POULSBO — Less than a month after city Finance Director Nanci Lien took a position in Olympia, Al Juarez was tabbed to head the city’s finance department at Wednesday night’s city council meeting.

Juarez, who spent the past six and a half years working for the city of Shoreline, begins his duties in Poulsbo on Monday.

Prior to working in Shoreline, Juarez spent 11 years working for the city of Olympia and recently received his master’s degree in business administration.

“He has a background and experience working with a lot of the things we are trying to do,” said Mayor Kathryn Quade.

His experience goes beyond dealing with the financial side of public/private partnerships and extends into financial management issues as well, Quade said.

Juarez will make an excellent addition to the city’s finance department, which is already doing an outstanding job, she said.

Another one of his strengths is his commitment to public participation and communication, not only with the public but other city departments and employees as well, Quade said.

Councilman Ed Stern, who served on the finance director interview committee along with Quade and Councilman Dale Rudolph, spoke in superlatives to describe the city’s newest finance director.

“Dale and I representing the council were unanimous in our recommendation,” Stern said. “I think he will bring a spirit of cooperation to the finance department.”

In the past, the finance department has operated under a top-down structure, but that won’t be the case under Juarez’s watch, Stern said.

“I see him capitalizing on the good talent we already have,” he said. “I think he and (city budget analyst) Deb Booher will make a tremendous duo.”

In addition to bringing a new leadership style to the department, Stern said Juarez also brings experience in dealing with complex financial issues that the city will be facing as it continues to grow.

For Councilwoman Connie Lord, who currently chairs the council’s finance/administration committee, Juarez appears to be the perfect fit for the city’s needs.

“His background fits the bill,” Lord said. “I think he’s going to bring in a fresh look at our finances.”

Because of his experience in Olympia and Shoreline, which are both larger than Poulsbo, Juarez has a larger frame of reference in dealing with municipal financing issues than the city has had in the past, she said.

That experience could be key as the city grows, because of the changes in state regulations that take effect once the city’s population exceeds 10,000, Lord said.