Sales Manager

JOHN M. BENSON, CPA

** ****** **** **** ****: 973-***-****

Ringwood, NJ 07456 **************@***.*** Cell: 973-***-****

A results-oriented, highly motivated Finance Professional with over twenty years of experience within

multi-national corporations. Particular expertise in Accounting Operations / General Accounting,

Internal Control Systems, Business Integrations, Sales Finance, Internal Audit and IT Systems

Implementations. Industry background in medical devices, consumer products and retail.

• Controllership

• SEC Reporting and Compliance

• Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting

• Internal Control Documentation and Assessment

• Cash Management / Expense Control / Operational Efficiencies

• Policy and Procedure Development / Documentation

• Staff Development & Management

SyntheMed, Inc, Iselin, NJ 2006 - Present

(Development stage medical technology company which manufactures anti-adhesion products based on

proprietary bioresorbable polymer technology)

Controller

Responsible for all aspects of the financial accounting / management reporting functions as well as SEC

reporting and compliance, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer.

• Identified, selected and implemented Microsoft Dynamics (Great Plains) Accounting System

software.

• Responsible for all aspects of the day to day accounting functions including the monthly,

quarterly and year end closings.

• Managed the external audit process.

• Responsible for all aspects of preparing the quarterly 10-Q’s, 10-K and Schedule 14A, ensuring

continued compliance with SEC regulations.

• Responsible for the coordination, preparation and communication to senior management of the

quarterly projection / annual budget process of P&L and Cash Flow.

• Presented quarterly / annual financial results to the Board of Directors.

• Responsible for all stock option accounting, ensuring compliance with FAS 123 (R).

• Created documentation of existing internal control policies and procedures, performed testing to

ensure compliance and identify areas of risk required by Sarbanes Oxley.

• Managed all aspects of the Sales Finance function in support of a direct sales force in the US and

independent distributors internationally.

BENSON APPRAISAL SERVICE, LLC, Ringwood, NJ 2005 - 2006

Licensed Residential Real Estate Appraiser and General Partner

Developed residential real estate appraisal company operating in Northern New Jersey. Performed

appraisal analysis to determine value of residential real estate for clients that include the Passaic County

Court and several local and national lending institutions.

STRYKER CORPORATION, Allendale, NJ 2003 - 2005

($1.75 Billion medical technology company with products in orthopaedics and other medical specialties)

Controller – US Spine Division (3/2003 – 6/2005)

Responsible for managing the financial accounting, financial reporting, Sales Finance and internal

control activities for the US Spine Division.

• Led team in the testing and documentation of existing internal control policies and procedures,

identifying areas of risk and developing procedures for remediation of identified risks in

compliance with Sarbanes Oxley.

• Led team in the implementation of the MFG PRO general ledger and accounts payable system

for the US Spine Division.

• Managed all aspects of the month end financial close process for the US Spine Division

including the preparation of the monthly / quarterly projections of Balance Sheet, P&L and Cash

Flow and preparation of annual budgets.

• Managed all aspects of the year end financial close process, ensuring accurate and timely

completion of all Corporate Tax and Audit Reporting packages.

• Developed financial policies and procedures to control the US Spine Division expenditures,

ensuring their compliance with Stryker policy.

• Managed Sales Finance function in support of the US sales force which was comprised of both

direct sales representation and independent brokers.

• Managed the Capital Appropriations process, ensuring compliance with Stryker policy.

UNILEVER BESTFOODS, N.A., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 1997 - 2002

(A $3.6 billion manufacturer and marketer of food and beverage products owned by Unilever.)

Finance Manager, Sales (2000 – 2002)

Responsible for analyzing and developing key performance indicators to track and control the $750

million Trade Spend budget. Additional responsibilities include sales and sales overhead reporting and

management of the Unilever Bestfoods Broker Field Audit team.

• Maintained control of the Unilever Bestfoods Trade Spend during the integration of the

Bestfoods business as evidenced by both Internal and External audits of this area.

• Refocused efforts of the Broker Field Audit team during the integration to ensure a controlled

transition of the Bestfoods business from a “Direct” sales force to a “Broker” based sales

force.

• Increased visibility and collection efforts of invalid deductions that resulted in customer

repayments in excess of $4.6mm during 2001.

Manager, Corporate Accounting (1997 – 2000)

Responsible for managing the General Accounting department. Responsibilities included managing the

monthly close process, maintenance of all general ledger account analysis in compliance with Unilever

policy and procedures and managed the external audit engagement requirements with PwC.

• Managed the transfer of the Van Den Bergh General Accounting function from Lisle, IL into

Englewood Cliffs, NJ, required as a result of the merger between Lipton and Van Den Bergh

Foods.

• Redesigned the General Accounting departmental structure to meet the needs of the “post

merger” Lipton.

• Worked as part of a multidisciplinary team to implement the SAP general ledger.

Manager, Accounts Payable (1997)

COMPASS FOODS “EIGHT O”CLOCK COFFEE”, Montvale, NJ 1993 – 1997

Controller, Compass Foods (1995 – 1997)

Assistant Controller, Compass Foods (1993 – 1995)

GREAT ATLANTIC & PACIFIC TEA CO., INC, Montvale, NJ 1989 - 1993

Senior Auditor

1987 - 1989

THE BOC GROUP, INC, Murry Hill, NJ

Senior Auditor

FINKLE & COMPANY, Secaucus, NJ 1983 - 1987

Senior Accountant

B.B.A., ACCOUNTING, ST. BONAVENTURE UNIVERSITY

CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT, NEW YORK

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