Global Executive with considerable success positioning companies for growth and profitability, nationally and internationally. Senior level financial and operational experience in public and privately held companies in the United States, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Industry breadth including: Manufacturing, Retail/FMCG, Professional Services, and Biotechnology.
Business Catalyst who charts strategic direction, communicates vision, identifies milestones and measures, and executes action plans, achieving profitable revenue growth and market share.
Analytical Problem Solver adept at streamlining processes, reducing costs, and improving financial and operating reporting.
High Performance Leader who leads by example, and energizes the organization to achieve the corporate goals.
Strong Steward with a high level of integrity, and focus on governance and transparency in financial reporting and management.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
The CONSILIUM PARTNERSHIP, LLC, Madison, Wisconsin 2007-Present
CFO Services, Strategy & Business Alignment.
Partner – Providing business management and alignment services to organizations - working with organizations to help elevate their Business and Team to sustainable success through Planning, Leadership, and Accountability.
ABS GLOBAL, INC., Madison, Wisconsin 2004-2006
International leader in bovine genetics, bovine reproduction and biotechnology services.
Chief Financial Officer - Managed global finance, information technology, legal and risk management functions; supporting sales and manufacturing operations in North America, South America, Asia Pacific, and Europe.
• Achieved a company record of 22% increase in Operating Profit, and a 26% improvement in Working Capital in fiscal 2006 by developing and driving strategic and operational plans, and increasing the level of accountability and “visibility” to financial and operational metrics.
• Implemented monthly Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow forecast process.
• Instigated improved rigour and controls for capital expenditure planning and commitment.
• Implemented monthly Operating Reviews with business units focusing attention on managing against business expectations, identifying revenue, profit, and operational opportunities and challenges.
• Developed and implemented global accounting policies and procedures, promoting consistency and compliance, aligning internal controls with the requirements of Sarbanes-Oxley.
• Restructured finance organization, increasing focus on internal control procedures and business decision support analysis; implemented improved financial reporting, including KPI’s.
• Performed due diligence reviews of international acquisitions, prepared acquisition proposal papers, and led the development of integration plans.
STAPLES, INC., Framingham, Massachusetts 1996-2003
Pioneer of the Office Products Superstore concept with global sales of $14 billion.
Chief Financial Officer & VP Finance - Europe, Belgium (1997-2003) - Managed European finance, legal, risk management and strategy functions; supporting retail, catalogue, and .Com operations.
• Contributed to the expansion of the European retail and catalogue businesses increasing profitable sales from $200 million to $1billion, and established Staples as the largest office superstore concept in Europe.
• Reduced the cost of the finance organization by 35bps on sales year-on-year, and defined a plan that placed the finance organization in line with European “best-in-class”.
• Achieved overall business synergies in excess of $12 million through the successful integration of business acquisitions in Germany, The Netherlands, and Portugal.
• Evaluated and implemented information system applications improving business processes and reporting in merchandising, supply-chain, financials, point-of-sale, and call-center front-end systems.
• Implemented in conjunction with Ernst & Young a European tax structure designed to provide significant tax savings on future European profits.
• Led the strategic and long-range process for Europe, defined operating plans, objectives and goals enabling both local and international management teams to achieve established targets.
• Reduced operating costs in excess of 200bps of sales through operations improvements in retail stores and catalogue including; labor modelling, operations manual development, and shrink control activities.
• Integrated financial reporting and improved overall control environment across multiple countries and business units.
MARK V. KUNA Page Two
STAPLES, INC. (con’t)
Vice President and General Auditor, Staples, Inc., Framingham, Massachusetts (1996-1997) - Recruited to establish the internal audit department as a value-added business partner, and leader at identifying and implementing key business and operational controls throughout the company.
• Repositioned the department as a respected and valued contributor to the corporation.
- Benchmarked “world-class” internal audit departments and identified and implemented best practises.
- Developed and implemented audit guidelines and practices.
- Recruited and developed talented associates who could move into other functions when and if required.
- Developed and implemented measurement criteria for audits and audit associates.
• Conducted an internal control evaluation defining 4 mega processes and 24 major processes to which the business could evaluate and manage risk on a global basis.
THE FORUM CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA, Boston, Massachusetts 1989-1996
International training and consulting firm with operations in the North America, Europe, and Hong Kong.
Corporate Director - Finance and Operations - Diverse responsibilities encompassing both financial and operations management for domestic and international divisions.
• Re-engineered and improved business processes and practices.
- Reduced customer order cancellations by 75% and improved revenue velocity by designing and implementing a new customer order and revenue management process.
- Integrated new business performance metrics to more reliably manage future business activity.
- Reviewed time utilization of professional staff resulting in clarified responsibilities and improved bill-out of time.
• Reduced office lease expense by $2 million by renegotiating leases and relocating offices.
• Worked closely with banks and shareholders to secure and reposition the Corporation’s funding requirements.
• Established product and service distributor relationships in the Czech Republic, Indonesia, Korea, Finland, The Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, and New Zealand.
• Proposed and negotiated innovative pricing strategies and agreements for complex client engagements, and managed contract negotiations.
• Project Leader and Consultant for complex, multimillion-dollar contracts delivered in the United States, Latin America, and Europe.
ERNST & YOUNG, Melbourne, Australia and London, England 1981-1988
Senior Manager - Audit and Corporate Services, Melbourne, Australia (1981-1988)
Manager - Corporate Advisory Services, London, England (1986-1987)
Progressed from Staff Accountant to Senior Manager. Selected as the Australian representative (1986-1987) for the E&Y international exchange program to London. Responsible for a team of 25 audit and corporate professionals and a portfolio of over 50 clients.
• Diverse client base included manufacturing, financial services, health care, construction, non-profit organizations, government and municipalities, recreation, and retail.
• Selected to develop and present internal training programs across Australia.
• Responsible for acquisition reviews, due diligence and litigation support services.
EDUCATION and AFFILIATIONS
Bachelor of Economics, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
Chartered Accountant (CPA equivalent), The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia |
