GENEVA – Kane County's government has hired a new chief financial officer.

Wednesday, the Kane County Board unanimously approved the selection of Joseph Onzick to serve as the county's new executive director of finance.

Onzick, of North Aurora, has worked in finance for years, said Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen.

Onzick is certified as a public accountant and holds a master of business administration degree, two qualifications that Lauzen said were key in his choice to recommend Onzick to the County Board.

Onzick currently serves as controller at Aurora University.

He has previously held financial officer positions, Lauzen said, including experience at NexGen Software Technologies in Naperville, as well as in the nonprofit sector.

Onzick has not worked in government before, Lauzen said.

Reached by phone after Wednesday's County Board meeting, Onzick confirmed that he had applied for the Kane County CFO position. But he said he was unaware of the County Board's vote, and withheld further comment until a later time.

Lauzen said Onzick is scheduled to begin his new duties with the county early next week.

He is scheduled to earn a salary of $115,000.

Onzick's hiring ends a months-long search process conducted by Kane County officials to find the next finance director.

The position has been vacant since former Finance Director Cheryl Pattelli resigned last summer to take a similar government finance job in Colorado.

Lauzen said finding a new finance director had been among his top priorities since he took office as county board chairman in December.

Lauzen said Onzick was the best among four candidates he had interviewed for the job, as his experience and certifications, as well as his residency within Kane County, helped him stand out.

Lauzen said he believed Onzick would help the county board by supplying "very accurate information," which is what Lauzen believes the county board needs most from its finance director.

Lauzen said Onzick will work as a part of a county finance team, that will also include Kane County Treasurer David Rickert, to help the county formulate budgets and set tax levies, among other tasks that in the past were performed routinely by the finance office.