As Finance Director, I help companies link financial key metrics to operations and help firms improve to maximize profits.
Jeffrey L. Kirsch, MBA & CPA
420 Charleston Greene, Malvern, PA 19355
(610) 241-8647
Jeffkirsch[at]verizon.net
Professional Summary
Actions and outcomes oriented finance executive with ‘hands on†experience adding value to an organization by influencing change, driving execution efforts and measuring performance for results. Effective with managing finance, administration and personnel at the regional and corporate level for global conglomerates, mid-size, public and manufacturing companies. Multi-industry knowledge with extensive international business experience.
VP of FINANCE and ADMINISTRATION Sept 2008 – December 2009
CoolerSmart USA LLC, New Castle, Delaware
(Coolersmart USA LLC is a $10M national equipment leasing company and part of a $200M international water cooler conglomerate. Assumed position as first time VP of Finance for this company as part of restructuring effort)
* Reduced SG&A and cost of sales by over $500K through vendor contract negotiations and other overhead reductions.
* Improved operational processes and created new financial reporting package, analyses and other key reports that better aligned key business information to more timely and effective decision making that ultimately helped lead to a large turnaround.
* Implemented internal controls, best practices and reduced financial reporting closing process from 12 to 5 days.
* Created new balanced scorecard that highlighted key performance indicators (KPI) which helped refocus and redirect management decision making (i.e., budget responsibility, cost cutting and new revenue generation).
* Successfully managed audit process with no adjustments which included FASB 13 and 140 expertises and restated financial reporting from sales type lease to operating lease accounting basis.
* Established and negotiated the company’s first ever working line of credit.
CFO CONSULTANT April 2006 – April 2008
Tatum LLC, Philadelphia, PA
(Tatum LLC is the largest professional services provider of financial and information technology leadership in the country. The firm currently has over 500 partners in 30 offices nationwide.)
* With Tatum, prepared all aspects of 10Q and 10K reports for a multinational Medical Device & Life Sciences company, including MD&A drafting for management review and approval.
* Also managed field Controllers, reorganized monthly closing process, reviewed monthly financial consolidation reports, prepared actual to budget analyses and responsible for reporting monthly results to executive management.
FINANCE DIRECTOR May 2004 - July 2005
Praxis Capital, LP, West Conshohocken, PA
(As a start-up firm, Praxis Capital is a commercial debt finance firm, specializing in financing medium sized companies through factoring accounts receivable and asset based lending management. Selected and implemented factor based information system in conjunction with overall financial system, MAS90.)
* Managed all aspects of finance reporting, planning & analysis, administration, human resources, underwriting, credit & collections.
* Prepared commercial debt finance business plan plus top-flight 5-year financial plan.
* Selected and implemented IT systems and installed budget measurements which led to developing executive management daily, weekly and monthly key metric reporting.
* Spearheaded investor and lender relations program and all facets of treasury management.
VP FINANCE Jan 2002 - April 2004
CONTROLLER 1989 - 1996
Alstom, Inc., (former GE business), Philadelphia, PA
(American headquarters of publicly traded, French based Alstom, NV (“ALSâ€). In 2002 rejoined Alstom, a global market leader in international engineering, power transmission & manufacturing conglomerate, to build a new US headquarters in Phila. Global sales $25 billion with 125,000 employees. USA regional sales of $400 million with 1,000 employees. Company was acquired by French Gov’t in 2004.)
* Inherited chaotic organizational situation during a period of acquisition integration and location consolidation; stabilized problems, reorganized and strengthened the finance department, and established key performance indicators for each subsidiary to improve management focus and financial performance. Managed a department of over 50 professionals with 8 direct reports.
* Built from the ground up a professional shared service environment including managing all finance, IT, treasury, risk management, and administrative operations for US headquarters and achieved synergistic cost savings of over $1M. Reported to USA President and global CFO in France.
* Achieved project management efficiencies by implementing new reporting processes for cost controls, forecasts, and provided necessary information to engage strategy to improve margins.
* Created and implemented new incentive plans by aligning pay with performance for sales personnel (sales increased 25% in year 1), department & operations managers and project managers. Realigned Project Management compensation to cash and gross margin targets.
* Streamlined IT infrastructure with spearheading the decision to migrate from multiple information technology systems into one ERP system, SAP. Led the planning, staffing and implementation plans for SAP to fit multiple businesses including construction, manufacturing, assembly, service and IT software units.
* Managed development of Company’s US based Web site.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER - FINANCE 2000 - 2002
Jefferson Wells International, Inc., Philadelphia, PA
(A national management consulting firm & subsidiary of publicly traded and Fortune 500 Company, Manpower. Sales of $200 million with 2,000 employees in 35 offices throughout North America. Ranked 5th in Inc. Magazine’s 2001 list of the fastest growing private companies in America. Jefferson Wells was acquired by Manpower in 2001.)
* Managed all finance, accounting and internal auditing professionals during the start up of the Philadelphia office for the national management consulting firm and subsidiary of the publicly traded Fortune 500 Company. Major clients included City of Phila, Aventis, Berwind Group, Wills Eye Hospital, & Pegasus Communications.
* Provided customized consulting, operating and training solutions in the areas of accounting/finance, internal audit, tax, and information technology.
* Helped build Philadelphia office from ground zero.
DIRECTOR OF MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS 1996 - 1999
Homecare Concepts of America, Marlton, NJ
(A $500 million provider of medical equipment & home health care nursing. Company was liquidated in 1999)
* Directed and managed all merger and acquisition activities, including initial market research, all due diligence activities, target company searches, cold calling, initial screening of hot prospects, initial company visits and executive interviews, operations reviews, synergy analysis, business valuations and final purchase price negotiations.
* Prepared 100+ business valuations (discount cash flow, comparative company guideline approaches), including a solid mix of public and private corporations.
* Led acquisition team that helped achieve all growth initiatives, increasing sales from $150 million to more than $500 million while at the same time improved market share by more than 10%.
* Identified synergy opportunities and operational inefficiencies in connection with analysis of target companies and provided operational recommendations to post integration management teams.
* Pioneered the company’s first-ever-comprehensive business plan that was instrumental in building a business case to secure $250 million in acquisition financing.
CONTROLLER, Alstom Inc. (as mentioned above above) 1989 - 1996
* Spearheaded the preparation of consolidated financial statements for eight business in the US with ultimate responsibility for the integrity, accuracy, & internal controls associated with the figures
* Managed and prepared all budgeting, forecasting, and pro forma financial statements
* Provided expert opinion and advice with job cost accounting & project management
* Provided due diligence and analysis associated with the ultimate sale of large division ($100M)
ACCOUNTING MANAGER, Wheat First Butcher and Singer Inc., Phila, PA 1987 - 1989
(A large regional investment banking company originally based in Phila. & then relocated to Virginia)
* Managed financial reporting, budgets, forecasts and analysis for a variety of companies engaged with investment securities, venture capital, investment banking, real estate, oil and gas partnerships, merchant banking, accounts receivable factoring and cable TV start ups.
INTERNAL AUDIT/STAFF ACCOUNTANT, General Accident Insurance Company 1985 - 1987
EDUCATION
MBA, Finance, DREXEL UNIVERSITY
BS, Accounting, West Chester University
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
* Financial Executives International
* American Institute of CPAs (“AICPAâ€)
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