Customer Service Manager

James Vander Biezen

Lynwood, IL

**********@*****.***

(772) 781- 9045

Experience

Petersen Dean - South/East Region May 2006 -

Present

Controller

Responsible for this $100 million region's financial and operational

activities - Accounting (monthly close process, Accounts Payable,

Accounts Receivable, Billing), Forecasting/Budgeting, Credit/Collections,

Contract Processing, Customer Service, Purchasing, Safety and Quality

Control.

Accomplishments included -

. Returned Petersen Dean - Florida to profitability in a very

difficult housing market through the constant review/analysis of

the company's operating expenses and employee staffing levels.

. The successful integration of two acquisitions (totaling $100

million in annual revenue). The integration tasks included

transitioning the company's activities to a new accounting and

operating system, hiring and training employees and

developing/implementing policies and procedures.

. The implementation of Fortune 500 level accounting policies and

procedures at the two acquired companies.

. The recruitment and training of an excellent management team

covering all key administrative positions.

. Managed a significant improvement in the collection of receivables

despite the downturn in the economy.

Tropical Shipping May 2000-May

2006

Controller

Responsible for all the financial and operational activities of a $400

million company - Accounting, Forecasting, Budgeting, Internal Audit,

Legal and Risk Management.

. Monthly activities included the review of journal entries,

financial statements and the approval of company's earnings,

oversight of the forecasting and budgeting processes and the

direction of the company's legal and audit staffs.

. Quarterly activities related to the preparation of the audited

financial statements and footnotes, review of the Sarbanes Oxley

related internal controls, interaction with the external audit team

and a presentation of the financial results to the company's Board

of Directors and Audit Committee.

. Annual activities included the preparation of the year-end

financial statements, year-end audit work, oversight of the annual

budget and 3-year planning processes and review and approval of the

audit plan.

Accomplishments included -

. Successful financial integration of three significant acquisitions.

. A complete review of the Accounting area's staffing requirements

which resulted in a reduction in staffing and an annual savings of

over $500,000.

. The successful implementation of the Sarbanes Oxley control

requirements (resulting in a clean audit with zero deficiencies).

. Significant improvement in the timely collection of receivables

through an overhaul of the company's collection policies and

procedures.

Nicor Gas March 1984 - May

2000

Gas Transportation Manager

. Responsibilities included oversight of the revenue accounting

function and coordination of all aspects of the utility's business

with the gas transportation group such as rate implementation,

contract processing, gas nominations and credit and collections.

Financial Accounting Manager

. Responsibilities included the preparation of the utility's internal

financial statements for Senior Management, Securities and Exchange

Commission reporting (10K, 10Q, 8K & Annual Report), Illinois

Commerce Commission Annual reporting (FERC style requirements),

balance sheet reconciliations and maintenance of the accounting

area's policies and procedures.

Subsidiaries Accounting Manager

. Responsibilities included preparation of the consolidated Nicor

financial statements, preparation of the financial statements for

the smaller subsidiaries, balance sheet reconciliations and

internal Nicor financial statement reporting to Senior Management.

Corporate Accounting Supervisor

. Responsibilities included journal entries, internal financial

statement preparation, creation of the monthly key performance

indicators package for Senior Management and balance sheet and bank

reconciliations.

Joined Nicor Gas as a Staff Accountant in 1984. Promoted quickly through

staff positions in Forecasting/budgeting, Regional Accounting and Financial

Accounting Research. In addition to the accounting experiences, Nicor Gas

provided me with opportunities in Operations Management.

Accomplishments included -

. As the first manager of a newly created Gas Transportation area,

established a complete department to handle the utility's revenue

accounting function and the transportation customer's gas

nominations, contract processing, credit and collections and

customer service activities.

. Developed a sophisticated forecasting model that allowed the

Officer group to determine which of the failing oil and gas

subsidiary's assets should be written down or sold.

. Increased the Direct Mail Marketing program's annual revenue stream

from $200,000 to over $1 million by convincing the Officer group to

expand the field of approved advertisers and then landing the new

business.

Education

B.S. Accounting, DePaul University, March 1984

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