PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Finance and Accounting Integration Manager

Confidential

Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage back office finance and accounting operations working cross functionally to support this amazing brand and growing business focused on great customer experiences
• Identification, oversight and management of process improvement and efficiency initiatives across all responsible functions ensuring policy and procedure documentation and update remains a priority.
• Manage among others, General and Franchise Accounting, Financial Reporting, Treasury and Banking, Billing, Credit and Collection, Accounts Payable, Sales and Use Tax, Income Tax, and Business Registration and Compliance among other ancillary functions.
• Trained, developed, and led a diverse staff through a very busy and challenging integration.
• Reduced close cycle time from 3 weeks to 5 days and driving procedural documentation and process improvement iniatives while enhancing controls.
• Successful in driving cost savings initiatives driving $20 Million in synergy savings in first year post merger

Confidential, Marietta, GA

Financial, Accounting, Operations

Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic Financial, Accounting, and Operational consulting services including CFO, Controller, cost accounting, M&A due diligence and integration, process review and enhancement, and various other management support services.
• Deliver improved quality of information, process efficiency recommendations, and cost savings opportunities working well cross functionally at all levels within client organizations.
• Major engagements include:

Confidential, Alpharetta, GA

Finance and Accounting Integration Manager

Responsibilities:

• Lead the organization through a major merger doubling the company’s size. Planned, organized, documented, and executed plans for each function including general accounting, financial reporting, sales and use tax compliancee and reporting, billing, collections, accounts payable, business license compliance, and treasury cash management among other related functions.
• Successfully moved and integrated all back office finance and accounting functions from 3 separate home office operations into one on a single back office system, driving staff and corporate synergy savings.
• Responsible for proper structuring of merger/acquisition accounting passing the annual financial statement audit without issue.
• I was recognized several times for my cross - functional leadership and contributions.

Confidential, Duluth, GA

Integration Lead

Responsibilities:

• cost and general accounting supporting its acquisition of American Greetings permanent display business.
• Implemented Confidential ’s JD Edwards cost and general accounting policies and procedures while identifying acquisition cost settlement adjustmemts.
• Provided leadership and training to acquired staff, identified cost savings and efficiency opportunities, and identified foreign exchange accounting error resulting in immediate savings. Served as Interim Plant Controller upon sudden resignation of incumbent.

Confidential, Atlanta, GA

VP Finance & Accounting

Responsibilities:

• Restructured accounting, finance, and administration post company purchase by current Private Equity Group (PEG) owners. Responsible for oversight and management of accounting operations and reporting, financial analysis, budgeting, internal audit and payroll among others.
• Created restated company post-sale opening balance sheet for initial audit moving the company from cash to full accrual based accounting
• Designed and implemented enhanced processes, policies and procedures for accounting operations, reporting, and controls transitioning company to full accrual basis from cash basis accounting
• Implemented new MS Dynamics GP G/L system reducing closing time to 5 days from previous 8 weeks.
• Automated Operations data tracking system; drove cost savings initiatives totaling $400K

Confidential, Atlanta, GA

Responsibilities:

• Assumed role in a growing large box home improvement retailer plagued by high department turnover, low morale, and need for process improvement and efficiency. Managed General Accounting, Accounts Payable, Financial Reporting, Payroll Accounting, Fixed Asset Accounting, Risk Management, and Internal Audit and Controls among others.
• Transformed the group to a new level, fostering partnerships while rightsizing staff and skills
• Reduced involuntary turnover to 0% over five years
• Reduced month end close cycle from 8 days to 5 days via introduction of automation.
• Implemented electronic account reconciliations driving enhanced preparation and review efficiencies
• Developed more robust reporting including departmental expense reports
• Worked closely with the Board of Directors in providing customized reports and information.
• Streamlined real estate lease tracking, controls, reporting, and compliance
• Generated more than $500K annual SG&A cost savings
• Key due diligence team member in the successful sale of the company to a new, larger Private Equity Group owner who commended the team for its thoroughness and responsiveness
• Performed periodic ASC 350 and ASC 718 valuations
• Performed ASC 718 Stock Based Compensation computations and support applying the fair value method

Confidential, Atlanta, GA

Sr. Consultant

Responsibilities:

• Provided senior level financial, accounting, and management consulting and support to retail, Quick Serve Restaurant, Insurance, and publication industry clients providing:
• Merger and acquisition due diligence
• Insurance statutory and regulatory reporting
• SOX procedural development, documentation and implementation as well as systems development, and management support services.

Confidential, Atlanta, GA

Director, Finance Special Projects and Treasury

Responsibilities:

• Lead strategic initiatives, merger and acquisition analysis, business valuation, business research and intelligence, best practices, and cost control as well as managed the 5-year strategic planning process for this diversified natural gas and distribution pipeline utility.
• Developed and implemented a simplified Excel based rolling forecast solution, the company’s first
• Evaluated strategic planning, forecasting, and budgeting systems, selecting and implementing Comshare
• Implemented new travel policy resulting in 15% cost savings annually as well as negotiated new fleet leasing agreement
• Created weekly market intelligence report and charts capturing oil and natural gas commodity price movements and impact on unregulated natural gas marketer pricing
• Participated in primary due diligence team to model and assess acquisition opportunities such as AGL’s purchase of Virginia Natural Gas and Piedmont Natural Gas
• Assisted with SOX 404 implementation and compliance initiatives

Confidential, Charlotte, NC

Senior Vice President Finance, Structured Transactions

Responsibilities:

• Lead finance manager working with Corporate Tax, Legal, and Business Units in design and implementation of tax efficiency strategies utilizing bank asset portfolios.
• Managed and led a team of 7 professionals providing ongoing accounting, reporting, and transaction support ( Corporate Governance and SEC Reporting)
• Successfully closed on a $1 Billion Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (REMIC) and a $0.5 Billion REMIC financing transaction within two months of joining the bank

Confidential, Charlotte, NC

Managing Director and Controller

Responsibilities:

• this $1 Billion Duke Energy generation and development subsidiary. Managed, developed, and maintained accounting, reporting, internal control, project costing, payroll, and accounts payable operations, policies and procedures.
• Reviewed and helped negotiate commercial real estate development and sale contracts for greenfield and brownfield asset holdings
• Key member of asset portfolio acquisition, divestiture, and development project team researching, interpreting, developing, and implementing creative accounting principle application and deal structuring allowing for company earnings maximization
• Project Sponsor for the design, build, and implementation of a re-engineered PeopleSoft accounting, finance, budgeting, and reporting system
• Successfully managed the external audits, cash management, and financing needs of the business

Confidential, Rochester, NY

Director and Confidential

Responsibilities:

• Fully responsible for Controller and Treasury functions for this half-billion dollar, multi-plant pharmaceutical company. Firm believer in the exponential power of teamwork and staff development resulting in minimal staff attrition
• Centralized corporate accounting, reporting, and administration from several operating units across the country to a newly formed U.S. Headquarters in near seamless fashion resulting in annual operating and efficiency savings of nearly $2 million
• Completed transition three months ahead of schedule including recruitment and training a new staff of professional and clerical personnel for general ledger and fixed asset accounting, credit and collection, accounts payable, payroll, government contract (GSA) compliance
• Designed and implemented standard financial policies and control procedures working closely with information systems staff automating procedures and controls where feasible and necessary
• Strong communicator emphasizing open dialogue between staff at all levels and functions, generating trust relationships across organizations and individuals, particularly sales and marketing, distribution, and information technology

Confidential, Rochester, NY

Assistant Controller, Clinical Diagnostics

Responsibilities:

• Medical Diagnostic Equipment & Assay Manufacturer and Marketer purchased from Eastman Kodak.
• Designed and implemented a new stand alone AS400 general ledger and financial system required as a result of Confidential & Confidential ’s acquisition of this $750 million diagnostic medical equipment subsidiary from Eastman Kodak, beating consultants’ estimates by more than a year. Built and supervised an accounting and support staff of twelve people responsible for all aspects of legal and management accounting, accounts payable, travel and entertainment accounting, and corporate financial reporting.
• Reduced the accounting close from five days to three through identification and elimination of non value-added activities and re-prioritization.
• Functioned as the lead finance liaison with J&J Corporate, Kodak, and Coopers & Lybrand with regard to acquisition accounting and reporting.
• Designed and implemented the Company’s system of internal controls and procedures.
• Recognized by Corporate and the Local Management Board for spearheading the success of the Company’s first formal internal and external post acquisition audits