The City of Coppell has selected Kim Tiehen as the new Director of Finance effective February 5, 2022. Tiehen has served as the Assistant Director of Finance since 2015 and will replace Jennifer Miller who announced her retirement earlier this year.
Tiehen brings 26 years of experience to the position having previously served as a government auditor at two different public accounting firms and the chief accountant at a private liberal arts college prior to joining the City of Coppell in 2000 as the Chief Accountant. She is also a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Government Finance Officer and has a bachelor’s in accounting and a master’s in public affairs from the University of Texas at Dallas.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to continue serving the Finance Department, the organization and the community,” Tiehen said. “I am committed to partnering and collaborating with my team and all city departments to accomplish the goals provided in the Vision 2040 plan. I also hope to inspire new ideas for continuous improvement that produce more efficient and effective processes while maintaining the City’s excellent financial position.”
During her time at Coppell, Tiehen has taken the lead on several major projects including water and sewer rate adjustments for infrastructure maintenance, an overhaul of the Five-Year Forecast process with all Assistant City Directors, and the Advanced Water Meter project, which puts residents in control of their water consumption. She also created a cash handling training manual, program, and certification for employees, directed the transition from paper to digital forms and documents in the department, and implemented the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Statement No. 34, which overhauled how financial statements were presented.
“Kim’s vast knowledge of government finance, especially as it pertains to Coppell, along with her unwavering commitment to teamwork and transparency will keep the department on course and the organization in excellent financial standing,” said City Manager Mike Land. “The future is sound for the organization and the taxpayers of Coppell under her leadership.”
Tiehen has two adult daughters and lives in Sachse with her husband, Mike.