Rolando Charvel named San Diego's chief financial officer

City of San Diego

The San Diego City Council approved Mayor Todd Gloria's appointment of Rolando Charvel as the San Diego's chief financial officer.

Charvel, who has worked for the city in several leadership roles over the past 26 years, will ascend from his current position as the city's director of finance and city comptroller. This will be Charvel's second stint as chief financial officer, having previously held the position from 2017-2020.

In his prior role, he managed the city's $6 billion budget and provided financial leadership for more than 13,000 employees.

"San Diego's fiscal health is the backbone of everything we do, from keeping our neighborhoods safe, to maintaining our infrastructure, to protecting our parks and open spaces," Gloria said in a statement. "With Rolando Charvel as our chief financial officer, I am confident that the city's finances will remain in capable, trusted hands."

As CFO, Charvel will craft the city's financial strategy and oversee the budget process, accounting, treasury, risk management and debt financing.

He will also serve as the mayor's principal advisor on financial policy and long-term fiscal planning.

He replaces Matt Vespi, who left for a job as chief administrative officer at the Port of San Diego.

Charvel is a certified public accountant (inactive) and holds an internal control certification from the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, which was formed in 1985 by five major accounting and finance organizations.

He is a past chair of the California Society of CPAs' Committee on Municipal Accounting and is an active member of several professional organizations, including the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers and the Government Finance Officers Association.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree from San Diego State University, graduating cum laude.