Jim Mancuso ’07, MBA ‘08 on His Career in Finance
Jim Mancuso ’07, MBA ’08 spent a session last week with students in professor David Tang’s undergraduate corporate finance class where he discussed his experiences as a student at Clark, the skills he’s gained, and his career path to becoming the Chief Financial Officer at My Mochi Ice Cream.
After receiving an MBA from the School of Business (School of Business), Jim wasn’t entirely sure what direction he wanted his career to take, or in what industry he wanted to work. He had completed a couple of internships, was involved in the entrepreneurship club — as it was known then at Clark — and knew that he had a strong foundation for work in any field. Over time, Jim realized he wanted to focus on a company that produced tangible products in some financial capacity, which led him to the consumer packaged goods industries, specifically cosmetics, food & beverage, and a steady rise into higher level finance positions.
Read on for more, and learn the five pieces of advice Jim gave to students during the question and answer session.
What skills did it take for you to get where you are today?
It’s not just about skills. It’s about what value you bring and what continued curiosity you can bring to an organization. But certainly, teambuilding and leadership are important, as well as prioritization and delivering on expectations. The ability to work as a team, from doing team projects, getting involved in clubs— being part of a team of any kind is worthwhile, as the workplace is not just about individual contributions. It’s important to identify work outside the classroom that you can put in to help grow your knowledge base, through internships, research or working a job. I had a job as a bookkeeper while I was a student, applying the basic skills of accounting in a real work environment.
How do you stand out in the crowd? How can I separate myself from other candidates?
As a hiring manager, I look for intangible skills in addition to skill sets to match the position, and not necessarily certifications. I’m not just checking boxes. As a CFO I have not taken a typical path of starting in public accounting. However, my background in accounting and holding numerous roles as a Controller have provided me a solid foundation. It’s as much about experience and desire to learn as it is about credentials. I was well prepared when I left Clark, but nothing compares to on-the-job training and the after-hours and additional work put in to get ahead.
Have you had any setbacks and how did you work through them?
Yes, for sure. While at a prior organization, there was an acquisition which caused a management change. This resulted in multiple areas of job consolidation due to redundancies, one of which was mine. However, that same day as I left the office, I made it my new job to find my next opportunity. For the next three months every day I got up like I was going to work, except my work was finding a new job through research, networking, resume updating, applying and interviewing. There were more “No” responses than “Yes,” but this did not deter me and I found an amazing opportunity in the end.
What are some key pieces of advice you’d give to students just starting their career?
I have five unfiltered keys to success. Keep in mind I didn’t create these; I learned and adapted them from my past mentors.
1) No matter what your role is in the company, be invaluable so the organization can’t imagine what it would be like not to have you.
2) No one owes you anything. Some jobs on-board you well; some will not. It’s your own responsibility to make the situation a success for the company and yourself.
3) Have a “first one in and the last one to leave” mentality. It’s not about office time necessarily, but work hard, take on extra projects, do the extra analysis. Preparation is key; don’t be unprepared.
4) If you ever feel under-appreciated, remember #2.
5) Life is not a dress rehearsal. These do not guarantee success. However, you can’t fail at these five things and expect to succeed.
~ Meredith Galena
Communications Specialist, School of Business
