Mary McManus
CFO
Mary brings decades of financial expertise and strategic business perspective to MCA as Chief Financial Officer. Her responsibilities span finance, human resources, information technology, legal, and business operations, in addition to project management training.
She oversees all financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting. She is also responsible for ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and maintaining robust internal controls. Additionally, Mary collaborates with senior leadership to develop financial strategies that support organizational growth and manage risk including cross-functional initiatives that optimize business performance. Her role also encompasses evaluating investment opportunities and providing insights to guide key business decisions.
Mary is passionate about improving operations through streamlined processes that increase profits and drive productivity. Since joining MCA in 2018, she continues to significantly increase profit margins and champion new technologies that improve operations and the delivery of client services. Her commitment to the highest standards ensures clear communication, seamless processes, and accurate and timely expense tracking and invoicing to name a few.
She was instrumental in MCA’s implementation of an Entrepreneurial Operating System and project management system that transitioned the firm to a more complex integrated business model, serving a more diverse group of clients, and expanding into new sectors.
Mary joined in 2018 after tenures with prominent organizations. She began her career in assurance for KMPG focusing on the real estate and hospitality industry. She then spent 15 years with a global food and beverage container manufacturer providing financial projections, assisting with due diligence for an acquisition and streamlining accounts payable and purchasing through the implementation of a new system. She led software implementation across all departments including financial, transportation, warehousing, production planning, and sales and marketing.
Mary’s can-do attitude, coupled with exceptional technology skills, were utilized in her work with a leading provider of healthcare products and services where she developed 40 eLearning modules for a sales operation group. The program was later launched in the Philippines where it is used to train staff.
Mary earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Economics with a minor in Accounting from the University of Illinois. She has been a proficient CPA since sailing through the exam on the first try.
In 2023 she was recognized as a top CFO by Chicago Crain’s Business and named to their list of Notable CFOs. She is an active member of the CFO Mastermind Group, a professional organization for finance executives that provides a forum for sharing solutions and perspectives on complex business issues.
Mary can be found transforming just about anything for the better when she’s not at the office. She overhauled her parish’s fundraiser and doubled contributions in between coaching volleyball, working out and watching her children play sports. Her door is often open for parties for kids of all ages.