Susan R. Lucato – Chartered Professional Accountant in Victoria BC
Born and raised in Victoria BC, Susan is a Reynolds and Camosun College grad. Through her experience at Price Waterhouse Chartered Accountants which through subsequent mergers became Grant Thornton Chartered Accountants, Susan obtained her Certified General Accountant designation (1996).
Professional Experience
As a Senior Manager in the Independent Business Group, Susan spent fourteen years with Grant Thornton Chartered Accountants. She was instrumental in developing the local firm’s small business advisory and bookkeeping services departments and spent many years as the audit manager for a large variety of local charitable organizations.
After retiring from public practice in 2002 to spend more time with a young family, Susan moved more fully into the charitable sector, and in September 2002 took the position of Finance Director with the Victoria Foundation. As Canada’s 6th largest Community Foundation, Susan played an instrumental role in the growth of the Foundation’s assets and the organization’s presence in the local charitable community. The role focused on the financial oversight of the Foundation’s endowment fund(s) and included a national role in the community foundation movement, working closely with BC’s First Nations groups on specific trusts and the review and updating of the Victoria Foundation Act in 2009.
Consulting Practice
In August, 2011 Susan resigned from the Victoria Foundation to pursue her own financial consulting practice and now works with many local charitable organizations and small businesses. Her services include controllership and part-time director of finance services, bookkeeping services, consulting on internal controls and processes, as well as public speaking engagements focused on the voluntary/not-for-profit sector.
Recently Susan accepted a position with Camosun College as an instructor in the School of Business. Susan’s drive to give back and mentor the next generation of accounting professionals led her to this decision. She is still available for consulting projects and public speaking engagements.