Nina Bernardin
CFO Advisor
PROFILE
Nina Bernardin is a results-driven, proactive CFO Advisor with extensive experience in FP&A, financial operations, strategy, and project management, spanning both established Fortune 500 corporations and dynamic startups. With 12 years of experience in finance and accounting, Nina brings a unique blend of corporate discipline and agile startup adaptability to her role.
Nina’s expertise lies in helping companies grow by using finance as a strategic tool to focus the company, determine priorities, bring ideas to fruition, and reduce waste. She aims to empower leadership by providing clear financial options and guidance, rather than being a “Debbie Downer,” fostering a spirit of partnership to realize business dreams. Her approach to implementing technology solutions for financial processes is to keep it simple and nimble, prioritizing the building of a strong foundation of reliable data to ensure accurate results, regardless of system complexity. Nina believes that if the foundational data is sound, “the sky is the limit” for automation and value creation.
She excels at helping clients understand complex financial data by telling a compelling story with the numbers, translating current figures into strategic conversations about future goals and financial options. As a partner, she guides clients through options, enabling informed decision-making while trusting their ultimate choices. Nina emphasizes clear communication, setting expectations, and actively removing roadblocks to empower teams and ensure projects move forward seamlessly.
Her background includes significant experience in fundraising, model building, pro formas, and strategic counsel, alongside a proven track record in leading forecasting, managing reporting, and translating actuals into forward-thinking strategy. Nina is proficient in a range of technologies including Netsuite, SQL, Asana, Jira, Google Analytics, Tableau, and Power BI, and possesses advanced skills in Excel, Powerpoint, and GAAP Accounting.
Nina’s expertise lies in helping companies grow by using finance as a strategic tool to focus the company, determine priorities, bring ideas to fruition, and reduce waste. She aims to empower leadership by providing clear financial options and guidance, rather than being a “Debbie Downer,” fostering a spirit of partnership to realize business dreams. Her approach to implementing technology solutions for financial processes is to keep it simple and nimble, prioritizing the building of a strong foundation of reliable data to ensure accurate results, regardless of system complexity. Nina believes that if the foundational data is sound, “the sky is the limit” for automation and value creation.
She excels at helping clients understand complex financial data by telling a compelling story with the numbers, translating current figures into strategic conversations about future goals and financial options. As a partner, she guides clients through options, enabling informed decision-making while trusting their ultimate choices. Nina emphasizes clear communication, setting expectations, and actively removing roadblocks to empower teams and ensure projects move forward seamlessly.
Her background includes significant experience in fundraising, model building, pro formas, and strategic counsel, alongside a proven track record in leading forecasting, managing reporting, and translating actuals into forward-thinking strategy. Nina is proficient in a range of technologies including Netsuite, SQL, Asana, Jira, Google Analytics, Tableau, and Power BI, and possesses advanced skills in Excel, Powerpoint, and GAAP Accounting.
EDUCATION
Nina earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Development from Indiana University, with a Business Management Certificate from the Kelley School of Business and minors in Economics and French. She is a graduate of GE’s highly selective, 100-year-old Financial Management Leadership Program (FMP), where she completed rigorous coursework in Foundations of Accounting & Financial Statements, Operational Finance, Controllership, and Strategic Finance, gaining leadership training from GE Crotonville. Additionally, Nina holds a Foundations of Project Management Certificate from Google (2024) and a Design-Thinking for Innovation Certificate from the University of Virginia Darden (2016).
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Nina earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Development from Indiana University, with a Business Management Certificate from the Kelley School of Business and minors in Economics and French. She is a graduate of GE’s highly selective, 100-year-old Financial Management Leadership Program (FMP), where she completed rigorous coursework in Foundations of Accounting & Financial Statements, Operational Finance, Controllership, and Strategic Finance, gaining leadership training from GE Crotonville. Additionally, Nina holds a Foundations of Project Management Certificate from Google (2024) and a Design-Thinking for Innovation Certificate from the University of Virginia Darden (2016).
PROFESSIONAL VALUES & LEVEL10 ALIGNMENT
Nina’s main professional value is integrity, which she defines as being true to one’s word, following through, and objectively owning up to challenges. This aligns seamlessly with Level10 CFO®’s commitment to “speaking truth” and being “trusted partners”.
She strongly identifies with two of Level10’s core values:
PROFESSIONAL VALUES & LEVEL10 ALIGNMENT
Nina’s main professional value is integrity, which she defines as being true to one’s word, following through, and objectively owning up to challenges. This aligns seamlessly with Level10 CFO®’s commitment to “speaking truth” and being “trusted partners”.
She strongly identifies with two of Level10’s core values:
- “We brave the crucial conversations.” Nina emphasizes that a key responsibility of a CFO is to be transparent and not afraid to communicate the company’s true financial state, ensuring everyone is on the same page. This echoes Level10’s commitment to challenging the status quo.
- “We like to laugh. (Even at ourselves.)” Nina believes it’s important to enjoy work and not take oneself too seriously, fostering a fun environment while achieving goals. This perfectly aligns with Level10’s “We’re not boring” philosophy.
MORE INFORMATION
Originally from Evansville, Indiana, Nina has resided in Denver for approximately eight years. She is married and enjoys exploring Denver with her husband. Outside of her professional life, Nina is passionate about travel, music (including singing at local farmers markets), sewing, and gardening – notably growing 16 tomato plants. She also loves good food, art, and hosting dinner parties that often evolve into lively sessions of playing musical instruments and sharing wine.