Kathy Steele
CMMA
Growing up in Brandon, MB, Kathy began her professional career with a local Chartered Accountants firm. Assigned to the Municipal Audit crew, she spent 6 years focused on attest engagements and other audit services related to the financial reporting of municipalities. Kathy developed in-depth knowledge of audit objectives, evidence gathering, risk assessments on internal controls and financial reporting requirements for both Canadian accounting standards and Manitoba’s statutory requirements for municipalities. To assist her team members, Kathy enhanced audit checklists to ensure a standardized process was followed for each municipal audit. During this time, Kathy obtained her Certified Manitoba Municipal Administrators (CMMA) certification.
Kathy then began a 32-year career as the Chief Administrative Officer for the Rural Municipality of Elton. As the only person in the office for over 23 years, Kathy became proficient in and streamlined many aspects of municipal management, including: preparing reports, by-laws and policies for Council’s review which included researching and advising on various Acts and Regulations, developing the annual financial plan (budget) and presentation for the public hearing, preparing monthly and annual financial statements (the latter reflecting all required PSAB adjustments) and ensuring the municipality’s audited financial statements were accurate and issued on a timely basis, recording and posting meeting minutes, and working with municipal staff to be as responsive to and provide the best possible service and value to citizens.
Throughout her career, Council appointed Kathy to several positions including: Senior Election Official, responsible for general elections and by-elections as required; the EMO coordinator, developing the municipality’s initial EMO plan and managing several flood events including completion of Disaster Financial Assistance claims; the Information Officer, responding to all information and FIPPA requests.
Kathy oversaw many improvements within the Rural Municipality of Elton during her career, including computerization of recordkeeping, implementation of Public Sector Accounting Standards, streamlining management processes and procedures, submission of utility rate studies with The Public Utilities Board, and an in-house expansion, development and sale of three subdivisions on municipal-owned property. The most recent significant project was the preparation of several borrowing by-laws for the multi-year plan to install rural waterlines municipality-wide. Kathy worked closely with the Manitoba Water Services Board and Municipal Relations staff to secure Building Canada funding, design specifications and to ensure timely submission and approval of by-laws by The Municipal Board. The capital project was a joint venture with the neighbouring Rural Municipality of Whitehead and, following the creation of the Whitehead Elton Regional Water Co-operative Inc., Kathy was appointed to the position of Secretary-Treasurer. In her role, Kathy was responsible for the organizing, recording and reporting of all meetings, personnel policies and working with water co-op staff to ensure the required oversight during the expansion of staffing and duties, developing operating and connection policies and templates, creation of an accounting system (Excel-based) to enable reports to be generated for the Board and member municipalities on operating versus capital funds contribution rates, monthly billings, charges for water consumption, long-term financing, and annual oversight and review as required for audit and reporting purposes.
Kathy continued to enhance her education during this time. She is a graduate of the Advanced Certificate in Municipal Administration and has taken several income tax offerings and university courses focused on legal, financial, and human resource topics. Kathy has also volunteered as Treasurer for several community-based organizations and boards in addition to taking on other needed positions and duties.
Kathy is excited to begin this new venture with two such knowledgeable partners and continue her working relationships with municipal and provincial counterparts, old and new. Kathy lives in Brandon and has one daughter, Nicole.