Stacey Powell (she/her) is a Principal at Third Plateau, where she co-leads the Financial Management and Accounting division. She brings three decades of experience helping organizations strengthen their finances, systems, and decision-making. Prior to joining Third Plateau, she founded Creating Answers, building a respected outsourced CFO firm from the ground up — one whose shared clients, shared projects, and deep mutual respect made joining forces with Third Plateau the natural next step.

Throughout her career, Stacey has been passionate not only about financial strategy and thought partnership, but also about building the systems, training, and leadership structures that help financial teams deliver consistent, high-quality support. Her work focuses on strengthening organizations while also developing the people and practices behind the work.

Stacey began her career at Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC), specializing in nonprofit, healthcare, and higher education audits. She later left public accounting to become the Administrative Director at an HIV services nonprofit, where she helped lead rapid growth, a capital campaign, and the conversion of a former bank into a medical clinic.

Stacey lives in Sacramento. In her spare time, you can find her gardening or deep in a strategy board game with her wife, where they both enjoy the challenge of planning several moves ahead.