The Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Board of Education voted to accept the contract for new treasurer/CFO Amit Gautam at its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday evening.
Gautam, a local resident, has 23 years of experience in Ohio Public finances, spending the last three years as Assistant Treasurer of the Dayton City School District. He will officially take over on January 1, 2025, as long-time current treasurer Kevin Liming steps into retirement. The Board of Education passed the vote, 5-0.
Gautam will oversee the financial operations of the district, which encompasses a myriad of responsibilities including the accuracy and timeliness of all state and federal reporting, the development of the annual district budget and the district’s Five-Year Forecast.
Gautam began his career with the Ohio Auditor of State in the audit division with his last position being Senior Audit Manager. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting, Summa Cum Laude, has a C.P.A., and a Masters in Accountancy from Wright State University.
“I am incredibly pleased and honored to have been chosen as the district’s next Treasurer/CFO,” Gautam said. “I want to thank the Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Cozad for the trust they have placed in me. The Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Local School District stands out as a beacon of academic and financial excellence, and I am excited to serve as the district’s treasurer and ensuring I carry on the tradition of financial excellence. I am looking forward to serving the board of education, community, students, and parents of the School District.”
Gautam’s experience made him stand out from the pool of applicants who applied for the job.
“We are impressed with Amit’s background and knowledge of school finances,” Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Local School District Board of Education President Mike Kinsey said. “His experience and ability to communicate school funding information clearly is very evident to us. In his past and current positions, he has provided financial leadership to the school districts he served. We are confident he has the skills to help lead our district forward in a variety of ways. We are excited to have Amit join our administrative team.”
Indeed his wealth of experience was one of the things that made Gautam a strong candidate for the job.
“We know our district needs an individual with successful school treasurer experience and who is a skilled leader and communicator,” Superintendent Dr. Doug Cozad said. “I feel confident Amit will be a great fit here and look forward to working with him to move the district forward.”
The Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Local School District Board of Education contracted with K-12 Business Consulting to assist in finding the right candidate for the position. The Board screened and vetted the credentials of many potential candidates.