Griffiths trained as a historian, completing a Master of Arts in history titled Feminism and the ideology of motherhood in New Zealand, 1896-1930 at the University of Otago in 1985.
[3] Griffiths was made a fellow of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand in 2023.
[3] The fellowship nomination called her "one of New Zealand's pre-eminent tax researchers".
[4] Griffiths is chair of the All Saints Church charitable trust board.
[3] Griffiths was formerly Chair of the Academic Committee of the Banking and Financial Services Law Association.