Matthew Michalak
Finance Executive | CFO | Community Leader
- Role
- Chief Financial Officer at Cara Chicago
- Location
- Chicago, IL, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Matthew Michalak
CFO and strategic advisor helping impact oriented organizations achieve sustainable growth and operational excellence. With 20+ years of experience spanning investment banking, commercial banking, and nonprofit leadership, I bring a unique blend of financial expertise and mission-focused strategy to every engagement.As a former Executive Director at Morgan Stanley and SVP at Bank of America, I\'ve guided numerous nonprofit organizations, healthcare systems, and educational institutions through complex financial decisions and transformational growth. My experience includes managing loan portfolios exceeding $2B, revenue budgets exceeding $100M and leading teams across multiple states.Industry Expertise: Healthcare (health systems, providers, payors)| Higher Education (universities)| Not-For-Profits (501c3 and 501c4)Functional Strengths: Team Building | Business Development | Sales and Marketing Strategies | Financial Management | Leadership Development | Strategic Planning | Global Mindset | Fractional CFO | Treasurer | Chief Financial Officer | Interim CFO | Restructuring | Turnaround Situations | Board Governance | Working Capital Optimization | Investment Policy Holder of Series 7, 24, 52, 63, and 79 licenses from FINRA
Experience
Chief Financial Officer
Jan 2025 — Present · Chicago, IL, US
As Chief Financial Officer, I lead financial strategy and operations for Cara Collective, a nationally recognized nonprofit advancing economic mobility through employment and wraparound support services. I partner closely with the CEO, Board, and senior leadership team to strengthen financial health, governance, and long-term sustainability while supporting mission growth.My work spans multi-year financial planning, investment and reserve management, grant and government funding oversight, and organizational scaling initiatives. I focus on aligning financial discipline with program impact—ensuring resources are deployed effectively to serve individuals and families across Chicago.Key areas of focus:• Organizational financial strategy & forecasting• Board & Finance Committee leadership• Grant and public funding management• Investment policy & reserve stewardship• Operational scaling and risk management
Education
Central College
Bachelor of Arts - BA
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Master of Business Administration - MBA
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