The City of Menifee is pleased to announce the appointment of Margarita Cornejo as Chief Financial Officer. In this role, Cornejo will manage the City’s award-winning Finance Department, as well as coordinate with other City departments and outside agencies on financial matters. She assumes the position previously held by Travis Hickey, who accepted a similar position closer to home in the City of Beaumont.
Cornejo has been a long-time Menifee employee, most recently serving as the Director of Strategic Programs and Initiatives. She previously served as the Acting Chief Financial Officer and the Deputy Finance Director where she helped to oversee the daily operations and activities of accounting, purchasing, budget, investments, and other related services to ensure the integrity, accuracy, and transparency of the City’s financial systems.
“Margarita has a wealth of knowledge regarding the City’s financial operations and has played a critical role in the department’s success over the last several years,” said Menifee City Manager Armando G. Villa. “Menifee remains in a strong financial position thanks in large part to her leadership and she is a shining example of how our City is continuing to invest in our employees to help them grow and thrive.”
Cornejo has served in several additional capacities for the City of Menifee including Finance Manager, Contracts and Purchasing Administrator, Management Analyst, and Administrative Analyst. She also previously served as a Project Coordinator for the City of Riverside’s Community and Economic Development Department. Prior to her government service, Cornejo worked as a senior financial analyst in the private sector providing consulting services to government entities.
“I am grateful for this opportunity and am committed to safeguarding our City’s finances and supporting our finance team,” said Cornejo. “Serving this community continues to be a great honor and I look forward to helping provide the sound financial stewardship and strategic planning needed to guide Menifee’s continued growth and success.”
Cornejo earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She is a member of the Government Finance Officers Association and the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers.
The Menifee Finance Department recently received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and has consecutively earned the Excellence in Financial ReportingAward for the last 13 years from the Government Finance Officers Association. The department was also the recipient of the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award from the National Procurement Institute and successfully completed the California Municipal Treasurers Association’s Investment Policy Certification program.