(MISSOURI CITY) – For Monique Didier, moving to Missouri City feels like finally achieving a goal. Years ago, Didier and her husband set their sights on moving to the Houston metropolitan area. Yet, personal and professional circumstances delayed the move. It seemed like one thing after another, until a notice from a recruiter on a social media website caught her eye. Missouri City was looking for a new leader for their Finance Department. Now, the city’s newly appointed Chief Financial Officer is ready to lead the team that provides controller, treasury, budget, and procurement services for the city.
"My first order of business is to get settled, learn as much as I can about Missouri City, and build upon the great work the Financial Services Department has been doing," says Didier.
A Chicago native who moved to Denver, Colorado, as a teen, Didier has broad experience in the public and private sectors. Before coming to Missouri City, she served as Chief Operating and Financial Officer for Denver Economic Development and Opportunity, a chapter she believes paved the way to where she is now.
"My experience there," she says, "was a great opportunity and set me in a position to become the Chief Financial Officer for Missouri City."
With a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Metropolitan State University of Denver and a Master of Science in Accounting from Southern New Hampshire University, Didier knew from a very young age that education was the transformational factor that would open professional doors in the future.
"I am the oldest of six kids to a single mom, and I knew education was going to be the key for me to break the generational curses I was growing up in," she says.
Didier has 20 years of experience working for the federal government. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she served as Director of Administration and Finance for the Tri-County Health Department in Colorado. Additionally, for five years, she owned an accounting firm that specialized in servicing nonprofit organizations to get the funding they needed for their mission while being fiscally compliant.
Now, the mother of four children anticipates enjoying her new job and embracing the differences in her new environment.
"I am looking forward to not having to drive in several feet of snow and the very cold weather that comes with it,” says Didier. “Looking forward to being able to go to the beach and experiencing all Missouri City has to offer."
As director of the municipal division that ensures financial reporting, execution, and enforcement of internal controls for payment and receipts, Didier has one message for the community:
"The residents should know that the Financial Services Department is a strong and mighty team, and our goal is to continue to assist in maintaining a financially sound city while remaining transparent and being good stewards of their public resources."