Kendel Taylor is the new Director of Finance for the City of Alexandria, effective June 1, 2015. Taylor has served as Acting Finance Director since August 2014, succeeding Laura Triggs, who is now a Deputy City Manager. The Department of Finance collects and manages all City funds; assesses and collects revenue and taxes; manages the City’s purchasing processes; issues business licenses; maintains the City’s tax relief programs, and manages City retirement plans.
Taylor, a 20-year veteran of the City, spent most of her career in the Office of Management and Budget, including service as Acting Director in 2011 and 2012. She then moved to the Department of Finance, where she focused on implementing a complex, Citywide financial and human resources enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and created new financial management training to increase the knowledge and skills of City staff. Most recently, she completed a bond refinancing for the City that will save taxpayers more than $3 million over the next 10 years.
“During her time with the City, Kendel has been instrumental in implementing innovations for increasing efficiency and transparency in our financial management systems. Her extensive experience and expertise in financial management and resource allocation decisions have been, and will continue to be, invaluable in maintaining the City’s reputation for strong and prudent financial management,” said City Manager Jinks. “Kendel also has the respect and trust of her fellow City employees, and we welcome her as a now permanent part of the City’s financial management team.”
Taylor holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing, and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Albright College in Reading, Pa.; she received a master’s degree in public administration from Virginia Tech. Taylor has also served as a local government budget reviewer for the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for more than 15 years. Currently, she is on the board of the Alexandria Small Business Development Center and is Vice Chair of the Alexandria Community Policy and Management Team.
