Lakeland Appoints Deidra Joseph as Interim Finance Director

City Manager Shawn Sherrouse announced Tuesday that Deidra Joseph will serve as the City of Lakeland's interim Finance Director. Joseph, who has 28 years of experience with the city, most recently served as Assistant Finance Director.

In her previous roles, Joseph oversaw daily financial operations, including central accounting, payroll, accounts payable, customer billing, and the preparation of the city's annual budget and Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.

"Ms. Joseph's 28 years of financial experience and commitment to the City of Lakeland have prepared her to serve in this capacity," Sherrouse stated. "She possesses a thorough grasp of the City’s finances, from the historic downtown districts to the newest developments in South Lakeland. I have full confidence that her leadership will keep our financial operations running smoothly during this period of transition."

Joseph expressed gratitude for the trust placed in her. "Having spent my career working alongside the talented team in the Finance Department, I know we are well-positioned to maintain our standard of excellence and fiscal stability," Joseph said. "I look forward to supporting our staff and continuing to manage the City’s finances responsibly." Joseph holds a Master's degree in Accounting from the University of South Florida and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.