The City of Boerne welcomed a new member to its Leadership Team on Tuesday.
Sarah Buckelew officially began her first day as Director of Finance, joining the City from nearby Fair Oaks Ranch where she served in the same role for nearly five years. She will work alongside current Director of Finance Sandra Mattick as she prepares to retire.
“We are so excited to bring Sarah on board. She has a diverse background and brings a wealth of experience to the City,” City Manager Ben Thatcher said. “I also want to commend Sandy on a successful tenure here at the City and the wonderful work she has done, and I know she is looking forward to spending more time with her family.”
Buckelew is a graduate of Texas A&M – College Station with a Bachelor of Business Administration – Accounting and a Master of Business Administration – Finance and is a Certified Public Accountant. Before joining the City of Fair Oaks Ranch, she spent 12 years in the private sector as a Tax Senior Manager at 3M and a Tax Manager at Rackspace, as well as public accounting work in both audit and tax for Ernst & Young.
At Fair Oaks Ranch, she improved financial and budgetary reporting, which resulted in the City being recognized every year since 2017 with the Government Finance Officers Association Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting, as well as the Government Finance Officer’s Distinguished Budget Presentation award since 2019. She also established an Information Technology division at the City and oversaw implementation of the City’s first 5-Year Strategic Action Plan.
She also established an Information Technology division at the City and oversaw implementation of the City’s first 5-Year Strategic Action Plan.
“It has been such a whirlwind first day. I have watched as the City of Boerne has adapted and continued to provide high quality services,” Buckelew said. “I now have an opportunity to sit alongside Sandy and continue to learn more about the City and the great work already underway.”
With Buckelew coming on board, Director Mattick will retire in mid-January after 40 years of professional work, including serving as Director of Finance for the City of Boerne since 2004.
Mattick oversaw the successful completion of the City’s voter-approved 2007 Quality of Life Bond, which added park space, improved walkability, and expanded the City’s public safety facilities.
Before joining the City, the Boerne-native served as Controller at GVTC for more than a decade and as Assistant Vice President of Commercial Lending at a local bank before that.
“It has been a pleasure to spend 17 years here at the City of Boerne,” Mattick said. “We have accomplished so much, and I truly believe our community is better today and more prepared for the future than ever before.”
Upon retiring, Mattick said she is looking forward to spending more time with her husband, Mark, their children and grandchildren.