MIDDLE CFO EARNS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH HONOR
Middle Township Chief Financial Officer Neil Young was honored as Employee of the Month for March 2024. Young, who assumed the critical role of CFO in late 2022, was nominated for the award by Deputy CFO/Purchasing Agent Dan Shustack.
“Since his start here in Middle Township, Mr. Young has worked tirelessly to reform and modernize the Finance and Purchasing office,” Shustack said. “Those who have never worked in municipal finance can’t understand the amount of work required during the last months of the year to properly close out the current year and roll over to the next year. During the month of December, Mr. Young put in many hours to ensure the Township was in the best possible financial shape. He is a dedicated employee and a great leader.”
Neil Young graduated Summa Cum Laude from Rowan University with a B.S. in Accounting in 2007. He began his career in financial management with Municipal Auditors, Ford Scott and Associates. Young spent five years auditing the financial records of several area municipalities and school boards. Neil assumed the position of Chief Financial Officer in Wildwood Crest in July of 2011.
Over the next ten years, in several local towns, Neil Young built a reputation as an excellent custodian of public funds, a meticulous preparer of municipal budgets and an innovative leader in the development of fiscal and cash management policies. Young has completed both the Certified Municipal Finance Officer and Certified Tax Collector courses through Rutgers University. He received State of New Jersey certification as a Municipal Finance Officer in December 2012.
“Neil is an invaluable member of our Township leadership team. I congratulate him on this well-deserved honor,” Mayor Chris Leusner said. “His commitment to sound financial management and intelligent and innovative, long-range monetary policies ensure our taxpayers’ dollars are spent wisely in a challenging financial environment.”
The Municipal CFO is tasked with overseeing the staff in the Finance Department, reconciling revenue, appropriations and bank accounts, providing financial reports to the governing body, coordinating, tracking and leveraging grant funding, managing municipal debt and assisting in the preparation of the annual budget. The CFO works closely with the Business Administrator, Chief of Police and all Department Heads to protect the best interest of the taxpayers on a daily basis.
“I’m honored to be recognized for my efforts,” Young said. “I’m proud of the hard work our Finance Office team performs on behalf of our taxpayers. I appreciate the commitment and partnership of Township Committee, Business Administrator Kim Osmundsen, Chief Pooler and all of our Department Heads to the daily work required to successfully manage our $25 million annual budget.”
