Post Job Free
Sign in

Accounting Human Resources

Location:
Austin, TX, 78752
Posted:
March 09, 2010

Contact this candidate

Resume:

Ronald D. Ratliff, CPA

**** ********* ***** ( Cedar Park, TX 78613

512-***-**** Res 512-***-**** Cell ( abnc8b@r.postjobfree.com

SENIOR EXECUTIVE - OPERATIONS / FINANCE

Performance driven leader with a strong track record of delivering

significant improvements in profits, performance, cash and working capital.

Utilize keen analysis, insights and team approach to drive organizational

improvements and implementation of best practices. Superior interpersonal

skills, capable of resolving multiple and complex (financial, operational,

sales, human resources) issues and motivating staff to peak performance.

Significant global experience gained through leadership roles at Deloitte &

Touch and Ernst & Young.

Proven areas of expertise include:

( Strategic Planning & Organizational Leadership (

Accounting & Finance

( Budgeting & Cost Management ( Growth &

Expansion Strategies

( Global Joint Ventures ( Profitability

& Cost Analysis

( Process Design & Productivity Improvement ( Systems &

Technology Utilization

( Team Building & Performance Improvement ( Contract

Negotiations

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Certified Public Accountant / Management Consultant June 2008 - Present

Ron Ratliff, CPA ( Austin, TX

Founder of local CPA firm specializing in coaching small to mid-sized

business owners in areas of strategic planning, financial management,

internal controls and operations. Actively promoting Financial Literacy in

the Workplace training programs. A Dave Ramsey Certified Financial

Counselor.

As Owner and Founder, responsible for developing a vision and mission for a

small CPA firm seeking to have a major impact on the lives of small

business owners, their families, and their employees through application of

"God's and Grandma's ways of managing money". Our coaching program

includes teaching clients how to achieve profitability in the near term

(live on less than you make) and to build value (wealth) by improving their

skills at managing money.

Chief Financial Officer Oct 2006 - Mar 2008

Lutheran Social Services of the South ( Austin, TX

Large non-profit agency with one of the largest private foster care

providers in the state of Texas, 4 residential treatment centers for

children and adolescents, several independent and assisted living

facilities in Texas and Louisiana and disaster response services to the

Gulf Coast (TX, LA, and MS).

Reporting to the CEO, recruited to bring fiscal discipline, consistency and

improved service levels to meet diverse and challenging needs. Assumed

accountability for Accounting, IT, Risk Management, Purchasing and

Construction. Manage 6 direct and 50 indirect reports. Work closely with

executives and line managers in all Divisions to identify areas for

improvement, communicate policies/procedures, and reengineer systems and

workflows to improve efficiencies. Particularly challenged to turn around

performance of back-logged accounting department suffering from the extreme

requirements and volumes attributed to Hurricane Katrina relief.

Notable Accomplishments:

> Led transition from Oracle Financial software to financial accounting

software specifically developed for non-profit organizations

(Blackbaud). Implemented integrated HR/Benefits/Payroll solution for

the 1,000-employee agency (ADP). Result: forecasting annual savings

of over $750K in software maintenance and support costs.

> Sponsored IT initiative to develop a web-based foster care management

system allowing foster care workers and families to access records on

a real-time basis.

> Documented all accounts payable procedures to identify bottle-necks

and redundancies. Eliminated unnecessary levels of approval and

slashed payment request processing times 84% from 45 days to 7 days

Ronald D. Ratliff Page 2 of 3

Consultant Jan 2005 - Oct 2006

Ratliff Business Services

Took sabbatical to attend to urgent family matters (now fully resolved).

Provided guidance and consulting to small and medium-size businesses.

Chief Financial Officer / Administrative Partner Nov 1997 - Dec 2004

Deloitte & Touche ( Moscow, Russia

"Big 4" and one of the world's leading Audit, Tax & Consulting firms.

Recruited to assume fiscal and back-office leadership of Finance, IT,

Marketing, Human Resources, Compliance, Facilities and Administrative

functions. Challenged to introduce formal policies, procedures and best

practice systems and methodologies to improve productivity, reduce costs

and support growth. Member of Executive Management Team shaping strategic

direction of the firm. Managed 6 direct reports and 200 staff across

multiple offices.

Notable Accomplishments:

Instrumental in driving revenues 1463% from $8M to $125M in 6 years.

Noted for developing financial model that led to the formation of the first

Professional Services Partnership.

Supported growth from <200 employees in 4 offices and 3 countries to over

2,000 staff in 11 offices, 8 countries and 13 time zones.

Recognized for revamping accounting processes that dramatically slashed

monthly closing cycle and provided real-time ad-hoc reporting to support

improved forecasting and decision-making.

Fostered greater awareness of profit drivers. Noted for replacing weak

Time & Billing system with real-time, web-based system that increased

accuracy, dramatically shortened invoice production cycle, and provided

accurate records of staff utilization and profit realization.

Improved cash management functions including selecting appropriate

investments of cash on hand.

Managed internal and external audits to ensure compliance with statutory

and governmental requirements across multiple countries.

Joint Venture Controller Feb 1997 - Nov 1997

Royal Dutch Shell ( The Hague. Netherlands

Global group of energy and petrochemical companies.

Hired for short-term contract engagement to establish and direct a joint

venture accounting group for the Shell Salym Development Company created to

develop oil fields in Western Siberia. Challenged to assist Shell Salym

with resolving specific issues relating to Russian accounting standards and

Russian Tax accounting issues.

Notable Accomplishments:

Credited for avoiding excessive taxes and bureaucratic processes by meeting

with Russian Inspectors to detail Shell's accounting policies and reconcile

the differences between GAAP and Russian tax accounting standards.

Selected to assume additional responsibility to form a joint venture

accounting group to provide "outsourced" accounting services for all of

Shell's 10 Russian projects and 1 project in the South Atlantic.

Consolidated accounting group from staff of 20 to 4. Established single

chart-of-accounts and appropriate reporting and support systems.

Chief Financial Officer 1993 - 1996

Ernst & Young ( Moscow, Russia

One of the world's leading professional services organizations.

Joined firm to introduce improved fiscal controls and reporting processes

to support fast-growing region with 5 offices in 3 countries. Key member

of Operating Committee overseeing strategy and growth initiatives.

Directed activities of staff of 25.

Ronald D. Ratliff Page 3 of 3

Notable Accomplishments:

Credited for introducing tightened internal controls, greater fiscal

awareness and accountability throughout the firm.

Implemented new multilingual/multi-currency financial reporting system

(SCALA) providing both GAAP and local statutory reporting.

Delivered thousands to the bottom line by renegotiating all major service

contracts and equipment purchases.

Controller 1992 - 1993

Siberian-American Oil ( Russia & Houston, TX

U.S. and Russian joint venture formed to develop major oil field in the

Tyumen region of Western Siberia.

Recruited as Financial Controller charged to setup systems and processes to

support oil and gas joint venture.

Noted for setting up computer networks and accounting systems that

supported GAAP and Russian Accounting Standards.

Partner 1986 - 1991

Zuercher, Sturhahn & Co. ( Cassville, MO

Regional CPA firm.

Ran public practice firm in Southwest Missouri. Worked closely with dozens

of business executives to develop appropriate growth strategies, foster

fiscal controls, develop turnaround strategies, raise capital and ensure

compliance.

Earned a solid reputation for practical expertise resulting in high level

of repeat and referral clients.

EDUCATION & AFFILIATIONS

Bachelor of Arts ( Cum Laude

Oklahoma Baptist University ( Shawnee, OK

Certified Public Accountant ( Oklahoma, Texas

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants



Contact this candidate