Whalen to Join Agency as Business Manager

Heartland is pleased to announce that Brian Whalen will be joining the Agency as its Business Manager on February 9.

Whalen comes to Heartland with over 15 years of accounting experience including knowledge in reconciliations, fixed assets, budgeting, month-end closings and year-end closings. His most recent position was as the Director of Financial Services for the Ankeny Community School District, a position he has held since July 2007. Whalen also spent six years as an accountant for the Des Moines Public Schools, a year as an accountant for Broadlawns Medical Center and a year as an accounting manager for The ARC of East Central Iowa. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Western Illinois University, is a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Iowa Association of School Business Officials. Whalen’s experience in the education, healthcare and non-profit sector will serve the Agency well as he begins his tenure here.

Whalen’s hiring was necessitated in order to bring the Business Office up to a full staffing level. A few years ago Rebecca McCreary’s title was changed from Accountant to Business Manager, and since that time, the Accountant position has remained unfilled. In order to adequately distribute the functions and workload of the Chief Financial Officer, Business Manager and Accountant, a third person needed to be hired. McCreary requested to transition back to the Accountant position, where she can focus on accounting duties, which are where her interests lie. The fully staffed Business Office will be able to provide more financial and business support to all budget managers in the Agency’s new regional structure.

In the Business Manager position, some of the duties Whalen will be responsible for include preparing agency financial reports and documents, coordinating the preparation of the Agency’s budget, providing support and training for budget managers, managing agency grants, developing contracts, implementing and monitoring internal controls, reviewing purchase orders and travel claims and supervising the Business Office staff.

Please join us in welcoming Brian to the Agency.