidate who has the soonest availability,” the listing says.
Pearce thanked Moore, who also served as deputy finance director under Laine, for his leadership in stabilizing the finance department, which now has an average tenure of “nearly three years,” the city manager said.
Despite having no municipal experience before leading the department, Moore helped revamp the city’s budget process, Pearce said. Among his various achievements as director, Moore restored monthly departmental financial reporting, introduced digital warrants and signature options and led the city through two budget cycles.
Moving forward, Sue Lessard – the former town manager of Bucksport, Vinalhaven and Hampden – will continue consulting with city staff on finance department matters, including redesigning business processes, Pearce said.
“Ellsworth is intentionally moving away from reactive, siloed government and toward predictable performance, strong internal controls, modern digital systems, and proactive financial planning,” the listing says. “The CFO will play a central role in building and sustaining that future. In addition to coming onto an already strong team, this position and the effort to sustain and invest in a successful finance operation is well supported by city leadership, the council, and the community.”
