Executive Profile

A licensed CPA, Chartered Accountant, and CFO of a group of five companies in the craft beer and spirits industry, operating in five countries. Over 20 years experience in both practice and industry over a wide variety of business sectors.

Skills Highlights

Worked in USA, Central America, Europe; and Asia; Project management leadership; Integrity and honesty; Manage large teams; Business process improvement; Accounting systems design, implementation and improvement; Licensed CPA and Chartered Accountant; Policies and procedures design; High level strategic, analytical, and critical thinking; Mergers and acquisitions negotiations and due diligence; Expert report writing and communication skills; Banking and other business partner negotiations; US GAAP and IFRS; Budgeting and forecasting; Consolidation and group reporting; Currency and raw materials hedging; HR and conflict resolution; litigation expert witness and forensic accounting; IRS audit representation; Product, job, and project costing and profit optimization.

Core Accomplishments

Team Leader in the redesign and implementation of the production and inventory ERP system tracking production cost for all products from raw material to finished goods.

Developed a product costing model for the entire product range from raw material to finished goods and gross margins by product

Team Leader in the design and development of a Large Capital Projects system for global roll out to 126 countries in three months

Modified A/P approval system resulting in direct savings of over $400,000 in the first year

Manage a team of 13 staff in five sites and four countries

Successfully lead the selection and implementation of an ERP financial and job costing system for a group of seven companies in the construction sector with revenues of $150m

Improved the month end reporting timeline by 30%

Promoted to CFO in less than two years

Led the preparation, submission, and negotiation of bank finance proposal for spin out of a group of companies from the main group

Designed a production wastage reporting system to reduce wastage in manufacture by 50%

Built a business from one person to over 20 professionals and support staff over 17 years and successfully sold the business on 2010.

Represented numerous clients in Revenue (IRS) audits and successfully settled all for less than the assessed liabilities

Wrote expert witness reports and gave evidence in commercial litigation matters with 100% successful outcomes for clients

Work Experience

May 2015 to date

CFO Beverage Division

Alltech’s Beverage Division, Lexington KY

CFO for the global finance function of the beverage division

Direct CFO responsibility for the beverage division in USA including three breweries and another under construction with six direct reports and two indirect reports.

Regional CFO responsibility for two breweries in United Kingdom and Ireland with two direct reports and distribution business in China and Japan

Supervision of monthly entity group report pack and consolidation pack for five subsidiaries

Financial management and advisory oversight of capital projects of $50m

Modified the inventory control system resulting in a 500% improvement in the inventory recording accuracy

Supervision of monthly tax reporting

Review of monthly report packs and performance review and reporting to group management

Engagement with finance providers on capital expenditure and working capital funding requirements

October 2013 to May 2015

Controller

Logan Security Inc., Lexington KY

Responsible for the financial accounting role including supervision of weekly payroll for 80+ staff

Filing and payment of federal, state and local payroll and business taxes. Liaise with various tax authorities as necessary

Supervision of two office staff and oversight of payroll and HR

Wrote business operating procedures instructions

Managed computer network, hardware and software, resolution of issues and liaise with IT service providers

January 2014 to May 2014

Adjunct Lecturer in business and finance

Bluegrass Community and Technical College – Lexington, KY

Designed, wrote, and taught a class in accounting and business skills for the horse industry

July 2011 to September 2013

Owner/Farm Manager

Arroe Farm – Versailles, KY

Bought, sold, bred, and trained thoroughbred horses for racing.

April 1993 to June 2011

CEO/Senior Partner

Paul Mortell and Associates Chartered Accountants – Cork, Ireland

CEO; business management; client acquisition, development and retention; supervision of full finance function including taxation filings and payment; payroll; HR; Insurance and legal matters; Industry and Government Regulation; IT Acquisition and installation oversight; Bank and Government Agency Finance Reports; Expert Witness Reports; Tax Audits.

The firm provided a wide range of consulting services including Audit, Accounting, Taxation, Information Technology, Business Restructure, Purchase and Sale, Multinational joint ventures etc.

In 2000 purchased another firm of public accountants (which increased the size of the firm by 50%) integrated that firm’s staff and clients with no client attrition.

Financial and Taxation advisor to an Irish company, that was the largest in its sector (seafood manufacturing), on the successful creation of a joint venture manufacturing facility in Chile with combined revenues of over $30m.

Wrote and presented papers on current developments in Taxation and Business Development.

Advised legal teams on financial aspects of commercial transactions and litigation and have written Expert Witness reports and defended same in court on successful commercial litigation cases.

Successfully represented clients in IRS audits.

Installed numerous computerized accounting and management reporting software systems including Sage/Peachtree, QuickBooks, Drive (integrated CRM Practice Management and Financial Accounting software).

July 1991 to April 1993

Senior Audit Manager

McAuliffe Chartered Accountants – Cork, Ireland

Senior manager; Audit; Taxation Advisory; Staff and Deadline Management; Management of Client Portfolio; IRS Audits; Business Sales and Purchases.

September 1989 to June 1991

Audit Assistant Manager

Price Waterhouse Coopers PWC – London, England

Systems and Balance Sheet auditing; Special Assignments, Investigations, Litigation Support, Forensic Accounting; Staff management; Stock-take auditing; Consolidated Financial Statements; Mergers and Acquisitions; International Groups; FTSE 100 companies; S&P 500 companies; Retail; Oil and Gas; Commodities trading and dealing; newspaper publishing.

IT Experience and Knowledge

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 and 2012 ERP, Cubes for Excel, Atlas Data Mining, QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions, Peachtree, Sage 50, 100, and 200, MS Office including Excel (Medium to advanced), Exchequer, MYOB, Maximizer CRM, bespoke construction, freight forwarding, job costing systems.

Education

2014-2015 CPA from AICPA and KY Board of Accountancy

2005-2008 2 year Associates Degree in Equine Science from University of Limerick, Ireland

1985-1989 Chartered Accountant (FCA) from Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland

1982-1985 3-year Diploma (now Bachelor’s degree) in Business Studies (Financial Accounting major) Cork Institute of Technology, Ireland

Licenses

CPA – Kentucky Board of Accountancy License number 12549 (Expires 8/1/2017)

FCA – Chartered Accountants Ireland Membership number 011012

Community and Volunteer Activities

2016 to date Board member of the University of Kentucky School of Hospitality and Retail Management

2014 to date Treasurer and Director of local Home Owners Association

2012-2015 Officer of Keeneland Pony Club, Lexington, KY

2002-2011 Pro-bono CPA and advisor to Blarney Girls Elementary School, Cork, Ireland

2002-2010 Pro-bono financial and taxation advisor to Chernobyl Childrens’ Project International, a NGO providing relief to the children of Chernobyl Belorussia.

Interests

Thoroughbred Industry, eventing, cycling, history, biographies, economics, politics, and DIY.

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