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Sonia Burda is an experienced senior-level finance executive who operates with the highest levels of integrity. She is a person of strong character and intellect, coupled with the ability to listen effectively and synthesize key issues into a course of action. At Guitar Center, Sonia and I assessed legal and accounting risks related to tax nexus, out-of-state e-commerce transactions, legal settlements, and other efforts to protect the company. We also worked together to ensure open communication regarding good business practices. Sonia was an effective business partner, and I enjoyed working with her both personally and professionally. She has a keen business sense and understands the role of Finance in discerning costs versus investments. I would enjoy working with Sonia again. I highly recommend Sonia to any organization seeking a superior senior executive with an emphasis on Finance.


Lee Smith

Retired SVP, General Counsel

Sonia Burda, MBA CPA

CFO Consultant

Sonia Burda has led financial growth and operations in a variety of sectors for more than two decades. She has helped emerging businesses to large multinational organizations alike solve commercial concerns with effective business strategies. Sonia is adept at developing innovative ways to improve company performance and is experienced in resource optimization and leading strategic initiatives through complex financial activities. She has a 360-degree view of the sales side of business that compliments her operational expertise. Sonia is based in Los Angeles and keeps a remote office in the northeast.

Most recently, Sonia was the fractional Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer for the National Pickleball League, a start-up professional sports organization. During her time with NPL, she led all finance and administration.

Before that role, Sonia worked through continuously changing environments to transform other businesses’ financial operations for both private equity and publicly held entities. She led strategies for a $2B+ entertainment vertical, a $2.8B REIT, and a $8B Silicon Valley technology company. She has small company experience with an excess and surplus insurance company and an esports championship team. Another key role for Sonia was her time in senior leadership for Guitar Center through a leveraged buyout by Bain Capital.

Historically, she has been hired as a troubleshooter, including clean-ups of problematic financial issues, software implementations, and process improvement. She places a priority on managing stakeholder relationships and building positive, accountable cultures for business success.

Sonia has worked at the highest levels in the entertainment industry, as a new media agent with International Creative Management (ICM); leading finance for Studio 71 with an emerging business model featuring YouTube channel aggregation, advertising, and production; and most recently as interim VP TV content finance for Lionsgate’s acquisition of eOne’s scripted and unscripted television.

Sonia earned an MBA from The Darden School at the University of Virginia. She is a licensed and active CPA with her base experience from her early days at Ernst & Young.

I had the pleasure of working with Sonia Burda when the DLC employed me, and Sonia was consulting with SB Enterprises, LLC. Our mutual client hired a new Corporate Controller whose mandate was to fix multiple material weaknesses and significant deficiencies related to internal controls and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Sonia led the policies and procedures effort, which spanned from the Board of Directors level to payroll processing. You couldn’t ask for a more solid financial partner than Sonia. She is passionate about all aspects of the business and provided great support that was critical to our success. She embraced me and the entire team as her business partner, working towards a common goal. Lastly, Sonia is very personable, engaged, and able to see the humor in situations, no matter how challenging. I highly recommend Sonia for any Senior Leadership role in Finance and would welcome the opportunity to work with her again.


Tracy Buchholz, CPA

Independent Consultant