Jennifer Wakeman, Assistant Director of Administrative Services, City of Lafayette

Mom, mentor, managing the City’s finances, and simultaneously serving as the Membership Committee Chair for the CSMFO, this former CSMFO board member (2017-2019) continues to inspire many with her can do attitude. In her words Jennifer shares how CSMFO serves over 2,200 members as the preeminent resource for promoting excellence in government finance through innovation, collaboration, continuing education and professional development. Last year, her work focused on the development of a program for student engagement; exposing students to the field of municipal finance and providing opportunities for gaining entry to jobs. Let’s get to know Jennifer.

1. Under normal non-pandemic conditions, what is your favorite holiday tradition?

Raucous time with family during the winter holidays.

2. How has a previous or current mentor impacted your career?

Most mentors that I have had in my career believed in my abilities before I did. It took their faith to empower me to greater achievements than I might have accomplished without them.

3. What do you enjoy most about your job?

The diversity of the work. As the Assistant Director of Administrative Services, I may work in functional areas or citywide as I support finance, human resources, information technology, and risk management.

4. Knowing what you know now, if you were new to government finance what would you do differently when you started your career?

I would have engaged a CSMFO mentor sooner. Early on, I had a wonderful mentor who guided me through the practical aspects of the job, but it would have been more helpful to have a network rather than rely on a single individual. Also, the more people who you support and who support you, the more enjoyable the work.

5. What is your current position and what do your children or friends think you do at work?

My current position is Assistant Director of Administrative Services and my children think that I know all the police officers and that I pay for all of their cars.

6. What have you learned about yourself from being a Committee Chair?

As the Membership Committee Chair, I have learned that I can be a better leader by handing off responsibility than by micromanaging everything myself.

7. How do you motivate staff and yourself?

I believe in frequent and specific recognition to motivate staff. The work is hard but can be made so much easier by a sincere “thank you”. I am motivated by the success of others whom I have advised or encouraged.

8. What has been the most challenging time in your finance career and how did you overcome it?

I had a supervisor once, who was extremely insecure and wouldn’t stand up for the work that I was doing. I tried to work with them, but eventually I had to leave. I take a lot of pride in the work that I do and found I couldn’t work for someone who wouldn’t defend me.

9. What is something about you that no one would ever guess or expect?

I knit and crochet to relax.

10. What advice do you have for a CSMFO member on getting more involved with the organization?

Start small and take the chance. You will be rewarded professionally and personally by the experience.

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Jennifer Wakeman has been working in municipal finance for nearly 18 years, starting at the Town of Moraga and the City of Walnut Creek before landing at the City of Lafayette where she is currently the Assistant Director of Administrative Services. In this position she oversees accounting, investments, debt management, budgeting/financial reporting, and internal controls as well as benefits, plan administration, and policy development. Jennifer lives with her family in Lafayette and spends most of her non-working time corralling her three sons: Jack (11 years old), Madden (8 years old), and Emmett (3 years old).

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