Cynthia Peoples, CPA

Associate Vice President for Finance and Controller

Professional Overview
Cynthia Peoples is a seasoned finance and operations executive with over 25 years of experience in the higher education and public finance sectors. As the Associate Vice President for Finance and Controller at Higher Education, she is responsible for overseeing the institution's financial operations, internal controls, and strategic planning initiatives.

Experience Summary

Current Role
In her current role, Cynthia is responsible for managing the university's $500 million annual budget, implementing robust financial reporting systems, and streamlining operational processes to drive efficiency and cost savings. Under her leadership, the finance team has achieved a 25% reduction in administrative costs and a 15% improvement in budget forecasting accuracy.

Career Progression
Prior to joining Higher Education, Cynthia held several leadership positions at the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority (CHEFA), where she progressed from a Financial Analyst to the Managing Director of Operations and Finance. In this role, she spearheaded the implementation of a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, which resulted in a 20% increase in operational productivity and a 30% reduction in reporting turnaround time.

Academic Background
Cynthia holds an MBA in Finance and Information Systems from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Hartford, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Rider University. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and has completed additional coursework in strategic management and data analytics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Michigan State University.

Areas of Expertise

• Financial management and reporting

• Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems implementation

• Operational efficiency and process optimization

• Strategic planning and budgeting

• Data-driven decision making and analytics

Professional Impact
Throughout her career, Cynthia has been recognized for her ability to drive organizational transformation and deliver sustainable financial performance. She has served on various industry boards and committees, contributing her expertise to initiatives aimed at improving financial transparency and accountability in the higher education and public finance sectors.

Conclusion
Cynthia Peoples is a dynamic finance executive with a proven track record of leading complex organizations through periods of change and growth. Leveraging her diverse experience and technical expertise, she is well-positioned to drive strategic and operational excellence at Higher Education, ensuring the institution's long-term financial stability and adaptability in an ever-evolving landscape.