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Accounting Financial

Location:
Georgia
Posted:
October 14, 2017

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Resume:

Olga Hernandez-Longan

A forward-thinking and results-driven SENIOR FINANCE and OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE with demonstrated expertise in financial planning and analysis, accounting, strategic planning and operational improvement. Demonstrated competency addressing complex challenges through in-depth analysis and due diligence to produce dramatic improvements in efficiency, productivity, and business processes. A dynamic leader with unquestioned integrity who builds high-performing teams and creates cross functional relationships to grow the business. Possess solid international experience; multilingual in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French. Expertise includes:

International Finance and GAAP Accounting

SEC Reporting and Investor Relations

Strategic Planning and Implementation

Treasury, Commodity, and Currency Hedging

Sarbanes-Oxley 404 Implementation and Remediation

Acquisitions/Divestitures/Mergers/JVs

Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing

Financial Planning and Analysis

Information Systems Strategy & Implementation

Audit Management

Cash Management and Banking Relationships

Working Capital and Cost Management

Career Highlights

Completed a comprehensive financial and operational turnaround initiative at Van’s Natural Foods, which resulted in $6 million EBITDA improvement in one year.

Quickly identified significant accounting irregularities at NutraCea, which led to a correction of reported results from 2006 - 2008. Slashed EBITDA 2008 quarterly losses run rate by half in first 6 months of 2009.

Directed sale of a private Aerospace Company for 14x EBITDA to a French public company.

Led and implemented strategy for the financial turnaround at Ford in Brazil with fixed cost improvement of more than $40 million and cash enhancement activity of over $100 million.

Directed operational due diligence for Sara Lee’s $800 Million acquisition of Aoste Group based in Lyon, France; the company’s third largest acquisition at the time.

Experience

CORE STATES GROUP, Duluth, GA 2016- Present

Chief Financial Officer

Responsible for all Accounting, Tax, Planning & Reporting, Treasury and Internal Controls, Risk Management for $80+ million Architectural/Engineering/Construction firm. As first CFO, recommended legal restructuring of all 3 S-Corp businesses as well as directed the registration of the business in Canada to allow them to do work legally.

CALIFORNIA DAIRIES INC, Visalia, CA 2016-2017

Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Responsible for all Accounting, Tax, Financial Planning & Reporting, Treasury and Internal Controls, Risk Management and IT for $4+ billion dairy production cooperative with 400+ members. Reported to CEO and responsible for financial results, hedging of commodities and de-risking inventory as well a reporting to the Board of Directors (16 Coop Board Members) at Monthly Board meetings. Initiated changes in inventory hedging programs in partnership with Sales as well as put in motion Cybersecurity and new ERP initiatives. Reported 2016 with 80% improved Net Income over budget.

HM. CLAUSE (a business unit of LIMAGRAIN SA), Davis, CA 2013-2016

Global Chief Financial Officer

Responsible for all Accounting (Local GAAP and IFRS), US and Foreign Tax, Financial Planning & Reporting, Treasury and Internal Controls for $350+ million seed production company in 30+ countries through 2 hubs (AMPA and EMEA).

Directed and implemented strategy that improved working capital and delivered record operating profit and cash flows for the business unit for 2 consecutive years.

Modified planning/reporting to improve information management for Global Strategic Team.

Strategically overhauled the Finance Organization for improved performance and scalability in the midst of extremely high growth. Regionalized key finance positions with informational roll-ups and realigned Finance personnel along departmental lines.

Harmonized 15+ different chart of accounts globally. Initiated the administration of a Accounting policy manual

Key member of Global Strategic Team, AMPA Pension and Retirement Committee, AMPA Operating Committee (Chair), Audit Committee (Chair), and a Limagrain Executive. Also acted as AMPA CFO.

LONGAN INTERIM EXECUTIVE SERVICES 2006-2013

Principal

Engaged or contracted for specific business projects, financial turnarounds and/or interim Financial Executive placement with concentration on mid-sized public and private corporations. Noteworthy assignments:

Chief Financial Officer, BE LABS LLC, Seattle, WA (2013)

CFO services for multi-startup entrepreneur.

Interim Chief Financial Officer, NORTHWEST AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIES, Everett, WA (2012-2013)

Engaged as first CFO for $60+ million privately held Engineering Services & Manufacturing company to help with due diligence process. Ended in successful sale of NAT to Zodiac.

Interim Chief Operating Officer, SUNSTREAM BOATLIFTS, Kent, WA (2012)

Assignment for $20M boatlift manufacturer to assist meeting in-season delivery deadlines.

VP, Finance and Corporate Controller, INTERMEC TECHNOLOGIES, Everett, WA (2011)

Rebuilt Finance team to ensure optimal reporting and accounting for $700M Tech Company in turnaround. Recommended and implemented improvements including new consolidation software and royalty payments resulting in $300,000.

CFO AND COO, VAN’S NATURAL FOODS, INC., Phoenix, AZ (2009-2010)

Contracted by Private Equity company to align operating costs and functions within Manufacturing, Quality Assurance and Food Safety, Purchasing, Supply Chain, Accounting, Financial Reporting, Cost Accounting, Legal, Human Resources, and IT departments. Instrumental in assuring US GAAP accuracy in accounting and reporting.

Directed and implemented strategy for successful business turnaround through maximizing organizational capability to produce high quality products in its manufacturing facility.

Increased and enhanced manufacturing capacity by 75% through $400,000 of added capital; directed the team in setting optimal inventory levels required to fulfill orders by 98%.

Effectively realigned Accounting; identified standards on 26 SKUs and developed metrics to track progress. Managed cash as well as line of credit with timely bank covenant reporting.

Chief Financial Officer, NUTRACEA, INC., Phoenix, AZ (2008-2009)

$25 million Rice Bran manufacturer in Turnaround. Discovered, investigated and reported accounting inconsistencies. Charged with directing Accounting, Finance, Treasury/Cash Management, SEC External Reporting, Investor and Shareholder Relations, HR and IT.

Cultivated solid relationships with external counsel, external auditors, and forensic accountants to comply with SEC inquiries that led to a three-year financial restatement (2006-2008) and formal SEC Investigation.

TATUM LLC, Chicago, IL 2006-2008

Partner – Interim Executive Services

Limited-duration CFO engagements, with concentration on mid-sized public and private corporations with focus on controllership, mergers/acquisitions/divestitures, IT leadership, manufacturing finance, business strategy, and corporate restructuring.

Interim CFO, UHY ADVISORS, Chicago, IL (2008)

Three-month assignment for $150 million privately held accounting services firm.

Interim Chief Financial Officer, TERLATO WINE GROUP (2007-2008)

Assignment for $200M luxury wine producer and distributor. Responsible for accounting, financial planning, and M&A/JV functions. Enhanced winery ROA through procurement.

Interim SVP Finance and CFO, WELLS DAIRY, INC. - BLUE BUNNY (2006-2007)

Assignment for $1 billion+ ice cream/novelty manufacturer. Restructured capital debt and equity. Improved manufacturing costs thru identifying gaps within manufacturing processes.

WAL-MART STORES INTERNATIONAL, Bentonville, AR 2004-2006

Vice President and Controller

Led Finance, Accounting & Reporting, IT, Internal Compliance and Controls for $65 billion+ International Segment in 15 countries. Internal reporting included weekly P&L forecasts for segment, daily sales flash, monthly P&L Review, Annual Business Plan, and Strategic Plan. Collaborated with Strategy group on due diligence and strategic direction for potential acquisitions/JVs and work on the integration. Responsible for valuations, opening entry and purchase accounting activity. Prepared and reviewed SEC External reporting requirements (MD&A, footnotes, etc.) for the International segment for Wal-Mart’s 10Q, 10K, and 8K filings.

Investigated/quantified impact of changes in GAAP accounting standards (e.g., Rent Holidays; EITF 5-6; FIN 46R).

Implemented Sarbanes-Oxley 404 processes for each country, including scoping, process ownership, deficiency reporting, and recommendation in conjunction with internal audit. Made country CFOs accountable for SOX 404 compliance.

Designed and established SOX 404 M&A Gap Assessment Model to recognize compliance gaps prior to investing in potential acquisitions as part of due diligence process.

Initiated compilation of an Accounting and Finance Policy Manual in February 2005

FORD MOTOR COMPANY, Dearborn, MI 2001-2004

Controller, Customer Service and Operations, Dearborn, MI (2003-2004)

Responsible for Strategic and Financial Planning, Accounting, Reporting, IT, Pricing for 250,000 active Parts and Service Agreement Business for the FCSD Americas, approx. $6 billion in revenues. P&L responsibility for two separate JVs.

Conceptualized and initiated a pricing “pull-ahead” strategy that resulted in $40 million additional profit.

Planned and implemented strategic goals to generate incremental profit expectations, which resulted in 25% profit increase from 2002 to 2003. Set 2004 profit goals to over-deliver budgeted profits by 25%.

Found gaps in original Blue Diamond Truck JV; wrote addendum that gave Ford revenue for parts sales.

Chief Financial Officer, Ford of Brazil, Sao Paolo, Brazil (2001-2003)

Responsible for Finance, Accounting, Treasury and Procurement for business totaling $3 billion in revenue. Restructured existing business during operational turnaround successfully resulting in significant fixed cost improvements, including union negotiated rates. Worked closely with Sales, Marketing and Ford Credit, on trade spending optimization as well as Dealer floor plan financing. Member of New Product Launch Team for Novo Fiesta and EcoSport, ensuring that products launch profitably.

Directed realignment of business during operational turnaround, which led to sustained fixed cost improvements, enhanced revenue, and improved cash management within a hyperinflationary market.

Reached operational break-even in fourth quarter of 2002, which has since been sustained annually.

Directed restructure of balance sheet debt to hedge against significant currency devaluation effects and localized $600 million of US Dollar denominated debt.

Controller, Vehicle Procurement Operations, Dearborn, MI (2001)

Responsibility for accounting, planning and attaining productivity requirements for VPO group, $40 billion+ in purchases. Provided strategic guidance to purchasing group and set in motion financial policies relating to accounting areas. Drove VPO to attain productivity cost goals in ten months. Selected as one of 15 high-potentials annually to participate in 8-week Executive Partnering Program (elite developmental shadowing program).

Initiated analysis on supplier-owned tooling policy, recommending a change in policy to Ford- owned tooling. Executive leaders unanimously approved creating in new negotiating platform for VPO. Tooling initiative coupled with a proposal for policy change on currency accounting for purchase orders saved $600 million.

EATON CORPORATION, Southfield, MI 1999-2001

Chief Financial Officer, Automotive Controls Operations, Worldwide

Responsible for Finance, Accounting, Business Development and IT for ACO, $1.4 billion in revenues. Streamlined operations, implemented ERP systems, and strategic business planning,

Initiated strategic analysis for Vehicle Switch & Electronics that resulted in divestiture proposal. Successfully sold to Delphi.

Additional Experience

SARA LEE CORPORATION, CHICAGO, IL - Director, Business Planning; Controller - Sara Lee Meats Worldwide Director, International Finance – Sara Lee Meats Worldwide (5 years)

AT&T CAPITAL CORPORATION - Director, Operations Support and Analysis (NCR); Regional Accounting and Finance Manager, Capital, Leasing Services (3 years)

Education

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Double Major in Finance and Accounting/Tax

Mercer University, Stetson School of Business and Economics, Atlanta, GA

BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Major in Finance

Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL

Professional Training: 8-Week Executive Shadowing Program (New Business Leader Training) – Ford Motor Company; Six Sigma Quality Training (Green Belt Designation) - Ford Motor Company; Performance through Ethical Leadership (Soderquist Center for Leadership) – Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Professional Affiliations & Board Activity

Member, International Women’s Forum November 2015; Executive Advisor, Automotive Women’s Alliance, 2001-2010; Advisory Board Member, Rockhurst University, 2005; Board Member and Audit Committee Chair, OE Connection, 2003-2004



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