Management Project Manager

LEIGHTON DUNCAN, MBA, CPA

313-***-**** acy5nb@r.postjobfree.com www.linkedin.com/in/leighton-duncan

CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT AND FINANCE PROFESSIONAL

Experienced Accounting and Financial Management Professional providing accounting and advisory services to large cap, middle market, small business, and non-profit organizations. As a licensed CPA, I am versatile and results-driven subject matter expert with proven results in both the public and private sector. I take a collaborative approach to problem-solving with the ability to interact and manage at all levels of an organization. I have demonstrated experience in treasury operations, audit, financial planning and analysis, and continuous improvement, resulting in increased revenue and decreased expenses.

AP, Invoice, Billing & Payroll Corporate/Individual Tax Return Preparation Problem Solving

Balance Sheet Modeling Cost/Technical Accounting Project Management

Budget & Forecasting Financial Planning & Analysis Risk & Compliance

Commercial Lending Financial Services Staff Management

Continuous Improvement Internal Audit Treasury Operations

DUNCAN ADVISORS - Independent accounting and financial advisory service provider and Consultant

Director (Owner and practitioner) Madison Heights, MI 2010 – 2013; 2015-2016

Experience

As a senior level management consultant, engaged to perform operational risk analysis and performance audits of subsidiaries and key functional areas at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a $23B health insurance organization. Developed detailed risk assessments across BCBS’s IT and Financial Operations including, actuarial services, investment accounting, corporate taxation, financial reporting, risk management, and enterprise risk. Created a comprehensive deficit elimination plan for the Gary Community Schools Corporation, a $55M public school district, to address its distressed financial condition and operational deficiencies. Developed a driver’s based financial model used to depict various turnaround and restructuring financial initiatives in conjunction with the deficit elimination plan strategy.

Accomplishments

Developed a detailed risk assessment based on business processes, internal controls, and IT system interfaces. Identified financial and operational risk exposures which mitigated regulatory fines up to $300K.

Improved treasury management reporting, foundation management, and insurance premium rate development resulting in increased process efficiency over 10% in a complex multi-tiered environment.

Provide accounting and financial statement preparation, account reconciliation, and income tax preparation for various small and middle market businesses.

Led a financial statement audit for a $3M non-profit adult foster care organization, ensuring 100% compliance with the State of Michigan mental health agency licensure requirements.

Engaged as a personal accountant to a small business owner. Filed past due tax returns to meet compliance requirements and negotiated an offer-in-compromise resulting in a reduction in federal tax liability from $145K to $60K.

Developed financial governance materials for the Board of Directors of a community development corporation non-profit Board of Directors. These materials are now incorporated in new member orientation.

CITY OF DETROIT (Property Tax Division)

Project Manager – Treasury and Acting Deputy Treasurer (Appointee) Detroit, MI 2013 - 2014

Experience

As the Project Manager and Acting Deputy Treasurer, was responsible for daily operational oversight of the Property Tax, Revenue Collection, and Cash Management units of the Treasury Division of the City of Detroit during its Chapter 9 bankruptcy. Key liaison with Accounts division and external auditors in preparation of the CAFR. Also, served as a liaison to key internal and external constituencies including the State of Michigan, Wayne County Treasurer, and Detroit City Council.

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Accomplishments

Managed over 50 Treasury Division staff including interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems. Improved operational efficiency by 50%, improved employee moral by 25% which lead to improved attendance and reduced customer complaints.

Co-managed the creation, distribution, collection and transfer of the summer and winter tax bills with the Assessments Division. Daily cash flow collections were increased by nearly 10 days resulting in revenue collections of approximately $3M with an additional $300K in interest earnings on an annualized basis.

Key Treasury liaison partnering with the Downtown Development Authority on various economic development projects relating to tax increment financing programs and tax abatements. Most notably, the $400M Little Caesar’s Arena and mixed use development.

KPMG LLP – “Big Four” public accounting firm

Sr. Associate (Risk Advisory Services) - Promotion Detroit, MI 2005 – 2010

Experience

Conducted financial statement audit substantive procedures for external audit clients. Reviewed complex contract agreements at a

large automotive manufacturer and drafted whitepapers assessing the accounting related elements for proper treatment with

established standards. Co-lead direct method cash forecasting project for $190B diversified financial services institution, which

included consolidation of multiple business units and stress test analysis of various “shock” scenarios. Performed review of Liquidity

Risk and Asset & Liability Management activities performed by the Treasury Group at $68B financial services institution.

Accomplishments

Engaged to create a comprehensive financial and operational internal control structure that was non-existent for a Tier 1 Automotive Manufacturer. Recommendations were benchmarked against industry best practices and were presented to and adopted by the Board of Directors.

Co-lead process improvement/value creation reviews of Financial Statement Consolidation Close and Reporting Audit (external reporting of 10K & 10Q process) for a large financial services organization. The financial close and reporting cycle was reduced by two business days.

Performed internal control design “gap analysis” by documenting and flowcharting working capital management and operational business processes. After extensive review and discussion, recommendations were reviewed and adopted by client management.

OWENS CORNING - $6B+ global manufacturer of fiberglass building and composite materials

Senior Auditor (Internal Audit) - Promotion Toledo, OH 2003 – 2005

Experience

Managed a team of three to six Auditors while conducting financial, operational, and environmental, health and safety auditing areas. Responsibilities included budgeting, scheduling, logistics, and compilation of formal audit report and report results to business unit and executive management. and performed quality reviews of Sarbanes-Oxley 404 management test results.

Accomplishments

Lead Sarbanes-Oxley 404 management testing teams of various foreign and domestic manufacturing facilities globally utilizing a COSO framework. Which resulted in operational improvements to a federally mandated compliance.

Enhanced eight existing internal audit programs relating to IT, Environmental Health and Safety, and Human Resources.

Senior Treasury Analyst (Corporate Treasury) Toledo, OH 2001 – 2003

Developed accurate reporting for a $250M Debtor-in-Possession bankruptcy credit facility and managed creditor field audits.

Administered and reconciled intercompany loans by legal entity, interpreted complex bankruptcy related documentation, and reported results to creditors monthly resulting in a clear indication of debts owed by country, currency type and legal entity.

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BANK OF AMERICA - $50B commercial and consumer lending institution

Associate Relationship Manager (Commercial Credit Finance) Farmington Hills, MI 1999 – 2001

Experience

Administered $80M loan portfolio and cultivated new business development opportunities for commercial and inventory real estate deals within the Middle Market Lending Division.

Accomplishments

Grew loan portfolio by approximately 10% during a 24-month period and contained loan losses to less than 2%

Streamlined the credit submission package which expedited the underwriting process by two business days.

PNC BANK - $114B commercial and consumer banking institution.

Credit Analyst (Commercial Credit Finance) Livonia, MI 1997 – 1999

Experience

Prepared credit committee reports for companies seeking commercial financing ranging between $1M - $30M. Analyzing and auditing financial statements, 10K/10Q, corporate tax returns and performed assessment of historical forecasted cash flow generation, management depth, and industry outlook.

Accomplishments

Selected as the Automotive Floor Plan and Mortgage Warehousing Specialist performing due diligence and credit analysis successfully expediting the underwriting process and increased loan originations of $2M.

Trained and successfully developed junior credit analysts in the fundamentals of commercial credit.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS

Master of Business Administration (MBA) Concentration: Finance, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI May 2001

Bachelor of Business Administration (BA) Concentration: Accounting, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI August 1997

CERTIFICATIONS

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Florida Institute of CPAs (License # AC45983) May 2013

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Delaware Society of CPAs (License #CA-0002812) November 2009

Certified Six Sigma Greenbelt (6σ) University of Michigan College of Engineering June 2007

Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) Detroit Chapter – Institute of Internal Auditors November 2006

HONORS & PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) Florida Institute of CPAs

Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)

SKILLS

Word Bloomberg Professional Analytics

Excel SAP

PowerPoint PeopleSoft

Access Oracle

Visio Drake Professional Tax

QuickBooks Hyperion

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY AND COMUNITY INVOLEMENT

Junior Achievement of Northwest Ohio Accounting Aid Society

Motor City Makeover St. Paul’s Community Center

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