Meet Roberta
About Roberta
As a Consultant
Throughout her career in the nonprofit sector, Roberta has worked tirelessly with nonprofit organizations to build strong finance departments. She believes that a strong finance department is the foundation upon which a nonprofit builds and carries out its mission to improve the lives of those in need.
Roberta founded Roberta Katz Consulting four years ago after serving for fifteen years in senior financial management positions at several major nonprofits overseeing their day-to-day operations and experiencing the challenges that they faced. This experience renders her uniquely qualified to provide her clients with practical advice, guidance and tools they need to successfully run their finance departments and meet these challenges.
Roberta’s commitment and dedication to her clients has led to significant improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of their finance departments and instilled confidence in their Boards of Directors as to the effective financial management of their organizations.
Transition From For-Profit to Nonprofit
After an extensive career in the for-profit sector, Roberta redirected her accounting career to the nonprofit sector nineteen years ago. What drove Roberta to make this change was her desire to use the skills and expertise she gained in the for-profit sector to help nonprofit organizations strengthen their finance departments.
Working in the Nonprofit Sector
Prior to founding Roberta Katz Consulting, Roberta held senior financial management positions at several major nonprofit organizations. In these roles she successfully overhauled their finance departments by implementing processes and systems to improve the accuracy and timeliness of financial reporting, streamlining workflow, implementing automated systems, establishing and enforcing policies and procedures and effective internal controls to mitigate the risk of fraud.
Working closely with staff and management throughout the organizations to implement these changes and providing ongoing guidance and training when needed, was essential to Roberta’s success. Her focus on the professional development of her staff and their success in performing their job functions has always been a priority for her.
Mission and Values
It is Roberta’s mission to provide nonprofit organizations with the knowledge, guidance and tools that they need to build a strong finance department infrastructure that supports the organization in successfully carrying out its mission. Roberta’s core values of integrity, objectivity, professionalism, confidentiality and respect continue to guide her throughout her career.
Nonprofit Experience
- Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, LLC, Controller
- JCCA (Jewish Child Care Association), Director of Finance
- Community Access, Inc., Director of Finance
- INCLUDEnyc (formerly Resources for Children With Special Needs), Controller
- Hispanic Counseling Center, Inc. Assistant Controller
Career Highlights
Financial Management
- Revamped the finance departments for nonprofits with operating budgets ranging from $35 million to $110 million implementing structure, processes, systems, policies and procedures and internal controls to mitigate financial risk and safeguard the organization’s assets.
- Published, implemented and enforced comprehensive Accounting Policies and Procedures Manuals to ensure ongoing operational efficiencies, transparency in financial management, accuracy and reliability of financial statements and well-defined roles and responsibilities.
- Served on the Board Strategic Planning Committee for a nonprofit with a $110 million operating budget resulting in structural changes to the organization and significant cost savings.
- Responsible for the efficient financial dissolution of a nonprofit organization, due to the loss of its funding, with a $40 million operating budget.
Financial Reporting
- Implemented and executed a formal month-end financial close process resulting in more accurate and timely financial reporting, enabling management and leadership to make more informed business decisions and to ensure improved monitoring of budget to actual results.
- Developed and implemented a Chart of Accounts Expense Guide to ensure uniform and consistent recording of expenses in the financial records resulting in more useful and meaningful financial statements.
- Established and oversaw an efficient process for preparation and completion of the annual financial audit, increasing the accuracy of the financial records and significantly reducing the duration and cost of the audit.
Technology
- Implemented and administered expense management and invoice processing software eliminating paper documents, maximizing productivity, increasing transparency and facilitating document flow and approvals.
- Implemented and managed budget and financial planning software increasing accuracy and timeliness in budget preparation, monitoring and forecasting.
Education
- Roberta is a graduate of CUNY, Bernard M. Baruch Graduate School with a Master of Business Administration, Accounting and a graduate of Stern College for Women with a Bachelor of Arts, Mathematics.