The City of Frederick is pleased to announce Richard R. Roark, CPA, as its new Chief Financial Officer, bringing 30 years of financial leadership and experience in fiscal strategy, regulatory compliance and organizational management to the City.
Roark has served as Chief Financial Officer across multiple industries, directing accounting and finance functions for corporate and government-facing divisions. In these roles, he advised senior leadership on long-term fiscal sustainability, financial risk and strategic initiatives while overseeing financial modeling, regulatory compliance and relationships with auditors and financial institutions.
“Richard brings the depth of experience and strategic perspective we need as Frederick continues to grow and our organization becomes increasingly complex,” Mayor Michael O’Connor said. “Strong financial stewardship is fundamental to our ability to serve residents, invest in our community and plan responsibly for Frederick’s future. Richard’s extensive experience in financial leadership, long-range planning and organizational efficiency will be a tremendous asset to the City, and I am excited to welcome him to our leadership team.”
Richard R. Roark, CPA, Chief Financial Officer
As Chief Financial Officer, Roark will serve as a member of the City’s senior management team, providing executive leadership and strategic direction for the City’s financial operations. He will lead the Finance Department and oversee the City’s financial planning, accounting, treasury management, internal controls, debt administration and long-range fiscal sustainability efforts. He will also advise the Mayor and City Council on fiscal matters and help develop and implement Citywide financial policies and practices.
The CFO also plays a key role in developing multi-year financial forecasts and long-term fiscal plans, monitoring revenues and expenditures, overseeing debt and cash management, coordinating financial reporting and audits, and ensuring compliance with applicable laws, accounting standards and City policies. Roark will work closely with City departments and senior leadership to support strategic initiatives, operational improvements and greater accountability and transparency across the organization.
“I am honored to join the City of Frederick and look forward to working alongside its talented team and elected leadership,” Roark said. “Frederick is a growing community with tremendous opportunities ahead, and I am excited to contribute my experience to ensuring the City remains financially strong, accountable and well positioned to meet both its current needs and long-term priorities.”
Roark is a Certified Public Accountant in Maryland and holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Maryland, College Park. His experience includes financial strategy, performance-based budgeting, long-range planning, capital planning, internal controls, risk mitigation and financial systems modernization.
Roark joined the City at the end of July.
