FREEPORT — The town has hired a new finance director following the resignation of Abbe Yacoben.

Jessica Maloy, who has been the finance director in Lisbon for the past five years, will start in Freeport on Jan. 20.

Yacoben, who had been finance director since March 2009, accepted a position as director of finance and budget in Avondale, Arizona. Her last day was Monday, Jan. 5.

Town Manager Peter Joseph said the finance director is a key position and that there were 20 applicants for the job.

“We were lucky to have several applicants with recent municipal finance director experience,” Joseph said.

Joseph said Maloy will require less training because she has been working as a finance director for several years. He said she was hired because of her experience and her ability to solve problems and create change.

“We saw examples of different experiences she had worked through,” Joseph said. “She made positive changes in her previous position.”

Joseph said Maloy should be able to do the same thing in Freeport.

“She’s somebody who will be able to suggest positive changes we need to make,” he said. “We’re really excited to have someone who can help us improve constantly.”

The finance director position includes preparing budgets and financial reports, and supervising payrolls and information technology. Maloy will also be working closely with Joseph and other town department heads. Because of this, town employees met with the two finalists for the position to get to know them and let Joseph know what they thought.

“It was a good process I think,” Joseph said.

Joseph said the town employees liked Maloy and that she seemed comfortable around them.

Maloy, who holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western New England College, said she’s looking forward to working in Freeport.

“My family’s always been part of the Freeport community,” she said. “I love the environment and community here.”

Maloy said she’s excited about starting her new position and working with other Freeport town employees.

“I’m looking forward to getting acclimated to the staff and getting to know new people,” she said, adding that it will be a lot of hard work to replace Yacoben.

“(Yacoben is) leaving me big shoes to fill and I’m definitely up for the challenge,” Maloy said.

Maloy, who is married and has two children, said she enjoys being outside walking and biking. She spends time volunteering in her kids’ school system and as a soccer coach, and is on the board of the Lisbon Community Federal Credit Union.

“I think I’ve learned a lot in my five years in Lisbon and I think I can definitely apply that in Freeport,” she said.

Kate Gardner can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 125 or kgardner@theforecaster.net. Follow her on Twitter: @katevgardner.

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