Karla Lara - Director of Financial Operations
Karla joined the Amazon Conservation Team in May 2007 as Controller, became Director of Finance in June 2009, and was promoted to Director of Financial Operations in July 2011. Her responsibilities include oversight of the organization's financial and fiscal aspects, providing leadership and coordination in accounting, human resources, administrative, business planning and budgeting processes, and supervising and liaising with the finance departments of country programs offices. In addition, the Director of Financial Operations is a member of the senior management team, which entails participating in strategic and operational decision-making processes of the organization, and the implementation and monitoring of the strategic plan, management goals, and HQ staff work plans. Karla has more than 13 years of experience in the accounting, audit and financial management fields. Prior to her involvement with ACT, Karla worked at the Inter-American Dialogue. Before working in the nonprofit industry, Karla spent four years working with the Audit Division of Ernst & Young. She was born in Oakland, California, but grew up in Caracas, Venezuela. Karla holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in Caracas, and is a CPA candidate.
