Sales Accounting

Kurt L. Vaaler CPA, MBA

P.O. Box ****

Plymouth, MI 48170

e-mail: ablshj@r.postjobfree.com

734-***-**** (personal cell)

SUMMARY

Over 25 years of supervisory and management experience in operations and

administration. Over 8 years has been at the executive management level in

the automotive and petroleum industries. My educational background and

exceptional analytical skills have allowed me to excel in the following

areas: Executive Management, Financial Accounting & Analysis, Cost

Accounting, Quoting, Budget Process, Treasury, Credit, Insurance, Employee

Benefits, Audit, Tax, Purchasing, Information Systems, Sales and Continuous

Improvement. Led organizations through dramatic growth, financial

distress, cost reduction and process improvement in all these areas with a

strong emphasis on building great Teams.

BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

RKA Petroleum Companies - Romulus MI 2008 - 2010

CFO

Responsible for all accounting, tax, billing, insurance, treasury, human

resources, information systems, credit and legal of a $400 million multi-

company and multi-state wholesale distributor of petroleum products,

petroleum terminal operations, and transportation company.

. Improved cash flow by over $5 million in first 12 months.

. Restructured and overhauled accounting, billing and tax departments

. Developed strategy to improve profitability-increasing operations profits

by over $1 million in 2009

. Reduced time to financial close by 25 days

. Developed reporting and key measures for all parts of the organization

. Implemented Annual Budget and tracking to this budget

. Negotiated lines of credit with two banks for leasing of equipment

. Performed the lead role and achieved the successful turnaround of

financially distressed company

. Orchestrated Petroleum Terminal asset sale - 356,000 barrel facility

. Led the selection process and brought in a new bank with a $20 million

line of credit

. Primary contact with all outside financial and legal advisors

. Negotiated all heath and benefit coverage

Consulting Business 2005-

2007

Project Leader, Business Process Improvement, and Operations Review

Engaged full time at an Automotive Supplier with a focus on the

implementation of QAD MFG PRO manufacturing and accounting software

including business process design, inventory, operations controls and

measures.

. Developed model for standard cost burden rates

. Created reports to role up actual cost of all product and analysis of

profit

. Implementation and use of data mining software for analysis of business

processes

L&W Engineering - Belleville MI 1999-

2005

Vice President of Finance/CFO 2000-

2005

Responsible for all accounting, tax, insurance, banking, purchasing,

information systems, and employee benefits at a $400 million Tier 1 non-

union automotive supplier. Managed a corporate staff of 20 salary and

hourly employees. Review of all contracts and legal documents. Prepared

presentations for quarterly board meeting. Maintained a focus on

operational problems and developed meaningful measures to highlight

problems early and implement corrective actions. Promoted cooperation and

improvement in all functional areas within the company based on a team

focus.

. Facilitated growth in the company over six years:

From To

Sales $250 million $400 million

Employees 1200 2000

Locations 4 8

. Reduced financial close from 7 days to 4 days

. Managed dramatic change in the accounting group: raising the level from

average to exceptional

. Changed the culture of the accounting group to focus on cost drivers and

how to improve profits

. Standardized accounting procedures for all locations

. Brought to completion stalled ERP implementation of QAD

. Developed structured Annual Budget and Quarterly forecast process

. Negotiated $70 million in bank financing with five different banks

. Reorganized and consolidated company tooling program to increase company

profits

. Set strategy and Implemented Employee Benefit changes which saved over

$500,000 annually

. Reduced outstanding Accounts Receivable by 25%

. Develop Key Measures to drive operations improvement including reducing

inventory by 20%

. High focus on review and improving the quoting process

. Developed model for standard cost burden rates and quoting

. Performed review of all product cost/profit with recommendations to

President and Board

. Prepared analysis of inter-company pricing and recommendations for

changes

. Justified cost and negotiated prices with automotive customers resulting

in increased profits

. Worked with program mangers and performed operations reviews to increase

company profits

. Supported sales in collections, pricing, and quoting with customers

. Trained Quality group to understand Cost of Quality yielding better

profit decisions

. Initiated regular review with sales to resolve open customer issues

. Achieved substantial Tax reductions: Federal and State Income tax,

Property Tax, and Sales Tax

. Investigated opening a new facility in Mexico

. Led process change throughout the organization by facilitating

development of strategic objectives, defined actions plans, and follow up

through completion.

. Worked with the State of Michigan Economic Development to receive state

tax incentives

Director of Finance 1999-

2000

A. O. Smith / Tower Automotive 1992-1999

Manager of Materials, Purchasing, and IT - Plymouth MI 1998-

1999

Responsible for all materials, purchasing and IT activity associated with a

$165 million Tier 1 automotive supplier. Supervised 8 salary and 27 hourly

employees.

. Reorganized materials group

. Maintained inventory levels and increased inventory turns while sales

increased 83%

. Secured cost savings of $2.5 million

. Undertook special project to submit and collect $10 million from Daimler-

Chrysler

Controller, Purchasing, and IT - Plymouth MI 1996-

1998

Top management team member that launched two new product lines at a new

manufacturing facility that grew to 400 employees with $160 million in

sales. Responsible for implementation of the accounting/finance,

purchasing, and information systems. This included all monthly corporate

reports, yearly budget, and audit schedules. Hired all staff as the

company decentralized and changed from cost centers to profit centers in

1997 and 1998 (6 salary and 2 hourly).

. Administered implementation of systems for accounting, materials,

standard costing, purchasing, financial statements and payroll at this

green field site.

. Negotiated pricing on all repair parts with estimated annual savings of

$250,000.

. Initiated property tax abatement saving $750,000 annually.

. Developed and monitored performance measurements similar to Ford QOS

system.

. Compiled cost and price quote for $30 million expansion.

. Successful registration for QS9000.

Financial Manager - Bellevue OH & Corydon IN 1994-

1996

Responsible for all accounting/finance activity for both locations,

including A/P, monthly close, division reporting, planning, and expense

analysis. Bellevue averaged $60 million in sales with 150 employees and

Corydon averaged $120 million in sales. In 1995 the product at Corydon

went through a major change which added two assembly lines and increased

the employment from 150 to 400.

Division Financial Analyst - Milwaukee WI 1993-1994

Reported and forecast all sales and contribution margins for $750 million

automotive division.

Internal Auditor - Milwaukee WI 1992-1993

Prepared year-end work papers for external auditors. Internal audit of

automotive division.

EDUCATION

Northwestern College B.A. 1982

Watertown WI Liberal Arts

Keller Graduate School MBA 1990

Milwaukee WI Accounting/Finance

Registered as CPA in the state of Wisconsin.

References available upon request.

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