A Simple Switch in DeKalb County’s Finance Team

DeKalb County is preparing for a change in its finance team before an employee retires. Instead of filling the outgoing administrative clerk’s spot directly, the county plans to create a new accountant position with higher pay and added responsibilities. The board approved this shift on April 15, but not without a few disagreements—three members voted against it. The new role comes with a bigger workload. The accountant will handle tasks beyond basic bookkeeping, including payroll backup and technical support that were previously split among different staff. The county administrator mentioned that the new hire would help balance the workload, especially after past retirements left some gaps unfilled.Pay is a key difference here. The retiring clerk earned about $40, 448 annually, while the new accountant could make up to $75, 000. The total compensation package, including benefits, could jump from $62, 237 to nearly $95, 000. This increase was pushed by a board member who wanted to set a clear maximum for the role’s pay. Hiring is expected to happen in the fall, giving the new worker a few weeks to train alongside the retiring employee before they leave in November. The county says this move will strengthen its finance team, but some might wonder why the change was needed now.