Hillsborough Selects Finance Director
The Town of Hillsborough has selected a new finance director.
David McCole, finance director for Surf City, will begin working for the town on Feb. 6.
“We are exceptionally fortunate to have David join our team,” Hillsborough Town Manager Eric Peterson said. “He brings significant experience in the processes of issuing debt, bonds, leases, and installment-purchase agreements and successfully improved the bond rating in one of the jurisdictions where he was the finance officer. This background is critical since Hillsborough has tens of millions of dollars in capital projects that are close to implementation.”
McCole has 24 years of local government accounting and finance experience, serving as a finance director or officer in North Carolina for nearly 17 years and in finance roles for a New Jersey township for 7 years. Prior to working for Surf City, he was the finance officer for Onslow and Pender counties. The certified public accountant also has 9 years of experience as an auditor for accounting firms that prepared financial statements for local governments.
“It’s well known in local government that the finance director is the most difficult position to fill,” Peterson said, “so I’m elated we’ve been able to add someone with such a depth of experience who will also be able to complement our outstanding employees in the Financial Services Department.”
McCole will oversee all aspects of the town’s financial operations, including the Financial Services Department and its 11 employees. The department manages billing operations for the town’s water and sewer utility.
“My wife and I are looking forward to enjoying all the wonderful things that Hillsborough and the surrounding area has to offer,” McCole said. “I am thankful to have the opportunity to work for such an exceptional organization. I cannot wait to get to know and work with the staff in the Financial Services Department as well as the rest of the team at Hillsborough.”
The town has been contracting with the Raleigh accounting firm of Greg W. Isley, CPA, PA, for assistance in managing the Financial Services Department. Hillsborough’s former finance director resigned in June.
“Major thanks and recognition go to Melissa Bishop who has served as the interim director since June,” the town manager said. “She brought much needed stability to the operations, due to the significant turnover that has occurred in the department since 2021.”
McCole earned an associate’s degree in business administration from County College of Morris in New Jersey and a bachelor in accounting from East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania.
