James Evans, M.B.A., CMA
Chief Financial Officer at Rapid-Line, Inc.- Claim this Profile
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Topline Score
Bio
Admir S. Lugonjic, CFP®, MBA
James Evans is a highly motivational instructor who believed in making the learning environment fun. He was my first instructor at Davenport's Downtown MBA campus and he sold me to join more classes downtown in hopes of meeting another instructor as good as James. James knows his material very well and tied every principle we learned to a real life scenario through his experiences. I would love to one day work with James, since he brings out the best in people and makes learning, working, and everything in between more enjoyable!
Kirk Gates
Professor James was excellent at taking difficult subject matter and making it fun and understandable. He cares deeply about the adult learner and their education. He was committed to making sure his students grasped the material. He also continuously shapes and molds his curriculum to attend to his students understanding.
Admir S. Lugonjic, CFP®, MBA
James Evans is a highly motivational instructor who believed in making the learning environment fun. He was my first instructor at Davenport's Downtown MBA campus and he sold me to join more classes downtown in hopes of meeting another instructor as good as James. James knows his material very well and tied every principle we learned to a real life scenario through his experiences. I would love to one day work with James, since he brings out the best in people and makes learning, working, and everything in between more enjoyable!
Kirk Gates
Professor James was excellent at taking difficult subject matter and making it fun and understandable. He cares deeply about the adult learner and their education. He was committed to making sure his students grasped the material. He also continuously shapes and molds his curriculum to attend to his students understanding.
Admir S. Lugonjic, CFP®, MBA
James Evans is a highly motivational instructor who believed in making the learning environment fun. He was my first instructor at Davenport's Downtown MBA campus and he sold me to join more classes downtown in hopes of meeting another instructor as good as James. James knows his material very well and tied every principle we learned to a real life scenario through his experiences. I would love to one day work with James, since he brings out the best in people and makes learning, working, and everything in between more enjoyable!
Kirk Gates
Professor James was excellent at taking difficult subject matter and making it fun and understandable. He cares deeply about the adult learner and their education. He was committed to making sure his students grasped the material. He also continuously shapes and molds his curriculum to attend to his students understanding.
Admir S. Lugonjic, CFP®, MBA
James Evans is a highly motivational instructor who believed in making the learning environment fun. He was my first instructor at Davenport's Downtown MBA campus and he sold me to join more classes downtown in hopes of meeting another instructor as good as James. James knows his material very well and tied every principle we learned to a real life scenario through his experiences. I would love to one day work with James, since he brings out the best in people and makes learning, working, and everything in between more enjoyable!
Kirk Gates
Professor James was excellent at taking difficult subject matter and making it fun and understandable. He cares deeply about the adult learner and their education. He was committed to making sure his students grasped the material. He also continuously shapes and molds his curriculum to attend to his students understanding.
Credentials
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Lean Manufacturing Certification
Aveta Business InstituteOct, 2012- Oct, 2024 -
Six Sigma Green Belt Certification
Aveta Business InstituteAug, 2012- Oct, 2024 -
Certified Management Accountant
Institute of Certified Management AccountantsDec, 2011- Oct, 2024 -
Certified Management Accountant
Certified Management Accountant: CMA®Dec, 2011- Oct, 2024 -
Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
Institute of Management AccountantsOct, 2011- Oct, 2024 -
Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis
IMA Institute of Management Accountants
Experience
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Rapid-Line, Inc.
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United States
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Industrial Machinery Manufacturing
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1 - 100 Employee
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Chief Financial Officer
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Feb 2019 - Present
Management of Accounting, Purchasing, IT, Human Resources, & Customer Service departments; 401k programs and ESOP; ERP implementation; Profit/gain sharing incentive plans; Led company through strategic planning; Month-end & Year-end reconciliation and closing; Cash Flow Forecasting; Board presentations; Due diligence and NDAs; Building leases, tenants and property management; Managing legal, CPA and banking relationships; Costing system; Insurance & risk management; continuous improvements… Show more Management of Accounting, Purchasing, IT, Human Resources, & Customer Service departments; 401k programs and ESOP; ERP implementation; Profit/gain sharing incentive plans; Led company through strategic planning; Month-end & Year-end reconciliation and closing; Cash Flow Forecasting; Board presentations; Due diligence and NDAs; Building leases, tenants and property management; Managing legal, CPA and banking relationships; Costing system; Insurance & risk management; continuous improvements. •Led executive team on evaluating equipment and strategic objectives. Result: purchased equipment that brought cost reductions and additional capabilities and growth. •Designed turnaround plan. Result: quickly stopped financial loses, created fast path to profitability and secured renewal with financing bank •Created weekly and monthly KPI’s and cash flow reporting. Result: improved cash flow, identified weak areas, and better decision-making •Created financial highlights with detailed explanations for board meetings. Results: improved decision-making •Improved costing/quoting model. Result: knowledge of accurate costs and ensured long-term profitability •Developed sign-on & referral bonuses to deal with a difficult labor market. Result: hired key skilled trades •Developed profit/gain sharing bonus plan. Result: improved employee attendance and productivity •Created monthly challenges and contests. Result: Improved attendance, engagement, and productivity •Completed earlier year end reconciliation and closing. Result: improved accuracy and earlier ESOP valuation •Led company through the development of a core purpose, core values, SWOT analysis, objectives, and goals. Results: Better direction and focus for employee work efforts leading to improved company profitability. •Led company stand-up meetings and communicated business concepts and company results. Result: improved employee knowledge in business and company goals leading to employee job satisfaction and performance. Show less Management of Accounting, Purchasing, IT, Human Resources, & Customer Service departments; 401k programs and ESOP; ERP implementation; Profit/gain sharing incentive plans; Led company through strategic planning; Month-end & Year-end reconciliation and closing; Cash Flow Forecasting; Board presentations; Due diligence and NDAs; Building leases, tenants and property management; Managing legal, CPA and banking relationships; Costing system; Insurance & risk management; continuous improvements… Show more Management of Accounting, Purchasing, IT, Human Resources, & Customer Service departments; 401k programs and ESOP; ERP implementation; Profit/gain sharing incentive plans; Led company through strategic planning; Month-end & Year-end reconciliation and closing; Cash Flow Forecasting; Board presentations; Due diligence and NDAs; Building leases, tenants and property management; Managing legal, CPA and banking relationships; Costing system; Insurance & risk management; continuous improvements. •Led executive team on evaluating equipment and strategic objectives. Result: purchased equipment that brought cost reductions and additional capabilities and growth. •Designed turnaround plan. Result: quickly stopped financial loses, created fast path to profitability and secured renewal with financing bank •Created weekly and monthly KPI’s and cash flow reporting. Result: improved cash flow, identified weak areas, and better decision-making •Created financial highlights with detailed explanations for board meetings. Results: improved decision-making •Improved costing/quoting model. Result: knowledge of accurate costs and ensured long-term profitability •Developed sign-on & referral bonuses to deal with a difficult labor market. Result: hired key skilled trades •Developed profit/gain sharing bonus plan. Result: improved employee attendance and productivity •Created monthly challenges and contests. Result: Improved attendance, engagement, and productivity •Completed earlier year end reconciliation and closing. Result: improved accuracy and earlier ESOP valuation •Led company through the development of a core purpose, core values, SWOT analysis, objectives, and goals. Results: Better direction and focus for employee work efforts leading to improved company profitability. •Led company stand-up meetings and communicated business concepts and company results. Result: improved employee knowledge in business and company goals leading to employee job satisfaction and performance. Show less
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Davenport University
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Adjunct Faculty of Accounting
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Sep 2010 - Present
Teaching primarily an MBA accounting course: ACCT640 - Managerial Accounting. Have taught: ACCT201 - Accounting Foundations I ACCT202 - Accounting Foundations II ACCT213 - Cost Accounting Teaching primarily an MBA accounting course: ACCT640 - Managerial Accounting. Have taught: ACCT201 - Accounting Foundations I ACCT202 - Accounting Foundations II ACCT213 - Cost Accounting
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Cornerstone University
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United States
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Higher Education
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400 - 500 Employee
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Adjunct Faculty
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Nov 1997 - Dec 2019
Creating lessons; Lecturing; Mentoring; Tutoring; and facilitating discussion for courses in Accounting Foundations, Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Financial Fundamentals for Managers, Financial Management, Personal Financial Planning, Strategic Management; Negotiation & Conflict Resolution; and Management & Leadership. Creating lessons; Lecturing; Mentoring; Tutoring; and facilitating discussion for courses in Accounting Foundations, Cost Accounting, Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Financial Fundamentals for Managers, Financial Management, Personal Financial Planning, Strategic Management; Negotiation & Conflict Resolution; and Management & Leadership.
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Handy Wacks Corp
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United States
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Packaging & Containers
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1 - 100 Employee
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Director of Finance
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Oct 2010 - Feb 2019
Responsibilities: Oversight of accounting department and all Month-end & Year-end reconciliation, preparation & closing; Extensive financial & operational analyses (100+ each month) for owners & managers; Cash management; Budgeting and Forecasting; Oversight of inventory procedures and valuation; analyzing raw material costs; Analyzing production and operations; Profitability analyses by customer & product; partnering with department managers for review and continuous improvements; Partnering… Show more Responsibilities: Oversight of accounting department and all Month-end & Year-end reconciliation, preparation & closing; Extensive financial & operational analyses (100+ each month) for owners & managers; Cash management; Budgeting and Forecasting; Oversight of inventory procedures and valuation; analyzing raw material costs; Analyzing production and operations; Profitability analyses by customer & product; partnering with department managers for review and continuous improvements; Partnering with Sales Director on price quotes and incentives for customers; Insurance & risk management; and 401k administration. Accomplishments: • Created weekly and monthly KPI’s and reporting. Result: identified weak areas, prompted better decision-making • Created detailed customer analyses. Result: identified losses and required price changes to ensure profitability • Partnered with sales director and created a better quoting process and creative customer incentives. Result: increased sales activity with more profitable customers. • Established process to ensure commissions paid on net customer invoices. Result: saved $70,000/year. • Created month end closing checklist. Result: accurate and quicker month end closing • Created spreadsheets to verify invoices against entry in accounting system. Result: accurate GL accounts • Improved calculation of monthly accruals. Result: reporting accuracy and fewer fluctuations between months. • Created an Accounts Payable process and policy to enter immediately and match up invoices with bills of materials. Result: immediate and accurate Accounts Payable recorded in the appropriate period. • Created an extensive reconciliation audit package for CPA firm’s annual review. Result: Fees reduced $15,000. • Maintained daily bank reconciliation. Result: accurate available cash balance. • Created a credit memo policy for customers receiving rebates. Result: stopped undocumented deductions. Show less Responsibilities: Oversight of accounting department and all Month-end & Year-end reconciliation, preparation & closing; Extensive financial & operational analyses (100+ each month) for owners & managers; Cash management; Budgeting and Forecasting; Oversight of inventory procedures and valuation; analyzing raw material costs; Analyzing production and operations; Profitability analyses by customer & product; partnering with department managers for review and continuous improvements; Partnering… Show more Responsibilities: Oversight of accounting department and all Month-end & Year-end reconciliation, preparation & closing; Extensive financial & operational analyses (100+ each month) for owners & managers; Cash management; Budgeting and Forecasting; Oversight of inventory procedures and valuation; analyzing raw material costs; Analyzing production and operations; Profitability analyses by customer & product; partnering with department managers for review and continuous improvements; Partnering with Sales Director on price quotes and incentives for customers; Insurance & risk management; and 401k administration. Accomplishments: • Created weekly and monthly KPI’s and reporting. Result: identified weak areas, prompted better decision-making • Created detailed customer analyses. Result: identified losses and required price changes to ensure profitability • Partnered with sales director and created a better quoting process and creative customer incentives. Result: increased sales activity with more profitable customers. • Established process to ensure commissions paid on net customer invoices. Result: saved $70,000/year. • Created month end closing checklist. Result: accurate and quicker month end closing • Created spreadsheets to verify invoices against entry in accounting system. Result: accurate GL accounts • Improved calculation of monthly accruals. Result: reporting accuracy and fewer fluctuations between months. • Created an Accounts Payable process and policy to enter immediately and match up invoices with bills of materials. Result: immediate and accurate Accounts Payable recorded in the appropriate period. • Created an extensive reconciliation audit package for CPA firm’s annual review. Result: Fees reduced $15,000. • Maintained daily bank reconciliation. Result: accurate available cash balance. • Created a credit memo policy for customers receiving rebates. Result: stopped undocumented deductions. Show less
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Grand Valley State University
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United States
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Part-time Instructor
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Jan 2014 - Dec 2018
Teaching ACC213 - Principles of Managerial Accounting Teaching ACC213 - Principles of Managerial Accounting
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Finance Education Consultant
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Jul 2007 - Oct 2010
A subsidiary of Manpower; JWI is a Global provider of accounting, finance, tax, regulatory compliance, training and internal audit services; 2,500 employees; $330m revenue) Responsibilities: Servicing clients with accounting, finance, training, and project management expertise Accomplishments: Improved productivity for 50,000+ global employees of The Whirlpool Corporation by creating 50+ interactive, e-learning training courses in accounting, finance and SAP systems. A subsidiary of Manpower; JWI is a Global provider of accounting, finance, tax, regulatory compliance, training and internal audit services; 2,500 employees; $330m revenue) Responsibilities: Servicing clients with accounting, finance, training, and project management expertise Accomplishments: Improved productivity for 50,000+ global employees of The Whirlpool Corporation by creating 50+ interactive, e-learning training courses in accounting, finance and SAP systems.
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Chief Financial Officer
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Nov 2003 - May 2007
Responsibilities: Management of accounting, finance, shipping & receiving, customer scheduling, human resources, information technology and administrative personnel & departments; Partnering with managers to improve performance; Reconciliation & closing; Monthly and weekly financial reporting and analysis; Custom analyses for Management team; Budgeting; Inventory management; Business insurance management; Reviewed capital requests; Due diligence and Researched opportunities; Cash management;… Show more Responsibilities: Management of accounting, finance, shipping & receiving, customer scheduling, human resources, information technology and administrative personnel & departments; Partnering with managers to improve performance; Reconciliation & closing; Monthly and weekly financial reporting and analysis; Custom analyses for Management team; Budgeting; Inventory management; Business insurance management; Reviewed capital requests; Due diligence and Researched opportunities; Cash management; payroll and internal controls. Accomplishments: • Created flexible budgeting monthly review process with managers. Result: managers were able to quickly respond and make adjustments. Three years of losses stopped immediately. • Developed employee incentive and development plans. Result: reduced employee turnover and improved morale • Negotiated with Caterpillar. Result: gained a signed production guarantee from Caterpillar. • Negotiated financing with the current bank. Result: saved $200,000 over a seven year period • Created an extensive year end reconciliation audit package for the CPA firm’s annual review. Result: CPA fees reduced from $25,000/year to only $9,000/year. • Setup a closing process with planning, automating and facilitating with departments. Result: reduced Month-end closing from 20+ days down to within three days. • Improved ERP cost accounting system with time studies, researching, and better allocation of overhead costs. Result: accurate product cost, which enhanced new customer quoting and updating prices for current customers • Improved the AR collection process. Result: reduced AR days outstanding from 85 days down to 45 days. Show less Responsibilities: Management of accounting, finance, shipping & receiving, customer scheduling, human resources, information technology and administrative personnel & departments; Partnering with managers to improve performance; Reconciliation & closing; Monthly and weekly financial reporting and analysis; Custom analyses for Management team; Budgeting; Inventory management; Business insurance management; Reviewed capital requests; Due diligence and Researched opportunities; Cash management;… Show more Responsibilities: Management of accounting, finance, shipping & receiving, customer scheduling, human resources, information technology and administrative personnel & departments; Partnering with managers to improve performance; Reconciliation & closing; Monthly and weekly financial reporting and analysis; Custom analyses for Management team; Budgeting; Inventory management; Business insurance management; Reviewed capital requests; Due diligence and Researched opportunities; Cash management; payroll and internal controls. Accomplishments: • Created flexible budgeting monthly review process with managers. Result: managers were able to quickly respond and make adjustments. Three years of losses stopped immediately. • Developed employee incentive and development plans. Result: reduced employee turnover and improved morale • Negotiated with Caterpillar. Result: gained a signed production guarantee from Caterpillar. • Negotiated financing with the current bank. Result: saved $200,000 over a seven year period • Created an extensive year end reconciliation audit package for the CPA firm’s annual review. Result: CPA fees reduced from $25,000/year to only $9,000/year. • Setup a closing process with planning, automating and facilitating with departments. Result: reduced Month-end closing from 20+ days down to within three days. • Improved ERP cost accounting system with time studies, researching, and better allocation of overhead costs. Result: accurate product cost, which enhanced new customer quoting and updating prices for current customers • Improved the AR collection process. Result: reduced AR days outstanding from 85 days down to 45 days. Show less
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Network180
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United States
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Mental Health Care
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100 - 200 Employee
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Financial Analyst (Temporary thru Accountemps)
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Jun 2003 - Nov 2003
Network180 (promotes quality of life for community of Kent County; 120 employees; $100m+ in revenue) Responsibilities: Monitored and reported expenses to department managers; researched variances and explained problem areas & possible solutions to division leaders; and prepared governmental reports. Accomplishments: $50,000 yearly savings by finding internal control problem of overpayment to outside agencies. Developed analysis explanation-reporting process that helped division… Show more Network180 (promotes quality of life for community of Kent County; 120 employees; $100m+ in revenue) Responsibilities: Monitored and reported expenses to department managers; researched variances and explained problem areas & possible solutions to division leaders; and prepared governmental reports. Accomplishments: $50,000 yearly savings by finding internal control problem of overpayment to outside agencies. Developed analysis explanation-reporting process that helped division and case managers make better and quicker decisions to improve operations of various departments. Show less Network180 (promotes quality of life for community of Kent County; 120 employees; $100m+ in revenue) Responsibilities: Monitored and reported expenses to department managers; researched variances and explained problem areas & possible solutions to division leaders; and prepared governmental reports. Accomplishments: $50,000 yearly savings by finding internal control problem of overpayment to outside agencies. Developed analysis explanation-reporting process that helped division… Show more Network180 (promotes quality of life for community of Kent County; 120 employees; $100m+ in revenue) Responsibilities: Monitored and reported expenses to department managers; researched variances and explained problem areas & possible solutions to division leaders; and prepared governmental reports. Accomplishments: $50,000 yearly savings by finding internal control problem of overpayment to outside agencies. Developed analysis explanation-reporting process that helped division and case managers make better and quicker decisions to improve operations of various departments. Show less
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First Telecommunications
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United States
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Telecommunications
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1 - 100 Employee
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Corporate Accounting Manager and Director of Operations: Payphones
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Dec 2000 - Mar 2003
Responsibilities: Oversight of all accounting functions for multi-location corporation; Consolidated financial statements & analysis; Budgeting; Custom analyses & reporting for branch managers; Partnering with branch managers to help determine improvements for their respective locations; Job costing; Inventory management; Oversight of Month-end/Year-End reconciliation & closing; Sales tax reports; Transfer pricing & corporate allocation; and directed the Payphone Division operations, sales, and… Show more Responsibilities: Oversight of all accounting functions for multi-location corporation; Consolidated financial statements & analysis; Budgeting; Custom analyses & reporting for branch managers; Partnering with branch managers to help determine improvements for their respective locations; Job costing; Inventory management; Oversight of Month-end/Year-End reconciliation & closing; Sales tax reports; Transfer pricing & corporate allocation; and directed the Payphone Division operations, sales, and service. Accomplishments: •Setup a closing process & procedures. Result: Month-end closing from 15+ days down to within three days. •Created spending controls/approval process. Result: losses stopped immediately (previous four years were losses). •Created weekly, flash reports for each branch location. Result: Branch managers made quicker decisions and adjustments that improved each branch’s profitability. •Changed the revenue model for the Payphone division. Result: the payphone division generated a profit within three months. First time in the company’s history that this division was profitable. •Met with each branch manager and completed budget before the New Year. First time in the company’s history it was completed before the New Year. Result: Resources were better allocated, improved sales & customer service. Show less Responsibilities: Oversight of all accounting functions for multi-location corporation; Consolidated financial statements & analysis; Budgeting; Custom analyses & reporting for branch managers; Partnering with branch managers to help determine improvements for their respective locations; Job costing; Inventory management; Oversight of Month-end/Year-End reconciliation & closing; Sales tax reports; Transfer pricing & corporate allocation; and directed the Payphone Division operations, sales, and… Show more Responsibilities: Oversight of all accounting functions for multi-location corporation; Consolidated financial statements & analysis; Budgeting; Custom analyses & reporting for branch managers; Partnering with branch managers to help determine improvements for their respective locations; Job costing; Inventory management; Oversight of Month-end/Year-End reconciliation & closing; Sales tax reports; Transfer pricing & corporate allocation; and directed the Payphone Division operations, sales, and service. Accomplishments: •Setup a closing process & procedures. Result: Month-end closing from 15+ days down to within three days. •Created spending controls/approval process. Result: losses stopped immediately (previous four years were losses). •Created weekly, flash reports for each branch location. Result: Branch managers made quicker decisions and adjustments that improved each branch’s profitability. •Changed the revenue model for the Payphone division. Result: the payphone division generated a profit within three months. First time in the company’s history that this division was profitable. •Met with each branch manager and completed budget before the New Year. First time in the company’s history it was completed before the New Year. Result: Resources were better allocated, improved sales & customer service. Show less
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Controller
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Oct 1992 - Jul 1995
All accounting functions; Budgeting; Financial reporting & analysis; Cash management; Month-end/Year-end reconciliation and closing; Preparation for year-end CPA audit; and Payroll. All accounting functions; Budgeting; Financial reporting & analysis; Cash management; Month-end/Year-end reconciliation and closing; Preparation for year-end CPA audit; and Payroll.
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Education
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2019 - 2019
Institute of Management Accountants
Certificate in FP&A, Financial Planning and Analysis -
2010 - 2012
Davenport University
Post-Graduate Certificate, Accounting -
2000 - 2008
Western Michigan University - Haworth College of Business
MBA, Management -
1986 - 1989
Western Michigan University - Haworth College of Business
Bachelor of Business Administration, Accounting -
1984 - 1986
Calhoun Area Vocational Center
2 yr certificate, Advanced Accounting -
1991 - 1995
Grand Rapids Theological Seminary
Master of Education, Education -
Western Michigan University - Haworth College of Business
Master of Business Administration - MBA, Business Administration and Management, General
Community
