Mar. 19, 2014:  "When I was in college and we came to the chapter in intermediate accounting on fund accounting," said Village Treasurer Robert (Bob) Fels, "I remember the professor saying, 'Don't bother about this, you'll never need it,' and we passed right over it."

Fund accounting, Fels said with a smile, the basis of accounting for municipalities, has turned out to be his bread and butter ever since he graduated from Iona College with honors in accounting in 1976.

After more than 23 years as Bronxville's village treasurer, Fels is set to retire on April 30.

A love of mathematics and numbers preceded Fels's passion for accounting. "In school, I thought it was amazing how numbers worked." In accounting, he said, "the numbers have to balance, and, when they do, it's so satisfying."

Bob Fels found his passion for municipal accounting in his first professional position after college, as an accountant/auditor with the New York State Controller's Office. "In those days," he explained, "the state controller's office did full-blown financial audits of municipalities. It was an unbelievable experience."

Fels's audit work so impressed one of his clients, the Town of Greenburgh's controller, that he offered Fels the town's deputy controller position. Fels didn't take the job right away and instead went to work for the Westchester County Department of Finance. After seven months with the county, he realized he didn't enjoy the job. "The Greenburgh position was still open, so I applied and I was hired," he said.

After two years with the Town of Greenburgh, Fels joined the accounting firm Bennett Keilson when the firm was hiring accountants with municipal experience for its audit staff. During his seven and a half years with Bennett Keilson, one of the professionals he trained was Alice Griffin, a Bronxville resident who served as the village treasurer, a volunteer position at that time.

"She called me one day, out of the blue, after she had left Bennett Keilson," Fels said, "and wanted to talk about the qualities and experience the village should look for in a professional to hire as village treasurer."

Over lunch, Fels detailed the skills and qualities he felt the village would need in a professional, paid village treasurer. "She asked me if I wanted the job," he said. "I completely did not expect it." After Fels expressed interest in the position, he said, "It took two or three months to get from that to me sitting at this desk."

"You think you'll only be dealing with money at this desk," Fels reflected, "but there's a human aspect to it far beyond paying the bills and preparing the payroll. You learn that there are people behind the numbers. The numbers are really just representations of people's needs."

The most significant challenge on the job has been helping people realize that there are limitations, Fels said. "The mayor and the trustees want to do what they can for everyone--residents, commercial entities, employees, and retirees--and stay within the defined limited area that is the tax rate."

Fels pointed out that, despite tax rate limitations, the village has done well financially and has achieved an excellent credit rating. "I have tried my best to keep the village on the straight and narrow when it comes to municipal finances," he stated. "I think we have succeeded, and that's my proudest aspect of the job."

It's the work itself, Fels said, that has made him happy to come to village hall every day for over 23 years, "knowing that I have specific tasks to do each day." That, and dealing with the people in Bronxville. "The village is a great place to work," he said, "a very supportive place to work, from the mayor to the trustees to my co-workers."

Pictured here:  Village Treasurer Bob Fels, about to retire.

Photo by A. Warner