55 Millennium - Twentieth Edition BUSINESS, FINANCE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP Bhama Cairns is an experienced auditor and financial manager with over 40 years of experience to her credit. Since 2017, she has served the City of Kentwood, Michigan, as the deputy finance director. Born and raised in Sri Lanka, Ms. Cairns had initially hoped to become a pilot but was encouraged by her family to pursue accounting. In her current position, she oversees internal controls and compliance, budgeting, and ensuring that her department meets the needs of the diverse community it serves. Ms. Cairns originally began her career in 1978 as an auditor for Ernst & Young, where she recognized her talent for financial management and accounting. In the late 1990s, she entered the public sector, spending two years as an internal auditor for Kent County. Between 2000 and 2004, she operated as a financial analyst for The Reformed Church in America before returning to municipal government as deputy treasurer for the City of Rockwood. She then worked with the City of Wayland as a deputy city manager, finance director and treasurer from 2008 until 2012, at which point she became the controller for the City of Hamtramck, a position she retained until accepting her current role in 2017. As part of her vocational journey, Ms. Cairns earned a BBA and a BS in accounting at Calvin University. She subsequently continued her studies during the early stages of her career, ultimately achieving an MPA in local government administration at Western Michigan University in 2005. In addition to her academic credentials, she is a chartered global management accountant, a chartered management accountant and a certified public accountant, demonstrating her professional excellence at an international level. Outside of her work in local government, Ms. Cairns is a member of the board of the Grand Rapids Alternative Correctional Experience and a volunteer performer for local senior centers. Recently, she was selected to participate in the Michigan Municipal Women’s League Women’s Manager Leadership Program, where she hopes to help empower other women in government positions. Millennium Magazine Featured Listee BHAMA CAIRNS DEPUTY FINANCE DIRECTOR City of Kentwood Grand Rapids, MI
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