Accounts Payable Vice President

*

Jeff Pace, CPA (Inactive) Temple, TX

(m) 561-***-**** ********@*****.***

Summary: Operationally driven finance professional with a successful record of leading organizations through accounting, finance, operational process improvements and systems implementations while enhancing Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA.) Consulting 2015 – 2017, 2022 – Present

Implementation of accounting, finance and operational improvements through enhanced processes, systems benefiting businesses’ profitability and cash flow in the distribution, wholesale, manufacturing, SaaS, retail, Cannabis (growing, and manufacturing Consumer Product Goods (CPG)), and non-profit businesses among others. PVATePla America - Corona, California and OKOS Solutions - Manassas, Virginia 2021 PVA TePla is one of the world’s leading system engineering companies. Based in Germany, 150M Euro turnover. Core competencies are in the fields of scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM) and other systems for hard-metal sintering and crystal growing as well as the use of plasma systems for surface activation, functionalization, coating, ultra-fine cleaning and etching.

Vice President, Finance

Responsible for 3 entities, including Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Inventory, Cost Accounting, Tax, Financial Reporting and a newly acquired company in Virginia.

Supported 3 Presidents, including 1 in Germany and the Corporate CFO in Germany.

Completed integration of financial reporting for German parent company.

Initiated policies and process to comply with IFRS and audit requirements.

Actively involved in new ERP system implementations in the US.

Actively involved in mergers and acquisitions activities in the US.

Actively involved in commercial terms negotiations with US customers and international vendor partners.

Upgraded teams in Corona and Manassas (OKOS doubled in size from $5 Million to $10 Million in revenue during my tenure)

Roll-A-Shade – Riverside, California 2019-2020

Roll-A-Shade® has been a leading manufacturer of quality window treatments for commercial applications for over 35 years. Serving over 400 national accounts (such as Starbucks, CVS, multiunit residential buildings) with motorized and manual shades that save energy and enhance aesthetically throughout the US & Canada.

$10 million revenue.

Vice President, Finance

Responsible for 3 entities (2 US and 1 Canadian), including Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Inventory, Tax, Financial Reporting.

Completed sales tax, corporate tax registrations and Voluntary Disclosure Agreements in ~20 states minimizing $1 million plus exposure.

Completed the first in company history reviewed financial statements for bank financing.

Supported PPP and EIDL obtaining approximately $1M of funding and subsequent forgiveness.

QuickBooks, Results and Shade Builder comprised the Enterprise Resource Planning systems (ERP.)

Involved in prevailing wage projects, certified payroll reports and compliance in the government sector. 2

Hydrofarm – Petaluma, California 2017 - 2019

Hydrofarm has been a leading distributor and manufacturer for over 40 years of hydroponics equipment and supplies for controlled environment agriculture (CEA), including high-intensity grow lights, climate control solutions, growing media and offers a broad portfolio of innovative and proprietary branded products. $235 million revenue. Corporate Controller

Responsible for general accounting, financial reporting and tax.

Focus on solving operational challenges causing EBITDA erosion and liquidity pressure: compressing margins, increasing supply chain and manufacturing costs in addition to increasing customer discounts and rebates to meet competition and tariffs, among others.

Provide Monthly Operating Review commentary to management investors and lenders.

Responsible for technical accounting positions and adoption of new standards including ASC 718, ASU 2017-09 and 2018-07, ASC Topic 805, ASC Topic 350, ASC Topic 360-10-05-4, FAS 157, ASC 815, ASC Topic 740, FASB Statement No. 131, ASC 470-50, and ASC 470-60, and adoption of new standards including ASC Topic 606 and ASC Topic 842.

Converted financial reporting from US tax basis to US GAAP and IFRS.

Completed the first in company history Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) audits of financial statements for 5 periods and filing of 2 Form S-1s.

Upgraded and expanded general accounting team.

Integrated 2 international acquisitions.

Assisted with private placement, raised $50 Million of capital. Migrated treasury activities to JPMorgan Chase and Asset Back Lender relationship to Encina Business Credit from Bank of America.

Responsible for multiple tax filings domestically and internationally, and implementing transfer pricing with complex corporate structure.

Implemented internal controls, remediating pre-existing material weaknesses and significant deficiencies.

Led Big 4 Audit Request for Proposal (RFP.) Deloitte selected.

Microsoft Dynamics AX, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics Navision, QuickBooks Enterprise comprised the ERP system.

Initiated Information Technology (IT) Steering Committee between Accounting, Operations and IT driving accountability and delivery of IT solutions to better support the business. A new Microsoft Value Added Reseller (VAR) and IT leadership were appointed.

APR Energy – Jacksonville, Florida 2014 – 2015

APR Energy (LSE: APR.L) the world's leading fast-track mobile turbine power business, with operations in Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, providing large-scale power with industry-leading expertise to construct turnkey power plants that are rapidly deployed, customizable and scalable. $485 million revenue. 2.5 GW + power generating capability.

Controller

Responsible for general accounting, fleet and construction accounting, financial reporting (IFRS), tax, risk management, accounts receivable, accounts payable, financial systems and payroll.

Implemented JD Edwards Enterprise One 9.1 in six months as ERP. Led the finance function through documenting the current state, drafting business process manuals, addressing business process changes to meet vanilla functionality of JDE, building cross-functional integrations and identification of critical dependencies in conducting business and the closing process as a UK listed public company to insure timely completion.

Finalized finance integration of acquired General Electric Power Rental business.

Actively involved in bank refinancing, $770 million facility.

Upgraded and developed team.

Created and led first Global Finance Director Summit, focusing on Return on Capital Employed (ROCE), working capital and EBITDA metrics. Implemented metrics based decision making throughout the business. 3

LifeWave Inc. – San Diego, California 2010 – 2014

LifeWave’s proprietary wellness products help to deliver more energy and stamina, mental acuity, better sleep, reduced stress, improved skin appearance, faster wound healing and an overall feeling of youthful vitality. LifeWave sells direct to consumers in over 100 countries, operating manufacturing facilities in Ireland and the US. LifeWave was included in Inc. Magazine’s Fastest Growing Companies list in 2009, 2010 and 2011. $15 million revenue grew to $35 million revenue during 2009 - 2011.

Chief Financial Officer

Responsible for tax, treasury, risk management and human resources.

Implemented Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains ERP in sales, manufacturing and finance.

Established an Irish Limited Co. and Turkish AS Co. along with local financial and legal partners.

Restated prior financials, implemented controls and close process, registered for Value Added Tax (VAT)/Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 16 countries and sales tax in multiple states.

Actively involved in evolving business model to focus on commercial customers (hospitals, medical care providers and research institutes.) B2C to B2B expansion.

Deeply involved in regulatory aspects of medical products and clinical trials/studies. Avalon Capital Group – La Jolla, California 2008 – 2010 Avalon Capital Group is the family office of Ted Waitt, co-founder of Gateway, Inc. Avalon has diverse investments in real estate, technology, health care, finance, entertainment and manages three endowment style investment portfolios with different investment objectives. Avalon supports the Waitt Foundation and Waitt Institute. Chief Financial Officer

Responsible for accounting, cash management, due diligence on potential acquisitions, investments, risk management, banking relationships, tax planning, human resources and information technology.

Significantly improved cash management and forecasting, resulting in better tax planning.

Directly involved in the execution of complex operational missions by the Waitt Institute focused on sustainable ocean plans in partnership with committed governments, local stakeholders and communities.

Work with portfolio companies’ management teams on financial and operational opportunities, monitoring performance, assisting with strategic direction, including acquisitions and liquidity events.

Lead RFP for investment advisors, selecting Northern Trust and Fiduciary Trust Company. PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc. -- San Diego, California 2006 – 2008 PETCO, a category defining health and wellness company focused on improving the lives of pets and pet parents. PETCO was publicly traded before being purchased by Private Equity Firms Texas Pacific Group (TPG) and Leonard Green and Partners (LGP) in October 2006. $2+ billion revenue. VP Controller

Responsible for accounting operations, general accounting, relationship with independent public accountants and other outside consultants. Seat at the table with CEO and CFO in earnings release conference/analyst calls and meetings.

Elevated level of performance and accountability in Controller’s group through transformation.

Established collaboration with merchandising and store operations. Enhanced visibility to underlying business trends and early identification of negative trends, speeding identification of solutions.

Initiated IT Steering Committee with Finance, Store Operations and Merchandising to drive joint accountability for implementation of tools to better support the business. Peoplesoft and home grown proprietary systems comprised the ERP infrastructure.

Worked directly with CEO, TPG and LGP on going private transaction.

Actively involved in mergers and acquisitions transactions from due diligence to integration. ARTHUR ANDERSEN -- West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, Florida 1985 - 1995 Senior Manager

CPA, Florida (Inactive) 1986

Florida Atlantic University BS, Accounting 1985

Contact this candidate