Executive with 13 years of progressively responsible experience as a finance professional and business advisor focused on helping operating management drive bottom line results. A team player by nature and a strong leader with an open and direct style who brings the following experience: financial planning analysis and reporting, business plan and budget development, total cost management, project management, international finance, pricing and incentives, joint ventures, divestitures, and 5 years of diverse international experience.
GLOBAL AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURER
1/03 – Present
CONTROLLER, PRICING AND MARKETING ANALYSIS, MAJOR AUTOMOTIVE DIVISIONS
North America
With a staff of 48, primary responsibility is managing the financial aspects of the Divisions’ $80 billion revenue equation. Specific responsibilities include developing revenue growth strategies that balance top line pricing actions and contest and incentive programs to maximize net revenue (pricing less point of sale incentives). Serving on the Divisions’ Operating Committees, other responsibilities include providing various financial and business analyses as well as core financial support e.g., budgets, business plan, forecasts, daily operations control, and business reviews.
8/01 – 12/02
PRICING MANAGER
North America
Reported to the Controller, Pricing and Marketing Analysis. With a staff of 15, main responsibilities encompassed development and implementation of price point and content specification strategies, competitive analysis and the development of pricing strategies to grow revenue for the Division’s 19 vehicle lines. Additional responsibilities included leading a systems re-engineering project for North American Marketing and Sales Finance. The project integrates operational data from 6 departments into the monthly revenue forecast/reporting process and annual business plan/budget development process.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
•Developed a residual value improvement program based on product specification guidelines and used car auction practices. Results include improved residual ratings of 1-3 percentage points, resulting in revenue improvements of $50 to $150 per unit.
•Changed processes to better align production introduction dates and sales introduction dates. Process change has reduced financing costs by $40 million.
8/98 – 7/01
CONTROLLER, VEHICLE SEGMENT
Europe
One of three European vehicle segments for this Automotive Manufacturer. The segment has annual revenues of $3+ billion and capital/development expenditure budget of $300+ million. Reported to the Executive Director of Operations Finance, Europe and the Segment Director. Responsibilities included leading a staff of 25 in the development of the annual business plan/budget, daily operations control, monthly forecast and operations reviews, as well as all financial aspects of 3 major product development programs and a joint venture.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
•Instrumental in transforming the segment operating committee from a singularly focused engineering mindset to a broader business unit mindset. Led the development of the 5-year operating plan with aggressive turnaround objectives supported by a physicals based action plan. Highlights of the plan include an operating loss reversed to a 6% pre-tax ROS with positive shareholder value added (SVA), top line revenue growth of 4% with new product entries every six months to maintain sales momentum/capacity utilization and a total cost management program that reduced annual costs by $375 million.
•Led the development of the business review portion of the newly established monthly segment reviews with the European President and CEO.
10/96 - 7/98
FINANCE MANAGER, JOINT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
Japan
The joint development project was for two automotive manufacturers, one based in Japan and the other based in North America. The vehicles were the first vehicles developed as a joint program in Japan by the two companies. Managed dual reporting responsibilities to the Executive Director of Finance for the Japanese company and the Divisional Controller for the North American company. With a staff of 8 responsibilities encompassed all financial aspects of the $1.4 billion product development project. Specific responsibilities included developing affordable business structures for each vehicle, establishing daily financial control, change management, and status reporting processes that were compatible with each company’s corporate requirements. Provided the team with financial analysis for setting and achieving the revenue, marketing expense, variable cost, capital expenditure, fixed cost, and SVA objectives. Additional analysis focused on sourcing alternatives, make/buy studies, supply chain management, and manufacturing alternatives.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
•The project and vehicle line business models were approved by both Boards of Directors in March 1998.
•Key leader in establishing a viable management process and project work plan. Process satisfied the cross-cultural dynamics of a Japanese and American team as well as the cross-corporate requirements at each company.
4/96 – 9/96
DIVISION R&D FINANCE MANAGER
North America
The divisions sales were upwards of $30 billion and the annual research and development budget was $500 million. Reported to the Division Controller and the Executive Director, Engineering. Managed a team of 8 and was responsible for developing the annual R&D budget, monthly forecast and performance reports, variance analysis, and daily control.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
•Led the development of a new budget development and forecasting process based on physicals rather than historical allocations. The revised process resulted in a 5% reduction in the test budget and 20% workload efficiency (headcount reduction) in R&D Finance.
12/93 –3/96
FINANCE SUPERVISOR, NEW MODEL PROGRAMS
North America
Reported to the vehicle line Finance Manager and led a staff of 4 analysts. Responsibilities included project cost analysis and control, make/buy analysis, and alternative sourcing analysis for the vehicle programs.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
•Reduced costs by $330 per vehicle, ongoing annual save of $165 million.
•Both programs achieved all cost objectives.
6/92 – 11/93
PRICING ANALYST
North America
Developed and implemented the national pricing strategies for 2 sport utility vehicles. Responsibilities included competitive analysis, development of price position/content specification strategies.
ACCOMPLISHMENT:
•Led a compact utility affordability study, which led to a pricing strategy that improved 1994 profits by $130 million while maintaining market share.
5/90 –5/92
FINANCE ANALYST, BUSINESS ANALYSIS STAFF
North America
Finance analyst supporting the annual business plan and budget process. Responsibilities included coordinating elements of the business plan, monthly status tracking, forecasting, reporting, and variance analysis.
ACCOMPLISHMENT:
•Developed a workload index model that was used to allocate resources in the budgeting/business plan process as well as measure productivity. Other divisions in North America adopted the process.
EDUCATION:
MBA University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 1990
BA Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 1988
PERSONAL:
Born, March 31, 1966
Married, 3 children |
