The work is challenging. The way forward can be clear.
Pinpointing strategic solutions for local government
I’m Johnna Sharpe. I know this work from both the finance and executive leadership perspectives — two-time CFO, deputy county manager, chief operating officer. I work alongside managers and their teams, particularly finance and budget, to find the practical path forward that respects the people already carrying the work.
Where the experience comes from
I have been responsible for the numbers, the operations and the leadership decisions behind them. Since 2021, I have worked directly with ten North Carolina counties — six of them on audits, including multi-year backlogs. That work has also included onboarding new finance officers, strengthening business processes and improving the budget and management information leaders use to make decisions.
30+ years of local-government leadership
10 North Carolina counties supported since 2021
13+ audits, including multi-year backlogs
Start with an understanding of what is making the work difficult
An unfinished audit, a strained budget process or a system that is not delivering what the organization needs is rarely an isolated problem.
The cause may be competing priorities, workflow gaps, staffing strains, outdated business processes or simply too much work to manage at once.
One plan the whole team is working from. Clear roles, so every open item has an owner and a date. Processes built for how the work actually gets done. Deadlines that keep you moving forward. Information that reaches the people who need it — across departments, to leadership, and to your board.
Sometimes additional capacity is needed. Often, progress begins by putting the work in an order that fits the team you have and identifying where support is most needed.
What it looks like when it’s working
Clear judgment to see what matters.
Practical structure to move the work forward.
SHARPe & Steady™ is how I work.
SHARPe is the clear judgment to understand the full situation, identify what matters most and choose a practical way forward.
Steady is the calm, practical structure that helps people move through the work without adding more confusion or pressure.
I bring both. The goal is not a dramatic rescue. It is a clearer path, steady progress and practical solutions the organization can carry forward.
The same approach shapes both my direct work with local governments and the practical resources I create for teams to use on their own.
Three ways to work together
Focused Projects
For a defined challenge that needs concentrated attention. I help identify the real issue, define the desired result and build a practical path the team can carry forward.
Leadership & Operations Support
For finance officers, managers and other leaders who need experienced support while navigating a transition, carrying difficult work or making decisions that benefit from a seasoned second perspective.
Training
Practical instruction built around the work people actually do — with real examples and materials the team can continue using after the session ends.