Fairfield Hires New Chief Fiscal Officer

FAIRFIELD, CT — Tom Harris, a seasoned Chief Financial Officer and Certified Public Accountant licensed in both Connecticut and New York, has been hired by Fairfield to serve as the town's new Chief Fiscal Officer, according to First Selectman Bill Gerber.

"Our lengthy search for the right person to maintain Fairfield's fiscal health and ensure transparency and compliance with state and federal regulations has led us to Tom Harris," Gerber said in a statement to Patch. "He joins us as we begin the budget process for 2025-2026, where he will play a leadership role in managing the effective use of taxpayer funds. We have a number of capital projects that demand excellent fiscal management and oversight, where his experience will be a major asset, alongside our team. We're happy to welcome Tom to our Town government."

Harris, a Weston resident, will earn $190,000 annually. His background includes serving in executive leadership roles at Time Warner Inc., Time Warner Cable, The Associated Press, and most recently, the Jewish Federation of Western Connecticut, according to Gerber. Additionally, he has served as a consultant to public and private organizations.

During his career, Harris has addressed "complex financial, strategic, risk management, governance, and operational challenges."

As Fairfield's Chief Fiscal Officer, Harris will oversee the Town’s financial operations, including:

• Preparing financial statements and reporting
• Overseeing audits
• Supervising the collection of taxes, fees and revenues
• Monitoring Town expenditures

Additionally, Harris will also be responsible for long-term financial planning, and ensuring that taxpayer funds are used responsibly.

Gerber added that Harris "has led the entire portfolio of accounting and finance functions and several operating functions, including acting as controller. He has a history of mentoring finance teams and emphasizing cross-functional collaboration."

Harris began his career with PriceWaterhouseCoopers in New York City, where he became a Senior Audit Manager serving public, private, and non-profit clients. He also has a B.S. degree in accounting from Southern Illinois University and an M.B.A. from Long Island University.

Fairfield's Finance Department maintains the town's overall financial stability through sound financial planning and management, according to officials. Entrusted with financial planning, the department continually reviews present and future operations and capital improvement programs to provide accurate information on which decisions can be made and services provided.