Susan Pagels
Susan is a nonprofit finance and accounting leader with more than a decade of experience supporting the financial health and sustainability of mission-driven organizations. She brings deep expertise in financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, grant and revenue management, compliance, and process improvement. Known for her collaborative leadership style and systems-thinking approach, Susan partners closely with executive teams and boards to align financial strategy with organizational goals.
Prior to joining CFO Selections, Susan served as Senior Director of Finance for The Praxis Project, where she oversaw a $26M budget, managed complex funding streams including fiscally sponsored projects, and helped build long-term sustainability through strong cash management and reserve development. She previously held Director of Finance roles at the W. Haywood Burns Institute and the Carpenters Industrial Council, where she led financial operations, strengthened internal controls, improved reporting processes, and supported organizations through periods of growth and change. Susan began her leadership career overseeing finance and operations for KNOVA Learning, a charter school, where she implemented financial systems and improved fiscal transparency.
Susan is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of Oregon and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business & European History, along with a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Accounting from Linfield College. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest, and traveling.
