Susan Leary
Board Chair
Susan has more than 30 years of finance and accounting experience, as well as extensive knowledge in non-profit finance, accounting, management and governance.
Susan is the former Chief Administrative Officer at First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, where she was responsible for finance, human resources, and operations. She oversaw facilities for the entire campus, which includes Pilgrim School, an independent school for students from toddler through 12th grade, worked with lay leaders, and was a liaison with all the Board Committees.
Prior to joining First Church, Susan was the Chief Financial Officer for the Fulfillment Fund, a college access organization that helps first-generation students of color graduate from high school and matriculate to college. She previously served The Recording Academy as Chief Financial Officer, where she managed the Business Affairs, Information Technology and Facilities departments.
Susan has held senior financial positions at WMC Mortgage Corp., Great Western Corporation, Wells Fargo & Company and Security Pacific Corp. She has 10 years of public accounting experience with 8 of those years at KPMG in Los Angeles. She began her career at Coopers & Lybrand in New York. Susan received a Bachelor of Business Administration, Major in Accounting, from Baruch College of the City University of New York. She is a certified public accountant in the state of California.
Susan serves on the Finance and Development committees of the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles. She is very active and has had numerous leadership roles at St. Monica’s Catholic Church in Santa Monica.
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