Stories

Meet Yorktown's Treasurer - a wealth of nonprofit experience

Sara Oates knows charities.

Throughout a thirteen year career as a chartered accountant with PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Sara has always been involved with nonprofit organizations. However that involvement has become a specialty during the past four years in her role as a Trusted Business Advisor focused on working with charities, foundations and other organizations in the nonprofit sector. "I have always had an interest in the non profit sector and as I learned more about the organizations and people who worked there, I knew that this was the area where I wanted to work" says Sara.

Five years ago Sara was encouraged by one of her professional colleagues to fill a vacant position on Yorktown's Board of Directors. "I was intrigued by Yorktown's breadth of services and by how much the organization contributes to a very under-serviced community" Sara explained. "I knew as well that my experience could help the organization." Sara joined the Board and is now Treasurer of Yorktown Family Services and Chair of the Finance Committee - a role that she describes as a link between the organization's management and the Board of Directors. Under Sara's direction, the Finance Committee supports Yorktown's management team with the financial advice needed to make effective operational decisions. The committee also distills the financial information from the operation into a form that is clear and concise so that the Board has the information that they need to be able to focus on results and key issues.

Sara describes her volunteer work for the Yorktown Board is a win/win situation. Yorktown receives the invaluable services of a very experienced and knowledgeable financial expert. Her board experience provides Sara with a unique perspective on the nonprofit sector. "My Yorktown experience has been an education on what is happening in the sector. When I work with other nonprofit clients, I have a much better understanding about what it is like to be in their shoes." But there is more to it than that, Sara reflects, "I'm proud of the good work that Yorktown does. I'm proud that I can play a role in helping Yorktown to help our clients. It is a very satisfying experience."

A French and History graduate, Sara received her formal financial training in England Sara has two children, Maddy age 7 and Evan age 4.

Contact Information:
Dave Prosser
416-394-2424 ext 251
daveycfc@bellnet.ca

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