Today, we are highlighting another one of our talented instructors of the General Manager Development Program, Audrey Griffin.

Participants can still join Columinate’s General Manager Development Program for 2022.

Through this program, new (or experienced) GMs develop the core grocery management skills they need to successfully lead their co-op. The program currently offers seven modules, covering topics ranging from financial metrics to marketing, all of which are taught by an experienced team of grocery retail experts.

Audrey Griffin has been a Certified Public Accountant for nearly twenty years. Working primarily with cooperatives and nonprofit organizations, she offers services that include conducting assessments, delivering financial training for boards, preparing financial projects, and completing tax returns.

Throughout all of her work, Griffin seeks to empower organizations to have a better understanding of their financial systems. “I really focus on demystifying the numbers and helping non-accountants understand both their reporting systems and the story their numbers tell.”

Griffin continues this education in her Finance and Accounting module in the Columinate General Manager Development program. “Everybody probably knows the phrase, ‘cash is king’—and this also holds true in the co-op world,” she explains—but not everyone understands it. General managers often serve as the chief financial officers for the co-op. They must be able to interpret their financial reports to make key operational decisions. To do this, they need a basic understanding of how to manage financial reporting systems and what the reporting requirements actually are.

“Strong financial reporting systems provide timely, accurate, and relevant data for management to use when making decisions.  Weak reporting systems leave management in the dark and relying on inadequate or incorrect information,” explains Griffin.

The majority of GM Development Program participants identify finance and accounting as one of the areas they would like to improve. Despite finance being integral to running a successful co-op, Griffin recognizes that “most general managers don’t go into the food co-op world because they love accounting and reporting.”

The personalized, one-on-one style of the GM Development program allows Griffin to work directly with participants and tailor the module content to meet their needs. “After an initial meeting, the participant and I work together to lay out a customized plan,” shares Griffin. Participants with a stronger financial background can dive deeper into areas where they need support, while less experienced participants can take their time with the fundamentals.

Ultimately, through delivering the Finance and Accounting module, Griffin hopes to make co-op leaders more comfortable and confident in understanding their organization’s financial systems. And, it’s working! One participant who has completed the module reached out to share their experience. “My work with Audrey broke down the barrier between me and our co-op’s finances. While I know I still have a lot to learn, I feel like I can ask the right questions and can take responsibility for our results.”

Learn more and join the GM Development program here.

Work with Audrey Griffin here.