Richmond, VA - The City of Richmond is pleased to announce the appointment of Tanikia Jackson as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO) for Finance and Administration. Ms. Jackson brings more than twenty years' experience in government finance, operations, and strategic planning in municipal public sectors in the Southeast.

Ms. Jackson most recently served as Deputy Chief of Staff for the City of Atlanta, where she provided oversight and leadership across budget, procurement, and infrastructure operations. Prior to her role in Atlanta, she served as Deputy Chief Financial Officer for the City of Chatanooga, TN. Her experience includes key leadership posts in two of Georgia's largest counties: DeKalb County, where she served as Deputy Director of Budget, and Augusta-Richmond County, where she held the position of Deputy Administrator.  

In her new role, Ms. Jackson will provide strategic oversight on internal and external administrative operations. Her portfolio will include Budget and Strategic Planning, Citizen Service and Response, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, General Services, and Procurement.

"Ms. Jackson has a proven track record of best-in-class municipal finance and administrative leadership," said Odie Donald, Chief Administrative Officer. "She brings a wealth of experience from some of the Southeast's most dynamic cities and county and leads with heart and purpose exemplified by her military service. That deep commitment to public service and fiscal integrity makes her a tremendous asset to our team. I'm excited to see her hit the ground running."

"I am honored to join the City of Richmond and contribute to a community that's full of momentum and meaningful work," said Jackson. "I look forward to working alongside the City's leadership to strengthen our finance and administration functions, the backbone that supports the programs and services making a real difference in people's lives."

"I'm thrilled to welcome with Ms. Jackson to Richmond. Her leadership will be key to strengthening the foundation of a thriving Richmond," said Mayor Danny Avula. "She brings the experience, vision, and desire to take on this role and keep us moving forward."

During Ms. Jackson's tenure in Atlanta, the City of Atlanta achieved its highest-ever credit rating, a strong Triple-A bond rating from Fitch. In her current role, Ms. Jackson has led several high-impact initiatives, including managing a $34 million executive office budget, overseeing the City's first nightlife study and supporting the launch of the new Nightlife Office. She guided the development of Atlanta's first film lookbook and played a key role in crafting the Mayor's Executive Office strategic plan. Her leadership also extends to Bloomberg Philanthropies-funded projects focused on youth violence prevention and sustainability.

Ms. Jackson began her public service in the U.S. Air Force, serving six years on active duty with global deployments and a special assignment in Washington, D.C. She holds a Master's in Public Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor's in Computer Information Systems from DeVry University. Ms. Jackson's first day with the City of Richmond will be Monday, August 11th.

Ms. Tanikia Jackson, Richmond's new DCAO for Finance and Administration