By James Robinson
The city’s search for a new finance manager appears over, with the incoming manager — Jenny Murphy — to start July 16, according to city officials.
Murphy comes most recently from the city’s planning department, where she worked as an associate planner for the past year.
“The Finance Manager plays a strategic role within the city organization,” said Jodi Adams the city’s finance director. “It’s deeply rewarding for me, and for all directors to recognize, nurture, and promote internal talent as we build and strengthen our team.”
According to city documents and Cynthia Shaffer, the city’s director of people and performance, Murphy comes into her new position at $101,997. Murphy was earning $82,056 as of February 2025, according to salary information provided in a public records request. The maximum pay range offered to associate planners, according to the city’s salary schedule, is between $78,624 and $95,118.
Since 2023, the city has been relying on the skills of Darrel Duhm, a Robert Half staffer, who has worked full time remotely at a consistent rate of $4,316.80 per week.
Robert Half pitched Duhm as a candidate with years of municipal experience. An internet search shows he worked for the city of Langley, Washington, in 2022, when he served there as interim finance director. In addition, the city has retained a payroll assistant at about $3,382 a week since February of 2024.
Adams wrote on Tuesday, July 15, that both Duhm and another off-site Half contractor who has handled payroll since February, 2024 will continue on the payroll for now.
“Our Robert Half accountant will continue to fill our Accounting Manager/Accountant vacancy and help to train Jenny on how the City of Port Townsend processes accounting records and transfer tasks she will be taking over from him,” wrote Adams.
She said three interviews for the payroll position are scheduled for this week. “Our current payroll employee is leaving at the end of this month so we are continuing to keep our Robert Half payroll employee on until we fill the vacancy, potentially for a couple months of training so the selected candidate can begin the job successfully.”
In an email dated June 17, Adams said city staff had interviewed six candidates for the finance manager position, yet none had emerged as the top pick. In an email dated July 15, Adams said, city staff interviewed four candidates prior to selecting Murphy.
“Everyone we have interviewed brings a diverse set of skills, yet many applicants have not met the minimum qualifications we require for the position,” Adams said at the time. “Hiring on skills as well as fit for the team tends to lead to successful, longer-term employment, so we are making sure we are not rushing to fill the position.”
According to the job posting available on the city’s web site, the required qualifications include a “bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration or closely related field, plus five or more years of professional level accounting experience and at least two years’ experience in a supervisory capacity, or a combination of education, skills, and relevant experience to adequately meet the requirements of the position.”
According to RocketReach, a professional networking website, Murphy earned a master of science degree in environmental planning, policy and natural resource management from the University of Denver. In 2017, she earned a bachelor’s of applied science in business management from Peninsula College. She also earned an associate’s degree in environmental science from Western Washington University.
Adams and Murphy worked together at the City of Bainbridge planning department from 2023 to 2024. Murphy served as city planner there. Adams served as a permit and administration supervisor.
“Prior to joining the city, Jenny began her career in finance,” Adams said. “She has held various roles with organizations throughout the Olympic Peninsula, gaining extensive experience in government operations. Her career later expanded into the field of environmental studies, reflecting a broadening of her professional expertise. After several years working in that sector, Jenny is excited to return to her roots in finance, where her passion and strengths lie.”
Interest in who would land the key job in the finance department has been high given coverage of the expense of the Half finance employees and the fact the city expenses have increased 88% in five years, while revenues have risen just 33%. Accordingly, City Manager John Mauro was contacted on Monday about the new hire, including a request for information about Murphy’s specific qualifications.
“I see that [a department head] has responded and I believe this was something that [another reporter] had previously asked about last week and worked through Jodi [Adams] to obtain,” Mauro replied in an email on Tuesday, July 15. “As we’ve requested and in the future, could you please copy in [Director of Communications and Marketing] Shelly Leavens, coordinate with your colleague, and provide some indication of timeline/deadline?”
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