VP of Portfolio Optimization

• Jun 2021 - Present

Director of Real Estate Strategy

• Apr 2017 - Jun 2021

• Responsible for the financial forecasting, modeling, strategic market growth, and contract negotiations for the largest real estate portfolio in the organization, managing over 600 active leases that account for $1B in annual sales spanning 3.1M square feet of leasable area.• Collaborate across the entire organization, integrating with outside vendors and service providers, to provide insight, direction and leadership to optimize the real estate investments and steward the physical environments towards aligning with business goals.• Ability to exert influence over internal and external partners to achieve brand objectives by cultivating and maintaining strong relationships.• Effectively direct the end-to-end process from concept to lease negotiations, financial modeling, capital review and approval, drafting of the lease, store design and final construction for seven brands within the portfolio.• Develop and manage Excel macros, pivot tables, dashboard reporting, and infographics to assist key stakeholders with communicating information quickly and clearly across divisions to meet common objectives.• Coordinate, prepare, and review monthly, quarterly and annual presentations for the executive leadership team, focusing on future growth and customer acquisition.• Utilize real estate knowledge and network to anticipate changes to the competitive landscape, identifying new developments in the trade area, and gathering market data.• Build and continuously refine financial modeling for leadership to more accurately measure profitability, customer loyalty, market saturation, and financial forecasting.• Create, execute, and present whiteboard strategies to brand leadership, to improve brand visibility, market optimization, and support continued financial growth.• Proactively leverage negotiations to reduce occupancy cost, construction costs, and secure concessions, aimed at controlling expenses while protecting the organization’s cashflow and capital outlay. Show less

Director of Financial Planning & Analysis

• Oct 2014 - Apr 2017

• Developed and presented comprehensive reporting to support strategic planning, variance analyses, and key performance indicators for the executive leadership team.• Provided structured analyses to assist business partners in making more informed short and long-term decisions by delivering actionable insights driven from historical trends and industry benchmarking.• Designed and executed long range financial plan and related near term annual budget that connected all cross-functional business areas.• Ability to couple data from various sources into rigorous analytics to support strategic recommendations.• Ensured financial forecasting was complete, on-time and accurately reflected trends, anticipated challenges and mitigated risks.• Administered the Capital Review Committee, managing the approval process; cash flow forecasting and ROIC analysis for over $500M in annual capital spending, while partnering with the VP of Treasury to ensure the organization remained in compliance with debt agreements.• Identified as a subject matter expert and selected by our executive leadership team to direct key steps of our organization’s three-year transformation of systems and infrastructure, the largest capital investment to date.• Presented the Catherines Choice Award in 2016 for outstanding leadership, high ethical standards, and innovative thinking that resulted in over $2M in operating savings. • Received the Young Leaders Award in 2014 from the Pennsylvania Institute for Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), as a member under 40 who demonstrates a commitment to the accounting profession through active community volunteer activities.• Presented the Resolution Award from the Board of Directors in 2013 for financial leadership and outstanding services throughout our acquisition with the Ascena Retail Group, and through the initial stages of our post acquisition blue chip projects. Show less

Senior Manager of Financial Planning & Analysis

• Dec 2011 - Oct 2014

• Developed and presented comprehensive reporting to support strategic planning, variance analyses, and key performance indicators for the executive leadership team.• Provided structured analyses to assist business partners in making more informed short and long-term decisions by delivering actionable insights driven from historical trends and industry benchmarking.• Designed and executed long range financial plan and related near term annual budget that connected all cross-functional business areas.• Ability to couple data from various sources into rigorous analytics to support strategic recommendations.• Ensured financial forecasting was complete, on-time and accurately reflected trends, anticipated challenges and mitigated risks.• Administered the Capital Review Committee, managing the approval process; cash flow forecasting and ROIC analysis for over $500M in annual capital spending, while partnering with the VP of Treasury to ensure the organization remained in compliance with debt agreements.• Identified as a subject matter expert and selected by our executive leadership team to direct key steps of our organization’s three-year transformation of systems and infrastructure, the largest capital investment to date.• Presented the Catherines Choice Award in 2016 for outstanding leadership, high ethical standards, and innovative thinking that resulted in over $2M in operating savings. • Received the Young Leaders Award in 2014 from the Pennsylvania Institute for Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), as a member under 40 who demonstrates a commitment to the accounting profession through active community volunteer activities.• Presented the Resolution Award from the Board of Directors in 2013 for financial leadership and outstanding services throughout our acquisition with the Ascena Retail Group, and through the initial stages of our post acquisition blue chip projects. Show less

Manager of Business Assurance & Advisory Services

• Jun 2009 - Dec 2011

Responsibilities included coordinating reviews with the external auditors, overseeing all operational projects, issuing audit reports to senior management and the Audit Committee, and monitoring accounting pronouncements for significant changes to ensure audit programs are relevant and complete.• Executed domestic and international operational projects, specifically within Procurement, Data Privacy, Fraud Prevention, Forensic Reviews regarding fraud litigations, and BPO Service model rollouts, focused on identifying process inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and improvement opportunities through strategic scoping, process walkthroughs, interviews, and system mapping.• Reviewed financial statements and disclosures included in annual reports to shareholders and in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Forms 10-K and 10-Q for compliance with GAAP, SEC regulations and other professional pronouncements.• Enhanced Sarbanes-Oxley testing, documented all financial processes, performed risk assessments, identified and enhanced key controls, and tested the effectiveness of controls.• Conducted global audits and operational projects, presenting findings to the Audit and Finance Committees.• Responsible for the supervision, development, training and performance evaluations of eight associates. Show less

Audit Supervisor

• Jan 2009 - Jun 2009

Experience primarily in private equities, real estate, and manufacturing/wholesale distributors, with an emphasis on financial statement reporting. • Responsible for multiple aspects of the audit engagements, including planning, performing fieldwork, resolving audit and accounting issues, in addition to supervision, evaluation, and training of senior and staff level auditors. Experience primarily in private equities, real estate, and manufacturing/wholesale distributors, with an emphasis on financial statement reporting. • Responsible for multiple aspects of the audit engagements, including planning, performing fieldwork, resolving audit and accounting issues, in addition to supervision, evaluation, and training of senior and staff level auditors.

Audit Supervisor

• Jun 2004 - Jan 2009

Audit Supervisor (June 2006 – January 2009) Senior Auditor (June 2004 – June 2006) Provided professional and effective audit and assurance services for diverse nonprofits and benefit plans, with a focus on colleges and independent schools. As a boutique firm, supervisors were afforded the opportunity and responsibility of owning the entire engagement, from planning the audit to compiling the tax return. • Designed and executed multiple domestic and international financial statement audits concurrently, leading teams of up to six auditors per engagement. • Developed a strong fluency in technical accounting issues, forensic accounting, and industry trends, providing the opportunity to conducted audits for large clients in Africa and South Asia, utilizing both GAAP and IFRS. • Conducted material fraud investigations within multiple organizations, identifying the fraud and eliminating a future risk through the implementation of segregation of duties and robust internal controls. • Conducted performance reviews and trained engagement staff to support development and continuous improvement of audit processes. • Presented findings and recommendations to executive management and the audit committee. Show less

Staff Auditor

• May 2003 - Jun 2004

Staff Auditor (May 2003 – June 2004) Intern (May 2002 – August 2002) Displayed a deep understanding for accounting and technology during my college internship, which led to a fulltime position as a staff auditor and was a driving force behind the organization’s conversion to a paperless firm. • Participated in annual audits of large and medium-sized privately owned companies in retail, manufacturing, distribution and employee benefit plans. • Performed a full spectrum of accounting functions including audit testing for numerous financial accounts, identified and tested internal controls, and presented findings and recommendations to management. • Developed knowledge of audit procedures, including planning techniques, testing and sampling methodology. • Assigned to our paperless integration team, who were charged with converting our audit processes, testing procedures, and documentation from an antiquated manual process to a completely digital platform. Show less