By Lee Hurley
John Haggard grew up in Cullman, Alabama, the son of two accountants. He attended Baylor High School in Chattanooga before heading to Auburn in 2006 intending to major in something other than accounting. In fact he earned a B.A. in history. Somewhere along the way though John remembered the words his dad told him, “If you want job security, learn how to get good at something others can’t or don’t want to do.” That’s when John extended his education, getting a B.S. in Accountancy in 2012 and his CPA license in 2013.
So, how did he get from accounting to Finance Director and Treasurer of Alabaster? “I started out working for a regional accounting firm out of Hoover that specialized in audits of governments and not-for-profit companies,” he says. When the Alabaster job became available in 2017, John threw his hat in the ring, got the job, and has been here ever since. In 2018, he added the CGFM (Certified Government Financial Manager) designation to his list of degrees and qualifications. During his tenure in Alabaster, John and his team have implemented significant improvements in the city’s financial reporting, becoming one of only three cities in Alabama to win all of the awards offered by the Government Finance Officers Association for financial reporting.
John is married to Katie Haggard, a project manager for The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, a nonprofit that develops standards for hospitals. The couple have two children Sam, 4, and Ben, 2. They live is Fox Valley Highlands.
Alabaster Connection: How would you describe your job responsibilities?
John Haggard: The simplest way to put it is I’m responsible for all of the financial functions of the City. That includes accounting, financial reporting, internal controls, debt management, investments, and financial planning.
You have two titles, Finance Director and Treasurer. How do they differ?
The Finance Director position is one hired by the Mayor and essentially serves the same duties as the CFO function of a large or mid-sized company. The State Code dictates the City Council must appoint a Treasurer to pay the bills but doesn’t specify much of their job duties past that. I’m really only Treasurer because the State Code says we are required to have one.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I like the challenges and mental puzzles I get to solve every day. I like diagnosing a problem, figuring out a way to fix it, coming up with a process, and then communicating the results.
What changes have you seen in Alabaster’s government since you started?
I’ve seen an increased focus on professionalizing the City. Making sure we have the best qualified people in each position and ensuring the city’s workforce operates like that of a large, successful company and not a small town with limited resources.
How far out do you plan budgets for the city?
We prepare an annual budget for each fiscal year, which sets the spending limits for each department, but within our budget we also lay out five-year capital plans and five-year overall financial plans.
What are some of the more significant challenges in this role?
I think the toughest part is prioritizing the goals of the City. It’s easy to make a laundry list of things we want to get done over the next term, but usually the list of wants will always be greater than the resources available. I joke with the Mayor and City Council that on my tombstone it will say, “we can afford any one thing, but we can’t afford everything.”
What group of people do you work with the most?
The Department Heads, the Mayor, and the City Council.
Has COVID 19 affected the way the city spends and collects money?
Luckily for us, COVID affected our revenue very little here in Alabaster. Living in an area with such low unemployment both before and during the pandemic was definitely an advantage. Our citizens made a conscious effort to support local businesses during the pandemic, and that made a huge difference.
What do you do for fun?
I play basketball (poorly), hiking, baseball (Cincinnati Reds fan), coaching my older son’s sports teams, and just doing whatever my boys want to do.
Last book you enjoyed?
I’ve been a big Supreme Court junkie since I was a kid. Growing up I told everyone I wanted to be a Supreme Court justice. I just recently finished The Brethren by Bob Woodward about the 1969 to 1975 terms in the U.S. Supreme Court.
What kind of music do you listen to?
I like a little bit of everything but mostly alt-rock and hip-hop.