Stephen Parker, CPA, is the Assistant City Manager at the City of Upland and a CSMFO Board Member among other passions on the side. Parker has been a CSMFO member for 10 years and with each experience brings adventure, dedication to long-term improvements, and sense of purpose. His gentle humor is sprinkled throughout his sincere answers and some you may need to ask him about later. You’ll know when you read on.

1. What is your favorite book, movie, or TV show and why?

I love The Princess Bride. The storytelling is excellent, and there are no lack of quotable lines. I like how “clean” it is, too. Friends is always in the background as my wife’s favorite, and I can’t help but laugh every time even though I’ve seen every episode before.

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

David Cain has been a very positive influence for me throughout my public sector career. First, before I even knew him, he did not accept the position that became my first post – Finance Director at Yorba Linda Water District. I subsequently worked under him when we both worked in the City of San Bernardino for Urban Futures, Inc., and was quite impressed with his leadership and ability to rally the Finance Department together as a team amidst plenty of adversity. My wife and I joined a Bible study he and his wife conducted for public sector workers for a time, and I’ve always appreciated the way in which he conducts himself and volunteers his skills for CSMFO and others.

3. What do you enjoy most about your job?

Currently, my favorite part is that I get to physically go into work. But my favorite part has always been the people I get to work alongside.

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

Not too much. I started my career as a department head after a decade in auditing. I think there can be some advantages to working your way up through an organization, but I enjoyed my prelude to government work very much.

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

I’m an Assistant City Manager. I asked my boys the answer to this question, and they responded with: “Go on your computer and do business meetings; work with colleagues and go in a cubicle.” I would say that’s cute, except my boys are in 5th and 7th grade. I was too worried at my lack of communication with my kids to bother asking my 9th grade daughter the question.

6. How do you keep up to date with upcoming regulations?

I should probably have better resources to refer to, but I use CSMFO webinars and the Knowledge Base as my primary source for upcoming changes in regulations.

7. How do you motivate staff and yourself?

I try to motivate staff through encouragement and support and trying to make the work environment a fun one. I sang a Happy Anniversary solo to an employee celebrating her 25th year with the City this morning, so nothing is off the table. I stay motivated and encouraged through seeing tangible accomplishments that the City is able to make through our team’s hard work.

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

The 11 weeks I was Acting City Manager while overseeing Administrative Services and Community Services during an investigation and subsequent departure of the City Manager with a tumultuous environment. It was overcome through a lot of prayer and tangibly, by finding 3 excellent retired City Manager’s and presenting them as options to City Council to come in as an Interim.

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

I was once kidnapped and taken across an international border.

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

The rewards are not always (though they often are) tangible, but I have been blessed in many ways through my volunteer efforts with CSMFO. You will not regret giving some of your time for the benefit of CSMFO membership.