It took more than a year, but Aberdeen has hired a permanent full-time finance director.

During Wednesday’s Aberdeen City Council meeting, the council unanimously confirmed the appointment of Clifford Fredrickson, who has been serving as the finance director at Tacoma Community College, to fill the Aberdeen post starting July 1.

Fredrickson said the position appealed to him because it would allow him to be the chief financial officer, which he said is different from his current job Tacoma Community College, where the college president is at a higher level for controlling finances.

In a phone interview, Fredrickson said this will be the time he has worked for a city government. He has previous experience as finance director at Grays Harbor College, and other finance positions in higher education.

“I’m thrilled for the opportunity,” he said. “It’ll be a challenge for me, but everybody enjoys a challenge.”

He’s also recently been teaching accounting classes online as an adjunct teacher for Grays Harbor Community College.

Finding a full time director had been a challenge for the city, which has operated with Hoquiam’s finance director, Corri Schmid, working as an interim director since last summer.

Aberdeen Mayor Erik Larson said Schmid would continue working for the city through the transition period, but there’s no specific timeline yet.

Fredrickson said he plans on immersing himself in the community over the next five weeks before starting on the job.