Management Real Estate

Michael F. Lash

**** ******** **. #*** - ******, CO 80205 - 303-***-**** ****.****@*******.***

CONTROLLER – FINANCE MANAGER

Results-driven and forward-thinking finance and accounting executive with extensive experience in all facets of financial

leadership. Proven organizational and problem-solving expertise in identifying and implementing process improvements

for increased company productivity. Superior team-building skills in developing, implementing, and executing strategic

plans. Hands-on mentorship and development of highly-talented finance and accounting professionals. Proven history of

building mutually beneficial relationships with business owners, lending institutions, outside audit & tax advisory firms,

attorneys, and other key organizational stakeholders.

SPECIFIC AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Cash Management Budget Development Staff Management

Fixed Assets Financial Presentation Information Systems

Financial Reporting Mergers/Acquisitions Internal Controls

GAAP Financial Modeling Change Management

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

SlimGenics Group – Centennial, CO

Manager of Financial Planning & Analysis 2011-Present

Promoted corporate growth through financial and operational analyses, authoring business cases, and

identifying/measuring several Key Performance Indicators. Presented results and recommended actions to executive

management. Partnered with Executive Team to develop dynamic, forward-looking financial processes and reports.

Created efficiencies in finance and accounting functions through automation and consolidation of key processes.

Introduced and administered several improvements in the areas of financial reporting and inventory management.

Designed and implemented company’s first annual budget, assigned ownership of expense categories to appropriate

departments, and devised periodic forecasting methodologies to adjust for operational changes.

Wrote several business cases, including a comparison of expansion vs. franchising as possible growth strategies, a

study to support increased financial backing of the corporate call center, and an analysis detailing the benefits of a

corporate wellness/kiosk program, which is expected to generate $3 million of revenue in its first full year of

operation.

Increased detail of financial data by introducing Profit & Loss reporting at the individual center level, which

resulted in streamlining operations through closure of negative EBITDA centers.

Designed comprehensive monthly financial reporting package, which included a Key Performance Indicator

dashboard, trend analysis of several key financial metrics, detailed center-level inventory turnover ratios, and an

operational scorecard for each business location. Provided Executive Team and Area Sales Managers crucial

insight into areas of operational strength and opportunities for further improvement.

Spearheaded cross-functional effort to improve center-level employee attrition rates. Proposed significant changes

in team scheduling, operating hours, and employee benefits to reduce administrative costs, while maximizing

employee productivity and earnings potential.

Michael F. Lash – Page 2

The Gart Companies, Inc. – Denver, CO

Controller 2006-2011

Financial Analyst 2003-2006

Directly responsible for the oversight of the financial and accounting operations of the organization. Directed cross-

functional efforts to prepare and produce operating and capital budgets. Coordinated external audits. Produced monthly,

quarterly, and annual reports detailing the financial position of the organization and subsidiary entities for management,

investors, and joint-venture partners. Performed variance analysis and reforecasts of periodic financial data to reflect

updated expectations of fiscal operating results. Managed and developed staff of four accounting professionals.

Valued potential real estate acquisition targets by using multivariate scenario analysis of pro-forma financial

statements, which led to purchases of a hotel for $7.2 million, an office building for $8.7 million, and retail

shopping complexes ranging from $8 million to $93.9 million.

Led financial due diligence efforts, including analysis of historical operating performance and potential income

growth, for various distressed retail ventures, which culminated in asset purchases of $10.5 million for a luggage

company and $4.1 million for a retail sporting goods company.

Implemented and administered financial reporting, fixed asset, and property management software packages,

resulting in a 15% reduction in tax preparation billable hours.

Developed a strengthened internal accounting control environment which increased accuracy of financial reports to

stakeholders.

Oversaw financing and accounting efforts for real estate construction/renovation projects, including procurement

of draw funds, job costing, percentage of completion accounting, and cost segregation for a $4 million condo/hotel

project and a commercial real estate renovation of $9 million.

Great-West Life & Annuity – Greenwood Village, CO

Senior Portfolio Accountant 2001-2002

Portfolio Accountant 1997-2001

Ensured timely and accurate net asset values of various mutual funds, performed reconciliation reports for management

and auditors, and researched payment discrepancies. Was promoted twice in three years eventually to Senior Portfolio

Accountant. Verified accuracy of accountants’ work, provided market information to key members of investments

division, and solved reconciliation problems of staff accountants. Efforts resulted in saving investment division money

and increasing daily fund processing efficiency of accountants.

Designed a spreadsheet to calculate market value of portfolio forward currency contracts, which saved the

investments division an average of $25,000 a year.

Created a method of reconciling gains on futures contracts to counterparty activity statements, which resulted in

reducing reported net asset value errors by forty percent.

Produced linked worksheets to expedite retrieval of vital accounting information, which decreased fund processing

time by an average of twenty minutes a day.

EDUCATION

M.S. Finance – University of Denver, Daniels College of Business – Cumulative GPA: 3.95

B.S. Business Administration – University of Colorado – Specialization in Finance

COMPUTER SKILLS

MS Excel including VBA macros and pivot tables, MS Access, ARGUS DCF, Management Plus, MS Dynamics and FRx,

MRI for Windows, SQL Databases, Oracle Crystal Ball, PAM for Securities, QuickBooks, Salesforce, Google Analytics,

Various POS Systems, Bloomberg Professional, Asset Keeper Fixed Asset Software, MS Office applications

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