This paper describes the main aspects that were taken into account to assess the financial area processes of a Higher Education Institution and their articulation with the quality management system based on the Prevention, Appraisal and Failure (PAF) model. Initially, meetings were held with the Academy, as direct users of the processes, at which the different points of view were objectively listened to, in a brain storming session, concluding with a suggestion from their view as academicians and main users. The approach was based on a mixed methodology that involved the quantitative part, by estimating failure costs in processes, and qualitative, measuring the dissatisfaction degree of internal users due to the delay or noncompliance with the different processes managed in the area. The main results show, after analyzing each one of the processes established (registration planning, credit area, payment, treasury and mobility), a very low (critical) score in two processes considered the most sensitive ones and requiring urgent intervention, such as the fees/OPS and the mobility processes; the forgoing entails an improvement plan intended to identify the economic and financial benefits of the quality management system and that guarantees process optimization.