Kathy Peters, CPA

Retired CFO, Phoenix Country Day School (AZ)

Kathy Peters is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with over 35 years of experience as a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for numerous companies and independent schools. She has led organizations in all areas of accounting, finance, and investment management, while also overseeing key operational functions including facilities, food services, emergency response teams, and health centers.

Kathy began her career with the international accounting firm Arthur Andersen before transitioning into CFO roles for several private companies. She later served as Director of the Small Business Development Center in Phoenix, where she hired and managed a team of consultants with a variety of business expertise, consulted with over 3,000 clients on accounting and financial strategies, while developing and managing the program’s four outreach locations. Areas of her expertise range from budgeting, cash flow and profitability analysis as well as managing complex financial and logistical projects, including a $300 million resort construction in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Kathy later dedicated her expertise to independent schools, acting as CFO for two organizations for almost twenty years in the Phoenix area.  She has also run her own consulting and coaching practice for the past eight years.

Kathy is past President of the Business Officers Association of the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS), the primary accrediting body for independent schools in the region.  She served on the Board of the National Business Officers Association (NBOA), which provides financial and operational solutions to over 1,600 independent schools nationwide and internationally. Additionally, she was a member of the Association of Business Officers of Independent Schools (ABOIS), an exclusive network of only 30 experienced business officers nationwide formed to enhance the professional development of experienced independent school business officers.  Beyond her professional roles, Kathy has served on the boards of numerous service and philanthropic organizations in Phoenix, including Rotary, the Foundation for Volunteers for Child Protective Services, and Standing Tall Igniting Hope, which supports individuals facing mental health challenges and those grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide.

Kathy grew up and currently lives in Arizona with Mike, her husband of over 20 years.  She cherishes quality time with family and loves hiking, gardening, and spending time with their beloved beagle, Lacy.