The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Mayor William Peduto is appointing Douglas Anderson as Director of the Department of Finance and City Treasurer.
Anderson, of Shadyside, has long served as Deputy Controller for the City of Pittsburgh. Mayor Peduto is sending his appointment later this month to City Council, where it is subject to approval. He will take office the first week of September.
“Douglas Anderson brings vast experience in finance and government to our administration, and provides a steady hand in a time of great economic uncertainty. I am very happy he is joining us,” Mayor Peduto said.
Anderson replaces Margaret Lanier, who retired this summer after 38 years with the City.
The Finance Department is responsible for the collection, deposit, and investment of all funds received by the City from any source. The Department bills and collects tax and fee revenue, intergovernmental payments, certain grant payments, lease payments, and other payments due to the City to be used for budgeted expenditures. The Department also manages tax abatements (including homestead and senior citizen exemptions), tracks tax increment financing, and performs audits designed to help business taxpayers to submit returns correctly. The Department is also the designated tax collector for the Pittsburgh School District as well as the Carnegie Library.
As Deputy Controller and Chief of Staff to City Controller Michael Lamb, Anderson oversaw the implementation of several government transparency initiatives including the creation of Open Book Pittsburgh, a website and searchable database of City of Pittsburgh contracts, campaign finance contributions to candidates running for office in the City of Pittsburgh and database of lobbyists that do business with the City; oversaw the annual preparation of the Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR); and managed many other roles, including assigning audit work to performance and fiscal audit staff and approving all Controller’s office expenditures.
“As Pittsburgh faces the fiscal challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, I am honored to have the opportunity to lead and work with the great staff of the Department of Finance to help the City through these unpredictable times,” Anderson said.
Anderson was formerly an auditor for the Pennsylvania Auditor General and public information officer for the Allegheny County Office of the Prothonotary before joining the City Controller’s office in 2008. He has a Bachelor’s degree in political science from Duquesne University and a Master’s Degree in Public Management from Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College.
DOUGLAS ANDERSON
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