Mark Niemela
***** **** ****-********** **, Fall City, WA 98024
206-***-**** / ***********@*****.***
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-niemela-0956275/
SUMMARY
My focus is to help organizations manage risk and maximize return on investment by building efficient, scalable, cross-functional teams and processes. This focus is coupled with over 20+ years of professional experience with diverse global brands ranging from GM, GE, Disney, Starbucks, Nintendo, and Microsoft.
Areas of specialization:
Executive management consultation and advice on business strategies and philosophies
Collaborative process design particularly in Business Planning & Forecasting
Strategic Planning & Strategic Partner Management
Risk Management & Continuous Improvement
Sales & Marketing Effectiveness/Analytics
Account Management, Inside Sales & Retention Sales
Financial tools including Oracle (Demantra), SAP (RAR), EDI
EXPERIENCE
Virtuosity Consulting Group (Microsoft)
Financial Consultant – Finance Business Intelligence Operations/Channel Management
May 2017-December 2017
Virtuosity Consulting is focused on execution and delivery with a see it, own it, solve it approach. My role focuses on supporting Microsoft’s worldwide revenue reporting systems, processes and users.
Conduct reconciliations and audits of licensing revenue streams. Answer service requests for global channel partners as they submit sales and inventory data
Performed business operational duties including interfacing with various source systems, ensuring data quality and responsibility for daily, weekly, and monthly SLAs
Experience with SAP, RAR, MS Sales, ICMODS, EDI, Skype, and SQL while working with virtual teams supporting Microsoft’s finance and revenue operations
Nintendo of America
Senior Manager, Forecasting & Product Planning - Business Planning Department
January 2005-February 2017
Nintendo of America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nintendo and operates the U.S., Canada, and Latin America Markets. My role manages the software launch forecast process, planning, and analysis of both physical retail & digital video game software releases. Cross-functional collaboration with Sales & Marketing, Retail Strategy, and Sales Planning & Analysis helped achieve significant improvement in game software weeks of supply both on hand and at retail while minimizing lost sales.
Collaborative, Iterative Forecast Process Design
Leverage internal data & analytics to integrate Linear Regression model into process
Implement process improvements in collaboration with Internal Audit Department
Executive Management internal counsel via strategic scenario planning
Maximize return on investment by providing strategic decision support to Senior Leadership Team
Starbucks
Senior Business Analyst - Retail Finance
February 2002-January 2005
Execution of Business Management and coordination of Financial Management Services in support of the Director of Merchandise and Whole Bean Coffee at U.S. retail stores.
Coordination of 5 year Strategic Plan including risk and opportunity analysis
Forecasting at store level and total U.S. market for Annual Operating Plan
Balanced Scorecards & Portfolio Roadmaps
Presentation of weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual Business Reviews
Retail Finance Management including Budgeting, Forecasting, Actuals, Monthly Closes, and Accruals
The Walt Disney Internet Group
Strategic Account Manager - Advertising Operations
1998-2001
Strategic Partnership Management acting as the internal advocate and key account contact for multi-million dollar online advertising and branding relationships across Disney websites including ABCnews.com, ESPN.com, Disney.com.
Relationship Management, Customer Service Management, and Add-on/Retention Sales
Managed the execution of online advertising campaigns from asset creation, to production, and delivery to branded websites
Directed the Forecasting, Budgeting, and Analysis of online paid marketing campaigns
Key Account included managing the $20 million marketing investment from MBNA Bank across Disney owned online properties
GE Capital
Client Retention Specialist, Customer Service Specialist, Accounting Analyst
1995-1998
GMAC Financial Assurance
Account Representative - Credit/Collections
1993-1994
Education & Community Involvement
MBA - Seattle University
BA Finance, English Minor - Washington State University
Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, WSU Men’s Soccer Club
Cascade FC, Head Coach, May 2008 – May 2014, NSCAA Junior Level VI license