Maria Manasses

Executive summary

Maria is a partner with Grant Thornton with over 25 years of experience in accounting and auditing. She acts as a steward to the accounting and auditing profession at large by promoting quality work and ethical behavior, establishing and reinforcing sound professional standards, and supporting young developing professionals.

As Deputy Chief Auditor, Maria is primarily focused on audit methodology and supports the establishment of policies and procedures to comply with auditing and attestation standards, as well as the development and review of the firm’s realted intellectual and technological resources, including learning materials. She interfaces with others on the implementation of new standards and the implications to methodology as well as consults on various technical assurance-related matters across service lines.

Maria is a key player in the development and launch of the global audit methodology. Maria joined Grant Thornton LLP after spending a short period of time in private industry as a Director of Investor Accounting. Before that, Maria spent numerous years with Arthur Andersen LLP as an accountant in the firm-wide controller’s group, an auditor in financial services, and a manager in the national professional standards group.

Maria supports higher education by serving as the firm’s recruiting champion for the University of Illinois at Chicago, as well as a member of the Business Advisory Council.

Professional qualifications and memberships

Maria is a member of the AICPA and the Illinois CPA Society. She is a certified public accountant in the State of Illinois.

Maria previously served as a member of the Auditing Standards Board and the Audit Issues Task Force, as well as the technical advisor to the firm's International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board members and the firm's prior Auditing Standards Board members. She has been recognized by the Auditing Standards Board of the AICPA for her years of dedication and service to standard-setting and the profession.

Presentations and publications

Maria has served on many task forces and committees and has contributed to various professional assurance-related standards, audit guides, presentations, and other publications, internationally and within the United States. She chaired the Auditing Standards Board's Risk Assessment Task Force and Compliance Audits Task Force.

Education

• BS, Accounting, University of Illinois at Chicago