Understanding Financial Audits with Monica Rivera

Few words make a school leader's stomach drop quite like "audit." But a financial audit isn't a test you pass or fail — it's one of the most powerful tools available for demonstrating your school's health, building trust with your board and authorizer, and catching small problems before they become big ones.

In this video, created in partnership with the New Hampshire Department of Education, Monica Rivera walks through what school leaders need to know to approach audit season with confidence — from preparation and documentation to understanding what auditors are actually looking for.

Monica is the Chief Executive Officer of Lighthouse Academies, where she brings over 16 years of experience in operations efficiency and management in education, having served in roles from Staff Accountant to Vice President of Operations before leading the organization. She knows school finance from the inside out — and it shows.