The City of Atlanta announced that Chief Financial Officer J. Anthony “Jim” Beard has been named to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board Board of Directors. His term will begin on October 1, 2016, the start of MSRB’s 2017 fiscal year. “I congratulate my CFO Jim Beard in being appointed as an Officer to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “As Atlanta’s Chief Financial Officer, Jim’s role goes well beyond making sure the books are balanced and bills are paid. His leadership and expert knowledge of the municipal market has helped make the financial health of the City of Atlanta stronger and more stable than it has been in the last 30 years.”

Beard joins a Board which has 11 independent public members and 10 members from firms regulated by the MSRB, including broker-dealers, banks and municipal advisors. This board establishes regulatory policies and oversees the operations of the MSRB. Beard will serve a four-year term, ending September 30, 2020.

“The new class of Board members includes highly experienced and knowledgeable public representatives and municipal securities professionals,” said MSRB Chair Nathaniel Singer. “They join an exceptional new leadership team that will oversee the MSRB’s pursuit of its mission to protect investors, municipal entities, obligated persons and the public interest.”

Members of the Board of Directors meet throughout the year to make policy decisions, authorize rulemaking, enhance market transparency systems and oversee operations.

“I am honored to be selected to serve on the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board. This privilege represents a high water mark in my public service career,” said Chief Financial Officer Jim Beard. “I look forward to adding my voice to the important discussions and work as the industry undertakes several critical initiatives. The municipal marketplace is critical to cities, counties and states in addressing outstanding capital needs in roads, bridges, sidewalks, water and wastewater, and a host of other infrastructure requirements that make this country work.”

Beard has served as the Chief Financial Officer for the City of Atlanta since 2011. As CFO, he is responsible for the oversight and management of the City’s financial condition and advises Mayor Reed and the City Council on issues such as municipal finance, budgeting, treasury activities, accounting, financial policies and pension matters. Under Beard’s leadership, Moody’s Investors Service recently upgraded the city’s general obligation debt to Aa1 from Aa2, a rating that reflects the hard work on pension reform, fiscal practices and a focus on maintaining structurally balanced budgets for the City of Atlanta.

Beard was recently honored with the 2016 Pacesetters Award from the National Association of Securities Professionals. The Pacesetter Award recognizes individuals or funds that have ensured or promoted the full involvement of women or minorities in the securities industry. Beard was recognized for his practice of emphasizing opportunities for women and minority-owned firms to work with the City of Atlanta.

In addition to being the holder of multiple securities industry principal licenses, Beard is a Certified Treasury Professional and holds certifications in international and domestic bank management. Mr. Beard is a member of the Association for Financial Professionals and the Government Finance Officers Association.