In an increasingly complex financial landscape where regulatory nuance and strategic foresight define business success, the role of a trusted accounting and tax advisory expert has never been more critical. But when that expertise is shaped by a cross-continental journey—from Türkiye to the United States—it carries a depth of perspective that few can offer. From navigating the challenges of starting over in a new country to guiding cross-border enterprises through compliance, today’s most impactful financial leaders combine technical precision with lived experience and a truly global perspective.
At the forefront of this dynamic field is Burcu Bree Manay, Managing Partner & CEO at Manay CPA Inc., a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Tax Coach with nearly 25 years of experience across U.S. and international markets. A Turkish-American entrepreneur, Bree’s story is one of resilience, cultural duality, and relentless drive. From her early days navigating the American business landscape as a young immigrant woman to building a firm that now operates across three continents with over 90 professionals, she has transformed personal challenges into a mission: empowering others—especially immigrants, women, and global entrepreneurs—to build secure and meaningful financial futures.
Presented below are selected highlights from the interview, offering insight into the work, journey, and expertise of Burcu Bree Manay.
As a Turkish-American entrepreneur, how has your immigrant background shaped your approach to business and leadership?
My journey from Türkiye to the United States has been the single most defining force in my career. When I first arrived in America, I experienced firsthand what it means to start over—learning a new system, building credibility from scratch, and navigating a culture that was both exciting and unfamiliar. Those early challenges as an immigrant taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of never taking anything for granted.
Early in my career at a small manufacturing firm, I took on responsibilities far beyond accounting—navigating labor law, licensing, and regulatory compliance. I saw how overwhelming these challenges could be for business owners, especially those coming from abroad. That experience planted the seed for Manay CPA. I recognized that the industry needed leaders who could combine technical expertise with genuine cultural understanding—people who could serve as a true bridge between the U.S. and international markets.
Today, that immigrant perspective is embedded in everything we do. Our firm serves clients in English, Spanish, and Turkish. We have operations in Atlanta and Istanbul—strategically positioned at the crossroads of Europe and Asia—guiding international investors as they expand into the United States and particularly into Georgia. We don’t just understand the tax code; we understand what it feels like to build something from nothing in a country that isn’t your own. That empathy is what sets us apart.
“When you’ve built your life in a new country from the ground up, you develop a kind of determination that never leaves you. That fire is what drives everything I do at Manay CPA.”
What personal experiences or values have most influenced your journey as a leader in the financial services industry?
Overcoming a serious health challenge early in my career reshaped my entire perspective on work, purpose, and leadership. I was diagnosed with cancer in my 30s while raising two young children and managing a growing practice. Balancing treatment, motherhood, and business leadership simultaneously tested every dimension of my resilience. That experience strengthened me in ways I could never have imagined and reminded me of the real meaning of life: creating value and enjoying what you do.
It inspired me to build a firm rooted in people-first values—a workplace where employees have comprehensive health benefits, flexible work arrangements, and a culture that genuinely supports people through life’s challenges. After my recovery, I made it a priority to ensure that no one on my team would ever have to choose between their health and their career. Today, I lead with gratitude, intentionality, and a deep commitment to helping others build secure and meaningful financial futures.
“Surviving hardship taught me that time is our most valuable asset. I choose to spend mine building a firm that uplifts people, families, and communities.”
How did your vision for Manay CPA Inc. evolve, and what inspired its current direction?
When I founded Manay CPA, my initial plan was a small CPA firm serving local clients. But my vision evolved with every new client and employee. The clients’ needs and business plans widened my horizon and let me go beyond those initial plans. What truly transformed our direction was watching our first international clients—many of them Turkish entrepreneurs—succeed and grow their businesses in the U.S. Their journeys revealed the importance of becoming a true bridge between the U.S. and international markets, helping entrepreneurs navigate a new country with confidence.
We collaborated with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s SelectUSA team in Türkiye and the Georgia Department of Economic Development to host investment roadshows in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, offering valuable insights into U.S. business formation, tax regulations, and available investment incentives. These experiences reinforced my commitment to expanding our services, investing in technology, and shaping Manay CPA into a firm that empowers global talent to thrive in America.
Our mission statement captures it well: we exist to bring global capabilities with a local spirit to our diverse client base and guide them to achieve their highest potential while building sincere, long-lasting, continual relationships one person at a time, one business at a time.
What do you believe sets Manay CPA apart in a competitive and rapidly changing accounting landscape?
What sets Manay CPA apart is our ability to combine deep technical expertise with a genuinely human approach—and a multicultural perspective that very few firms can offer. As a Turkish-American woman leading a global firm, I’ve built a team that reflects the diversity of the clients we serve. Our diverse, multilingual team allows us to support clients from many backgrounds, eliminating communication barriers and providing clear, practical guidance.
We embrace technology to stay ahead—activating Thomson Reuters CoCounsel for AI-powered tax research, developing proprietary AI solutions through in-house developer agents, and running a fully paperless, cloud-based operation. But technology never comes at the expense of personalized service. Our commitment to integrity, responsiveness, and long-term relationships creates trust that goes beyond a single tax season. We don’t just process numbers; we empower people and businesses to thrive.
The numbers reflect this approach: our gross revenue has more than doubled over the past two years, achieving over 108% growth, and we were named to the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies. We’ve been recognized as one of the Cobb Chamber’s Top 25 Small Businesses for six consecutive years, named among the Top 100 Small Businesses in America by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and selected as Best of Georgia in 2024 and 2025.
As a woman founding and leading a CPA firm, how has your identity shaped your leadership and contributed to your success?
As a woman founding and leading a CPA firm in an industry where female leadership remains underrepresented, my identity has been both a challenge and a defining strength. When I established Manay CPA, the accounting landscape offered few role models for women building firms from the ground up—particularly women from multicultural backgrounds serving a global client base. Rather than viewing this as a limitation, I chose to lead with the qualities my perspective uniquely brought: empathy, resilience, and a deep commitment to genuine relationships.
Being a woman in that environment sharpened my ability to listen, adapt, and deliver solutions addressing real-world pressures entrepreneurs face daily. Early in my career, gaining trust from clients and industry peers required consistently delivering exceptional results while navigating environments where my expertise was sometimes underestimated. This pushed me to be more rigorous, more prepared, and more innovative than the competition—qualities that became embedded in our firm’s DNA.
Today, with over 60% of our team made up of women, supporting female professionals is deeply meaningful to me. I am intentional about providing mentorship, visibility, and leadership pathways for women so they can confidently step into senior roles. I serve on the Georgia Chamber of Commerce board, am an official Forbes Business Council member, and was named one of the Top 50 Women in Accounting—platforms I use to inspire and mentor other women entrepreneurs.
“As a woman in a male-dominated industry, I learned that confidence grows when you stop asking for permission and start creating your own opportunities.”
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced as an immigrant woman entrepreneur in America, and how did you overcome them?
The challenges were layered—being an immigrant, being a woman, and being an entrepreneur all at once. When I first came to the United States, I had to prove myself on multiple fronts simultaneously. There was the language and cultural adjustment, the need to build professional credibility in a completely new market, and the reality of being a woman in a male-dominated industry that doesn’t always make room for diverse voices.
Building a multicultural, globally distributed team presented another layer of complexity. As someone who understands what it means to navigate between cultures, I recognized early that diversity is not a challenge to manage but a strategic advantage to leverage. Our multilingual capabilities in English, Spanish, and Turkish, combined with our cross-cultural expertise, have become one of our greatest differentiators in serving international investors entering the U.S. market.
One of the toughest decisions I’ve had to make was deciding to reorganize parts of our team during a period of rapid growth. Everyone was working hard, but our structure wasn’t keeping up with the workload. I knew that if I didn’t act, both our people and our clients would suffer. So we redefined roles, improved processes, and invested heavily in training and technology. What it taught me is that leadership isn’t about avoiding difficult decisions—it’s about making the right decision for the long-term health of the firm, even when it’s uncomfortable.
“Every obstacle I faced as an immigrant woman made me stronger. The path I walked—with all its obstacles—I am determined to make easier for the women who follow.”
How do you manage the dual responsibilities of strategic leadership and operational oversight in your role?
I balance both by building strong systems and trusting capable leaders. Clear processes and reliable dashboards keep operations running smoothly, while delegation allows me to stay focused on long-term strategy. In 2025, our investment in people yielded measurable results: headcount grew by 27.8%—from 73 to 92 employees—while employee turnover decreased by approximately 20% compared to the prior year. I stay close enough to understand the details, but far enough to maintain perspective while ensuring that day-to-day execution supports our broader vision.
We’ve also embraced a flexible hybrid work model that promotes both productivity and work-life balance, which has enabled us to attract and retain highly qualified professionals from around the world, including through H-1B visa sponsorship for international talent.
“Leadership is not about doing everything yourself—it’s about building people who can achieve more than you ever could alone.”
How do you foster a culture of innovation and client-centricity within a traditionally structured industry?
I encourage innovation by creating space for new ideas, embracing technology early, and empowering my team to challenge outdated processes. A defining milestone of the past year was our strategic investment in AI technology. We activated Thomson Reuters CoCounsel—one of the world’s most advanced AI-powered tax research tools. Beyond adopting third-party tools, we developed proprietary AI solutions through an in-house software developer agent, including automated document generation that reduced processing time by approximately 30%, and pre-sales AI agents that increased our Sales Qualified Lead conversion ratio from 20% to over 50%.
Importantly, our approach to AI is not about replacing human expertise—it is about accelerating workflows so that our professionals can focus on higher-value review, analysis, and client advisory, positioning the human element at the center of quality assurance. At the same time, we keep clients at the center by consistently listening to their needs—including through our AI-built client feedback platform—and designing solutions around their real-life challenges.
What role does mentorship play in your leadership, and how do you support the advancement of women and emerging professionals?
Mentorship is at the core of my leadership style. I believe people grow fastest when they feel supported, challenged, and trusted. Beyond our firm, I use my platform to inspire and mentor women entrepreneurs. As a Georgia Chamber of Commerce board member, Forbes Business Council member, and one of the Top 50 Women in Accounting, I participate in speaking engagements, industry panels, and mentorship programs where I share the realities of building a business as a woman—including the setbacks, the cancer journey, and the lessons learned.
We sponsor Kennesaw State University’s Career Fair, connecting young women with career opportunities in accounting and financial services. Our fresh graduate development program creates structured entry points for early-career professionals, many of whom are women beginning their journey in a field where female leadership representation still lags. Looking ahead, I plan to expand our mentorship initiatives to reach women entrepreneurs internationally—particularly those in Türkiye and emerging markets seeking to do business in the United States.
“Honest, visible leadership from women who have navigated real adversity gives others permission to pursue their ambitions with confidence.”
How do you maintain work-life integration while leading a high-performing organization?
I prioritize clear boundaries, intentional scheduling, and a strong support system both at home and at work. As a mother and a CEO, I rely on delegation, empowered teams, and routines that protect my family time. My personal health journey made this non-negotiable—I learned the hard way that you cannot pour from an empty cup. I lead by example, showing that excellence is sustainable when we take care of our well-being as seriously as our work. Our benefits package was designed with this understanding: comprehensive health coverage, flexible work arrangements, paid time off, HSA plans, and individualized support to help employees navigate personal circumstances.
How do you see your work at Manay CPA contributing to broader economic and community development?
At Manay CPA, our work strengthens the local economy by helping individuals and small businesses make informed financial decisions, stay compliant, and grow sustainably. We play a particularly meaningful role in the broader U.S. economy by helping international clients—many from Türkiye and the broader region—successfully enter the American market, establish their operations, and create new economic activity. As a U.S. Trade Department Business Service Provider and Bronze Sponsor at the SelectUSA Investment Summit, we actively promote foreign direct investment into Georgia and the United States.
Our community engagement runs deep. We contribute to nonprofit organizations focused on healthcare and education, including LOSEV USA, supporting children with leukemia, and Every Child Counts, dedicated to improving children’s educational opportunities. Through our partnership with the Atlanta Turkish Family Circle, we support underprivileged families in Atlanta and Türkiye with essential resources including medical equipment and educational tools. Following the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye, we organized a fundraising campaign, matching donations from employees, clients, and partners to support affected families. We also sponsor Alan C. Pope High School’s volleyball team and support cultural community events that celebrate the diverse fabric of our region.
“Numbers are universal, but trust is personal. Our greatest work begins when clients know we are truly invested in their success.”
Which achievement or milestone in your career holds the most personal significance, and why?
The milestone that means the most to me wasn’t a financial metric—it was the moment I realized our firm had become a true partner in our clients’ growth. One of our early international clients told me, ‘We wouldn’t have made it in the U.S. without your guidance.’ That was the moment I understood that what we do isn’t just tax or compliance; it’s helping people build a future in a completely new market—something I deeply understand from my own journey as an immigrant.
Beyond personal recognition, I am most proud that my journey has created pathways for other women and underrepresented professionals within our firm and community. Manay CPA now operates across three continents, is recognized on the Inc. 5000 list, named among the Top 100 Small Businesses by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and honored as one of the Cobb Chamber’s Top 25 for six consecutive years. But ultimately, my success is measured by the success we help our clients create—and by demonstrating that women do not simply belong in leadership; they transform it.
What trends or shifts in the financial services industry are you most excited or concerned about?
I’m most excited about the rise of automation and AI, which allows firms like ours to deliver faster, more accurate, and more strategic guidance to clients. Over the next five years, we plan to deploy client-facing AI agents that provide proactive, personalized financial guidance—transforming the traditional CPA-client relationship from reactive compliance to predictive financial partnership.
At the same time, I’m mindful of the growing need for data security and ethical technology use. Our approach is guided by a clear philosophy: AI should accelerate human expertise rather than replace it. We are designing our firm’s future around a model where AI handles speed-intensive tasks while our professionals operate in a review and advisory capacity, ensuring quality, accuracy, and the personalized guidance that our clients value.
What legacy do you hope to build through your leadership at Manay CPA Inc?
I hope to build a legacy of trust, empowerment, and meaningful impact—not just as a business leader, but as a Turkish-American woman who proved that where you come from doesn’t limit where you can go. My goal is to create a firm where clients feel supported at every stage of their financial journey and where our team—especially working parents, women, and immigrants—can grow without compromising their identity or their family life.
I want Manay CPA to stand as a model of what’s possible when you combine integrity, innovation, and a people-first culture with the unique perspective that comes from building your life across two worlds. By leading authentically and building a culture where diverse voices are valued, I hope to demonstrate that immigrants don’t just contribute to the American economy—they help shape its future.
“My ultimate goal is simple: to ensure that the path I walked—with all its obstacles—becomes easier for the women and immigrants who follow.”
Conclusion
Burcu Bree Manay’s journey—from Türkiye to the helm of one of America’s fastest-growing CPA firms—reflects a powerful blend of resilience, cultural duality, and purpose-driven leadership. Her story is not just one of professional achievement; it is a testament to what becomes possible when an immigrant woman refuses to accept limitations and instead builds something extraordinary from the ground up.
Through Manay CPA Inc., she is guiding businesses through complexity, creating pathways for global entrepreneurs entering the American market, empowering women in a traditionally male-dominated industry, and contributing meaningfully to the communities she serves—from Cobb County to Istanbul. Her leadership across organizations like the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the Forbes Business Council, and international platforms like SelectUSA demonstrates that her impact extends far beyond the balance sheet.
As the financial services landscape continues to evolve, Bree’s commitment to trust, people-first values, and forward-thinking strategy positions Manay CPA as more than a service provider—it stands as a true bridge between cultures, economies, and dreams. Her legacy, rooted in empowerment and impact, is one that will continue to shape both her clients’ success stories and the next generation of leaders in the field.
