Customer Service Management
Resume:
THOMAS M. SARGENT, M.B.A.
St. Louis, MO. 63017
abm1dr@r.postjobfree.com
SUMMARY
Experienced Senior Finance and Operations Executive providing a results orientated, collaborative
management style to an organization seeking a leader to support and drive the achievement of targeted
objectives. Broad based experience includes large company corporate finance; manufacturing process
cost accounting; entrepreneurial company start up and growth planning; and Non-profit fund accounting.
Strong leadership team member, staff developer and communicator.
CORE COMPENTANCIES
General Ledger Accounting Process Costing Team Building
P&L Management Process Improvement Leadership
Financial Reporting Financial Analysis Communication
Budget Development Risk Management Plant Controllership
Strategic Planning Capital Planning Merger and Acquisition
Treasury Management HR Management Valuation
Consolidations Customer Service Fund Raising
Fund Accounting Facilities Management
EXPERIENCE
Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School 2007/2010
Private college prep institution serving 750 students in grades K through 12.
Director of Finance and Operations
Directed all finance, accounting and operations activity.
• $13 million operating budget • 11 facilities totaling 400,000 sq ft
• Multi-Million dollar endowment • 65 acre campus
• $60 million balance sheet
• Restructured financial reporting system to add budgeting controls and department accountability reducing
operating expenses by 5% over two year period.
• Completed major facility renovation to add classroom and administrative space within existing facility foot
print on time and on budget
• Negotiated contract food service and janitorial service agreements resulting in improved quality of service at
reduced cost
• Reduced audit adjusting entries from 200 to 11 over two year period
Resource One 2006/2007
Food broker specialized in supply of private label brands to discount grocers.
Interim Chief Financial Officer/Contract Basis
Full responsibility for finance and accounting functions for this Specialty Food Brokerage firm.
• Implemented new Peachtree general ledger accounting system
• Restructured invoicing procedures improving revenue recognition process and reducing customer deductions
• Created multiple company general ledgers allowing for measurement of independent business unit
performance and contribution margin reporting for differentiated product lines.
Thomas M. Sargent, MBA Page 2
Group360 Inc. 2004/2005
Provider of pre-press and creative design services to the printing and packaging industries.
Chief Financial Officer
Full responsibility for the finance and accounting functions within this multi-plant manufacturer and service provider.
Reported to CEO.
• Restructured accounting practices and procedures to ensure compliance with GAAP accounting
• Revised cost accounting process to properly value inventory according to stage of completion
• Introduced monthly hard closing process producing financial results reporting by 8th day
• Managed Accounts Payable/Cash Flow/Bank Relations function ensuring continuous supply of necessary
materials and contract services to support manufacturing group in environment where bank covenants where out
of compliance
• Produced contribution margin reporting by product line to assist management team in identifying appropriate
process improvement needs or product line eliminations
dirxion software llc. (Formerly Concept 2000), St. Louis, MO 2000/2004
A software development firm with a unique niche position in the electronic publishing market.
Chief Financial Officer/Partner
Full responsibility for finance, accounting, strategic planning, human resources, facilities management and general
administrative functions.
• Designed and built accounting, financial reporting and administrative systems for this high tech start up
• Directed office design and build out for planned growth from 10 to 100+ employees
• Negotiated long term office lease at favorable market rates allowing for affordable expansion
• Planned for and successfully achieved profitable growth from start up to $14 million revenue cycle managing staff
growth, facilities expansion, R&D investment, marketing investment and technology investment
• Negotiated successful joint venture with Fortune 500 partner to support significant market expansion
NESTLE USA, Sunmark Division, St. Louis, MO 1981 – 1999
Sunmark Inc., formerly a privately held manufacturer & marketer of the leading kids brands of sugar confections items
and specialty salty snacks, was acquired by Nestle in 1989.
Acting Division General Manager 1998-1999
Reported to the President of Nestle Confections. Overall responsibility for the Sunmark Division during eight months
of transition to merge the operations of the St. Louis division with the headquarters office in Los Angeles, California.
Declined offers for two executive positions located in Los Angeles due to family requirements.
Vice President – Controller 1991 – 1998
Reported to President, Sunmark Division, with overall responsibility for Accounting, Financial Reporting, Treasury,
MIS, Distribution and Order Management. Eight senior level department head direct reports managing seventy-five
managers and staff associates.
Key accomplishments include:
• Produced savings of over $1 million on an annualized basis by changing pricing policies and distribution strategy as part of
a new Go To Market strategy integrating the processes of four independent divisions.
• Improved customer service by satisfying customer request to move to one-order/one invoice in a multi-division
organization.
• Provided financial analysis for four acquisition projects. Project capitalization ranged from $17MM to $100MM.
• Created focused deduction management group, using existing staff, increasing collections by $100,000 and increasing
productivity by 20% through elimination of redundant handling.
• Improved timeliness and quality of order entry/invoicing reporting to sales force providing visibility of contribution margin
by product line and allowing quicker problem solving with customer disputes.
• Directed project team that integrated state-of-the-art load planning/traffic routing software into our distribution management
system. Profits were improved by $1.2 million through reduced inventory, freight and handling expenses.
Thomas M. Sargent, MBA Page 3
Assistant Controller 1989 – 1991
Key accomplishments include:
• Managed the integration of financial systems and manufacturing cost system with MRPII production planning and control
software increasing efficiency and reducing supplies inventories and minimizing wastes. Estimated to have improved
profits by over $300,000.
• Reduced closing cycle to 3.5 days to meet the reporting needs of parent company.
Assistant Treasurer 1985 – 1989
Reported to the Senior VP/Treasurer.
• Collaborated with banking partner to install cash management system to automate customer remittance postings to
AR system accelerating cash posting and reducing time spent on transaction management and increasing time
spent on collections and customer problem solving
• Managed short term investment portfolio of $45 million achieving goals for ROI
• Project lead to create integrated, on line banking system and treasury management reporting system to centralize
the control of $260 million cash flows for multiple related companies. The project resulted in reduced state tax
liability in excess of $1.8 million and eliminated the need for multiple revolving lines of credit to support
operations.
Division Controller/ Manufacturing 1984 – 1985
Senior Division Accountant/Manufacturing 1981 – 1984
EDUCATION
St. Louis University, School of Business
MBA, Finance
BSBA, Accounting
COMPUTER SOFTWARE COMPETENCIES
Microsoft Word QuickBooks
Microsoft Excel Dunn and Bradstreet
Microsoft PowerPoint SAP
Peachtree Accounting Senior Systems
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Improving Productivity through People Skills – Dr. Robert Lefton
Change Management – Steven R. Covey
Nestlé Leadership Forum – Nestlé University
Creating Shareholder Value – Dr. Alfred Rappaport
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Pension Fund Administration Committee – City of Richmond Heights
Board of Directors, St. Martha’s Hall – Catholic Charities, St. Louis
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