Portland City Auditor hires new Business Operations Manager

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PORTLAND, Ore. - The City Auditor's Office announced today that Rosie McGown has been selected to serve as the new Business Operations Manager, a position that oversees critical human resource, budget, and finance functions for the Office. Since a 2017 City Charter amendment, the Office holds much of its own human resource and procurement authorities to preserve its independence and impartiality.

The Business Operations Manager supports the elected Auditor, Management Team, and employees in the delivery of the Office's unique accountability and transparency services. They lead the Operations Management Division which includes budgeting, accounting, procurement, personnel-related activities, human resources policy development and administrative rule-making, communication and outreach services, and other administrative services.

McGown comes to the City Auditor's Office with 10 years of experience in procurement, budgeting, operations, and team leadership within local government. In her most recent role as Contracts and Purchasing Manager for the City of Tigard, she led procurement operations and staff while modernizing policies and training programs to enhance compliance and transparency and improve access to the City's procurement processes for underrepresented vendors. She also led procurement planning and execution for a $150 million public facilities project.

McGown also has experience from Metro regional government, where she led the financial reporting and forecasting for the $475 million Parks and Nature Bond. She also supported a variety of projects that advanced diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), including Parks and Nature's DEI action plan and Metro's Reimagining Policing, Security, and Incarcerated Labor initiative.

McGown holds a Master of Public Administration from Portland State University, with a specialization in local government, and a B.A. in philosophy and religion from San Francisco State University.

"The Auditor's Office and its nearly 50 employees are lucky to have someone with McGown's varied background and experience," Auditor Simone Rede said. "Her leadership in procurement and budgeting will strengthen the Auditor's Office as we continue to ensure open and accountable City government in a challenging fiscal environment."

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