AUBURN – A 20-year city Finance Department accounting assistant will take over as the full-time department director.

Acting City Manager Laurie Smith announced Thursday that Denise Brown has been appointed as Auburn’s finance director, replacing Chris Trenholm, who resigned last fall.

Brown has been with the city for 22 years, first working for the city’s steam plant operation, the precursor to the Mid-Maine Waste Action Corp.’s incinerator. She moved to the city Finance Department in 1988, and has been involved with the city’s accounting and cash flow management, and has helped developed financial statements and project management. She also helped the city implement a new accounting software and meet new federal financial filing rules.

Brown was selected by a team made up of representatives from several departments, the city auditor and financial adviser.

“Denise’s years of practical experience, commitment to the city and firm grasp of financial practices made her the top candidate,” Smith said in a written statement.