The Select Board unanimously appointed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Eric Kinsherf as Swampscott’s temporary town accountant.
“He is responsive and provides total financial services to individuals, businesses and municipalities,” interim Town Administrator Gino Cresta said.
With both the assistant accountant and finance director positions currently vacant, Kinsherf and his firm will assist the town. Eric A. Kinsherf, CPA LLC has provided municipal financial consulting for over 15 years, assisting towns and cities with budgeting, accounting, treasury functions, fraud risk assessment, and special projects, according to its website.
The need for a temporary town accountant arose after former Assistant Town Accountant Trang Vu announced she would step down from her position on July 22. At the Select Board meeting on August 19, Cresta said that Vu has continued to assist during the transition.
Vu’s resignation followed that of Amy Sarro, Swampscott’s former director of finance and administration, who stepped down at the end of June after months of contract negotiations with the Select Board.
“We’re short in the accountant department,” Cresta said. “Eric’s scope includes assistance in closing the books, preparing the combined balance sheet for the submission of free cash, assisting in completing the FY26 tax rate recap, and completing the Schedule A report.”
The town must submit its combined balance sheets to the Department of Revenue by September 30.
Cresta noted that the Select Board’s approval allows Kinsherf to “sign off on AP warrants so the town can pay bills after Trang’s last day.” Select Board Vice Chair Doug Thompson emphasized that this scope of work represents only a portion of a town accountant’s daily responsibilities.
“We’re looking to bring in someone who’s in the building on a day-to-day basis,” Cresta said.
According to his firm’s website, Kinsherf holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Bridgewater State College and an MBA from Suffolk University. He is a licensed CPA in Massachusetts and a certified municipal treasurer and collector, as designated by the Massachusetts Collectors and Treasurers Association. Kinsherf is also a Chartered Global Management Accountant, a designation awarded by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
He has previously served as finance director in Braintree, treasurer and collector in Dennis, and assistant treasurer and collector in Brockton.
Eric A. Kinsherf, CPA LLC is based in Sagamore Beach, with additional offices in Central and Western Massachusetts.
“This will be Eric’s third time that Swampscott has enlisted Eric’s accountant support service while transitioning to a new town accountant,” Cresta said. “I’ve been around for all the previous two, and I have the utmost confidence in Eric.”
