Starting next week, the City of Manteca will officially have a finance director on staff.

On Thursday the City of Manteca announced that City Manager Toby Wells had approved a contract for Bret Harmon to head-up the city’s municipal finances moving forward – capping off a nationwide search for somebody that could help correct past issues while at the same time moving the city into the future.

Harmon’s first day will be on Monday, Dec. 6.

“We look forward to our new Director’s energy and leadership in the City’s ongoing mission for good government, fiscal transparency and organizational progress,” Wells said. “There is a lot of work to be done to ensure we have the financial support in place to achieve our vision of a Manteca that remains family-friendly while also welcoming innovation.”

In his role as Finance Director, Harmon will play a crucial role as a member of the Executive Management Team – providing financial advice to the city manager and the council, maintaining fiscal stability, administering payroll and safeguarding the city’s assets.

Harmon previously served as the Administrative Services Director for the City of Sanger, in Fresno County, and worked for the City of Lindsay where he served as the Finance Director and the Interim City Manager for a period of time.

He also had an extensive tenure with MuniServices providing financial consulting services to cities throughout the Central Valley.

“I am ready and excited to bring my private and public experience to the table to tackle Manteca’s unique challenges and rebuild the City’s finances and trust with the community,” Harmon said. “Thank you to the City Manager for placing your trust in me. I am eager to join team Manteca and look forward to getting to know my colleagues and the community better.”

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.