Cedar Rapids selects new city finance director

CEDAR RAPIDS — After searching for about a year for a new finance director, the city of Cedar Rapids has tapped Abhijit “Abhi” Deshpande to fill the role starting Jan. 15.

Deshpande will succeed Casey Drew, the city’s longtime finance director who left last year to take a role at Kirkwood Community College.

Arriving weeks before the Cedar Rapids City Council likely will get its first glimpse at the city’s proposed budget for fiscal 2025 — the year spanning July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025 — Deshpande’s salary will be $217,441 a year.

In this role, Deshpande will provide administrative oversight to all operations and activities of the city Finance Department. The department is made up of Financial Analysis (budget process, financial planning and reporting), Finance Operations (accounts payable, treasury, payroll, purchasing and contracts, general accounting programs) and Risk Services.

He most recently served as the budget director for the Richland County government in South Carolina, according to a city news release. Deshpande first pursued public service in 2009 as a research analyst in Boston. In 2014, South Carolina recruited him to serve as a statewide performance improvement manager, where he spearheaded the development of a strategic planning, accountability and performance measurement program. Deshpande’s next role was as chief financial officer at the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

“Abhi rose to the top of our national search as the best leader to bring a broad range of financial expertise to the city team,” Cedar Rapids City Manager Jeff Pomeranz said in a statement. “We are pleased to welcome him to the Cedar Rapids community and look forward to his valuable contributions.”

Deshpande is a first-generation college graduate and immigrant from India, according to the city. He will move here with his wife, Sunila; a 6-year-old daughter; and a 3-year-old son.

He graduated magna cum laude from Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., with a master’s in business administration. He holds a master’s in science degree from Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., and a bachelor of commerce (cost accounting) degree from the University of Pune in Pune, India.

“Cedar Rapids has a reputation for financial excellence, and I am eager to contribute to the city’s financial well-being,” Deshpande said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the talented professionals in the Finance Department, with a goal of ensuring financial transparency while effectively and efficiently stewarding taxpayer dollars. My family and I are thrilled to have found a vibrant, welcoming and diverse community to call our home.”

Comments: (319) 398-8494; marissa.payne@thegazette.com