Former councilman hired by Idaho Falls for accounting position

David Smith

Former Idaho Falls City Councilman David Smith has joined the city of Idaho Falls’ accounting team, filling a budgeted position the Municipal Services Department that had been vacant.

The job’s focus is on supporting accounting functions for the electric utility, and although the position reports to the city controller in the Municipal Services Department, Idaho Falls Power pays the salary and benefits from the city’s enterprise fund.

A certified public accountant, Smith has more than 30 years of accounting, auditing, tax, and business consulting experience, with a professional focus on forensic accounting. He was appointed to the Idaho Falls City Council in 2015, and served until January. During his time on the council, he served as liaison to Idaho Falls Power and also on the Policy Makers Council for the American Public Power Association.

Idaho Falls Power and Municipal Services began evaluating the accounting needs for the utility in summer 2017 and recommended in early October that a senior accountant be hired. The job description was finalized in early November and the position was advertised regionally in mid-November, closing on December 15.

Including Smith, there were six applicants who applied for the position, none of whom were internal candidates. The selection committee identified three candidates to advance to the interview process. Due to the holidays, interviews were scheduled in mid-January, with a job offer made to Smith shortly thereafter.

The city does not have a policy with respect to hiring past City Council members, said Bear Prairie, assistant general manager for Idaho Falls Power, who represented the utility on the interviewing panel. “(The) standard hiring protocols were followed, with the objective of hiring the most qualified candidate. We interviewed other qualified CPAs, but no one had his (Smith's) level of experience.”