Richard Austin Named Director of Finance and Administration

Richard Austin has been named Director of Finance and Administration for the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit, a position comparable to Chief Financial Officer (CFO). In making the appointment, Archbishop Allen Vigneron noted Austin's "...wide range of experience in both business and not-for-profit entities."

Austin, 60, was hired by the archdiocese in September of 2009 to oversee and implement the significant financial and organizational restructuring strategies adopted one month earlier. Serving in that capacity, he has worked closely with the Archdiocesan Finance Council as well as the offices, agencies, and institutions within the archdiocese to help achieve the stated goal of an annualized balanced budget by July 2012. "Rick's assistance in our restructuring efforts thus far has been invaluable," the archbishop said, "I am confident the archdiocese will benefit greatly from his service as Director of Finance and Administration."

Chosen after an extensive search, Austin will lead a department responsible for accounting services, internal and external auditing, budget management, buildings and properties management, computing and network services, financial services, and investment and debt management.

Austin has held a number of senior management positions in private, public and not-for-profit environments as a CFO, a lead restructuring advisor, a controller, and a division accounting manager. A graduate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn, Austin is accredited as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA); Certified Treasury Professional (CTP); and, as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).

Austin succeeds Daniel Oliver, who is transitioning to the newly created position of Special Projects Coordinator in the Finance and Administration Department. Oliver has served the department for 26 years in several capacities, from junior auditor to accounting supervisor to director.

A resident of Farmington Hills, Austin and his wife, Patricia, are members of St. Aidan Parish in Livonia. They are the parents of four grown children. Commenting on his appointment, Austin expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to be of service to the Church and the faithful of southeast Michigan. "I am very humbled," Austin said, "to join the entire team dedicated to realizing Archbishop Vigneron's mission of Sharing Christ in and through the Church."