GHADA BAKSMATI BURTON, MBA, CPA, RIA

415-***-**** adjatr@r.postjobfree.com

INTERNATIONAL TAX TREASURY FX & CASH MANAGEMENT

Exceptional leadership and knowledge of international corporate tax, corporate restructuring, treasury, strategic planning, and financial controls and policies. Record of identifying quantifiable reductions in corporate worldwide tax liabilities and driving positive outcomes in a company’s planning processes to achieve business goals. In-depth knowledge of corporate finance and application of hybrid financial instruments to hedge corporate assets. Strong sense of organization, ownership, and initiative to carry tasks to conclusion with minimal prompting. High talent, energy and up-beat attitude, with collaborative mentality, “Out-of-the-box”, big-picture and strategic thinker that adds exponential value to company’s goals and long-term vision. Exceptional communication, leadership skills and Executive management experience. A well-rounded, “roll up your sleeves” talent and focus on problem-solving.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

Key engineer in restructuring corporate operations overseas to maximize revenue growth in key regions and collaborator with General Counsel, Big4 and Corporate finance in delivering desired global results.

Demonstrated leadership of tax initiatives, ensuring tax compliance filings within prescribed deadlines, achieving accuracy and transparency while collaborating with outside Auditors, and keeping open communications with Executive Management for timely decision-making.

Led Finance team in a pre-IPO environment in setting up international structure to develop best practices and maximize tax efficiency worldwide. Instrumental in launching operations in Switzerland, Netherlands, UK and Luxembourg.

Implemented strategy to transfer company's intellectual property offshore, and revised inter-company cost sharing agreements saving over $2.4M annually and reducing effective tax rate.

Expert on Transfer Pricing Modeling and related Regulations, M&A Tax regulations, Acquisitions & Exit strategies, Contemporaneous Documentation and tax adjustment penalties provisions.

Led mature start-up towards globalization of operations and setting up HQ in Zurich. Liaised with foreign law firm and filed a Ruling Request with foreign Tax Revenue successfully reducing rate to 9% tax.

Partnered with Tax Attorneys/Partners of a global law firm to interpret new tax legislation in China, UK and to reduce foreign tax by 5%.

Proposed investment strategy generating over $20M in tax benefits by utilizing hybrid financial instruments.

Evaluated impact of VAT and foreign jurisdictions tax on foreign source revenue and implemented business model to minimize VAT, saving over $200,000 for the quarter.

Successfully defended partnership's tax position pursuant to a NYC tax audit resulting in reduced assessment of over $3.5M.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

International Tax

ASC740

GILTI, FDII, QBAI, BEAT

GAAP

Transfer Pricing

VAT/GST

Tax Controversy

Tax Compliance

State Tax Matters

OECD- BEPS/Treaties

Withholding Tax

Corporate Restructuring

Strategic Tax Planning

Treasury/FX Management

Financial Analysis/Planning

Sarbanes Oxley

Start-Ups/Pre-IPOs

Board Presentations

Mergers & Acquisitions

Partnerships

Hedge Funds

Funds of Funds

REITs

Escheats

Blue Chip Firms

Oracle/CCH/MS Office/Netsuite/One Source/Hyperion HFM

GHADA BURTON, CPA, MBA, RIA 415-***-**** adjatr@r.postjobfree.com

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

FINANCE & TAX CONSULTING SERVICES, LLC- San Francisco, CA

Founder/Director and Consultant on Taxation 2004 – Present

Develop best practices for existing clients on tax compliance and planning, including Transfer Pricing, ASC740, FIN48, corporate tax returns: Federal 1120, 1118, 5471, 5472, 8858, 8865,1065, 1040 and multi-state returns. Expert on Subpart F income, FTC planning, new GILTI, BEAT, FDII deduction, Sec. 163(j) limitations, QBAI, Sec. 861 Allocation, Country-by-Country, Sec. 964(e), Sec. 1248, Dividend Repatriation, Private Equity Funds, Wash Sale rules, Straddles, Tax Allocations. Clients range from corporate multinationals/partnerships to Hi-Tech and mature start-ups as well as foreign governments.

Lead the task of tax compliance filing under the new TCJA for preparation of US and foreign information returns, e.g. Forms 5471, 1118, 8858, 8990. 8991, 8992-93, 8975 and FBAR. Developed a template for Country-by-Country Reporting (Form 8975) for over 60 countries. Succeeded in enhancing efficiency of tax return filing process resulting in timely filing and shortening preparation process by 15 days.

Lead tax team dealing with other compliance matters relating to financial services such as Hedge Funds and Fund of funds, including Straddles, Reportable Transactions, etc. (Forms 8886, 6781, 8865, 8859, 8949).

Partnered with company’s worldwide finance staff to review and analyze annual and quarterly income tax provision ASC740. Assisted EMEA AND APAC teams on local country tax matters including local book-tax difference, and related tax research/planning issues.

Assisted in and improved the preparation and documentation of quarterly and annual tax footnotes with approval from Tax Partner of auditing firm.

Coordinated the gathering of foreign tax documentation in support of the filing of foreign country income tax returns, indirect returns (VAT or GST), tax payments and related inter-company transactions.

Demonstrated leadership in a 22-month project to drive process improvements through a multi-national corporate restructuring designed to achieve optimum tax efficiency through licensing arrangements. Liaised with foreign country Tax Counsel and financial auditors.

Collaborated with finance and operations personnel in identifying domestic and foreign tax planning opportunities with the goal of driving value from the tax function by optimizing the company’s worldwide effective tax rates. Reduced foreign country tax rate from 28% to 9.25%.

Constructed 5-year Business Plan of a NewCo. and successfully filed request for Special Ruling in the foreign jurisdiction resulting in approval for setting up and restructuring EMEA Headquarters in Switzerland.

Assisted worldwide personnel with analyzing the income tax impact and reporting requirements for matters such as acquisitions, divestitures, elections, dividends, and cross-border transactions.

Assisted COO on proposing tax planning strategies to Board of Director’s, prepared quarterly presentations.

Developed and implemented Global Transfer Pricing policy in accordance with US Tax and OECD Regulations including analysis, calculation and gathering of contemporaneous tax documentations.

Collaborated with business partners, General Counsel, and foreign offices in launching company’s operations in Luxembourg and the UK.

GHADA BURTON, CPA, MBA, RIA 415-***-**** adjatr@r.postjobfree.com

Identified process improvements relating to data gathering and automated filings of sales and use tax returns resulting in over $300K savings of interest and late filing penalties per year.

Managed other areas such as federal and state tax controversy/audits resulting in abatement of over $3.1m in tax assessments as well as gathering and updating SOX processes and related documentation.

Guided foreign government sovereign investment funds on matters relating to REITs, “commercial entity”, branch profits tax, withholding tax, and ECI, as part of setting up investment deals in real estate and debt financing transactions.

Researched tax planning strategies relating to state tax nexus, Mergers & Acquisitions, VAT, minimizing subpart F income, dividend repatriation strategies, utilization of foreign tax credits, and foreign tax audits.

Identified process improvements relating to data gathering and automated filings of local tax returns resulting in over $300K savings of interest and late filing penalties per year.

Initiated a companywide project to account for and identify Abandoned Property (Escheat) in accordance with various state laws. Coordinated with Customer Service Support to reactivate dormant accounts.

Presented at company’s International Conference advising foreign affiliate executives on issues relating to Transfer Pricing, contemporaneous documentation, ASC740, and Foreign Currency Hedging transactions.

Recipient of Investment Banking Institute Certificate, New York, NY- Experience in financial analysis, M&A, Leveraged Buyouts, Financial Modeling, and Valuation.

MORRISION & FOERSTER, LLP, San Francisco, CA

Global Director of Tax 2008 – 2009

Responsible for global tax reporting and planning of this billion-dollar law firm with offices in Europe and Asia. Effectively managed staff of five. Filed Federal and state partnership returns including K-1’s for 400 partners.

Researched and advised expatriate partners on tax legislation in foreign jurisdictions resulting in enhanced revenue by 5%. Collaborated with most senior off-Counsel (and one of original Founders) on UK matters.

Effectively defended the firm's position relating to local and state tax assessments, securing over $200K of tax savings and $3.3M pending from ongoing NYC tax audit

VERIFONE, Santa Clara, CA

Global Director of Tax & Treasury Management 2002 – 2004

Developed company's Global tax department functions including tax compliance, international planning, FAS 109 and global transfer pricing policies. Supported US cash and banking operations including financial modeling for debt service and 13-week cash projections and loan balances.

Collaborated with Tax Advisors and implemented the offshore transfer of IP with over $5M of identifiable tax savings over a two-year period. Reviewed company's overall delinquency in sales tax return filings; streamlined state filings and reduced from 145 jurisdictions to 77 eliminating over $300K in interest and penalties for late filings.

Delivered global Treasury services and financial risk management including coordination of EMEA, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America cash and banking operations.

Developed company’s FX hedging and related mitigation strategies.

GHADA BURTON, CPA, MBA, RIA 415-***-**** adjatr@r.postjobfree.com

ERNST & YOUNG, LLP, San Francisco, CA

Consultant – Sr. Manager International 1998 – 2002

Led multi-billion-dollar hedge fund practice. Supervised and reviewed over 100 hedge fund returns meeting filing deadlines with improved accuracy. Presented Legislative developments in the Financial Services area to clients.

SCHWAB, San Francisco, CA

Vice President – Tax 1997 – 1998

Led company's global tax compliance function including broker dealer. Managed mutual fund tax returns. Assisted in tax planning relating to Mergers &Acquisitions, UK operations and regulatory issues surrounding mutual fund regulations.

COOPERS & LYBRAND, San Francisco, CA, Sr. Tax Manager 1996 – 1997

EXXONMOBIL, New York, Virginia, Texas, Sr. Tax Adviser 1989 – 1996

SOLOMON BROTHERS, New York, New York, Supervisor- Financial Derivatives 1986 – 1989

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, Washington, D.C.

MBA, Finance; Graduated with High Honors

BRYANT UNIVERSITY, Smithfield, RI

MBA, Accounting / Tax; Graduated with Distinction

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, Austin, TX

Bachelor of Business Administration, Finance; Graduated in top 10%

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, New York, N.Y

Post graduate courses in Taxation

CERTIFICATIONS & RECOGNITIONS

CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT (CPA) – State of Rhode Island

REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISOR (RIA), active 2005-2009

SERIES 7 AND SERIES 63 – State of California

INVESTMENT BANKING INSTITUTE- New York, NY, 2008

COMMENDATION LETTER FROM Mr. LAWRENCE GIBBS, former Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service in connection with presentation made on “Using Derivatives and Hybrid Instruments to Hedge Asset Based Securities”.

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