VCU news

By Tom Gresham

Karen Helderman, who previously served as audit director for the Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts, has been named the executive director of audit and compliance services at Virginia Commonwealth University. Helderman started in her new position on Feb. 25.

Helderman, who was selected following a national search, will lead VCU’s audit and compliance functions. She has extensive experience analyzing complex financial, program, compliance and performance issues and reporting the information and recommendations. In her previous position as audit director, Helderman focused on institutions in the areas of higher education and information technology, and she directed the audits of many Virginia colleges and universities, including VCU.

She also led and presented several studies for the General Assembly, including a review of the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002, analyses of information technology governance issues, and a study of Medicaid modernization issues.

Helderman started as a staff auditor for the Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts in 1986. She then served as a senior auditor and an audit manager. She was named audit director in 1996, serving in that role for the subsequent 23 years.

Helderman received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Christopher Newport University and has a master’s certificate in information technology project management from George Washington University and a master’s degree in business administration from Virginia Tech. She is a certified public accountant, a certified information systems auditor and a certified project management professional.

Helderman replaces Bill Cole, who retired in December after seven years in the role.