Sonya Vekstein
Chief Financial Officer

Sonya Vekstein returned to the International Republican Institute (IRI) as chief financial officer (CFO) in February of 2005.

As the CFO, Vekstein directs domestic and international financial operations, monitors grants to international nongovernmental organizations, ensures compliance with donor regulations - U.S. Agency for International Development, National Endowment for Democracy, and the U.S. Department of State. She also supervises all audits.

Prior to returning to IRI, Vekstein served as treasurer and CFO at the Nuclear Threat Initiative in Washington, D.C. While there, she defined and implemented a system of internal controls, ensured compliance with tax laws and regulations, managed the annual external audit, managed contracts and grants to domestic and international organizations, and directed operations and compliance of the international office.

Sonya Vekstein is originally from the former Soviet Union and immigrated to the United States in 1989. Prior to joining IRI in 1993, she worked as an account associate at Children's Hospital in Baltimore.

Vekstein is a certified public accountant (CPA). She received her bachelor's degree from Dagestan State University in Russia and is working towards her master's degree at American University in Washington, D.C.