Kootenai County hires finance director

COEUR d'ALENE — Kootenai County hired Dena Darrow as its finance director.

Darrow, who has a degree in accounting and is a CPA, began work on Monday.

She was previously employed for 10 years by Itron in Spokane, where she most recently managed the company’s global financial processes for more than 60 entities.

"I have a real strong desire for public service," Darrow said before Monday's county commission meeting regarding what interested her in the job. "I saw the job advertisement in the paper and it sounded fun."

Darrow has lived in Coeur d'Alene for eight years.

Kootenai County Clerk Jim Brannon said Darrow has been well-vetted over the past two months during the hiring process.

"In each meeting Dena has impressed other elected officials and key staff members," Brannon said. "I have every confidence that her talents, adaptability and exceptional work ethic will pay large dividends to the Auditor’s Department, to our internal customers at the county and ultimately to the taxpayers."

Brannon said the county is most excited about Darrow's track record of leading teams toward financial process improvement under tight deadlines.

She is experienced in Securities and Exchange Commission audit controls.

Darrow has led budget and systems enhancements and worked with regional controllers in several foreign countries. Her experience involves tax, legal, treasury, revenue and external reporting in compliance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and the International Accounting Standards Board.

Darrow will make $80,000 per year at the county.

She replaces Sondra Emerson, who resigned after about six months on the job to spend time with family.

Emerson replaced Dave McDowell, who resigned in January 2015 after being the county's finance director for 14 and a half years. McDowell is now the director of business and operations for the Lakeland Joint School District.