Finance director fired after being accused of misrepresenting her qualifications

The Vance County finance director is out of a job accused of lying about her qualifications.

County Manager Renee Perry said Katherine Bigelow misrepresented herself as a CPA, or certified public accountant.

Bigelow was terminated last Friday after holding the position since 2019.

Perry cited the county’s personnel policy related to "detrimental personal conduct."

According to that policy, it "includes behavior of such a serious detrimental nature that the functioning of the County may be or has been impaired; the safety of persons or property may be or have been threatened; or the laws of the government may be or have been violated."

Perry said she does not know why it was not caught sooner since her tenure started in November 2023.

WRAL News asked if there have been any inconsistencies with the county’s budget, given Bigelow’s removal.

Perry said there are no inconsistencies with the budget at this time.

Chuck Murray will start as interim finance director on Monday, Feb. 19.