Her Story
About Steffany
Steffany Ayala, MBA, is an accounting professional, entrepreneur, and nonprofit operations leader with more than 15 years of experience in accounting and approximately a decade of nonprofit operations experience. She is the Founder and Owner of S-Finance, a bookkeeping and financial services business serving nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and serves as Director of Operations for Greenway Arts Alliance. Through S-Finance, she provides financial management and bookkeeping support designed to help organizations establish accurate financial systems, gain financial clarity, and work toward sustainable growth. Her expertise includes QuickBooks, financial analysis, accounts payable and receivable, reconciliations, budgeting, payroll coordination, and accounting administration.
At Greenway Arts Alliance, Steffany oversees administration, finance, human resources, and office management while maintaining accounting systems, analyzing financial statements, monitoring accounts payable and receivable, and assisting with audits. Her professional background also includes independent bookkeeping and operations management, giving her experience supporting organizations across financial and administrative functions. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Business from Vanguard University of Southern California and a Master of Business Administration in Business Administration, Management and Operations from Hope International University. She also holds a QuickBooks Online certification and has developed experience supporting clients in the United States and internationally.
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Steffany has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to nonprofit and community service. She served as a Development Assistant with Broken Hearts, supporting fundraising initiatives and special events, and served on the Board of Directors of Basileia Community. Her professional philosophy centers on trust, relationships, learning, and helping others succeed. She believes in becoming part of her clients' teams and understanding their businesses and aspirations rather than simply providing services from the outside. Supported by her family and driven by a passion for meaningful work, Steffany continues to build businesses and relationships focused on financial clarity, organizational growth, and long-term success.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Steffany
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my family, who have been everything to me and have consistently supported my dreams and goals. Having the right people who believe in you and encourage you to pursue what you want to achieve makes a tremendous difference. My family has given me that support and has been a major source of both my passion and perseverance. Their belief in me has helped give me the confidence to continue growing, taking on challenges, and pursuing meaningful opportunities.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is to believe in myself and go for it. We will never know what is possible if we are unwilling to take a risk or take the first step. I also believe it is important to understand both your strengths and your weaknesses and use that knowledge as an opportunity for growth. Sometimes, what we initially view as a weakness can ultimately become one of our greatest strengths.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the accounting and business industry is to build networking and relationships first. Take the time to understand people's businesses, goals, and dreams, and become part of their team and vision rather than viewing yourself simply as a consultant. When your clients or partners succeed, you succeed with them.
I also encourage the next generation to study the businesses they serve so they can truly understand their challenges and identify meaningful ways to help overcome them. Build trust, continue learning, and develop relationships that can grow over time. Most importantly, if you are passionate about something, pursue it. Believe in yourself, understand your strengths and weaknesses, and have the courage to go for it.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges I face today is finding the right staff members who can effectively engage with the structure and service model I have built over the past 15 years. Different generations may approach work and business processes differently, including a desire for easier or faster ways of doing things. At the same time, building long-term relationships and trust remains essential to the way I serve my clients.
I see this as both a challenge and an opportunity to teach, learn, and continue growing the business. Maintaining the consistency and relationship-centered approach that has supported long-standing client relationships requires finding people who understand the importance of trust, personalized service, and becoming part of a client's team and vision.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me are trust, relationships, perseverance, passion, and continuous growth. I believe strong professional relationships are built by genuinely understanding the people and organizations we serve and becoming invested in their goals and vision. Trust is especially important to me because many of my client relationships have developed over many years.
I also value learning from challenges, understanding my strengths and weaknesses, and remaining open to growth. In both my personal and professional life, I believe in supporting others, building meaningful connections, and helping people and organizations achieve their goals.
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