North Kentucky News

The City of Covington is on the lookout for a new finance director following the departure of Steve Webb, who will assume a similar role in Cincinnati. Webb's last working day in Covington is set for March 12. City Manager Ken Smith emphasized the urgency to fill this position due to its critical involvement in the ongoing budget process for the upcoming fiscal year.

Webb's tenure in Covington, which began in August 2022, involved overseeing various financial functions including budgeting, accounting, investments, and payroll. His role also included serving ex officio on several boards such as the Board of Trustees for the City Employees Retirement Fund and The Fund for Covington, Inc.

Smith praised Webb’s contributions stating, “I have truly enjoyed working with him because he not only understands the numbers but also understands the big picture.” He noted that Webb had implemented significant changes to improve financial operations within Covington.

Before his role in Covington, Webb held positions at Northern Kentucky Area Development District and served both Indianapolis and Indiana state governments. Reflecting on his achievements in Covington, Webb mentioned initiatives like centralizing budget development processes and creating the city’s first Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR).

Webb remarked on his leadership philosophy: “In leadership the goal is always to leave things better than you found them, and we've done that.”

During his service in Covington, Webb received several accolades including being named “Finance Officer of the Year” by the Kentucky Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) in 2023. He was also elected president of Kentucky GFOA for 2024-2025 and earned national recognition from GFOA for Outstanding Public Service.

He attributed these successes to his team saying, “Our work is behind the scenes...but nothing happens without a strong team.”