Kari Carlson started as an Accountant at the City of Bloomington, Minnesota in 2008 and became the Assistant Finance Manager in 2012. In 2014, she took on the project of implementing the City's new ERP software. In 2019, she was promoted to the role of Budget Manager. Kari has used the City's ERP software to streamline all areas of the budget process, including the creation of the budget book. She has also made the budget process more transparent, accessible, and engaging for the public.

Prior to working at the City of Bloomington, Kari worked as a Senior Accountant at the global food corporation, Cargill Inc. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Iowa State University and a (CPFO) Certified Public Finance Officer designation from the GFOA.