Stephen Masterson serves as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Signature Estate & Investment Advisors (SEIA). With over three decades of experience in public accounting and corporate leadership, he oversees all aspects of the firm’s financial operations and strategy—including budgeting and forecasting, financial planning and analysis, reporting and compliance, risk management, and strategic initiatives to support SEIA’s continued growth. His background in mergers and acquisitions, digital transformation, and the application of artificial intelligence in finance supports the firm’s continued innovation and expansion.
Before joining SEIA, Stephen’s career included Big 4 experience with Arthur Andersen and Ernst & Young, a partnership at Grant Thornton, and a national leadership role at BDO, where he served as the Financial Services Industry Practice Leader. He has also held senior executive positions in the industry, including CFO and Chief Operating Officer at Pacific Capital Bancorp, CFO and Chief Accounting Officer at Provident New York Bancorp, and Chief Credit Officer at Charles Schwab Bank.
A recognized thought leader, Stephen is a frequent contributor to leading publications such as Accounting Today, Bloomberg, Compliance Week, and Reuters. He is a member of the Forbes Finance Council, where he shares insights on innovation and financial leadership in the financial services industry.
A resident of Santa Barbara, California, Stephen lives there with his wife and their teenage daughter.
He holds a degree from the University of Alabama and has completed executive programs at Harvard Business School, Berkeley Law, Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, and Columbia Business School. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensed in California, holds the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA®) designation from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and earned his Directorship Certification from the National Association of Corporate Directors.