Tofino has reinforced its financial services department with an already familiar face as Laura Morehouse has been promoted after serving the district in a temporary role for the past five months.
The district announced it would be strengthening its team with a new manager of financial services position in February and the screening process that unfolded revealed the best candidate was already in-house.
“We are very excited to have Laura join our Financial Services team,” Tofino’s director of financial services and Morehouse’s direct boss Nyla Attiana told the Westerly News adding she had been impressed with Morehouse’s work ethic over the past five months. “Laura’s methodical approach to complex tasks and ability to think strategically will be an asset to our team.”
She added that Morehouse has a Bachelors of Commerce degree from the University of Victoria and has completed prerequisite studies from the Chartered Professional Accountants education program through the Western School of Business.
Morehouse has lived in Tofino for the past five years and currently serves as the vice president of the Tofino – Long Beach chamber of commerce board and co-owns Long Beach Nature Tours.
“I think I am a great candidate for this position because, in addition to my education and background, I am someone who loves this town and I have a good sense of the challenges the community faces,” she said. “I could go on and on about the beautiful scenery but really I love Tofino because I’ve ordered a Margherita pizza with olives so many times at Basic Goodness that they call it the “Laura”, and if that doesn’t sum up a good life in a small town, then I don’t know what does.”
She told the Westerly she was excited to apply for a larger role within a workplace she adores.
“While working in the Financial Services department on a temporary basis, I really felt that I had ‘found my people’ so, naturally, I jumped at the chance to join the team in a permanent capacity,” she said adding she was thrilled to find out she’d landed the job. “I was very excited and proud. I’m sure there were many very smart and qualified individuals who applied for this position so to be chosen for the role felt really good…I think residents are very fortunate to have such a dedicated team working day in and day out to make sure this is a thriving community and I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to work alongside them moving forward.”
Though the position was initially advertised as full-time, Attiana explained that Tofino’s budget is under review and the hours were scaled back in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In consideration of the financial impacts of COVID-19 we are carefully reviewing our budgets. While we still require the staff resources in Financial Services, management made the decision to hire this position at reduced hours to start,” Attiana said.
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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