SELMA — Four candidates have sat in the hot seat of interviews before a Selma School Board committee in search of a chief financial officer for the school system.

Harris resume Grindal Harris, a senior accountant at Bush Hog LLC, told committee members she has moved from job to job in her career “because there is always something to find and or always something to learn.”

Harris said she is dependable with almost 20 years experience in accounting.

“Accounting is my passion,” she told the committee. “I love dealing with numbers.”

The Selma resident said she is prepared to deal with budgets and work as a member of a team with others in the school system’s Central Office.

“To get the job done … you have to work together in order to make things work,” Harris said.

She said she has not worked as a financial officer in a school system before, but she has worked in a financial aid office at a university.

Harris earned an associate degree in computer science from Wallace Community College Selma and bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Alabama Birmingham.

She has worked as a student financial aid assistant, administrative assistant, bookkeeper, receptionist, statistical technician, accounting manager and senior accountant.

Mitchell resume Cynthia Mitchell of Selma is treasurer for the city of Selma, a position she has held for about seven years.

Mitchell is a Selma native, who traveled away from home to attend college in New Jersey. After graduation, she worked for the state auditor’s office in New Jersey, chiefly conducting compliance audits.

She worked for LaRoche Industries for nearly 20 years until the company went bankrupt and she was laid off.

Mitchell returned to Selma and worked for American Candy Co., closing it down in bankruptcy. As she helped close out the books of American Candy in 2003, she began working for the city of Selma.

Mitchell said she is familiar with all aspects of budgeting, accounting and working in public service.

She said she is willing to work with a team, “You can’t get anything accomplished by yourself,” she said.

Mitchell told the committee she is sometimes outspoken. “I prefer everything be out in the open,” she said.

Mitchell earned a bachelor’s in business administration and accounting from the College of New Jersey. She has worked as a state auditor, accountant, accounts payable supervisor, financial cost analyst, general accountant and city treasurer.

Two more candidates will appear before the committee Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 5:30 p.m.

Elouise Brown, of Selma, earned a master’s degree in business management from Troy University; a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Alabama and attended Wallace Community College Selma.

She has worked in customer service, accounts payable, as a bookkeeper and payroll clerk.

Shasta Brown, of Selma, earned a master’s degree in accounting from Troy University Montgomery; a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Auburn University Montgomery and is working on a degree in human resources management at Troy University Montgomery.

She has worked as an accountant and office manager.

Here is Harris’ interview

Here is Mitchell’s interview: