NISHA KAPADIA nisha.kapadia@gmail.

com
(713) 234-0314 Primary

Key Qualifications

Creative problem solver with strong relationship building skills. More than five years of financial
management and consulting experience. Adaptable professional with a track record of delivering
projects on time, exceeding customer expectations, and meeting corporate goals. Speaks fluent
English and Spanish and is conversational in Hindi, Gujarati, and Urdu. M.B.A. in Strategic
Management with these core competencies:

Change Management • Client Relations • Cost Analysis • Process Improvement • Project

Management • Implementations • Internal Controls • International Business • Strategic Planning
• Training/Development

SELECT HIGHLIGHTS

• Simplified the provincial Cash Assistance Guidelines process by conducting an assessment on the
challenges and implementing recommendations to reduce the delay in Direct Cash Transfers.
• Mapped revenue cash flows for a major University and developed internal controls to minimize
budget variances.
• Effectively managed client relationships by setting clear project objectives and expectations in
advance to avoid scope creep; delivering effective solutions that met client
specifications/requirements; and responding to client requests in a timely and professional
manner.
• Conducted focus groups, interviews, and provided a cost estimate of the top ten short-term and
long-term issues facing a major University to senior management.

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY

UNICEF (Karachi, Pakistan)....................................................................................................2009-2010

Consultant, 2009
• Providing an assessment of the donor environment in Sindh, by creating a database of donor
agencies funding activities within Sindh in Health, Education, WES, and Child Protection
sections; Developing a strategy to affectively leverage resources which will provide UNICEF
Sindh with tools to create partnerships and take advantage of the donor environment.
• Revised the provincial guidelines on Cash Assistance to reduce audit time and improve
compliance standards. Analyzed the challenges faced by the implementing partners and finance
team to create and execute recommendations. This will effectively increase turnaround time by
80% and completely reduce the delay in Direct Cash Transfer’s from 9 months to 6 months.
• Developing a Social Budgeting Policy proposal to the Government of Sindh to effectively
influence the social development budgets for child poverty programs using UNICEF case studies
and expertise.
• Assisted with the development of an Annual Management Plan for the UNICEF Sindh office,
which will be incorporated with the country program plan and provide a thorough assessment of
the provincial office programs and operations.

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HURON CONSULTING GROUP (Chicago, IL)..............................................................................2008-2009
Associate Consultant, 2008
• Assisted a seventeen person team in the improvement of operations at a major Midwestern public
university’s institutional review board by documenting and developing processes to assist the
client meet compliance with federal regulations.
• Analyzed federal regulations to efficiently process a backlog of over a 1000 new, continued, and
expired research studies which increased efficiency and streamlined processes.
• Led the second phase of the operations project by individually processing 65% of studies. This
built a strong client relationship, and provided meaningful recommendations
• Generated revenue for the practice by meeting a utilization rate of over 100%

GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (Washington D.C.)...............................................................2005-2008

Financial Management Coordinator, 2005
• Analyzed, processed, and managed the maintenance of financial payments in connection with
external vendors. Reviewed and reconciled monthly departmental and project-related budget
reports totaling $2.5 million annually.
• Analyzed the internal controls of cash flows for the University, including a review of all
processes and control objectives. This resulted in identifying risk areas within the finance
departments within each school and division.
• Supported project management, change management, and logistics to an independent
management and technology consulting firm, by establishing recommendations, measuring
needs through prioritizing and conducting research, focus groups, and interviews with clients
and staff. This ensured an accurate assessment of the operational problems.
• Served as project team member of a University project designed to provide customer service in
financial services to all customers. Maintained a $500,000 budget, and assisted in the strategic
plan for current and future integration of other University offices.

Project Assistant, Business Management & Analysis Team, 2005

• Provided interim staffing support and recommendations to a service line which underwent
restructuring; Organized policies and compiled training procedures into an employee manual.
• Identified and solved over 75% of the fixed assets missing in a particular department through an
assessment completed in collaboration with the Comptroller’s Office. This resulted in providing
an accurate closing of year end books.

EDUCATION / CREDENTIALS

M.B.A. in Strategic Management and International Finance, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY –

GPA: 3.40/4.0
B.B.A. in Business Economics, Public Policy and International Business (minor: Islamic
Studies), GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY – GPA: 3.0/4.0

Affiliations:
South Asian Society (Vice President)
• Hosted the largest intercollegiate dance competition, Bhangra Blowout 12, in North America
grossing over $200,000 in revenue with over 5,000 in attendance.
• Managed a budget of over $150,000 in expenses and generated a profit of over $50,000
which was distributed into the South Asian Society endowment fund.
• Created and managed contracts with local vendors, international vendors, and sponsors
Delta Sigma Pi (Alumni), intercollegiate business fraternity

Technical Skills: Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access, Visio, and Project; Dev
Info, QuickBooks, Oracle, Banner, Elite, and People Admin
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