Vice President Accounting
Resume:
ROBERT J. BEHR, MBA, CPA
Gibsonia, PA 15044
Home: 724-***-**** abhm8s@r.postjobfree.com Cell: 724-***-****
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Senior financial executive with 25 years of success in public and private businesses of all sizes;
experienced in a wide range of industries and business situations including start-ups, turn-
arounds, reorganization, rapid growth and down-sizing. Extensive involvement with private equity
firms at both the holding company and operating unit level.
Hands-on leader with exceptional analytical ability, outstanding business judgment and excellent
communication skills who connects strategic thinking with practical implementation to produce
bottom line results. Comfortable in the board room and on the factory floor and adept at satisfying
the needs of ownership while meeting the challenges of day-to-day operations.
EXPERIENCE
Interim CFO/VP-Finance Positions, Pittsburgh, PA 2006 to 2010
Ten to eighteen month assignments addressing unique and challenging business situations.
• EMS Division of Curtiss-Wright, Cheswick, PA 2009 to 2010
$400M high tech firm consisting of four business units primarily in the nuclear energy industry.
Division Chief Financial Officer
Created shared services organizations in accounting and information technology
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that streamlined operations, reduced costs and strengthened oversight and analysis.
Over-hauled the business’s rate structure improving proposal development,
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performance evaluation and make-buy decisions; leading to higher margins, generating
additional contract wins and opening new market opportunities.
• Voyager Group, Pittsburgh, PA 2007 to 2008
$120M private equity firm consisting of over forty businesses in real estate development, private
aviation and computer technology.
Group Finance Director, Technology Sector CFO
Provided treasury, cash management and accounting to over forty businesses
o
through shared services that minimized costs while ensuring timely and consistent
reporting.
Created reliable cash forecasting model, restructured banking relationships and
o
refinanced debt. Improved liquidity by $2M and generated $40,000 in monthly income.
Developed a compelling analysis of an underperforming segment and implemented
o
a restructuring plan to eliminate redundancies. Produced annual savings of $800,000.
• PTC Alliance Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA 2006 to 2007
$500M privately-owned manufacturer of steel tubes; eleven operating units in the U.S. and Europe.
Vice President, Finance
Worked closely with private equity ownership, managing day-to-day activity while
o
business went through chapter 11 process.
Reduced corporate staff by 50%, eliminated accounts receivable factoring,
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improved liquidity and working capital position.
Restructured company’s medical benefit programs and out-sourced company’s
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information technology activities improving service and achieving 30% annual savings.
IMR Fund, Minneapolis, MN 1997 to 2005
$2B private equity firm led by Minneapolis financier Irwin Jacobs specializing in start-up and rapid growth
businesses in the technology, manufacturing, sports and service industries.
• Wellcraft Marine, Inc., Sarasota, FL 2004 to 2005
$150M, 600 employee manufacturer of recreational boats.
Vice President, Finance
Turned around a business losing $18M/year by eliminating underperforming
o
product lines, restructuring dealer incentive programs and streamlining administrative
functions.
Established quantifiable operating objectives and benchmarks coupled with
o
challenging but achievable budgets linked to appropriate management incentives.
• VEC Technology, Inc., Greenville, PA 2000 to 2004
A start-up, high tech manufacturer of large-scale composite parts and portable manufacturing cells.
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Transformed business from R&D center to customer-focused, profitable business.
o
Developed line-of-business reporting and implemented activity-based accounting.
o
Drafted a business plan and offering documents leading to a successful spin-off.
o
• Accent Software, Inc., Jerusalem, Israel 1997 to 2000
A publicly-traded, start-up, off-shore developer of computer software.
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Reduced expenses and cash drain by 60%, bartered excess inventory and
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structured innovative private equity and debt offerings to provide working capital.
Revamped business model and met with NASDAQ officials to maintain market
o
listing while owners achieved an orderly and profitable divestiture.
Ameridata, Inc., Minneapolis, MN 1996
$2B, publicly-traded information systems and consulting firm acquired by GE Capital at the end of 1996.
• Corporate Controller
Created user-friendly financial reporting for local sales and distribution offices.
o
Selected and implemented state-of-the-art management information system.
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Hired, trained and developed staff of 40 accounting professionals.
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General Dynamics Corp., San Diego, CA, St. Louis, MO, and Falls Church, VA 1983 to 1995
$14B publicly-traded aerospace and defense business.
• Progressed through a series of operating unit and corporate office positions including
Commercial Business Manager, Director of Accounting, Director of Finance and
Director of Strategic Planning
EDUCATION: MBA Northeastern University
BBA, Accounting and Finance University of Notre Dame
Executive Program in Financial Mgt Harvard University
LICENSURE: Certified Public Accountant (Inactive) Minnesota
MILITARY: Captain, United States Air Force 1973 – 1983
Awarded Defense Meritorious Service Medal and two Air Force Commendation Medals for
distinguished service in financial management positions in the United States and Europe.
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