Kari Carlson

Kari Carlson is the Deputy Finance Officer for the City of Bloomington, Minnesota. She began her career with the City as an Accountant and has advanced through several leadership roles, including Assistant Finance Manager and Budget Manager. She led the successful implementation of the City’s ERP system and has since used that platform to modernize and streamline Bloomington’s finance operations. Under her leadership, the City’s budget has become more transparent, accessible, and engaging for both policymakers and the public.
In her current role, Kari oversees the City’s budget, grants, purchasing, utility billing operations, and special financial projects. Before entering the public sector, she worked as a Senior Accountant at Cargill Inc., a global food corporation. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting with a minor in French from Iowa State University and is a Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO). Kari also serves on the GFOA’s Committee on Governmental Budget and Fiscal Policy.