News and Articles
08/01/2018
Yvonne Herrera Receives 2018 New Mexico Financial Manager of the Year Award
Yvonne Herrera Receives 2018 New Mexico Financial Manager of the Year Award
Yvonne Herrera, Santa Fe County Accounting & Financial Reporting Manager, has received the prestigious Financial Manager of the Year award for 2018 from the New Mexico Chapter of the Association of Government Accountants.
Yvonne Herrera joined Santa Fe County’s Finance Division in July 2017. Since arriving at Santa Fe County, Yvonne’s exceptional technical expertise has helped guide the Finance Division’s team to improve its accounting period closing procedures and enhance staff’s usage of the Superion/AS400 general ledger accounting system so that staff can “work smarter, not harder.”
Yvonne arrived in the Finance Division at a time of great transition. Despite many staff changes and vacancies, she and the rest of the Finance Division team successfully prepared the County’s Fiscal Year 2017 CAFR for audit in a timely manner, and the financial statements received an unmodified opinion, as well as the prestigious Excellence in Financial Reporting award from the national Government Finance Officers Association.
Finance Director Stephanie Schardin Clarke said, “I am humbled and privileged to work with such an exceptional governmental accountant. Yvonne and her entire team work hard every day to ensure that Santa Fe County’s accounting practices and financial reporting meet the highest standards. Santa Fe County is so grateful for Yvonne’s expertise.”
In addition to Yvonne’s great technical expertise, she is a supportive supervisor, works every day to keep morale high, and has an impeccably dry sense of humor.
Prior to accepting her position with the County, Yvonne spent 10 years at the Financial Control Division of the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration. From 2007 to 2012, Yvonne held the position of State CAFR Unit Manager, which entailed preparation of the Statewide CAFR and oversight of the State’s CAFR audit process. From 2012 to 2017, Yvonne oversaw the State’s General Ledger and Vendor Relations Units, as well as management of all budget, accounting, and reconciling entries for various complex State funds. Prior to Yvonne’s career in public service, she worked for 10 years as a private sector accountant and auditor. Yvonne holds a Master’s in Professional Accountancy, a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, and an Associate of Science in Accounting.