A Perrysburg certified public accountant was selected Tuesday as city auditor for Toledo’s municipal government.
John Rivalsky’s nomination was approved 11-0 by Toledo City Council.
Mr. Rivalsky, 31, is a CPA with auditing experience and a consultant with the accounting advisory firm CFGI where he helps clients with complicated accounting matters. He also has previous work experience as a senior financial analyst with Dana Inc. in Maumee, and as an associate controller with J.P Morgan Chase & Co. in Lewis Center, Ohio.
“I wanted to get involved more locally and make an impact on the local community,” he said in an interview after his appointment was approved. “I thought that the skill set [needed] aligned well with my own and that I could make an impact with the community.”
Mr. Rivalsky will fill the position previously held by former auditor Jake Jaksetic who was suspended from his job in late October and then fired in December. He is not concerned about the circumstances involving the previous auditor’s departure from the city, of which Mr. Rivalsky was unaware until after he applied for the job.
“I’m more focused on the future,” Mr. Rivalsky said. “The goal is to improve efficiency and make sure information is correct and accurate.”
Mr. Rivalsky will begin working for the city on April 3 and will be paid an annual salary of $123,000. He was selected from a pool of 12 candidates and will report to Toledo City Council.
He grew up in Westlake, Ohio, outside of Cleveland, and moved to the Toledo area five years ago. He holds a bachelor of business administration from Ohio University and is in the process of attaining his master of business administration from the University of Michigan.
His work and educational experience make him an excellent candidate for the job, Councilman George Sarantou said Tuesday before the council meeting.
“We feel he is well qualified and will be a great fit for the city,” said Mr. Sarantou, who nominated him.
A subcommittee was created in December to get the auditor position filled promptly with Councilman Katie Moline among those leading the effort.
“I am very much looking forward to having him get to work,” Ms. Moline said Tuesday before the meeting. “I believe that he will serve and work in the best interest of citizens. He will help make the government work more efficiently.”
In December, the council voted to add a new chapter to the municipal code expanding the list of auditor duties and responsibilities.
Among the auditor’s duties are the annual audit preparation plan, which is to be reviewed and approved by the council president or a selected committee. Other responsibilities include handling monthly reports and making recommendations to improve the administration, fiscal management, compliance, internal controls of assets, and city operations.
Earlier in the month, councilmen unanimously amended the Toledo City Code to increase the annual pay for the auditor position from a range of $77,617 to $115,681 to a range of $80,601 to $131,315.
Councilman Theresa Gadus was not in attendance Tuesday.
First Published March 21, 2023, 7:15 p.m.
