Russ Harju, FPAC, CMA, CTP, CIA

Russ Harju has a diverse work experience spanning several industries. Starting in 2009, they worked as a Staff Auditor II at the National Futures Association. Russ then moved on to become a Risk Control Analyst at Tenaska in 2011. Russ then transitioned to roles at Conagra Brands, where they were a Financial Analyst in Internal Audit, a Senior Financial Analyst in Financial Planning & Analysis, and finally a Manager in Financial Planning & Analysis.

In 2016, Russ founded Luxury Laundry, a personal services/technology startup, where they gained valuable experience in managing a business and utilizing global resources for branding and web presence. Russ later worked as a Senior Manager in Finance at Dairy Farmers of America, where they were responsible for financial reporting and tracking $2 billion in business.

Russ then served as an Advisor to the CFO at Christ Lutheran Church and Education Center before joining Huhtamaki as the Controller for the Consumer Goods Division in North America. Currently, Russ is serving as the Chief Financial Officer at Occasion, a role they assumed in December 2022. Russ also holds the positions of Owner at Trak Finance and Technical Advisor at the Association for Financial Professionals.

Throughout their career, Russ has demonstrated expertise in financial analysis, reporting, planning, and internal audit. Russ has a strong background in implementing improved reporting solutions and providing financial guidance to support decision-making.

Russ Harju holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Illinois Chicago, which was obtained sometime before 2008. In addition to their degree, Russ has also acquired several certifications throughout their career. In 2013, they obtained the CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) certification from The Institute of Internal Auditors. Russ further expanded their professional qualifications by obtaining the CMA (Certified Management Accountant) certification from the Certified Management Accountant: CMA® institution in July 2017. Russ continued to enhance their expertise by obtaining the Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) certification from the Association for Financial Professionals in July 2019. Additionally, in April 2018, they acquired the Certified Corporate FP&A Professional certification, also from the Association for Financial Professionals.