Claiborne County’s finance director, Eric Pearson, is chosen as Campbell’s new finance director

TOP PHOTO: The County’s Finance Management System Committee met on Monday evening, choosing Eric Pearson as the new finance director of Campbell County in a five to one vote.

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- Campbell County’s Finance Management System (FMS) Committee chose Eric Pearson as the county’s new finance director after conducting brief second interviews of two candidates on Monday evening. Pearson is currently employed as Claiborne County’s finance director.

Pearson was approved in a five to one vote of FMS committee members. The other finalist that had a second interview on Monday evening was Brandon Walters.

The FMS committee also set Pearson’s base salary at $100,000 after several commissioners said they had a salary figure in mind.

FMS committee member Johnny Bruce made a motion that the finance director’s salary be set at $100,000 plus longevity, which is $239 a year. There will be an evaluation at the end of one year. If the evaluation goes well, then the salary will go up to $105,000.

FMS committee member Johnny Bruce made a motion to set the finance director’s salary at $100,000. Also pictured is FMS committee member Dewayne Gibson.

When offered the position, Pearson said he accepted but asked to have the offer made formally in writing, and that he would get back to them formally.

Pearson’s hiring is also pending a background check.

Pearson is from Wisconsin originally and is currently employed at the Claiborne County Finance Director with the “responsibility for managing centralized purchasing, payroll, budgeting, and accounting for all the county operations, and providing support for grants management.” Pearson’s resume states because of this position, he has “extensive experience with county finance, including under the County Financial Management System of 1981.” Pearson also has recently completed the Certified County Finance Officer Program through the County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS).

Eric Pearson, right, was chosen as Campbell County’s new finance director. Also pictured is Brandon Walters, left, was the other finalist for the position that received a second interview on Monday evening.

He told the FMS committee he was uncertain how quickly he could wrap up his position in Claiborne County, but that he would begin that task.

Pearson holds a Master of Arts in Public Affairs and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin with his major in Public Administration and minors in Economics and Political Science.

From November of 2022 until present, Pearson has served as Claiborne County’s Finance Director. Prior to that, he served as the Budget and Fiscal Policy Operations Manager for the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from January 2019 until October of 2022. From January 2001 until December of 2018, he served as the Budget and Policy Manager for the City of Milwaukee. From February 1997 until December of 2000, he served as a Budget and Management Analyst for the City of Milwaukee. From May of 1994 until February of 1997, Pearson worked for the state of Wisconsin for the Legislative Audit Bureau.

County Mayor Jack Lynch, Campbell County’s new Finance Director Eric Pearson and commissioner Rusty Orick chat after Monday’s FMS committee meeting when Pearson was offered the job.

When he worked in Milwaukee, the largest budget he handled was a $1.6 billion budget. Campbell County’s budget is $108,206,023.

Pearson thanked the FMS committee for the opportunity and said he looks forward to working with the county finance department and the FMS committee, as well as all departments in the county and that he looks forward to “moving the county forward.” (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-07/29/2025-6AM)