Clearwater’s Finance Director Wins Prestigious CFO AwardCLEARWATER – The Tampa Bay Business Journal named Margie Simmons the Chief Financial Officer of the Year in the Government Category last week. Simmons, the finance director for the City of Clearwater, accepted the award at a luncheon on Feb. 26. The award recognizes professional perseverance and accomplishment. It acknowledges a diligent work ethic and service mentality that goes above and beyond the job description for CFO, according to Alexis Muellner, editor of the business journal. Last year, the City of Clearwater’s budget was $347 million. This year, the finance department is working through revenue shortfalls. Simmons has helped citizens understand local government finance using a game show format. In this way, she makes government finance fun and interesting. Simmons earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Florida and is a certified public accountant. She worked for the Florida Prison System and the DeSoto County school board before she was hired by the City of Clearwater in 1982. She was promoted from senior accountant, to director of internal audit, and to assistant director of finance before becoming finance director in 1997.
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