Manager Sales

MELANIE KERNS, CPA

*** ******** ******* ****: 615-***-****

Dickson, Tennessee 37055 ***********@*****.***

Strengths

• Highly motivated and organized with the ability to manage multiple responsibilities and delegate appropriately.

• Self-starter experienced in problem solving using research and past experience.

• Vast experience in mergers and acquisitions.

• Experienced in personnel management. Minimal turnover within department during 11-year tenure with OHL.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Vast financial reporting experience including multi-site, multi-state profit centers; advanced consolidations;

acquisitions; advanced equity transactions.

Credentials

• Bachelors’ Degree in Accounting from the University of Tennessee, 1987.

• CPA Certificate, 1990

• 4 years experience in Public Accounting; William Puryear and Company 1987-1989; Deloitte & Touche 1989-

1991.

• Approximately 18 years of experience in financial management; the last two years as CFO.

• Approximately 11 years of experience with single company.

Experience

• Hickory Hardware, Inc. – Vice President of Finance and IT (CFO) (2007 – 4/09)

• Ozburn-Hessey Logistics – Vice President, Corporate Controller (1996 – 2007)

• Bank of Dickson – Vice President Financial Reporting (1994-1996)

• National Recovery Technologies – Accounting Manager (1991-1994)

• Deloitte & Touche – Senior Auditor (1989 – 1991)

• William Puryear & Co. – Staff Accountant, Audit Senior (1987 – 1989)

Primary Duties & Responsibilities with Hickory Hardware

Pre-sell of Hickory Hardware to Melrose, PLC:

• Functional Areas - Overseeing the IT, AP, AR, Customer Credit, Cash and Invoicing Functions (staff of 21).

• Staffing - Overseeing staff of Controllers, IT Manager and staff accountants (staff of 5).

• Financial Reporting - Overall monthly, quarterly and annual consolidated reporting for actual results and

forecasts. Consolidation of approximately seven separate entities.

• External Audits - Coordinating annual financial audits and working with external auditors to complete the

consolidated audit and related reporting.

• Research - Researching accounting issues and proposing resolutions or compliance as necessary.

• Financial Policies – Developing/maintaining up-to-date and relevant financial policies. Reviewing/enforcing

consistency in application of financial policies among all operating units.

• Cash Management – Oversee daily cash activity and prepare weekly and monthly cash forecasts.

• Presentations – Preparation of financial reports, graphics and power point presentations that accurately and

efficiently reflect actual and projected financial performance used during budget reviews and during

sale/acquisition meetings with potential buyers.

Post-sell of Hickory Hardware to Melrose, PLC:

• Due Diligence – Coordinating and preparing financial information requests for potential buyers of the three

product divisions.

• Sale of Product Divisions – Reviewing sales agreements and overseeing the ultimate sales transactions

including the transfer of assets, liabilities and personnel of five remote facilities to buyers.

2

• Closure of Facility – Preparation and overseeing of closing plan and budgets including termination of

employees, liquidation of fixed assets and inventory, and ultimate shutdown of warehouse and business.

Accomplishments with Hickory Hardware

Pre-sell of Hickory Hardware to Melrose, PLC:

• Successfully restructured the Finance Department eliminating approximately $400k in annual costs.

• Successfully coordinated the correction of EDI data within the software system and implemented plan to

complete five months of backlogged invoicing within 60 days.

• Successfully coordinated the improvement of cash flow from negative $4 million in Sep 07 to positive $3

million in Jun 08 by correcting EDI billing, increasing cash collections and cutting costs.

• Successfully restructured the IT Department by adding EDI programmers and an IT Manager.

• Successfully increased the percentage of current AR from 66% in Sep 07 to 83% in Jun 08.AR DOS decreased

from 60 days to 45 during the same period.

Post-sell of Hickory Hardware to Melrose, PLC:

• Successfully participated in the lay off/termination of approximately 300 employees.

• Successfully coordinated the sell of the three product divisions to three different buyers.

• Successfully coordinated the financial treatment of assets and liabilities for the opening balance sheet as part of

the acquisition of Melrose.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities with Ozburn-Hessey Logistics

• Functional Areas - Overseeing the AP, AR, and Payroll functions (staff of 9).

• Staffing - Overseeing staff of Regional Controllers and staff accountants (staff of 9).

• Financial Reporting - Overall monthly, quarterly and annual consolidated reporting for actual results and

forecasts. Consolidation of approximately 20 separate entities.

• External Audits - Coordinating annual financial & insurance audits and working with external auditors to

complete the consolidated audit and related reporting.

• Account Reconciliations - Ensuring accurate and timely reporting of corporate entity accounting transactions,

account reconciliations, etc.

• Research - Researching accounting issues and proposing resolutions or compliance as necessary.

• Financial Policies – Developing/maintaining up-to-date and relevant financial policies. Reviewing/enforcing

consistency in application of financial policies among all operating units.

• Acquisitions - Integration of newly acquired companies including development of opening Balance Sheet;

analyzing financial processes and systems; and creating and implementing the over all Accounting integration

plan.

• Cash Management – Oversee daily cash activity including investment of excess cash; pay down of debt, etc.

• Financial Software – Continuous evaluation of financial reporting system related to scalability, cost and

performance

• Sox Compliance – Establishment of accounting policies and internal controls in anticipation of future public

offerings.

• Board Presentations – Preparation of financial reports, graphics and power point presentations that accurately

and efficiently reflect actual and projected financial performance.

Accomplishments with Ozburn-Hessey Logistics

• Devised and implemented the “blueprint” for the overall accounting function that allowed OHL to grow

from $36 million in net annual sales in 1996 to $400 million in 2006.

• Successfully completed the integration of seven acquisitions over a six-year period.

• Successfully completed due diligence requirements for two separate equity transactions with private equity

groups.

• Successfully completed three payroll implementations over a period of six years.

• Successfully grew the finance/accounting group from two people to twenty-five.

**References available upon request.

3

Contact this candidate