You're a New CFO – What Steps Do You Take to Understand Your New Organization and Its Risks
Whether you are new to the CFO position or just a new CFO to an organization, it is critical that you quickly understand how your new organization operates and the risks it faces. Please join our panel of top-notch CFOs as they walk through how they approached learning about their new organization and the steps they took in their first year to ensure they were prepared to lead as well as identify and respond to critical risks.
Learning Objectives – attendees will: Attendees will get on opportunity to learn from these impressive Chief Financial Officers in different nonprofit sectors about how they approached their new role. The moderator will ask impactful questions getting insight from each of these CFO's personal experiences as well as great tips they will share with the audience. The audience will also have an opportunity to submit specific questions to the group or a specific CFO.
Kathy O'Connor, CPA, CGMA, President, O'Connor Consulting Services
Kathy, our President and Founder, created the firm in 1999 after serving as a senior manager in KPMG, LLP’s not-for-profit practice, where she found her passion for supporting not-for-profit organizations while developing her expertise in audit and outsourcing. Kathy’s goal in founding the firm was to create a unique firm focusing on supporting and solving the higher-level issues facing not-for-profits and forming long-term trusted advisor relationships with clients that promote on-going services and collaboration. Since the firm’s inception, Kathy has focused on building an incredibly skilled team that shares her passion for servicing the DC not-for- profit community. Her dedication to the not-for-profit industry spans over 30 years, serving not-for-profit organizations with revenues ranging from $1 million to $1.2 billion. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Villanova University and holds an active Certified Public Accountant license in the State of Maryland. Kathy has also served the community by serving on the Board and Audit committees for several not-for-profits, currently including the Greater Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants (GWSCPA) Board of Governors and Audit Committee Chair. In November 2014, Kathy received the AICPA Women to Watch – Experienced Leader Award from the GWSCPA and speaks at various local conferences on not-for-profit issues. When not leading OCS, Kathy enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, volunteering in youth sports, school drama productions, and a myriad of other activities of her children.
Bianca Domally, Chief Financial Officer, NAACP
Bianca Domally has over 30 years’ experience as a financial professional in the not-for-profit industry. She is currently the Chief Financial Officer for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She has previously served as the CFO for Associated Builders and Contractors and the American Public Power Association, Controller for American Petroleum Institute, and Controller/Managing Director for American Chemistry Council.
Bianca has brought expertise in process improvement, change management and team leadership and development to these organizations. She abides by a “continuous improvement” mantra, for work and life, and champions empowering people to achieve their highest potential.
Bianca received her BBA degree from Baruch College, CUNY, is currently completing her MBA with UMGC, and is a Certified Public Accountant. She lives in Laytonsville, Maryland with her husband and two children, but prides herself in always identifying as a “New Yorker”!
Bruce Friedman, Chief Financial Officer/Senior Vice President Finance, United Way Worldwide
Bruce is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of United Way Worldwide. He serves as the Assistant Treasurer and oversees the finance, planning, accounting, and fiscal operations at UWW.
Bruce has a diverse background in public, private, and non-profit organizations. Before joining UWW in 2021, Bruce served as the CFO at Immaculata University and the University of Pennsylvania Dental School and Business Services Division. He began his career at PWC and subsequently had various financial and operational roles at Verizon, Exelon, and Nobel Learning Communities.
Bruce is a CPA licensed in Pennsylvania. He holds a Masters Degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Organizational Dynamics and a Masters of Business Administration and a Bachelors in Accounting & Finance from Drexel University. He serves on the board of two nonprofit organizations, Team Telomere which supports advocacy and research for those with biological telomere disorders and Bournelyf Special Camp.
Erin Seraydian, Chief Financial Officer, Vital Voices Global Partnership
Erin Seraydian is the Chief Financial Officer of Vital Voices Global Partnership, a non-profit organization investing in women leaders who are taking on the world's greatest challenges. In her role, Erin collaborates with the leadership team to scale the organization strategically, manage financial functions, and mitigate risks as they grow the organization to be able to help even more women leaders.
Before her recent move to Vital Voices, Erin served as the CFO of National Student Clearinghouse (NSC), a $100 million non-profit focused on education data and research outcomes. During her 7-year tenure, she held various financial and project management leadership positions, contributing to NSC’s remarkable growth. Erin championed the adoption of cloud-based tools, enhanced risk management practices, and successfully implemented scaled agile methodologies.
Erin’s professional journey extends beyond non-profits. She has also held financial leadership and audit roles in Fortune 500 companies and the real estate development sector. Her commitment to lifelong learning is evident through additional graduate coursework in marketing statistics, project management and various leadership programs, and spends time mentoring other women leaders.
When: Wednesday, March 12, 2025 | 11:30 am - 1:30 pm Networking 11:30 am
Lunch 12:00 pm
Presentation 12:30 - 1:30 pm
Where: PNC Bank | 800 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
* Please bring an ID for check-in at the lobby. *
Parking: There are nearby parking garages as well as limited metered street parking.
Metro: Farragut West
FAR members, please make sure to log in to the FAR website to receive FAR member registration options.
This program is approved for CPE and CAE credit.
CAE:
CPE Field of Study:
FAR is a CAE Registered Provider. The program listed above meets the requirements for fulfilling the professional development requirements to earn or maintain the Certified Association Executive credential. Every program that we offer that has been approved for CAE credit will clearly identify the number of CAE credits granted for full participation. We will maintain records of your participation in accordance with CAE policies. For more information about the CAE credential or Registered Provider program, please visit www.asaecenter.org/cae.
As a CAE Registered Provider educational program related to the CAE exam content outline, this program may be applied for 1 credit toward your CAE application or renewal professional development requirements.
Note: Applicants may use any program that meets eligibility requirements in the specific timeframe towards the exam application or renewal. No specific individual courses are required as part of the applications – the selection of eligible education is up to the applicant based on his/her needs.
FAR is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State Boards of Accountancy have the final authority on the acceptance of individual course for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org. It is Group-Live delivery method. Sponsor ID: 109395
