Preston - The town's finance director for the past 17 months will leave the position April 3 to join a local branch of a Fortune 500 company.

Greg Schuyler, who has held the joint school/town finance director position since October 2013, announced his plans to town agencies last week. He said he did not wish to identify his new employer, but said he will be working in the region and will be able to continue to work with Preston officials some evenings and weekends until a replacement is hired.

His last full-time day in Preston will be April 3. Schuyler is earning $92,000 this year, and was slated to receive a 2 percent raise in the 2015-16 budget year.

In his role as dual town and school finance director, Schuyler works 80 percent of the time for the school district and 20 percent working on town finances. His departure will come as the spring budget process is winding down.

Both the Board of Education and Board of Selectmen sent proposed budgets to the Board of Finance earlier this month. Public hearings will be held in April.

"There's never a good time to leave, but the budgets are in a good spot," Schuyler said. "I've really enjoyed my time here."

Schuyler said he feels the corporate setting is "a better use of my skills," and he most enjoys cost accounting issues.

School Superintendent John Welch and First Selectman Robert Congdon both worked closely with Schuyler during his Preston tenure. Both said hey were very impressed with his skills and professionalism.

"He did a phenomenal job," Congdon said. "He's a very capable accountant. I didn't expect we would have him long term, based on the fact that there would be opportunities for advancement for him elsewhere."

The position of joint town and school finance director was created in 2011. The first director, Robert Sirpenski served from September 2011 through spring of 2013, when he became Waterford finance director. Schuyler started in October 2013.

Town officials plan to follow the same process used when Schuyler was hired. Welch said the Board of Education has hired the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education for $8,000 to conduct a search for the town's new finance director. finance and selectmen.

Schuyler was selected from an initial field of about 60 candidates in 2013.

c.bessette@theday.com

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