Four candidates seeking to fill the presently vacant Chief Financial Officer for the Demopolis City School System faced an hour long interview before the Board of Education Friday.

Each candidate faced a battery 16 prepared questions.

Brad Pendergrass, currently Chief Financial Officer for Brewton City Schools, was the third interview of the afternoon. Pendergrass has served Brewton City for the past eight years.

“Previous to being CSFO I had my own accounting practice,” he said. Pendergrass also serves as payroll clerk for Brewton schools.

Given the status of the General Fund and coming proration, each candidate was asked how they would balance a shrinking checkbook.

“I think it’s important to take a look at what you have and then decide what you have to have and what you would like to keep,” he said. “Then as we found things…we would listen to what the superintendent and the board thinks we need to put in or take out of the budget.”

Also, at the conclusion of the interview, each candidate faced the obvious question: Why they think they are the best fit for the job.

“I’ve had eight years experience as CSFO and experience running my own business and managing people,” he said.

Pendergrass said his experience is internal auditing can help identify opportunities to increase efficiencies.