GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Heather Boucher was selected as the county’s new commission auditor, replacing retiring Mike Price.

Price has served as the watchman and alarmist of the county’s budgets and more for years but his time working for the county’s government has come to an end. Considering the importance of an auditor’s role in a public government, the BCC wasted no time finding the next person to serve in that role.

“I think I would be a great candidate for having innovation and the efficiency that we have all talked about,” Boucher said. “I have a lot of experience gaining those efficiencies and [finding new routes] to innovation.”

The BCC agreed, selecting Boucher over two other candidates for the position. Boucher had to present herself as a candidate to the board during an Aug.14 special meeting and prove why she was the best candidate. The BCC had already met with Boucher and the other candidates in one-on-one interviews and Friday’s public interviews were the final part of the process.

Boucher is a certified internal auditor which is similar to a certified public auditor except the skill set of a CIA is more focused and less-broadly applied like that of a CPA. It matters not though because as commissioner Mike Cella pointed out, Boucher has all of the credits necessary to become a CPA from the University of Florida. She needs only to take the CPA exam to become one so the opportunity for that is an asset of hers.

Boucher was the youngest of the candidates and her lack of experience compared to the other two candidates, especially in the realm of public service, was something the BCC questioned but the experience Boucher does have prevailed.

She started her auditing career working as an Enterprise Risk Services Consultant for Deloitte & Touche, LLP, before working in the banking industry as a senior internal auditor for EverBank. She currently works as a senior internal auditor for CSX.

“I think my background and knowledge of working through those industries and the different roles I have will be of great importance in a transition for me into a county government position,” Boucher said.

Boucher said if hired, she would bring to the position a proactive mindset and the ability to problem solve, both things the BCC said would be necessary in the position. The BCC commended her on this and her high energy. They also said she explained how specific situations in her past have prepared her for critical situations that might arise in the county auditor position.

“An auditor is what I would consider a semi-public position,” commissioner Wayne Bolla said. “It’s not like they’re an accountant, we throw meat at them over the fence and then they come back with an answer. Sometimes they need to be up front and I would prefer to see Heather because I think she can do that.”

Bolla also liked that because of her younger age, she has more time to develop new skills and is more likely to stay in the position longer. The BCC gave Boucher the highest marks during its evaluation of all three candidates and she was announced as its selection. The soonest Boucher will begin work is Sept. 8 but it could be as late as Sept. 25 before she’s officially working as the county auditor.

As county commission auditor, Boucher will “serve as the internal consultant to perform economy and efficiency analyses and reviews for the Board of County Commissioners for components and programs of the county.”