Kenneth “Paul” LaPier

***** ****** **** **, *******, TX 75089

Phone: 214-***-****, E-Mail: ac6srp@r.postjobfree.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-lapier-a7b822/

Senior Finance & Tax Professional

A senior finance & tax professional with over 3 decades of rich and extensive experience in spearheading & managing a wide range of strategic financial functions in the areas of telecommunications, transportation, technology, insurance & manufacturing. Proficient in management of tax compliance function, financial reporting, budgeting, tax audit management/negotiation, training, mentoring, tax provision, team leadership and oversight of information development and reporting. Strong skills in implementing accounting procedures, finalization of statutory accounts, MIS and liaison, coordination and interaction with statutory authorities/departments. Proven ability to improve operations, impact business growth & maximize profits through contributions in financial management, cost reductions & productivity improvements. Adept at leading and managing various key accounting projects; ensured successful and smooth completion and execution of all projects well within the given time, cost, and quality parameters.

~ Spearheaded large project to create a new entity to provide procurement services to all US touching BT entities to shield the company from potentially high surcharges and tax audit exposure.

~ Minimized surcharge/tax audit risk by correctly mapping and invoicing over 200 contracts in the US.

~ Reduced audit exposure by 60% by cleaning up customer database files and compliance issues.

~ Slashed network costs by 25% by negotiating new supplier contracts and shifting from CDMA technology to GSM technology.

~ Increased ancillary revenue by 150% through marketing, brand enhancement and brick & mortar locations.

~ Aggressive tax audit management resulting in tax and interest reductions in excess of $3.5M.

~ Developed tax compliance processes and procedures to accurately and timely file 2,000+ indirect tax returns per month.

SKILL AREAS: Audit & Taxation w Statutory Compliance w Financial Policies & Procedures w Team Management w MIS Reporting / Documentation w Monthly/Annual Closing Processesw Financial Statement Analysisw Forecasting & Budgetingw Indirect Tax Compliance w Revenues/Reduce Taxes w Corporation Income Tax Compliance (Federal/State) w Cross-functional Relationship DevelopmentwTax & Regulatory Audit Management & Negotiation w Process & Procedure w Problem-Solving w Liaison & Negotiation w Commercial Awarenessw Change Management w Regulatory Compliance

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

BT Americas, Coppell, TX (Jul 2016 – Present)

Finance Manager Regulatory Fees & TaxesBT is one of the world's leading providers of end to end communications solutions and services to international business customers.

Project team lead for a special project to classify BT cloud-based products offered in the US subject to the Federal Universal Service Fund and indirect taxes.

Build and update supplier circuit exemption database to accurately reflect the BT circuit inventory in the US.

Supervise 2 direct reports and multiple dotted line relationships within the project team.

Efficiently handled regulatory fee invoicing with large customer account management teams located in the US and internationally.

Successfully produce invoicing in excess of $600k in regulatory fee recovery.

Execute part of company-wide effort to minimize financial and audit exposure in excess of $10M per year.

Project lead to create a procurement entity structure to mitigate surcharge exemption exposure with telecom suppliers and realize a reduction of $1.7M in vendor charges.

Collaborate with corporate Tax group to troubleshoot product mapping issues to expose the company to unnecessary audit risk.

Directed team to analyze customer invoicing to collect $1.7M in previously unbilled Federal Universal Service Fund (FUSF) surcharges not previously billed.

Minimized surcharge/tax audit risk by correctly mapping and invoicing products offered on over 200 contracts in the US.

US Connect, LLC, Dallas, TX (May 2012 – Jul 2016)

President (formerly CFO)

US Connect was a wireless telecommunications carrier offering voice & SMS services to Lifeline eligible customers in 3 states.

Selected and implemented Quickbooks Enterprise.

Reduced tax audit exposure by 60% by cleaning up customer database files to align with regulatory rules.

Expertly slashed 50% payroll processing costs by transitioning to outside vendor.

Boosted ancillary sales by 100% by changing the distribution model and enhancing brand recognition.

Managed 30 technical, distribution, customer service, sales, and finance personnel.

Handled revenue from customers and government sources of $4M per year.

Slashed network costs by 27% by negotiating new supplier contracts and shifting from CDMA technology to GSM technology.

Developed brand name awareness by installing kiosks in low-income neighborhood supermarkets.

Established brick & mortar sales locations in 3 states in accordance with Lifeline provider rules & regulations.

Streamlined end to end customer service coverage and IVR operations.

Directed the end to end operations of the company including the sales, distribution, inventory management & customer certification processes under compliance with strict governmental regulations.

Slashed cell phone inventory costs by 40% by developing just in time inventory methodology for delivery to cell phone distributors.

Ensure compliance with strict state and federal regulations surrounding the Federal Lifeline Program and to eliminate the potential of customer or distributor fraud.

LaPier Insurance Group (Jan 2011 – Jul 2014))

Agency Owner

Independent insurance agency/Allstate Insurance offering personal & commercial lines insurance to consumers.

Handled personal auto and homeowner insurance from over 24 different insurance carriers.

Evaluated business or individual customers’ needs and financial status and proposed protection plans that meet their criteria.

Hired and managed 2 insurance sales professionals.

Efficiently selected office location, negotiated office lease and designed agency location layout.

Planned and executed marketing strategies such as print advertising and exhibition booths at local events and festivals.

Developed financial reporting system and executed Quickbooks Pro including payroll.

Explored and identified insurance lead opportunities locally as well as state-wide.

dPi Teleconnect, LLC (currently TAG Wireless), Carrollton, TX (Oct 2009 – Dec 2010)

Controller & Tax Director

dPi Teleconnect was a telecommunications service provider, which offered Wireline and wireless products and services on a prepaid basis.

Administered entire financial, tax and regulatory reporting operations of dPi Teleconnect and sister company dPi Energy also directed 10 professionals and over $200M in annual revenues.

Designed financial reporting structure for dPi Mobile (a dPi subsidiary) which later become TAG Mobile.

Efficiently managed tax department timely filing over 300 transaction/regulatory returns per month.

Effectively supervised and coordinated month end close process and financial statement review.

Monthly management analysis of financial statements for variances.

Worked cross-functionally with IT and operations to ensure accurate management metrics and reporting.

Collaborated with the outside auditors to deliver assurance of financial statements to secure outside financing.

Successfully transitioned regulatory reporting to 3rd party vendor and minimized future audit exposure.

Product mapping review to tax engine to identify inaccurate invoicing of taxes and surcharges to customers.

Arrow Trucking, Co., Tulsa, OK (Nov 2008 – Oct 2009)

Controller

Arrow was a leader in bulk commodity flat-bed hauling, reload operations, freight management, logistics, consulting and technology.

Defined and built efficient financial processes and procedures for efficient financial control to meet set objectives.

Handled financial administration, including invoicing, revenue recognition, follow up on accounts receivables, accounts payables and inventory and expenses for large flat-bed trucking company operating in 48 states with revenues in excess of $100M per year.

Proactive maintenance of vendor relationship through cash flow issues prevalent in transportation industry.

Prepared management reports, dashboards, and financial/cash forecasts.

PRIOR EMPLOYMENT DETAILS

IdleAire, Inc., Knoxville, TN, Apr 2007 – Nov 2008

Tax Director/Controller

Sage Telecom, Allen, TX, Dec 2001 – Apr 2007

Director of Taxes

PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLC, Dallas, TX, Sep 2000 – Dec 2001

Transaction Tax Manager

VarTec Telecom, Dallas, TX, Oct 1998 – Sep 2000

Director of Taxes

Excel Telecommunications, Inc., Dallas, TX, Jun 1995 – Oct 1998

Tax Manager Income & Indirect Taxes

European Gas Turbines, Inc., Houston, TX, Sep 1986 – Mar 1995

Tax & Fixed Asset Accountant

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & CREDENTIALS

MBA in Taxation (coursework), 2005-2007

Golden Gate University, San Francisco, CA

BBA in Accounting, 1976-1980

University of Texas, Austin, TX

Technical Skills:

Microsoft Office Suite w CorpTax w Vertex Sales Tax w OneSource w Billsoft w BeQuick w Lawson w Oracle w Great Plains w Solomon w Quickbooks Pro & Enterprise w Quickbooks Payroll w ADP w RIA Checkpoint w CCH ProSystem

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