Management Sales

Re: Job application for the position of Assistant Controller.

Dear sir or madam:

My name is Philip Lau. I spotted the posting for the position of Assistant Controller. I am very interested and I am sending you my latest resume updated for application.

Over the last decade, I have developed my strong problem solving and analytical skills that brought me success in different position. I have a proven track record of delivering results and improved efficiency. You will find my experience and background in breadth and depth. My specialties include:

Over 7+ years in corporate planning, strategic planning, and five years plan in different industries including private and public organization, ex. CIBC Mellon capital market, Sodexo Canada - BC health care division, Honda Canada Finance Inc. (HCFI), and The Williamson Group (TWG).

Core competencies: budgeting and forecasting (zero-based budgeting, traditional based budgeting, and Kaizen budgeting), variance analysis, action plan and strategic analysis including profitability review and pricing structure.

Financial reporting: Canadian GAAP, US GAAP, IFRS and ASPE reporting

Management reporting: Key Performance Indicators (KPI) development (along with strategic planning and budgeting), as well implementation to business units.

Experience in understanding and evaluating internal controls including making recommendations for improvement to management.

Technical proficiency: User Acceptance Testing (UAT) end user draft plan, reporting system migration, expert user in all MS applications including excel, access, words, and PowerPoint.

Leadership: training and coaching junior staffs; providing direction, decision making, and improvement feedback on core issue to ensure operational efficiency.

I am confidently looking for the next challenge. I firmly believe I can add similar value to the other organization and welcome to discuss further of my qualification. I can be reached at 416-***-**** or via email. I am looking forward to your hearing soon.

Thank you for your time considering my application.

Sincerely,

Philip Lau, CPA, CMA

Philip Lau, CPA, CMA

R: 416-***-**** ***********@*****.*** M: 416-***-****

PROFILE

An experienced financial professional with extensive experience in corporate planning, variance analysis, project management, budgeting & forecasting and financial reporting & management reporting. Strong knowledge of IFRS and ASPE.

Core Competencies

Full-cycle accounting & reporting, financial planning & analysis, pricing strategy, budgeting – zero based, traditional based, & Kaizen, key performance indicators (KPI) development, and leadership – training and coaching.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

MS Office - Excel, PowerPoint, Words, Access, FRX, MS Dynamic-Management Reporter (MR),

Hyperion Essbase, PeopleSoft, SAP, MAS90, ACCPAC, Basic Knowledge of SQL D/B

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

INDEPENDENT MANAGEMENT CONSULTING (www.elance.com) 2014- Present

Management Consultant, Financial & Management and Consulting Services

Acts as sole proprietor, independent consultant: provides professional advises and supports on financial and management services for Small to Medium Size Enterprises (SME) across US and Canada

Areas include: financial & tax reporting – financial statement review, bookkeeping, tax filing (mostly sales and value added tax), business support – business assessment such as SWOT analysis, industry trend research, planning and analysis, business plan/case appraisal, and pricing models

THE WILLIAMSON GROUP (www.thewilliamsongroup.com) 2012 – 2014

Senior Financial Analyst /Interim Controller– Planning and Corporate Services

Special projects: Provided financial and decision making support to identify opportunities for improvement, strategic planning, and development, financial reporting, and internal controls. Drafted accounting and department policies and procedures. Spearheaded the User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for the accounting system migration to MS Dynamic from FRX.

Accomplishments: 1) Successfully established and implemented KPI into different business units including Corporate Services, Pensions, and Group Benefits to track key operational objectives and strategic initiatives for efficiency and profitability. 2) Re-modelling the pricing structure with the new KPI embedded in the price point. 3) Reviewed and implemented a new pricing/costing model of one of the unprofitable units, (Return to Health), including new price point computation, margin analysis, and suggested resources allocation, the profit margin improved by 7 % in 2014.

Planning: Led, designed and developed annual budgets and mid-term plans that involved: 1) target setting; 2)creating budget templates; 3) variance analysis and identifying sales drivers, risks and opportunities; 4) interacting with stakeholder of variance drivers; analyzing revenue and expenditure and recommending budget levels and controls; and 5) presentation to Leadership Team (LT).

Support: Reported to CFO/CEO, acted as senior finance resource and provided decision making support to the LT and business units in: resolving accounting discrepancies; client negotiations with pricing model development and profitability reviews.

Reporting: Prepared financial statement drafts including working papers consolidation for child companies, cash flow statements, and amortization schedules.

Controllership: Supervised finance team, provided support, training, and guidance to the finance team to ensure operational efficiency.

Philip Lau, CPA, cma Page 2

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

HONDA CANADA FINANCE INC. (www.honda.ca) 2011 – 2012

Financial Analyst- Corporate Planning (Contract)

Special projects and key achievements: 1) developed a new pricing model with risk management and financial reporting teams and implemented new template of ROA by business line for tracking resources allocation and Account Receivable (AR) movement. 2) Participated IFRS implementation and replaced US GAAP in 2011.

Planning: Prepared budget, quarterly forecast analysis package and mid-term plan including: variance analysis; sales drivers; budget assumptions and commentary/ explanation of variance drivers; counter measures for business owners; and presentations of budget and forecast to Executive Management Committee (EMC).

Management reporting: Finalized and participated in the presentation of the HCFI Management Reporting - Monthly Operating Report (MOR) and Departmental Operating Report (DOR) for departments and Board review.

Analysis: Performed variance analysis and key performance indicators, including the Return on Assets (ROA) by business line, to provide Management with information to make necessary changes in Pricing and Budgets/Forecasts.

Internal Control: Complied with Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) as it pertains to internal controls within the day-to-day function.

Leadership: Provided support, training, and guidance to junior coordinators to ensure operational efficiency.

SODEXO CANADA (www.sodexo.com) 2007 – 2010

Financial Analyst, BC Healthcare Division

Special projects and key objectives: Modified spreadsheets for budget & forecast files, annual budgeting, five years plan forecasts, regional sales drivers & processes improvements and streamlining in operations.

Key accomplishments: 1) Acted as senior finance resource, reviewed the financial performance in all 26 health care units in Vancouver mainland and provided suggested strategy. As a result, the new production cost model has successfully saved 11% than the original model. 2) Established and implemented a new costing model on overhead cost allocation by using step-down method. As for direct cost, absorption costing was applied.

Planning and forecast: Prepared weekly forecast and consolidating a roll-up for healthcare unit in western account, participated budget preparation with district manager and senior executives in quarterly basis.

Finance operation and reporting: Monitored and managed cash flows, payable and receivable for healthcare units, managing fixed assets (CAPEX) and expense amortization details with respects to contract. Prepared period end reporting and month end closing.

Analysis and decision making support: Analyzed and finalized key performance indicators, monthly variance analysis and providing recommendations in gap differences on variances to forecast and budget. Hosted presentation to the senior management team of monthly report.

Support and training: Provided supports and trainings to unit managers via basic financial knowledge and suggestion in expense control and sales driver in operations from finance perspective.

Philip Lau, CPA, cma Page 3

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Consultant-Financial& Tax, QUORUM FUNDING CORPORATION (QFC), 2007

Financial Analyst- Capital Market, CIBC MELLON, 2006 – 2007

Financial Reporting Specialist, QUORUM FUNDING CORPORATION (QFC), 2005-2006

Various roles - Manulife Financial – 2003-2005

Various roles in Finance Operations, AGF Management Ltd., 2000 – 2001

Performed a number of financial reporting, finance operations, tax reporting, analysis, and management reporting and internal control tasks. Prepared monthly and quarterly GAAP reports; Monitored and managed cash flow, payroll, payable, receivables, and travel expense; prepared tax reports; finalized and analyzed monthly variance analysis; prepared cash flow forecasts, assisted compliance and audit control in month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closing.

Assisted in the conversion of an ACCPAC system – prepared and reviewed user acceptance testing (UAT) with IT professionals, management team, and accounting team.

Prepared tax reporting (T-schedule) and tax filing, remittance of withholding tax, GST/HST payable and US sales taxes return to Ministry of Finance and Custom Revenue Agency.

Prepared monthly and quarterly GAAP reporting for the parent company and main operating partnership.

Monitored and managed cash flow, payroll, payable, receivable, travel expense claims including expense allocations to various entities and funds for parent company.

Finalized monthly variance analysis, reconciliation of balance sheet accounts and working papers for senior executives.

Liaised with finance teams and internal operations for timely escalation and resolution of revenue true-ups, accuracy and completeness of GL Sub-ledger reconciliations, and support revenue recognition initiatives.

Maintained and developed new policy and procedures to support financial reporting processes, SOX 404 documentation and attestations, and special projects as required.

EDUCATION

The Society of Management Accountants of Ontario

Certified Management Accountant (CMA) 2007- 2013

York University

Bachelor of Arts, Economics Major 2002

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Outdoor Activities (Hiking and Camping), Travelling, Tennis, Basketball, and Snowboarding

Reading and investment portfolio management

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