Financial forecasting and budgeting play an essential role in the success of any company, and this especially holds true within a start-up. As the unpredictability of 2020 showed us, cash flow management and a strong understanding of finances better prepare companies to deal with unforeseen industry changes.
As her one-year anniversary at Planned is celebrated today, we could not be more grateful to have Kira Cormier on our team as our Finance Manager.
Since Kira joined the team in January 2020, Planned’s payment processing flow, spending pattern analysis and event booking processes have drastically improved. Her interest in finance, which ultimately led her to becoming a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), was inspired by her mother, a CPA herself. That initial spark grew into a passion when Kira enrolled in Introduction to Economics at Concordia and was enraptured by the topic. It was then that her journey in finance began.
Today, her passion for finance has enabled Planned to continue to thrive in a time when the event planning industry has faced difficulties. Kira’s vast experience in auditing and as a financial analyst is reflected in the increased investor confidence through accurate and timely financial reporting and increased automation and efficiency. The implementation of a new accounting software and usage of AI software to automate the recording of business expenses are examples of the many ways in which she has altered the financial strategy at Planned.
As a born and raised Montrealer, when she’s not analyzing financial statements, she can be found skiing Tremblant in the winter or playing golf at Le Géant during every other season.
Apart from enjoying the outdoors, Kira is heavily involved within her community, stating “giving back is so important and nothing is more valuable than giving your time.”
She’s inspired by female entrepreneurs like Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx and the world’s first self-made female billionaire, and TheSkimm co-founders Carly and Danielle. Kira says, “I idolize women who have taken the leap and started their own businesses.” She is also drawn to female entrepreneurs who have made it their mission “to encourage and mentor women in the workplace and help them rise up”, such as Sheryl Sanberg, COO Facebook. All of these trailblazers are breaking the glass ceiling for themselves and also dedicating their time to providing an example to female entrepreneurs facing the same challenges they once faced.
Kira’s confidence, knowledge and desire to improve Planned every day are just a few characteristics about her that make her a high performance manager at Planned. Although she joined the team just a few months prior to the pandemic outbreak, she’s continued to pivot the finances and lead a major departmental restructuring in order to ensure the long-term viability of Planned.
As Kira puts it “here [at Planned] we have learned to not only navigate a COVID-19 world, but to thrive in it.”
