Cindy Jones

Chief Financial Officer, Veritas Financial Partners

Biography:

Cindy Jones currently serves the role of chief financial officer for Veritas Financial Partners and is responsible for leading the finance and accounting functions.

Over the last 25 years, Cindy has served in financial executive positions as well as senior portfolio management and loan operations roles for

financial institutions. As senior vice president of Ares Management, L.P., she led the loan system migration and integration of operational functions following Ares’ acquisition of First Capital’s ABL portfolio. Prior to Ares, Cindy had a 20-plus year career at First Capital, most recently serving as the chief accounting and administration officer. She managed the accounting and loan operation functions, as well as the board and capital provider relationships, through First Capital’s hypergrowth and was instrumental in the successful sale of the company. Early in her career, Cindy held audit manager, account executive, and field examiner positions. She also worked in public accounting as a senior staff accountant.

A Certified Public Accountant, Cindy also runs her own consulting firm working primarily with companies in the financial services sector. She specializes in accounting, loan operations, and loan system integration.

What advice would you offer to women just starting out in the industry?

Do not limit yourself to a specific position or function within the industry. As you progress in the industry, be open to following a career path that you never imagined for yourself. When you are offered a project or a promotion, do not second-guess your abilities; take this time to understand that those around you see something in you that sets you apart from your peers. When you build your network, make sure you cast your net wide and incorporate mentors and peers that are outside your team. In today’s world the landscape is ever-changing with constant advancements in technology and the pace at which we see change. We must stay one step ahead by understanding the latest trends locally and globally for our clients and business.

What do you know now that you wish you knew in the beginning of your career?

Never stop learning! The way in which business has changed over the last 20 years amazes me. It is so important that you at- tend conferences and workshops and keep a fresh perspective on the industry. We can’t always depend on being at the same company for our entire career, so we really need to take steps that sets us apart from our peers. Not only will you benefit from the continued education by attending conferences and workshops, but you will also have a great opportunity to build a network of professionals. In our industry it is so important to network and create long-term business partners.

What kind of role has mentoring and/or sponsorship played in your career?

My mentors have grown organically through my business interactions. As my career has progressed and evolved over the years, I continually look to the same group of mentors for guidance on various business and personal decisions. Looking back, these individuals have played a pivotal role in helping me with my career goals and leadership style. My mentors taught me to speak up and share my knowledge in an environment that cultivated trust and respect. When I decided to move into consulting, I contacted one of my mentors to get his thoughts on my career change. Shortly thereafter, that same mentor put me in touch with a prospective client, and that kicked off my consulting career. As I have progressed through my career, I have been rewarded with the opportunity to become a mentor for others. I hope that I have played as much of a positive influential role for them, as my mentors have for me.

What do you think the industry could do to attract and retain the best and the brightest today?

In order to attract more professionals to our industry, it is important to get involved while the students are in college. I don’t think many college students majoring in accounting, business, or finance are necessarily thinking about the commercial finance industry for their career. Getting on campuses for career days, and working with university faculties to plan on-campus seminars or guest speaker visits, would be a good start to attracting candidates to this industry. In order to retain these candidates, I think a solid training program with opportunities to rotate through difference positions is key. Not only will the candidates have a chance to find the position that fits their individual interests and talents, but the company will benefit from the broader knowledge base that the candidates will obtain. It really comes down to being able to understand and learn different positions and the role they play in the commercial finance industry.