Management Project

R. SCOTT MESSER

**** *'CONNOR CT

IRVING, TX ****2

PHONE: 214-***-****

EMAIL: *****.******@*******.***

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Organized, strategic, results-driven leader with extensive experience

leading finance organizations within a Fortune 1000 company. Excels in

analyzing complex situations and identifying, communicating and

implementing solutions that drive organizational success. Demonstrates

excellent communication, interpersonal and management skills with a proven

track record of mentoring and developing employees. Consistently meets

sensitive deadlines; detail-oriented; analytical.

Oversight & Management of Finance Strategic Planning

Function Leadership Development

Budgeting / Planning / Forecasting Project Management

Financial Reporting Organizational Development

Critical Business Analysis Financial Processes & Systems

Business Process & Systems

Improvements

Key ACCOMPLISHMENTS

o RESTRUCTURED FINANCE, ACCOUNTING AND CREDIT AREAS RESULTING IN

SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN REPORTING ACCURACY AND TIMELINESS, VAST

INCREASES IN EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY AND A 50% REDUCTION IN BAD DEBT

EXPENSE.

o Streamlined financial reporting process resulting in fewer but more

helpful financial statements and analytical reports facilitating the

management process.

o Led the effort to establish and document internal controls used for SOX

compliance, testing of controls and remediation efforts.

o Developed, implemented and led an annual strategic planning process in

the finance area resulting in significant buy-in from the finance

leadership team of departmental goals which facilitated significant

improvements in operational efficiency.

o Led a cost savings initiative that included contacting the top 50

newspapers in the US to gather ideas. This initiative resulted in $6

million in cost savings.

o Led a large-scale ERP initiative that included the implementation of

PeopleSoft HRMS and Financials for 30 newspapers and TV stations. This

project came in on time and under budget and established common systems

for all Belo companies resulting in radically better and more consistent

reporting and management practices as well as extensive access to data by

the corporate staff.

o Navigated the finance team through multiple staff reductions and cost

cutting initiatives with only minor disruption to finance and accounting

operations and deadline achievement.

o Successfully led or played a major role in various system projects,

including upgrades to several mission critical systems.

o Served on the board and in several executive positions, including

President, of the International Newspaper Financial Executives, a

newspaper industry association comprised of CFOs, Controllers and other

financial executives.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, DALLAS, TX (A $500 MILLION COMPANY)

2000 - 2009

Vice President Finance / Controller

Led the finance areas of Texas' leading newspaper, including accounting,

financial reporting, credit, procurement, advertising services, and

facilities & maintenance.

o Successfully provided leadership to a diverse workforce comprised of

directors, managers, supervisors, coordinators and professional and

clerical support staff.

o Presented financial results monthly to the company management team

including the CEO and other senior executives.

o Led the budget and forecast process for the company, including revenue,

expense and capital spending.

o Worked with both internal and outside auditors on regular annual audits

and quarterly reviews.

o Conducted and completed annual process improvement projects resulting in

streamlined operations, staff optimization and cost savings.

o Developed outsourcing and centralization recommendations as a member of a

small BPI team and presented to sr. management, resulting in the

acceptance of all recommendations.

o Implemented outsourcing, centralization and staff restructuring

recommendations as member of system team resulting in cost savings and

streamlined operations.

o Implemented various retention and motivational programs including

teambuilding, professional development and mentoring, resulting in

reduced turnover and improved employee morale.

BELO CORP, Dallas, TX (a $1.4 billion company, parent company of The Dallas

Morning News) 1993 - 2000

Director of Corporate Applications (1995 - 2000)

Directed the enterprise systems group within IT and served as project

manager for the ERP implementation.

o Established the initial corporate IT area resulting in the building of a

high-speed WAN that connected all properties for the first time and a

significant improvement in desktop support for the corporate staff.

o Established Help Desk and Tech Support area supporting several hundred

users located across the U.S.

o Built the PeopleSoft project team from the ground up and provided project

and team leadership that resulted in one of the most successful large-

scale projects in the company's history.

Director of Corporate Accounting (1993-1995)

Managed the corporate accounting department including corporate

consolidations and public reporting.

o Supervised the corporate accounting staff and directed the monthly

consolidations, preparation of monthly reports, analysis of results, and

review of SEC reporting.

o Implemented the Hyperion enterprise system to perform consolidation and

reporting resulting in drastic improvements in reporting timeliness and

data availability.

EDUCATION

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, ACCOUNTING, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT DALLAS SCHOOL OF

MANAGEMENT

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

NEWSPAPER EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM - AMERICAN PRESS INSTITUTE,

Leadership Dallas program

Numerous training courses and seminars on project management, systems, SEC

reporting, etc.

INDUSTRY AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL NEWSPAPER FINANCIAL EXECUTIVES

Chairman, Media Advisory Credit Services

Member, Broadcast Cable Financial Management Member, Financial

Executives International (FEI)

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