The City of Portage la Prairie has named a new Director of Corporate Services, fulfilling the duties of the Director of Finance position, which has been vacant since Amanda Watson departed in Nov. 2016.

Cathie McFarlane will take over as Director of Corporate Services beginning Feb. 6, the city announced in a release today. In the role, she will be responsible for overseeing and coordinating all financial management, control, reporting and purchasing functions for the city.

“She will provide all statutory financial duties and administer an annual operating budget with full responsibility for investments, assets, and capital debt administration,” the release reads. “McFarlane will oversee the Finance and Administration departments and act as the Deputy City Manager for the City of Portage la Prairie.”

McFarlane says in a statement: “I am looking forward to this opportunity to work for the City of Portage la Prairie. Our city is a great place to live and work, and this position gives me even more ways to serve my community.”

McFarlane has more than 25 years of combined senior financial experience in the credit union industry and provincial government.

“She brings an in-depth knowledge of financial and administrative governance operations as well as extensive leadership, project planning and management experience,” the city says.

City manager Jean-Marc Nadeau adds: “Council and administration welcome Cathie to the city. We look forward to benefiting from Cathie’s long experience from the public and private sector.”