Final answer:
Cynthia's role as a 20 percent partner in a five-person group is most aligned with being part of a Board of Directors, which plays a pivotal role in corporate governance and oversight for top executives in a company. Option B is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question revolves around understanding the role of a partner in a corporate entity. Cynthia is described as a 20 percent partner in a five-person group, which could represent different types of associations within the business context.
Based on the information given, particularly the reference to corporate governance and the role of the board of directors as a central body elected by shareholders, we can deduce the most likely answer. Given that the board of directors is responsible for the oversight of top executives and represents the shareholders' interests, this aligns with Cynthia's role mentioned in the question.
A fourth option, the shareholders' committee, can sometimes act in a corporate governance capacity, but it is not a standard term used in corporate governance structure. Moreover, the specifics of audit firms and institutional investors as part of the corporate governance mechanism are generally associated with oversight over the operations of the whole company, as is the role of the board of directors.
Therefore, the final answer is: (B) Board of Directors.