Cynthia Lee-Halbert
VP/Chief Audit Executive (CAE) - Internal Audit, , United States
Professional Overview
Cynthia Lee-Halbert is an accomplished audit and risk management executive with over 15 years of experience in the higher education and healthcare industries. As the VP/Chief Audit Executive at Strategic Education Inc., she is responsible for leading the company's internal audit function, providing strategic guidance on risk management, and driving operational efficiencies.
Experience Summary
Current Role
As the VP/Chief Audit Executive at Strategic Education Inc., Cynthia is responsible for overseeing the company's internal audit activities, including assessing and mitigating organizational risks, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, and recommending process improvements. Under her leadership, the internal audit team has enhanced the company's internal control framework, resulting in improved operational effectiveness and cost savings.
Career Progression
Prior to her current role, Cynthia served as the Director/Chief Audit Executive - Risk Advisory & Assurance at Capella Education Company, where she led a team of auditors in evaluating the company's risk management and internal control systems. During her tenure, she implemented a data analytics program that enabled the identification of process improvement opportunities, leading to a 20% reduction in audit findings.
Earlier in her career, Cynthia held various internal audit and compliance roles at UnitedHealth Group, where she demonstrated her expertise in technology auditing, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance, and internal controls. In these roles, she played a key role in enhancing the organization's risk management framework and improving the efficiency of its internal audit processes.
Academic Background
Cynthia holds a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of Minnesota and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA).
Areas of Expertise
- Internal audit and risk management
- Compliance and regulatory oversight
- Process improvement and operational efficiency
- Data analytics and technology integration
- Leadership and team development
Professional Impact
Cynthia is actively involved in the industry, serving as the VP of the CAE Relations Committee at the Twin Cities Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors. In this role, she has helped to facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration among chief audit executives, further enhancing the internal audit profession.
Conclusion
With a demonstrated track record of success in the higher education and healthcare sectors, Cynthia Lee-Halbert is a strategic and innovative internal audit leader. Her expertise in risk management, process improvement, and data-driven decision-making positions her as a valuable asset to Strategic Education Inc. and the broader internal audit community.
