Fiduciary Leadership. Audit Oversight. Strategic Advisory.
"Qualified professional for candidacy as an independent fund director, including audit committee chair. Offering strategic consultancy to help investment managers navigate operational, financial and regulatory complexities, evaluating service provider ecosystems, and developing and deploying emerging AI technologies with confidence."
Audit Committee Leadership & Board Directorships
Available for open independent board seats and Audit Committee Chairmanship for Mutual Funds, ETFs & CEFs. 35+ years of financial & SEC oversight experience.
Strategic Advisory & AI RegTech Solutions
Specialized consulting for fund boards, CCOs & advisers on service provider RFPs/evaluations, Section 15(c) renewals & practical AI deployment.
Frank J. Maresca
Independent Fund Director & Audit Committee Chair
Fund Board Directorships & Audit Oversight
Bringing 35+ years of C-suite asset management operational experience, technical SEC compliance knowledge, and proven board leadership to U.S. SEC-registered investment company boards.
SEC Audit Committee Financial Expert
Fully qualified under Sarbanes-Oxley Section 407. Deep expertise in GAAP accounting, complex fund valuation, internal controls assessment, and coordinating with top-tier independent accounting firms.
- Active NYSE CEF Audit Chair
- Financial Statement Integrity
- PCAOB Auditor Search Leadership
Section 15(c) Advisory Contract Renewals
Rigorous, independent evaluation of investment advisory agreements under Section 15(c). Extensive experience assessing advisory fees, profitability, breakpoint schedules, and performance attribution.
- Fee Benchmarking Analysis
- Gartenberg Factor Reviews
- Breakpoint Schedule Optimization
Rule 2a-5 Valuation Oversight
Expert guidance on board valuation designee frameworks, fair-value pricing methodologies, pricing service evaluations, and liquidity risk management programs across liquid & illiquid assets.
- Valuation Designee Audits
- Liquidity Rule 22e-4 Governance
- Level 3 Asset Back-Testing
Target SEC Registered Fund Segments
Open-End Mutual Funds | Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) | Closed-End Funds (CEFs) | Business Development Companies (BDCs)
Strategic Advisory for Funds & Advisers
Leveraging 35+ years of C-suite executive experience at Broadridge, Bear Stearns Funds Management, and fund board rooms to solve complex operational challenges.
Service Provider Selection & RFP Evaluation
Independent guidance on vendor selection, contract negotiation, and service level agreements (SLAs) across mutual fund infrastructure:
- Transfer Agency (TA) platforms & shareholder recordkeeping
- Fund Accounting & Custody banking operations
- Proxy voting infrastructure & distribution processing
AI Deployment & Operational Automation
Helping fund boards and management teams safely evaluate, govern, and integrate practical Artificial Intelligence tools into operational workflows:
- Safe governance frameworks for AI model adoption
- Automation of regulatory compliance reporting (Form N-PORT, N-CEN)
- Streamlining Board Book preparation & compliance summaries
Interactive AI RegTech Suite
Demonstrating practical AI applications for board candidate matching, 1940 Act resolutions, disclosure anomaly scans, grounded SEC search, Section 15(c) fee evaluations, vision audits, and multi-speaker audio dialogue.
⚠️ DEMONSTRATION & REGTECH USE-CASE DISCLAIMER
The AI models, automation workflows, and RegTech tools displayed within this section represent indicative, practical use-cases designed solely for illustrative and demonstration purposes. All analysis, models, and outputs are executed against fictitious or synthetic fund datasets. There is no reference to, utilization of, or connection to any specific active fund complex, including the Cornerstone Funds or any other registered entity.
Board Candidate Mandate Matcher
Evaluates search specifications and generates an executive board alignment briefing using Gemini 3 Flash.
Boardroom Thought Leadership
Executive commentary providing practical frameworks for fund directors on SEC cybersecurity enforcement, AI model governance, and RegTech implementation.
Strategic Governance: Audit Committee Oversight of AI and Digital Resilience under an Evolving SEC Regulatory Landscape
An executive guide detailing practical oversight metrics for fund directors regarding SEC Regulation S-P cybersecurity safeguards, third-party vendor risk architecture (TPRM), model risk management (MRM) back-testing, and mitigating "AI Washing" in fund disclosures.
Executive Resume & Leadership Record
35+ Years of Leadership in SEC-Registered Funds & Financial Services
Listen to Frank Maresca's Executive Summary
Briefing covering candidacy for board positions and senior consultancy opportunities across designated disciplines.
Complete Professional Resume & Bio
Full unabridged executive CV formatted for SEC Nominating Committees.
Independent Director & Audit Committee Chair
NYSE-Listed Closed-End Investment Funds (CLM & CRF)
- Serve as Independent Director and Chair of the Audit Committee for $3B+ SEC-registered, NYSE-listed closed-end fund complex.
- Designated as the board's SEC Audit Committee Financial Expert under Sarbanes-Oxley Section 407, overseeing internal controls, GAAP accounting, independent audit engagements, and financial statement integrity.
- Lead independent board oversight of annual 15(c) investment advisory contract renewals, fee structures, and expense caps.
- Oversee board implementation of SEC Rule 2a-5 valuation frameworks, pricing designee reporting, and liquidity risk programs.
- Successfully initiated an audit firm search resulting in a seamless external PCAOB audit firm transition.
Senior Advisor & Vice President - Mutual Fund Business Development
Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: BR)
- Senior Advisor (2022–2025) and VP (2018–2022). Chaired US Fund Regulatory Working Group and advised asset managers on SEC rulemaking.
- Developed industry templates for SEC Tailored Shareholder Reports (TSR), driving operational efficiency and cost reductions across client complexes.
- Partnered with fund board trustees, CCOs, and transfer agents to streamline shareholder communications and cost controls.
Executive Vice President / Head of Fund Administration
Equiniti Fund Solutions & Ultimus Fund Solutions
- Created and headed the fund administration division. Served as Principal Financial Officer (PFO) and Treasurer for registered closed-end funds and Business Development Companies (BDCs) holding illiquid investments.
- Directed closed-end fund servicing, custody oversight, and transfer agency operations across multiple funds under administration.
Executive Director - Global Equities Division
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Led executive operational and financial servicing initiatives supporting institutional equity investment platforms and prime brokerage services.
President, Chief Executive Officer & Senior Managing Director
Bear Stearns Funds Management Inc. / Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
- Served as Chief Executive Officer of Bear Stearns Funds Management, overseeing multi-billion dollar proprietary registered mutual fund operations.
- Engaged directly with independent trustees on quarterly financial reporting, audit findings, SEC regulatory filings, and transfer agency operations.
Chief Financial Officer & First Vice President - Director of Fund Administration
Mitchell Hutchins Asset Management Inc. (PaineWebber Group)
- Served as Chief Financial Officer for the mutual fund complex and Principal Financial Officer / Treasurer for PaineWebber Funds and various administration entities.
Assistant Vice President - Asset Management Group
Deutsche Bank Capital Corp.
- Served as Treasurer and Assistant Secretary for proprietary mutual fund complexes and registered closed-end funds.
Audit Senior - Investment Company Specialist
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
- Conducted statutory audits for SEC-registered investment companies, mutual funds, and financial institutions as a practice specialist.
Community and Non-Profit Service
Bringing Governance Experience to Mission-Driven Organizations
Supporting mission-driven organizations with disciplined financial oversight, collaborative board service, and thoughtfully designed AI-assisted workflows.
HeartShare Education Center
Governance and financial leadership for specialized educational programs serving children with autism spectrum disorders and special needs.
Young Musicians of Westchester
Financial reporting, Form 990 compliance, donor fund accounting, and board budget approvals for an educational arts non-profit.
Long Island Artificial Reef Society
Financial oversight and board treasury leadership for marine habitat creation and artificial reef environmental projects.
Start a Confidential Conversation
Frank welcomes confidential conversations regarding selective Independent Director, Audit Committee Chair, Advisory Board, and senior consulting opportunities with registered investment funds, BDCs, and asset management platforms.