Topeka selects Interim Chief Financial Officer

TOPEKA (KSNT) - The City of Topeka has appointed a new Interim Chief Financial Officer.

A spokeswoman with the City of Topeka announced in a release that Ben Hart has been appointed as the City's Interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO) starting Tuesday.

Hart has more than 25 years of experience in the public sector, according to the release. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Charted Global Management Accountant (CGMA) for large municipalities in the Kansas City Metropolitan area.

“Mr. Hart’s experience and dedication to public service will serve Topeka well as the city transitions into new leadership with the next city manager,” Interim City Manager Richard Nienstedt said.

According to the release, Hart's dedication to public service is evident through his involvement in the Kansas and Missouri's Society of CPA's. In that society, he contributed to the governmental accounting committee and the Government Financial Officers Association locally and nationally.

Hart will be the Interim CFO until a permanent replacement is found.

This comes four months after the City of Topeka "parts ways" with the former CFO Freddy Mawyin. On Dec. 11, 2023, Mawyin was put on administrative leave after being arrested of accusations of domestic battery.

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