Nicole Smith, MBA, CMA, CFEI®, is a senior finance executive with more than 15 years of experience leading financial strategy, compliance, and multisite operations across nonprofit, government, and for-profit sectors. She is known for strengthening internal controls, stewarding multimillion-dollar budgets, and building sustainable systems that support mission-driven growth. Her work reflects a deep commitment to equity, community empowerment, and operational excellence.

As Lead Consultant and Fractional CFO at Unparalleled Consulting & Management, Nicole advises organizations on financial strategy, audit readiness, grant management, and systems implementation. Her portfolio includes managing an $18M HUDfunded project and supporting complex, multifunded nonprofits through budgeting, forecasting, and compliance. She previously served as Director of Finance & Operations for the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago, overseeing a $24M+ budget across 40+funding streams, expanding the finance team, and partnering with board committees on financial reporting and organizational risk.

Nicole’s governance and community leadership are further grounded in her long-standing service with the Catherine Smith Foundation and DOLL, INC., where she has led strategic planning, fundraising, and program development. With more than two decades of higher education experience teaching accounting, finance, and business strategy, she brings a rare blend of financial acumen, operational insight, and educational leadership to every board she serves on.