Controller, Assistant Controller, Accounting Manager
Resume:
Henry S. Cohn
Henry S. Cohn
*** ****** ***** ~ Petaluma, CA 94954 ~ ************@*****.*** ~ 415-***-****
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Accomplished Senior-Level Financial Professional with a comprehensive and diverse background in accounting and financial management. Skilled in managing and motivating accounting/finance organizations while stewarding assets as large as $25B. Adept in identifying financial performance drivers, implementing process improvements, and streamlining daily activities. Instrumental in achieving financial as well as business objectives while working collaboratively with teams. Reputation for integrity, problem solving abilities, work ethic, and superior quantitative skills. Technical proficiency in SAP, Great Plains, FRX, MS Office, and QuickBooks. Foreign language fluency in German.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Financial Planning & Analysis • Financial Management • Accounting • Financial Reporting
Financial Forecasting & Budgeting • Auditing & Internal Controls
Strategic Decision-Making • Process Improvement • GAAP & FASB Compliance • ERP Systems
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
1. Appointed as the Interim Director of Finance at the Jewish Community Center (JCC) of San Francisco; improved operations management and donation accounting.
2. Reconstructed history of multiple endowments to determine original gift amounts and ensure compliance with donors' intentions.
3. Created a dashboard to provide the Board of Directors with an easy overview of the Jewish Community Center's financial results and investments associated with the JCC's bonds.
4. Reduced audit adjustments from 30 to fewer than 10 within 4 months after accepting new position.
5. Calculated a unique tax credit retroactively for 3 years, which resulted in a $3M tax benefit.
6. Prepared "white paper" on multi-employer pension plans, which avoided a $2M charge against earnings.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
BIRKENSTOCK USA, Novato, CA (2012 – Present)
U.S. distributor for the Birkenstock family of shoes.
Assistant Controller
Maintain the general ledger for 4 separate companies. Process inter-company transactions. Manage the monthly closing process including preparation of financial statements and review of general ledger reconciliations. Manage banking relationships. Prepare regulatory filings and compile data for preparation of tax returns. Perform analytical review for month-over-month variances. Supervise staff of 3 responsible for the accounting functions. Act as backup for the controller. Heavy user of EXCEL, especially pivot tables and vlookup function.
Key Achievements:
1. Quickly caught up on backlog of work and expedited the closing cycle.
2. Developed allocation methodology to equitably distribute costs among the various shoe brands.
3. Enhanced usage of Great Plains accounting system.
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF SAN FRANCISCO, San Francisco, CA (2007 – 2012)
Second largest stand-alone Jewish Community Center in North America with $30M in revenues and 300 employees.
Controller
Directed all aspects of controllership and financial stewardship duties. Implemented the vision and strategy that promoted development, implementation, and management of finance department protocols. Supervised 3 accountants responsible for accounting and budgeting functions. Directed general ledger activity and closing processes. Evaluated monthly actual vs. budget variances. Coordinated annual audits and preparation of tax returns.
Key Achievements:
1. Pioneered efforts to streamline daily activities, introduced process improvements, and implemented change management strategies to enhance efficiency.
2. Prepared and presented financial packages to the Finance Committee and Board of Directors, which aided in business decision-making.
3. Spearheaded efforts to improve donation accounting and management using sound business acumen.
4. Achieved 3 highly successful external audits with no audit adjustments.
5. Ensured compliance with new FASB rules as well as drafting complex notes disclosures in accordance with new FASB pronouncements.
ARYSTA LIFESCIENCE CORPORATION, San Francisco, CA and Cary, NC (1999 – 2007)
Second-tier manufacturer and distributor of crop-protection products with $300M in revenues.
Accounting Manager
Provided operational direction to a 7-person accounting department. Oversaw monthly closings, annual audits, and corporate tax filings. Served as the primary end user of the SAP FI/CO module. Managed domestic and foreign banking relationships. Ensured internal control compliance. Identified proper accounting treatment for non-recurring transactions in accordance with GAAP. Facilitated multi-state and US government filings. Developed financial reports for Tokyo-based parent company. Played a key role in international operations while directing accounting functions for wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary. Held functional authority for the company’s Mexican subsidiary.
Key Achievements:
1. Identified $1M in unrecorded revenue while reconstructing accounts receivable history for customers in the Russian Federation.
2. Spearheaded the improvement of audit results and reduced audit adjustments from 30 to 10 within 4 months.
3. Charged with fiduciary responsibility for a $50M line of credit.
4. Garnered recognition as a strategic agent for change that enabled physical company relocation, consolidation of operations, continuous improvement in cross-functional processes, and formalization of documentation procedures and review processes.
5. Championed efforts to minimize foreign currency exposure while conducting currency swaps and forward exchanges.
Early Career:
Manager of Corporate Accounting / Director-Management Reporting and Budgeting – Pacific Gas & Electric Company
Staff Accountant – KPMG Peat Marwick
EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS
Bachelor of Science, Accounting
UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO, San Francisco, CA; Graduated Summa Cum Laude
Credentials: CPA (Inactive)
AFFILIATIONS
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
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