Academic Degrees
MBA, DePaul University
BS, Accounting, University of Kentucky
Biography
Jackie Cahan is an accounting professor, instructional designer and technical manual author as well as a licensed CPA with over 20 years of professional and academic experience. She currently teaches Financial, Managerial and cost Accounting at Depaul University and Harper College. Her expertise centers on making complex financial concepts accessible through real-world case studies that integrate emerging technologies.
Her professional background includes serving as Chief Financial Officer for privately held companies, startups, and turnaround organizations, where she led financial strategy and restructuring initiatives. Her most recent position was as Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer for a Private Equity Firm that had over 90 investments with $100MM AUM across several industries including logistics, automotive and manufacturing.
Cahan's teaching and research interests include financial literacy for non-financial professionals, accounting information systems, fraud detection, and applied AI in financial decision-making. She is the author of Know Your Darn Numbers: Accounting and Finance for the Non-Financially Minded, a book designed to help entrepreneurs and professionals build financial confidence.
Beyond her professional work, Cahan serves on the board of Healthy Schools Campaign in Chicago and volunteers with the River North Residents Association.