Our VP of Finance and Accounting, Dea Watkins, brings over 20 years of experience in financial management and reporting including over a decade in the nonprofit sector. Her expertise spans internal and external audit, financial forecasting, budgeting, tax compliance, policy development, risk mitigation, and endowment management. She also employes a deep knowledge of GAAP, OMB, FASB, and FASAB regulations with a proven record of compliance.   

As a champion of modernization, Ms. Watkins has designed and implemented effective controls that drive automation, enhance financial systems, improve transparency, and reduce risk. She has consistently supported financial success and organizational growth throughout her career, and she is poised to bring her strategic outlook and comprehensive skillset to advance NobleReach Foundation’s mission. 

Ms. Watkins holds a master’s degree in accounting from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and has built a strong cross-sector foundation bridging public, nonprofit, and private finance. Her early career included financial consulting roles at two Big Four firms, PwC and EY, an experience that continues to inform her tactical, disciplined approach to financial leadership. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, travel, and spending time with family.