Maria Rios CPA, McKEON’s Controller
Maria oversees and is responsible for all the financial operations of the McKEON organization and its various entities. She joined McKEON in March of 2023 with over fifteen years of accounting and financial audit experience.
Maria received her BBA in accounting and MBA in corporate finance in 2009. Before arriving at McKEON, she was a senior auditor — responsible for leading audits, preparing financial statements, and managing staff.
Coming from the public sector, Maria was motivated to find a new setting with new responsibilities, challenges, and opportunities. “I used to be a controller a few years ago, and I stepped down so I could pursue [my] CPA,” Maria said. “I was just looking for someplace that was close to my house, a good company and a great opportunity.”
At McKEON, Maria is one of the first people in the office in the morning and one of the last out. “[I have] always [been] someone who has a lot of energy,” Maria said. “[I try to] lead by example.”
Maria said the most significant adjustment she faced when joining McKEON was returning to an in-person work environment. “I worked from home for three years. I missed people,” Maria said. She noted it was unusual returning to an office, but she missed the day-to-day interactions between her and her coworkers.
Despite the stark differences between her former role and her current position, Maria noted that her previous experience as an auditor serves her well today. “I have improved my Excel skills,” Maria said. “Instead of going through it manually with a paper and a pen, I can export it and then use the various tools in Excel to find the solution. [I learned] problem-solving.”
Maria also said that her job as an auditor helped her improve her already sharp organizational skills, as it forced her to consider that others could be utilizing and referring to her previous work.
Outside McKEON, Maria is a proud dog mom to a 120-pound white German shepherd named Rocco. Maria called Rocco energetic and curious but overprotective when she takes him on walks, always on guard and looking to keep her safe.
Another fun fact about Maria is that she earned her brown belt in karate. Maria started karate at nine years old but stopped after five years. After graduating from college, she picked up karate again. “I liked the structure. I feel like it made me disciplined,” Maria said.