Manager Management
Resume:
James A. Dollard
Downers Grove, Illinois 60515
cell: 630-***-****
***********@*******.***
SUMMARY
Senior level financial executive with extensive experience in Big 4
public accounting, financial reporting, operations, risk management,
treasury, lender relations, cost accounting, and mergers and
acquisitions, auditing and tax compliance with background in the
manufacturing, distribution, and service industries. Handles
divisional management, sales planning, human resource administration,
best practices, and pension plan administration. Supervised staff
ranging from 10 to 45 people.
Develops profitable and manageable business solutions through the
application of excellent analytical and problem solving abilities.
Brings a high standard of ethical conduct to all professional
functions. Throughout an extensive career, has consistently displayed
a talent for increasing efficiency, lowering costs, and generating
revenues.
EXPERIENCE
FREEWAY FORD - STERLING TRUCK SALES, INC. Lyons, Illinois
Chief Financial Officer and Controller 2004 to Present
Oversee the entire financial side of the company. Managed responsibility
for cash requirements, human resources, information technology, lending
relationships, union renegotiation, tax compliance, account reconciliation,
hiring accounting personnel and physical inventory.
. Profitability: Played an instrumental role in returning the company to
profitability. Identified cost cutting measures and revenue
generation opportunities in all areas. Profitability was returned my
first year.
. Budget to Actual Reporting: Created a complete budgetary system which
held managers accountable for their respective department's
performance. Provided detailed income statements supplying budget to
actual results on a monthly and YTD basis.
. Risk Management: Introduced insurance alternatives for health and
dental, general liability, fiduciary, and workers' compensation which
resulted in savings in excess of $175,000
. General Ledger Transformation: Most general ledger accounts were not
reconciled or had inadequate support. Completely transformed the
general ledger system so that all accounts were reconciled/supported
on a monthly basis.
. Accounting Personnel: Completely responsible for reorganizing the
accounting department. Identified and hired appropriate accounting
personnel.
CHICAGO KENWORTH, INC. Markham, Illinois
Chief Financial Officer and Controller 2002 to 2004
Managed five retail entities each being it own profit center. Managed
lending relationships, limits and cash availability analysis. Responsible
for monthly financial reporting/consolidation both internally and to the
board of directors. Oversee budgeting and forecasting processes, cash
management, due diligence and acquisition analysis, hiring accounting
personnel, external auditors, 401(k) Trust Administration, daily
transactional processing, account reconciliation, general ledger
maintenance, and physical inventory.
. Core Business Strategy: Identified to management deviations from its
core business strategy which led to the closure of one of the
Company's main operating locations, resulting in an increase in annual
operating profitability of $600,000.
. Risk Management: Created a Medical Reimbursement Plan (Section 105)
which resulted in a reduction in health care premiums of $225,000 over
two years.
. Banking Relationship: Successfully identified and negotiated a change
in the banking relationship and limits. Increased cash availability
to the Company by over $1,000,000.
. Budget to Actual Reporting/ Bonus Plan: Provided each manager with
detailed income statements for their respective departments which
provided budget to actual results on a monthly and YTD basis. Created
a unique bonus plan which was tied to the success of obtaining their
budget.
. Internal Controls: Established/enhanced internal controls and
financial practices, introducing new policies and procedures governing
accounting, billing/collections, payables, and general ledger
activity.
UPM KYMMENE, INC. Westmont, Illinois
Corporate Controller 2001 - 2002
Managed responsibility for the completion of daily transactional
processing, monthly financial reporting, budgeting/forecasting processes,
risk management, coordination of internal and external auditors,
implementation of best practices in the finance department, support tax
compliance, hiring of accounting personnel, and global company special
purpose and project teams.
. Risk Management: Obtained insurance bids for auto, workers' compensation,
employee practices, crime, and fiduciary policies that would cover all
corporate entities in North America, resulting in an insurance cost
savings of $500,000.
. Budget to Actual Reporting: Created a system to provide each manager a
variance analysis resulting in increased accountability for budget
issues on an individual and departmental level.
. Best Practice Transaction Processing: Identified and implemented best
practice transaction processing in invoicing. This enabled department
heads to develop performance indicators and a means to communicate
performance results to their sales staff.
. Year-end Audit Coordination: Coordinated the year-end audit, resulting in
no audit adjustments and no recommendations for process improvements.
Previous audits had historically incurred significant audit adjustments
and recommendations. Identified ways to address concerns about SEC
pronouncements.
. Reconciliation of All General Ledger Accounts: Due to an accounting
function transition, most of the general ledger accounts were not
reconciled or had inadequate support for their balances. Accomplished
a complete reconciliation process to allocate among the accounting staff.
. Transition Management: Led the transition of all company accounting
functions, including the general ledger, from New York City to Westmont,
Illinois. Coordinated the physical record transfer. Managed staffing
and training for the new location, while also meeting head office monthly
reporting requirements.
UNITED SCRAP METAL, INC. Cicero, Illinois
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 1999 - 2001
Managed responsibility for the financial, human resource, and information
technology functions of the company.
. Cost Containment: Implemented a stringent cost containment program,
analyzed all vendors, assessed expenditure needs, organized a competitive
bid process, and negotiated rates, resulting in a $1,500,000 operating
cost reduction.
. Strategic Planning: Developed a formal written strategic vision,
organized top management through a series of strategic meetings, set
realistic objectives for plan development, and created performance
measurement tools for each area. This plan resulted in a 300% increase
in profitability.
. Information Technology Coordination: Successfully coordinated and
completed the implementation of an industry specific software program
including hardware configuration. Evaluated the available software,
determined costs, assessed hardware requirements, and coordinated staff
training.
. Acquisition Assessment: Analyzed acquisition candidates and applied due
diligence procedures to determine if the candidates were a right fit.
Advised against the purchase of the candidates, resulting in the
prevention of a 60% decrease in operating profitability.
. Successfully negotiated a $1,000,000 increase in bank lending limits,
thereby increasing cash availability.
. Completely redesigned the internal control process reducing the month-end
close from 45 to 15 days.
DATA AIR COURIER, INC. Rosemont, Illinois
Senior Vice President 1994 - 1999
Oversaw 15 offices nationwide and the entire financial side of the company.
. Turned a $260,000 operating loss into a $783,000 profit in just two
years.
. Reduced ground transportation expenses by 20% through vendor
negotiations.
. Successfully negotiated a $1,200,000 increase to the company's line of
credit.
. Played an instrumental role in the identification and purchase of the
company's corporate headquarters.
. Created a financial performance report enabling management to conduct in-
depth reviews of operational performance for each of the 15 offices.
. Led the company through reorganization and positioned the company for
sale.
ERNST & YOUNG Chicago, Illinois
Senior Manager 1981 - 1994
Served as the primary executive for the coordination and completion of
audits of publicly and privately held companies in the manufacturing,
distribution, and service industries.
. Provided financial and business due diligence services for strategic
buyers which, in one case, resulted in a $4,000,000 purchase price
reduction.
. Developed a sophisticated reporting package for a manufacturer's
operating subsidiaries to communicate financial results to corporate on a
monthly basis.
. Enabled a struggling business to avoid bankruptcy and addressed various
issues regarding its continuation and financing.
. Supported the preparation of initial public offering documents for
raising capital to enable clients to pursue various business activities.
. Prepared the appropriate purchase accounting methods for various
acquisitions.
EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION
University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio,
Bachelor of Business Administration, Major in Accounting - 1981.
Certified Public Accountant
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Member - Illinois Manufacturers Association.
Member - Chicago Association of Commerce and Industry - Small Business
Division.
Member - American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Member - Illinois CPA Society.
PERSONAL
Married. Three children.
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