CORE COMPETENCIES
* Organizational leadership, process improvement and project management
* Communicating with the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee
* Managing an audit plan and audits
* U.S. GAAP, FASB and Sarbanes Oxley 404 requirements
* Global risk identification, evaluation, management and monitoring
* Recruiting top talent and developing skills and competencies
* Interpersonal skills
* Leading and influencing others
* Facilitating workshops
* Analytical and decision making
* Oral and written communication
* Unquestionable integrity and uncompromising ethics
* Manufacturing and retail environments
SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS
* Reduced SOX costs $900K (70%) and remediated five material internal control weaknesses by collaborating with all levels of the organization to determine root causes and recommend appropriate short and long-term solutions.
* Turned around a business region from a $7 million loss to breakeven and doubled revenue to $40 million by partnering Accounting & Finance, IT, HR and Distribution with Sales and Marketing.
* Improved cash flow $200K (20%) by implementing robust controls within inventory and receivables management.
* Saved $13.5 million annually by identifying profit improvement initiatives and generating "co-developed" action plans within manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, forecasting, inventory control and purchasing.
* Identified $10 million in cost reductions by performing financial due diligence on three acquisitions. Integrated "back office" operations and standardized internal controls.
* Generated $500K in savings annually by benchmarking financial internal controls and operating performance of retail and manufacturing operations in the US, Europe and Latin America.
* Increased sales $1.8 million (7%) by automating and refining JIT forecasting and MRP production procedures.
* Pinpointed areas which contributed to $250K in inventory shrinkage by examining and assessing supply chain controls.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
THERMADYNE HOLDING CORP., Chesterfield, MO 2006 to 2009
$500 million global supplier of cutting and welding products.
Director, Internal Audit
Recruited to administer the internal audit function as a control and reliability tool. Interacted with and provided insight to all levels of management, including CEO, CFO, Audit Committee and the Board of Directors, in business strategy, human capital management, finance and market risks.
* Created, implemented and maintained an audit plan that focused on enhancing the Company's financial statements, compliance and information technology risks and controls.
* Prioritized and compiled the top 5 risks to the Company's achievement of the annual business strategy by leading the Enterpirise Risk Assessment.
* Identified $400K in annual savings by performing financial and operational audits within Customer Service and Accounts Receivable.
VARIOUS FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES, Los Angeles, CA 2003 to 2006
Personal Consulting Practice
Independent Consultant
Assisted companies meet Sarbanes-Oxley 404 requirements imposed by the SEC. Noted companies included Dole Fresh Foods, Guitar Center, Panavision and the Newport Corporation.
* Favorably impacted management timelines and costs by partnering with business process owners and documented financial and operational business processes, developed test plans, tested "key" internal controls, and remediated design and exception deficiencies.
AMWAY CORP., Ada, MI 1998 to 2003
$6 billion direct marketing, manufacturer and logistics service provider for branded and private-label consumer products.
Regional CFO - Milan, Italy (2000 to 2003)
Promoted from Internal Audit and transferred to Europe to revitalize Amway Italy and to direct the finance and administration activities for Greece, Spain and Portugal. Managed eight direct reports and 110 professionals in Accounting and Finance, IT, HR and Distribution.
* Saved $15 million by facilitating process improvements in financial and operational controls within sales, marketing, warehousing and distribution, and standardizing financial systems and reporting.
* Consolidated warehousing and distribution in Spain and Portugal.
* Increased on-time delivery from 50% to 91% by reducing carriers from 36 to 3 and negotiated metric based performance contracts.
* Exited non-core, low margin product lines.
* Successfully conducted union negotiations for rightsizing affiliate workforces.
Manager, Internal Audit – Ada, MI (1998 to 2000)
Developed the annual audit plans, performed and reported on special reviews, and presented results to senior management and the Audit Committee. Trained and directed seven professionals.
* Served as an Interim Accounting and Finance Manager for rapid-growth operations in Asia. Used accounting and audit expertise to strengthen internal control weaknesses, restated two years of financials in 90 days, and recruited replacement.
ESTEE LAUDER COMPANIES, INC., New York, NY 1993 to 1997
$3.3 billion global manufacturer and marketer of prestige skin care, makeup and fragrance products.
Director, Internal Audit
Led cross-functional task forces that drove acquisition due diligence, changed and enhanced the quality of financial information, assessed IT efficiencies, strengthened internal controls and promoted corporate governance. Summarized and presented results to senior management and the Audit Committee. Directed and trained nine professionals.
* Reduced operating costs $6.5 million annually by evaluating and benchmarking sales, marketing, manufacturing and supply chain activities.
* Transitioned audit department into a business advisory group and value-added partner to key operations by recruiting professionals internally from engineering, quality control, sales and marketing.
CRYSTAL BRANDS, INC., Southport, CT 1989 to 1993
$850 million manufacturer and retailer of high-quality apparel under the Izod and Lacoste trademarks.
Manager, Internal Audit
Key audit, accounting and finance liaison within domestic and international manufacturing, distribution, retail and sales/marketing groups. Trained and led a staff of three professionals.
* Recouped $100K in underpayments on royalty agreements.
WARNACO GROUP, INC., Bridgeport, CT 1987 to 1989
$400 million apparel manufacturer and retailer producing high quality apparel under the Speedo brand name.
Manager, Financial & Operational Planning – Montreal (1988 to 1989)
Manager, Internal Audit – Bridgeport, CT (1987 to 1988)
AMES DEPARTMENT STORES, INC., Rocky Hill, CT 1984 to 1987
$300 million discount department store chain.
Corporate Auditor
FIRST NATIONAL SUPERMARKETS, INC., Windsor Locks, CT 1981 to 1984
$200 million supermarket chain.
Staff Auditor
SCULLY & WOLF CPAs, Glastonbury, CT 1979 – 1981
A municipal public accounting firm.
Accountant
OTHER EXPERTISE
JD Edwards, Great Plains, CODA, Oracle, Hyperion and Microsoft Office Suite
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science, Accounting 1979
University of Connecticut |
