Camas Washougal Watch

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The city of Washougal has hired the state fraud manager who investigated the city earlier this year as its new finance director.

Jennifer Forsberg, 35, has worked for the Washington State Auditor’s Office for the past nine years. Prior to becoming fraud manager for the state department four years ago, Forsberg worked as an auditor and supervisor at the department’s Vancouver office.

Mayor Sean Guard expects the city council will finalize Forsberg’s contract, including her salary, during an executive session Monday. She is set to take over as Washougal’s top financial officer sometime during the week of July 26, once she fulfills prior commitments with the auditor’s office.

Guard admitted the hire was a bit ironic but said the decision seemed natural.

“If I’m the CEO of the city of Washougal, and I happen to be, and you’re looking to make sure certain things never happen again, golly, let’s make the person in charge of the house someone who knows what’s going on,” Guard said.

Forsberg oversaw the several-month fraud investigation in the city of Washougal that wrapped up in March. The state department launched the investigation after revealing in an earlier audit the city was unable to account for about $100,000 in revenue from city events. The auditor’s office was unable to determine if a misappropriation of public funds occurred because of the city’s insufficient record-keeping. The Clark County Sheriff’s Office launched a criminal investigation at Guard’s request. The investigation is ongoing.

Forsberg replaces Jeffrey Bivens, who was fired in December after failing to obtain insurance coverage. Assistant finance director RJ Stevenson has filled the position in the interim.

Forsberg graduated from Washington State University with a degree in business administration and is a certified fraud expert. She has lived in Washougal for the past six years with her husband and three children.

In addition to her experience with the auditor’s office, Forsberg said she brings her high ethical and moral standards to the city.

“I understand completely that we report to the citizens and they have high expectations,” Forsberg said. “I want to meet those and, hopefully, exceed them.”

Forsberg said the audit showed citizens the effect of handling city business improperly. The past problems should also make the community more willing to accept changes.

“Knowing how the city operates obviously helps and knowing what steps need to be taken in the future, it’s going to be a great opportunity,” she said. “The audit was finished a while ago, and the city’s already made huge steps forward.”

But Guard said the city still has more changes to make within its finance department. Forsberg will work with Guard and City Administrator David Scott to fine-tune travel and expense reimbursement policies, city credit card policies, accounts payable and finance policies, among other issues.

The city went through two rounds of applications and interviews before hiring Forsberg. About 30 to 40 people applied for the position. Guard said the hire should send the message to residents that the city is “flat out not going to tolerate things anymore.”

“There really shouldn’t be anybody in town wondering if we’re fixing things,” Guard added. “With a hire like this, I think it shows we’re in the business of fixing things.”

Marissa Harshman: 360-735-4546 or marissa.harshman@columbian.com.