Molly P. Roberts, assistant village manager and finance director for the village of Granville, will be Worthington's next director of finance.

Roberts' appointment was unanimously confirmed by Worthington City Council on Monday night. She will start work in Worthington on Dec. 14, taking over for Steve Gandee, who retired in July after 15 years as the Worthington director of finance.

Roberts, 45, will be paid $92,000 a year.

She has been with the village of Granville for 23 years, serving as income tax manager, finance director, acting city manager, and, for the past three years, finance director/assistant village manager.

Her well-rounded experience plus the similarities between the two communities make Roberts a good match for the Worthington position, said city manager Matt Greeson, who made the selection.

He approached her about applying for the position after meeting her and hearing of her reputation at regional government organization meetings. She was one of 36 applicants for the position, which was advertised nationwide through government association publications.

"You not only cast a wide net, but encourage people you know who are qualified to apply," Greeson said.

Through a process that included initial screenings, two rounds of interviews, reference and background checks, Roberts rose to the top, he said.

She has a good mix of hands-on experience and the ability to look at the big picture, he said.

"She is just a neat, well-rounded person who has a lot of capabilities," he said.

Granville is a village of 5,000 people and the home of Denison University in Licking County.

Its historic ambience and small-town feel are similar to Worthington's, as are the expectations of residents, Greeson and Roberts both said. Both communities have intelligent, involved residents with high expectations for services and infrastructure, they said.

Granville is also a charter village with a council/manager form of government.

Roberts grew up in Granville and graduated from Granville High School.

She attended Zane State Community College, where she received an associate degree in business and accounting, and Mt. Vernon Nazarene University, where she received a bachelor of business administration degree.

She lives in Zanesville, where she and her husband, Randy, own 40 acres of land on the outskirts of town. She intends to rent a place to live in Worthington, but return to Zanesville to enjoy the property on weekends.