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With over 20 years of service to the public sector, financial management professional Joseph F. Wolfe has been instrumental in shaping the financial futures of communities in and around the state of Washington.

A resident of Olympia, Washington, Joe Wolfe currently serves as the Grants Administrator for the Thurston County Auditor’s Office, where he provides his considerable talents in overseeing grant-related programs and services.

When he is not managing complex financial needs at the government level, Joe can be found exploring the mountain ranges of the world as an avid mountaineer.

Education and Credentials

Joe Wolfe has an impressive educational background, and he has had the opportunity to continue his education through certification programs throughout his career. Joe is a graduate of Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, where he earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Industrial Supervision and Management in 1999.

His focus was on process improvement, a valuable skill set that would influence the direction of his entire professional career.

For several years after receiving his undergraduate degree, Mr. Wolfe worked with the Washington State Department of Ecology as a budget analyst. In 2007, he sought to continue his professional education and gained acceptance to the Masters in Business Administration program at St. Martin’s University in Lacey, Washington. In 2009, he was presented with an MBA in Finance and Financial Management Services.

Wolfe has a passion for continuing education, believing that one can always improve his or her knowledge of career-related topics. He embarked on a series of professional certification programs, including:

- Green Belt Certification in Lean Six Sigma, an internationally-recognized process improvement model
- Certified Government Financial Manager
- Certified Federal Grants Manager
- Environmental Health Training in Emergency Response Operations

Career Highlights

Washington resident Joe Wolfe has worked in numerous roles in local and state governments. He has also gained career experience with environmental protection partnerships. For 18 years, Joe has been tasked with analyzing and managing government budgets and coordinating with diverse stakeholders at the local, state, and Federal levels. He is singularly talented in the ability to forge close working relationships with others, and this talent has served him well throughout his career.

He is also dedicated to serving the communities in which he lives and works, helping them to achieve stable financial goals.

In 2017, Joe Wolfe was selected to become the Finance Director for the City of Yelm, Washington. In this role, he was responsible for a range of official duties, including planning, organizing, and managing the city’s annual budget. He was able to implement a series of cost-saving solutions using his experience and mastery of process improvement. Because of his hard work and dedication, the City of Yelm was recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association in 2017 and 2018 when the Association presented the City with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.

Today, Joe Wolfe is the Grant Manager for Thurston County, working out of the County Auditor’s Office. His rich education and career backgrounds allow him to provide technical and administrative assistance throughout county government as he manages grant-related programs. One of his most recent accomplishments was developing a coronavirus funding relief program for economically-challenged communities in Thurston County. He stands as a financial leader and visionary who puts the needs of the community first.

Specialties include financial management, accounting principles, continuous process improvement, and strategic planning. I have strongly demonstrated the ability to communicate complex financial issues.

In summary, my years of building and managing local, state, and federal budgets have given me a comprehensive understanding of financial management.

In my position as Thurston County’s Grant Manager, I am the primary official responsible for providing administrative and technical oversight to grant-related programs in offices and departments of Thurston County. Specifically, I am responsible for the development, planning and coordination of county-wide resource needs related to local, state, and federal grants and ensuring that all funding requirements are met. 

Key Accomplishments during my time with the Thurston County Auditor’s Office:

•	Advised offices and departments on matters regarding the selection, planning, and implementation of grant-funded programs
•	Developed comprehensive procurement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with state and federal procurement laws and regulations
•	Developed countywide grant approval process to align with budget development processes
•	Working with internal auditor, conducted compliance evaluations related to state and federal auditing requirements to ensure compliance with single audit requirements. 
•	Audited Schedule 15 and 16 submittals, including all grant backup necessary to the financial reporting. 
•	In conjunction with the Thurston County Commissioner’s Office, developed subaward program to distribute Coronavirus Relief Funds throughout the community. 


In my position as City of Yelm Finance Director, I was the primary official responsible for planning, organizing and directing the financial activities of the City including financial planning, accounting and financial reporting, treasury and investment management, debt management, operating and capital budgeting, payroll, business licensing, purchasing, and information technology. I served as a member of the City’s executive management team, responsible for accomplishing the City’s goals and objectives as outlined in the City’s Strategic Plan and budget.

Major Accomplishments during my tenure as City of Yelm Finance Director:
•	Developed, mentored and led the City of Yelm Finance Team
•	Developed and maintained financial policies to ensure sound management of the City’s finances, including debt management, city investments, reserve and other financial compliance policies
•	Reinvented the budget document, resulting in the City’s first Government Finance Officers Association Distinguished Budget Presentation Award
•	Transitioned the City from an annual to a biennial budget to improve ability to implement long term planning and forecasting
•	Managed the preparation and publication of the Mayor’s proposed budget 
•	Coordinated all Department, Executive, and Council hearings regarding the presentation of the budget to Yelm City Council
•	Oversaw procurement and implementation of a modern Enterprise Resource Planning System
•	Coordinated, prepared and submitted all Annual Financial Schedules to the Washington State Auditor’s Office
•	Developed all Reporting Schedules, including Schedules 15 and 16
•	Renegotiated treasury services, merchant services and purchasing cards, resulting in savings of approximately $20,700/year to the City
•	Refinanced General Obligation and Local Improvement District Bonds, creating interest cost savings of over $1.0 million
•	Established laddered investment portfolio to increase return on investment and ensure a steady stream of investment income into the future


Finance Director

In this position, I served as the key advisor to the Office of Drinking Water on all financial matters related to federal program management. I led a section of 12 employees with 6 direct reports and actively managed a $25 million biennial operating budget, $100 million biennial capital budget, 103 FTE allotments and over $500 million in active infrastructure loans. 

Key accomplishments during my time with the Office of Drinking Water:
•	Restructured the Office of Drinking Water finances to better align resources with state, local and national needs
•	Redefined financial processes to maximize return on investment 
•	Led the effort to consolidate the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program, including coordination with state and federal partners, agency request legislation, and all necessary project management 
•	Developed, led, and mentored Office of Drinking Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund financial management teams


Financial Operations Director

Joseph Wolfe is a Grants Administrator at Thurston County Auditor’s Office in Olympia , WA.

Joseph Wolfe

Joseph Wolfe

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Education history

Association of Government Accountants

Association of Governmental Accountants

Central Michigan University

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt University of Washington, Tacoma

Saint Martin’s University