Oak Park's Interim CFO Offered CFO Role

Oak Park, IL — The village of Oak Park has appointed its interim chief financial officer to be the chief financial officer — dropping the "interim" part of his title.

Steven Drazner served as deputy CFO beginning in August 2015, and he took up the interim position after Craig Lesner resigned as CFO in March, according to the village.

Before coming to Oak Park, Drazner served as finance director in Countryside.

Drazner has also served as assistant finance director in Evanston and Morton Grove. He was a senior accountant with CPA firm Robinson, Reinglass & Panos, Ltd. in Northbrook, according to the village. He earned his accounting degree from Northern Illinois University, and he is an Illinois Certified Public Accountant.

In Oak Park's CFO position, "Drazner manages the finance department, which develops, maintains and administers all programs related to municipal finances and accounting such as audits, purchasing, financial reporting, budgeting, payroll, utility billing and pensions," according to the village.

“Steve’s extensive experience and proven track record with the Village made him the ideal choice to fill this important role,” said village manager Cara Pavlicek in a statement. “He quickly implemented important process improvements as interim CFO. We were fortunate to have had someone of Steve’s abilities already on staff when the CFO position came open. Appointing him to the role permanently was an easy decision.”

“Working for the Village of Oak Park as deputy and then Interim CFO has allowed me to expand my experience and hone my skills in a wide range of municipal finance areas,” Drazner said in a statement. “I am honored that the Village Manager thought enough of my work in an interim capacity to offer me the CFO role. I look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead.”

Photo courtesy of the village of Oak Park.