A seasoned financial executive, Paula Signorelli has over 25 years’ experience working for complex nonprofit, social service organizations with annual budgets ranging from $25M-$200M, bringing financial expertise in child welfare, developmental disability, juvenile justice, education, and behavioral health systems of care. Paula also brings expertise in contract and rate negotiations, developing infrastructure for fiscal accountability, financial modeling, budget development, and fiscal analysis.
As the Chief Financial Officer of AZA United, Paula is responsible for overseeing all financial aspects of the organization including budgeting, financial performance, reporting, compliance, financial stewardship, investments as well as leading financial initiatives that support AZA’s mission and short- and long-term plans. She is recognized as a strategic thinker, problem solver, communicator, influencer, and strong analytical thinker with an ability to build effective business partnerships at all levels.
Paula started her career working in one of California’s Regional Centers under contract with the Department of Developmental Services to provide services and supports to people of all ages with intellectual disabilities. She transitioned to working in direct services for the next three years for the Devereux Foundation, one of the largest nonprofit behavioral healthcare organizations in the country. For 10 years, Paula has worked as the VP of Finance for two organizations in one of the nation’s most innovative child-welfare systems in Florida which relies on regionally focused, public-private partnerships to provide community-based care to children and families. Moving to Arizona, she served as Childhelp’s Chief Strategy and Administrative Officer, where she was responsible for leading and developing a team to support the organization in business development, financial and operational improvement, strategic visioning, contract compliance, quality assurance, and risk management activities. Most recently, Paula served as Rite of Passage’s Director of Business Operations overseeing financial operations for six (6) independent Charter/NPS School entities in multiple states, Rite of Passage’s Behavioral Health division, and its Office of Refugee and Resettlement federal funded programs.
Paula is passionate about using her financial acumen to ensure AZA has the financial resources necessary to continue to provide the highest quality of services and support to clients and families now, and for decades to come. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, friends and her two dogs Sweet Pea and Simba.
Paula holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Fresno State University and an Executive Women in Leadership Certificate from Cornell University.
