Michael Wasserfuhr
Atlanta, GA • Mobile: 203-***-**** • *******.**********@*****.*** • LinkedIn.com/in/mwasserfuhr Bio: atlantatrend.org/profiles
Senior Finance and Operations Executive, MBA, PhD, CPA, with strong aptitude towards company-wide process improvement, workflow management, and risk mitigation/elimination. International background and experience, coupled with private, PE or public ownership. Seeking a CFO and/or COO role in a Technology-driven company or division with international presence or ambition.
Payment/Fraud/Big Data/SW Dev.: CNP and POS payment processing Vesta, Worldpay
Hi-Tech: PCI and EMV compliant payment terminals (stationary and mobile) Ingenico, ROAM
Manufacturing: Heavy equipment/machinery manufacturing, service and repair Putzmeister
B2B Services: Product safety testing and certification, ISO 9000, 14000, etc. TUV Rheinland
Banking: German Universal Bank (Commercial, Retail, Investment Bank) Commerzbank
US, German, French and British parent companies. Managed subs. in Ireland, Canada, Mexico, Brazil.
Strategy / Operations
Business Strategy Development & Execution
Rightsizing and Cost Reductions/RIFs
Continuous Improvement Process
IT, HR, Legal, Facility, and Call Center Mgmt.
Revenue Assurance and Chargeback Disputes
Fraud/Risk Management, Underwriting
Big Data Management and Monetization
Finance / Compliance / Risk
Working Capital and Inventory Management
Accounting, Budgeting, Analysis, Reporting, Tax
US-GAAP, IFRS; Internal and External Audits
Financial Planning and Treasury
Settlement (with Acquirers and Merchants)
Merchant/Processing Compliance: AML, PCI, SSAE
Data Compliance: PII, FCRA, EU Privacy Shield …
KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
In Growth Mode:
Developed Big Data monetization strategy under consideration of legal and regulatory restrictions.
Executed the strategic move into general e-commerce and building risk and underwriting infrastructure to effectively assess and manage merchant and customer credit/debit card fraud.
Efficiently balanced engineering/SW Dev. resources: R&D vs. Roadmap vs. NRE vs. maintenance.
Accelerated the integration of acquired targets and realigned back office teams (shared services).
Co-managed a company with exceptional growth over several years (CAGR > 40%).
Guided Executive Teams in balancing the need for operational expansion with appropriate OPEX and CAPEX development (focus on efficient software development and R&D).
Managed several due diligences. Lead negotiator in various asset and share deals. Represented the company in T&C negotiations with customers, strategic partners, distributors, and resellers.
Successfully executed a dual exit strategy under HQ leadership (IPO/strategic buyer scenarios); main contact with leading US-based Investment Banks.
Introduced an effective collection process, lowering DSO by 45 days and A/R despite growing sales.
In Contracting Mode:
Initiated cost savings across the company through organizational consolidation and workflow optimization (lean administration), resulting in substantial headcount reduction and general expense cutback (up to $30m annualized). Focused on core competencies and closed several divisions.
Installed a procurement function and started Vendor Relationship/Preferred Supplier Programs.
Spearheaded inventory reduction ($50m), resulting in cash surplus and balance sheet optimization.
Assessed and aligned company-wide processes and resources, resulting in added internal/external value, risk mitigation/elimination, customer satisfaction, reduced OPEX, and improved cash flow.
Implemented robust reporting tools with regional/country/divisional KPIs and fostered a KPI-based performance culture.
Measured and eliminated risk (currency, interest rate; transaction/translation risk), safeguarding substantial exchange rate gains (effectively lowering foreign-based material cost by 10%) and improving current ratio and debt to equity ratio.
Sales Support: Enhanced and supported sales strategies by:
Providing sales and marketing team with insight and creating ‘talking points’, addressing fiduciary responsibility/liability in regard to fraud and risk of Sr. Executives and Boards of potential customers.
Analytics-driven sales performance management (lead/opportunity conversion by vertical and rep.).
Direct involvement with customers and partners. Successfully negotiated terms and conditions (SLAs, data rights, limitation of liability etc.), involving legal, sales, engineering, IT/NOC, and call center SMEs.
Finalizing implementation of proprietary credit card program (parts sales with dealers and customers), and developing retail and wholesale financing tools (floor plans). Implemented manufacturer-sponsored operating lease program for used equipment.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
VESTA CORPORATION – Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Jan 2016 to Feb 2017
Integrated payment processing and fraud solutions in Card Not Present (CNP) space: online, mobile, IVR, call center. Big Data management and monetization.
WORLDPAY US – SVP and CFO 2015
Payment processing for POS/in-store; integrated/App-based payment solutions.
INGENICO NORTH AMERICA and ROAMDATA – SVP and CFO 2011 to 2015
Stationary and mobile payment devices (terminals, tablets, dongles); fully/semi/non-integrated.
PUTZMEISTER AMERICA – VP and CFO 2007 to 2010
Manufacturer, distributor and service provider of concrete pumps, conveyors and mortar machines.
TUV RHEINLAND OF NORTH AMERICA – VP and CFO 2000 to 2007
Provider of B2B services, including consulting, product testing and certification and ISO 9000, 14000.
COMMERZBANK, Frankfurt, Germany – Assistant VP 1994 to 2000
Germany’s second largest Universal Bank (Retail, Commercial, Investment Banking).
M&A advisory for bank clients, assistant to the Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors, Financial Analyst, and IT Project Controller.
LICENSES / EDUCATION
CPA Registered Certified Public Accountant with the State of Illinois 2003
Lead Auditor ISO 9001:2000 2002
PhD in Business Administration, Justus-Liebig-Universitaet Giessen, Germany 1998
MBA Graduated with Honors, Justus-Liebig-Universitaet Giessen 1993
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS / LANGUAGES / SYSTEMS
American Transaction Processors Coalition, Atlanta, GA: Finance Director (pro bono) (since 2013)
ATPC represents the primarily Atlanta/Georgia-based payment industry and promotes its interests through proactive public relations and government affairs activities.
TAG FinTech, Atlanta, GA: Member of the Board (since 2012)
FinTech's mission: Building Georgia as the hub of choice for the world's leading FinTech providers.
Director of German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest, Chicago, IL (2009 - 2011)
Dual Citizenship (US/German - native); Bilingual in English and German, basics in French.
Systems: SAP, Cognos TM1, QuickBooks, MS Office Suite, incl. Access, Salesforce.com