Susan Gahlsdorf
Susan is a fractional finance professional with over thirty years of experience serving the Portland area. She has extensive government finance, accounting, budgeting, and auditing knowledge and a proven track record of creating efficiencies and providing solutions to challenging situations.
Susan’s expertise as a CFO includes coordinating the preparation and administration of the annual budget while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements such as Oregon Budget Law. She has strong skills in managing investments and finances for general government operations, utility functions, and infrastructure development and maintenance. Susan analyzed and recommended improvements to utility rate structures effectively. She excels in many aspects of financial management, from maintaining strong reserves and cash flows to developing and managing cost allocation plans, creating revenue-generating and cost-saving measures, and implementing a sustainable long-term strategic planning process. Additionally, Susan is skilled at reporting and tracking multiple funds and account groups, including general, special revenue, enterprise, internal service, and debt service funds. She effectively facilitates annual financial statement audits in compliance with regulatory requirements, such as the Secretary of State’s municipal audit law.
Susan is a skilled Controller, adept at building internal control systems, maintaining the integrity of accounting records, including month-end reconciliations, and overseeing the preparation of Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports while ensuring compliance with GASB and GAAP. She has extensive experience as a liaison with attorneys, bankers, and audit firms.
Susan enjoys active travel and coordinates groups for biking tours in Europe. She also skis, golfs, and plays pickleball. She is a dedicated grandmother and an avid cook.
