JULIE MCCARTHY
Retiring Town Accountant/Assistant Finance Director
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — It’s the end of an era for the town of Lynnfield.
Town Accountant/Assistant Finance Director Julie McCarthy will be retiring on Friday, Jan. 31 after working serving the community for almost 24 years.
“I am looking forward to my next chapter,” said McCarthy. “After 35 years in municipal finance, it will be nice to slow down the pace a bit and have an opportunity to pursue other interests.”
McCarthy recalled how she became Lynnfield’s town accountant/assistant finance director in 2001.
“After 12 years in varying positions in municipal finance and just completing my MBA and achieving my certification as a Certified Governmental Accountant, I was at a point in my career where I was ready to seek my first town accountant position,” said McCarthy. “I thought it would be great to start in a small town. The Lynnfield position was open in 2001, and I applied. To be honest, I did not know too much about Lynnfield, as I grew up in Central Massachusetts. My husband’s grandparents had lived in Lynnfield when he was growing up, and he shared all of his fond memories of spending time there. He then drove me around town, and I just loved the appeal of the quaint Common and the Meeting House. My first interview was with Joe Maney Sr., the town administrator at the time. We instantly connected and spent the next several hours talking about everything from municipal finance and Lynnfield politics to our shared Irish ancestry and Holy Cross basketball. I had several more interviews with the Select Board members and the previous town accountant. The rest is history.”
McCarthy said she is proud of a number of initiatives that she implemented over the course of her nearly 24-year tenure.
“In my almost 24 years with the town of Lynnfield, I think one of my greatest accomplishments was implementing the new financial software system, Tyler/Munis, back in 2005,” said McCarthy. “This system had full integration of all its applications and greatly improved efficiencies in all areas, including payroll, accounts payable and receivable, purchasing, tax billing and general ledger. We still use this same software today and continue to make enhancements to assist employees in doing their jobs in the most efficient manner.”
McCarthy also said she “led the charge in participating in the Government Finance Officers Association’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting program.”
“The town has submitted Annual Comprehensive Financial reports since fiscal year 2019 that go beyond the minimum requirements of reporting to comprehensive financial reports that evidence the spirit of transparency and full disclosure to recognize individual governments in achieving that goal,” said McCarthy. “This Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in government accounting and financial reporting. The town of Lynnfield has received this national award for the last five consecutive years.”
McCarthy said it was incredibly rewarding to work for the town of Lynnfield.
“I do really enjoy the municipal accounting piece and have a passion for problem-solving, and I prefer being out of the spotlight,” said McCarthy. “The most rewarding part of the job was the interactions with the people and the ability to assist them with providing answers and solutions to their issue.”
In addition to serving as Lynnfield’s town accountant/assistant finance director, McCarthy is the current treasurer and the former president of the Eastern Massachusetts Municipal Auditors’ and Accountants’ Association.
“This has been a wonderful opportunity to get to know many of the North Shore town accountants,” said McCarthy. “The ability to network with my colleagues has been so beneficial in my career. I have formed many long-lasting friendships.”
McCarthy said she is “going to miss so many of the wonderful people that I have worked with over the years.”
“This includes many dedicated employees, board members and residents,” said McCarthy. “I have never met so many people who are passionate and care so much about the town of Lynnfield. It was always very exciting to be able to assist someone in achieving their goals in making Lynnfield a better place.”
Select Board Chair Dick Dalton said McCarthy is going to be missed immensely.
“Julie has been an invaluable member of the town’s senior management team,” said Dalton. “Her expertise in municipal finance, her work ethic, her enthusiastic approach to her work, her commitment to the town and her collaborative approach when dealing with her colleagues were characteristics that we all witnessed in Julie over the years. It’s been a privilege to have worked with her and, on behalf of the Select Board, we wish her a happy and healthy retirement.”
Town Administrator Rob Dolan agreed.
“For 23-plus years, Julie McCarthy has been a rock solid leader for Lynnfield,” said Dolan. “She is honest, hardworking, compassionate, smart and a great listener to her colleagues. Julie cannot be fully replaced, but she will retire having left her positive mark on this community and everyone that worked with her.”
Assistant Town Administrator Bob Curtin echoed Dalton and Dolan’s viewpoints.
“I was a reporter when Julie was first hired,” said Curtin. “That first year, I’d see her working in her office well after Town Hall had closed and that work ethic has been maintained through her 24 years here. She makes sure we comply with all the financial regulations and best practices, but she always does it by offering help and guidance. She’s also an amazing person and she is going to be missed by everyone who works here. She implemented the town’s Munis financial software. There’s probably not a major initiative and project in the last 24 years that she didn’t have a major hand in planning, but she doesn’t seek recognition.”
McCarthy said she is looking forward to spending more time with her family and pursuing other interests when she retires.
“I will be joining my husband who is already retired,” said McCarthy. “This will afford us the opportunity to travel together. I will also have more time to spend with my family and pursuing hobbies.”
When asked if McCarthy had any advice for her successor, Town Accountant/Finance Director David Castellarin, she said: “My only advice is to be a good listener.”
“I have found that really listening to others will show them respect and create an environment where they feel heard and understood,” said McCarthy. “This had really assisted me in building strong relationships and better communication and problem-solving.”