Karen joined the HRA in January 2017 and her main role is to provide financial strategic advice, professional expertise, value added support and assurance to the board, audit committee, executive management team and all colleagues at the HRA. Karen became Deputy Chief Executive in November 2019.
Karen leads the finance team in the delivery of all financial activities including, business partner support, financial management processes (including management information, budgeting, forecasting), managing the shared finance business service and statutory accounts process.
Karen is also responsible for performance management, planning and information governance for the HRA and is the Senior Information Risk Officer (SIRO) for the organisation. In addition Karen ensures there is a strong support for procurement for colleagues across the HRA and also leads the development and implementation of the HRA’s estates strategy.
For the past 15 years Karen has been director of finance and resources or chief operating officer for a number of charities and the government sector, including the Dartington Hall Trust (which includes Research in Practice and Research in Practice for Adults), The Arts Council and Breast Cancer Care.