With more than 12 years of accounting experience, Jerome Harper is looking forward to using his financial skills to make a difference in vulnerable communities as the CFO of the North Carolina Community Action Association.
“It's a deeply personal journey for me and being able to leverage my skills and experiences to make a tangible difference in these communities is incredibly fulfilling,” said Harper, of Cary. “What excites me about my new role as CFO is the chance to play a pivotal role in empowering low-income communities, much like the ones I grew up in, to become self-sufficient.”
A 2013 graduate of Morgan State University, Jerome brings broad accounting experience in the real estate field, and has held accounting positions with various nonprofits, including the National Bar Association, National American Indian Housing Council and Turning Points for Children.
And as he takes over the financial helm of NCCAA, Jerome has big plans.
“My foremost ambition is to revolutionize our financial infrastructure, cementing a solid foundation that empowers our programs for enduring stability and adaptability, while also fueling growth,” Harper said. “I'm deeply committed to ensuring our organization reaches its full potential.”
Growing up in Washington, D.C., Jerome started out working as a cashier and stock clerk at CVS Pharmacy at age 16, and later worked in baggage claim at Union Station after college. Since then, he has worked his way up from being an accounting assistant, to consultant to now leading all financial operations for a statewide network of 34 Community Action Agencies.
When he is not elbows deep in accounting, Jerome enjoys spending as much time as he can with his family, whether it’s date night with his wife, Leah, or playground visits with his two children, Josiah, age 5 and Alani, age 2, “I cherish every moment,” he says.
Jerome is also the coach for his son’s flag football team and plans to be involved in his children’s extracurricular activities in the future.
And just for fun, Jerome enjoys Sudoku puzzles, where he will often time his puzzle solving skills for an extra challenge.