Finance Director Selected for Government Leadership Award

Finance Director Joseph Beach

Joseph Beach, director of Montgomery County’s Department of Finance, has received this year’s Distinguished Local Government Leadership Award from the Association of Government Accountants (AGA). Beach was presented with the award at the AGA’s 13th Annual National Leadership Conference and Exposition in Washington, D.C.

The award recognizes local government professionals who exemplify and promote excellence in government financial management and demonstrate outstanding leadership in enhancing sound financial management legislation, regulations, practices, policies and systems.

Beach’s senior level leadership with the County has included three key roles and spanned 11 years. Since 2011, he has been Director of Finance, after serving five years, from 2006 to 2011, as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Prior to that, Beach was an Assistant Chief Administrative Officer for three years.

As director of finance, Beach is responsible for the management of debt and investment programs, revenue estimating, billing and collections; vendor and payroll disbursements; financial accounting and reporting; fiscal projects; and management of the County’s self-insurance programs. As OMB Director, he was responsible for advising the County Executive on resource allocation and fiscal policy, and leading the development of the annual operating and capital budgets, the six-year fiscal plan and the biennial six-year Capital Improvements Program. As Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, Beach functioned as the Executive Branch liaison with the County Council.

“Under Joe Beach’s leadership for the past eleven years, the County has sustained strong financial management and retained its AAA ratings from all three major rating agencies,” said County Executive Ike Leggett. “He has served the County for the past 27 years as an advocate for sound financial management, demonstrating leadership, commitment and initiative. I can think of no other individual who is more deserving of this recognition. Joe personifies the attributes that the AGA is seeking in selecting an individual to receive this honor.”

The AGA is a 15,000-member professional association that serves government accountability professionals by providing quality education, fostering professional development and certification, and supporting standards and research to advance government accountability. For more information about AGA, visit www.agacgfm.org.

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