Ellen Brislin

Ellen Brislin is responsible for Smithbucklin’s financial reporting, accounting, and treasury functions. She also oversees the company’s Financial Management & Accounting Services (FMAS) unit, as well as two Smithbucklin companies: SDI and The France Foundation. From 2016 through 2024, she also oversaw the company’s Information Technology (IT) Services and Corporate Information Technology functions. Ellen serves as Chair of Smithbucklin’s Retirement Plan Committee and is an ex-officio member of the Audit and Risk Oversight Committee.

Ellen brings 30 years of experience working with associations and across all aspects of corporate finance. She began her career at Smithbucklin in 1996 as a staff accountant in FMAS, supporting more than 30 client organizations during her tenure with the team. In 2000, she became a manager in Corporate Finance, overseeing the monthly corporate financial close. In 2002, Ellen left Smithbucklin to join Sara Lee Corporation as a corporate accounting manager. There, she recorded intercompany activity, reconciled cash and shareholder accounts, and produced financial reports for many of the company’s non-operating entities. She also worked extensively with internal audit and played a key role in implementing new controls to meet Sarbanes-Oxley compliance requirements.

Ellen returned to Smithbucklin in 2005 as Director of Corporate Finance and joined the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) transaction team that led the company’s efforts to become employee owned. In 2007, she was promoted to Corporate Controller, where she strengthened internal processes and controls and assumed responsibility for payroll, corporate taxes, client billing, and collections. She was promoted to Vice President in 2011, taking on additional treasury and ESOP management responsibilities, and became Senior Vice President in 2014. In 2016, Ellen was promoted to her current role of Chief Financial Officer.

Ellen ensures that Smithbucklin’s financial reporting team delivers timely and accurate data, and she works diligently to provide the financial support needed to better serve the company’s client organizations. She has extensive experience in technology and process improvements and has led the implementation of multiple software systems, including general ledger and reporting platforms, time entry and billing systems, accounts payable and expense processing tools, project management software, and budgeting and forecasting solutions. She has also played a key role in due diligence and deal teams, leading the financial integration of eight Smithbucklin acquisitions.

Ellen holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame and is a Registered Certified Public Accountant (CPA). She is a member of the CFO Leadership Council and the Illinois CPA Society.