A strategic financial leader who transforms complex numbers into clear narratives for mission-driven impact.
Heather Dawson’s accounting journey began at Oklahoma Christian University and has led her through 15+ years of progressive financial leadership, including six years as CFO at Retrieving Freedom, where she managed multi-million dollar budgets, navigated COVID-19 financial challenges, and maintained clean audits while overseeing HR functions for an organization dedicated to training service dogs for veterans and children with autism.
Now, as a Nonprofit Accountant at All In One Accounting, she brings her exceptional ability to translate complex financial information to non-financial stakeholders and her passion for supporting mission-driven organizations, deliberately choosing to step back from executive-level stress to focus on what fills her cup: educating others and making each client feel valued. Heather’s distinctive strengths lie in her foresight—described as having a brain that’s “always 4-5 steps ahead”—and her calm composure under pressure, with references emphasizing that she “stays calm under pressure, takes initiative, follows through, and is truly collaborative.” Her approach centers on meeting people where they are, breaking down silos through relationship-building, and creating practical solutions like KPI templates and financial systems that enhance organizational effectiveness.
When she’s not optimizing nonprofit finances or preparing for clean audits, Heather enjoys running, diving into a good book, and cheering on Kansas City sports teams alongside her husband and four children. Her transition from CFO to Accountant reflects her commitment to work-life balance and her genuine excitement for the multi-client variety and team collaboration that AIOA offers, bringing Controller-level skills with the humility and dedication that make her an invaluable team member.
