JAMES M. BAXTER, MBA

** ***** ***** 732-***-****

Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536 acdfx8@r.postjobfree.com

SENIOR FINANCIAL ANALYST

Professional forecaster and data analyst with strong communication and

analytical skills qualified by a track record of insightful analyses with

20+ years of experience in finance, marketing, and customer service.

Proven success in formulating accurate and detailed projections using

forecast modeling techniques and other quantitative analytical methods.

Performs all functions with a passion for both integrity and accuracy.

Expertise in the following areas:

Forecasting Data Analysis Business Planning

Variance Analysis Financial Reporting Budgeting

Accounts Receivable Bad Debt Provisioning Statistical Analysis

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

AVAYA, INC. October 2010 to present

Finance Manager - Avaya Operations Services Finance, Basking Ridge, NJ

(2013 to present )

Manages P&L statements for six Assets on Books (AoB) programs which

encompass revenue, cost, capital, and headcount spend and provides

financial support to the program / account teams. Ensures all data actuals

are recorded correctly, in the correct accounting period, and in accordance

with applicable accounting policy and contractual arrangements. Provides

the monthly forecasts for revenue, capital, and expense for all assigned

programs. Performs detailed monthly variance analysis for view over view

and quarter over quarter changes. Facilitates and leads monthly meetings

with respective account teams to facilitate discussions relevant to the

programs supported. Manages vendor spend across the entire organization

including development of monthly forecasts, variance analysis of latest

forecast to annual Plan, and upload of forecast into Hyperion database.

Finance Manager - Financial Planning and Analysis, Basking Ridge, NJ (2010

- 2013)

As the Finance Business Partner to the Vice President - Order Entry,

Fulfillment, and Collections, provided this Global organization with

dedicated support in all matters concerning Accounts Receivable. Prepared

a monthly projection of past due AR by Region by aging category. Forecast

monthly bad debt expense by Region using estimated changes in the Bad Debt

reserves coupled with expected account write-offs. Produced a weekly

presentation deck for Senior Executives summarizing the key metrics

impacting the operational collection of cash.

. Researched and designed an improvement to the statistical sampling

study used to calculate the quarterly billing adjustment "tail" which

reduced the reserve account by $3.0M.

. Achieved an additional $5.0M reduction in the billing adjustment

reserve through the use of an alternative statistic that provided an

improved measure of central tendency for the population. Summarized the

results based on an analysis of the sample distribution and associated

statistics, achieving approval from key Finance stakeholders including the

Corporate Controller and Auditors.

. Developed a methodology to forecast quarterly cash collections using

macro level assumptions of revenue, monthly change in deferred revenue,

and associated taxes. Resulting model used to set quarterly target for

operational cash collection with over 98% accuracy over the last five

quarters.

. Reduced Risky AR reserve by over $1.5M through partnership with US

Collection center.

James M. Baxter Page 2

SPRINT PREPAID GROUP March 2010 to September 2010

Demand Forecasting Analyst - Supply Chain Planning and Operations, Warren,

NJ

Provided Demand Planning support for the indirect sales channel consisting

of over 20 Master Agents selling Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile cellular

handsets.

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS 2000 to 2009

Senior Consultant - Financial Planning and Analysis, Piscataway, NJ (2004

to 2009)

Forecast product revenue and customer demand using quantitative methods in

support of Verizon Business's annual commitment budget, business planning,

and monthly management review activities. Reported and analyzed monthly

revenue, usage, and demand variances. Communicated monthly / quarterly /

annual revenue trends and performance drivers with peer teams and product

management

executives. Developed "best view" forecasts, monthly "rolling" forecasts,

and other "ad hoc" explanatory analyses outside of normal budget cycles to

address various issues concerning the executive management team.

. Consistently achieved 0.1% forecast accuracy for the Core Voice

product line worth over $5B annually through the use of multivariate

statistical models.

. Designed multi-level exponential smoothing models to produce a

monthly revenue forecast of 90+ lower level products across 28 geographic

regions.

. Developed and produced monthly revenue variance reports displaying

history and forecasts of the Local, Long Distance, and Conferencing

product categories. Reports included a detailed quantification of the

impact of volumes, rates, and business days on a month to month, year over

year, and actual to forecast basis.

Manager - Receivables Management, Philadelphia, PA (2000 to 2004)

Led a team of 6 Specialists in the development and production of 30+

monthly operational and financial reports, including detailed variance

analyses of all key metrics.

. Attained a 25% improvement in forecast accuracy through a complete

overhaul of the forecasting process for monthly uncollectible expense.

. Formulated a monthly forecast of force and capacity for both

management and associates using quantitative models for 25 distinct call

centers covering the entire Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

COMPUTER SKILLS

Microsoft Office Suite: MS Word / Excel / PowerPoint / Outlook / Access,

Forecast Pro, Lotus Notes, PeopleSoft, SAP, Hyperion / Essbase

EDUCATION

St. John's University, Jamaica, NY

Masters of Business Administration

With High Honors - Major: Quantitative Analysis

State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY

Bachelors of Arts

With Honors - Major: Psychology

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