Jefferson County Finance Director Langdon Potts

Jefferson County Finance Director Langdon Potts
Staff Photo by Jeff Depew

The Jefferson County Finance Office rang in 2015 with a new Director of Finance. Langdon Potts officially took the helm of the financial center of operations for Jefferson County on January 2, 2015, though he spent the last couple of weeks in 2014 unofficially getting a jump start on his new responsibilities. Potts said early this week that he is still getting his feet wet, learning the staff and various County departments. Having spent more than three decades in cooperate America, the new Director has experience on his side.

Potts, a graduate of Carson-Newman College with a degree in Accounting, was Vice President and Controller of Clayton Homes. Around three years ago, he decided that it was time to step back from the cooperate whirlwind and check a few items off of his bucket list. To that end, Potts tackled the Appalachian Trail, a task for those in their 20s and an even greater challenge for a guy in his fifties. Potts took the challenge and hiked more than 2100 miles in five months. After returning home, he said that it became clear to him that he was not ready to give up the daily grind and that he was ready new challenges.

When asked about the recent issue of theft in the Finance Office, Potts said that there are now controls in place, initiated by the former Finance Director. In his former position with Clayton Homes, his duties included handling the issue of fraud and he plans to have a hands on approach with the various internal workings of the Finance Office. Potts believes that financial management requires being in the details.

Director Potts plans to come to County meetings armed with access to information and he is committed to having a good stream of communication between elected officials, department heads, the public and the Finance Office. He has already met with some Audit Committee members to get up to speed on the Landfill issue that has been a reoccurring audit finding in Jefferson County for several years. Potts views his position as one that presents the financial picture and executes the directives. However, he is comfortable in the role of advising on financial issues and sees that as a part of the directorship.

With budget season just around the corner and a building program in full swing, the first few months of Pott’s new position could make hiking the Appalachian Trail look like a walk in the park. Director Potts views the up coming challenges as exciting and an opportunity to give something back to the County that he calls home.