New York, New York, United States
I am a dedicated non-profit executive with progressive experience and proven success in leading finance and operations at global NGOs, multilateral organizations, and non-profits seeking to promote social and economic justice, education, public health, democratic governance, and human rights. As a versatile and inspiring leader, I have proven experience at pivoting quickly to design and achieve strategic targets at the highest level and drive success of global programs. I am a critical problem solver who collaborates cross-functionally to innovate solutions.
Over almost 5 years first as Deputy COO and Acting COO, and then Global Director of Operations, I directed operations for the global Open Society network of $1.2B expenditure per annum, leading up to 300 staff worldwide in Finance, Grants Management, Security, Real Estate and Facilities, IT, and, for a limited time, HR and Grant Making Support, while shepherding network through significant transformations. I oversaw the CFO, CIO, and Global Directors of Security and Real Estate & Facilities.
I led an 11-person budget department to create budget, expenditure, and financial reports and analyses to steer decision-making and support mission delivery at all levels of the organization. I launched the network's first comprehensive budget system, and spearheaded the first-ever network-wide budget, streamlining the annual preparation process across 60+ programs, foundations, and departments, as well as multiple legal entities, operating in 42 countries to create a strategic tool that enabled enhanced decision-making and efficiency.
I supported the successful implementation of UN programs by conducting detailed analysis of budget proposals for eight offices worldwide and tracking financials to ensure alignment with set targets. I collaborated with program managers to craft financial reports for consideration by the United Nations’ Administrative and Budgetary (Fifth) Committee.
As CFO of ActionAid Australia, I partnered with the executive team to guide organizational strategic planning, spearhead the annual budget process, and prepare reports for the Board and senior stakeholders to ensure transparency and operational viability. I oversaw financial, legal, information systems, and administration for seven offices in APAC and Middle East, as well as all operational aspects of the transition from formerly independent Australian NGO, “Austcare” and integration into the global ActionAid network. I then moved to ActionAid International's Johannesburg headquarters to advance global financial policies, systems, processes, and principles for 45 countries to support ActionAid's mission of working against poverty and injustice.
I oversaw all project accounting for ChildFund Australia, as well as the finance functions of ChildFund Australia's offices in Papua New Guinea (PNG), Vietnam and Cambodia. This included the preparation of the annual budget for the International Program department, including all international offices, in liaison with International Program management and international office management and finance staff. I was also responsible for the review and approval of all project budgets, proposals and donor financial reports.