Murat Unal joined Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on January 8 to oversee the organization’s financial operations and fiscal health. Unal steps into the CFO role, with interim CFO, Anjali Sheth remaining as RCAC’s Controller.
RCAC’s Senior Leadership Team and Finance Department conducted an extensive, nationwide search prior to naming Unal. He brings more than 26 years’ experience with Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) – most recently as the Senior Director of Finance and Operations responsible for Rural LISC’s overall health and operations focused on rural and indigenous communities nationwide. His expertise includes community development, technical and financial assistance, budgeting, grant compliance, micro loans, private and public grant management, planning and financial analysis. As a LISC Senior Leadership Team member he was involved in decision‐making processes, developing strategic plans, program activities, staff management, expansion, and developing and implementing key performance indicators.
“RCAC is fortunate to have Murat join our organization as CFO. His strong leadership and deep financial acumen add tremendous value to RCAC, as we continue to evolve and deepen our work in rural and Indigenous communities across the west. Murat is a strong partner and collaborator and I look forward to working with him,” said Suzanne Anarde-Devenport, RCAC chief executive officer.
“This is a great African proverb that I adopted over the years: ‘If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together.’ I also admire what legend basketball coach Phil Jackson said: ‘The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team” I look forward to working together to make a difference in rural communities and achieve RCAC’s mission and vision,” said Unal.
Unal is a certified public accountant, State of Virginia; he holds an MBA in finance, George Mason University; bachelor’s degree in business administration, Istanbul University; Leading in Finance certificate and Financial Accounting, Harvard Business School Online; an Internal Auditor certificate, George Mason University; he is a certified financial management professional with a certificate in personal financial planning, Georgetown University.
Founded in 1978, RCAC provides training, technical and financial resources and advocacy so rural communities can achieve their goals and visions. RCAC serves rural communities in 13 western states and western Pacific islands. Services are available to communities with populations of fewer than 50,000, other nonprofit groups, Tribal organizations, farmworkers, colonias and other specific populations. RCAC staff provides direct services in program areas including affordable housing, environmental services, economic development and lending. Learn more about RCAC here.
