CFO / Controller

John P. Lambert C.P.A. (inactive)

Alpharetta, Georgia (C) 404-***-****

**************@*****.***

SUMMARY

A versatile, goal oriented financial professional with extensive experience managing in retail, manufacturing, and administrative environments. A strong and respected manager with experience in managing a variety of financial organizations, plant operations, plant start-ups, systems conversions / installations and special projects. Skilled in team building and management of day-to-day operations.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

PRIVATE LABEL BEAUTY & WELLNESS, Clearwater, FL (Remote) 2022 - 2025

CFO / Controller

Directed the financial / accounting / and administrative activities.

Designed & implemented a general ledger and suite of financial reports. Prior to arriving the company did not have a comprehensive system of financial record keeping.

Installed an inventory system (Fishbowl). Prior to installation the company did not have an inventory system that recorded and valued transactions.

Installed EDI for shipments / invoicing.

EMILIA PERSONAL CARE, Roswell, GA 2016 - 2022

CFO / Controller – U.S.A

Directed the financial / accounting / and administrative activities of the Emilia Companies in the United States.

Originally hired to relocate the accounting activities from Columbus OH to Roswell, GA and manage the financial / administrative activities of the Emilia Headquarters office.

Accepted responsibility for the accounting and administrative activities of Emilia’s manufacturing facility in Mississippi in 2018. Transferred the accounting / administrative activities of the plant to the Roswell office.

Initiated, completed and submitted applications for grant monies under the Paycheck Protection Act which resulted in Emilia receiving $1.4 million in loans under the PPP program. All loans were subsequently forgiven.

Outsourced the filing of Walmart lost product claims. Resulted in improved claims reimbursements from Walmart of over $200k per year. Over $400k during the first year.

Emilia changed providers of warehouse storage and fulfillment services in 2017, relocating the activity from Pennsylvania to Georgia. Large amounts of product were lost by the new provider. Filed claims with the new provider receiving over $400k.

Developed new financial reports to provide more detailed and informative reporting.

WOLTERS KLUWER, Kennesaw, GA 2011 - 2015

Accounting Manager

Directed the general ledger, accounts payable & sales tax functions.

Led the offshoring to India of the AP group and GL transactions, training Indian personnel locally and traveling to India for final training.

Reduced the closing cycle by 1/3, from three to two days through improved scheduling, re-allocation of tasks and re-training.

Completed implementation and troubleshooting of Varicent commission system.

Transitioned preparation of sales tax returns (thirty states) to third party preparer, coordinating software implementation, training and troubleshooting.

CMD SERVICES INC., Duluth, GA 2006 - 2011

CFO / Controller

Directed the accounting group and treasury functions.

Detected and investigated internal theft resulting in $250,000 insurance reimbursement.

Detected routine overpayment of sales tax resulting in $100,000 reimbursement.

Restated prior year financials, installing system of balance sheet analysis to prevent future occurrences of financial misstatement.

Improved timeliness of monthly closing process by two weeks through establishment of a closing schedule, assignment of responsibilities, re-allocation and standardization of month-end processes, additional training & clear communication and enforcement of reporting requirements with operating personnel.

THE ATHLETE’S FOOT, Kennesaw, GA 1997-2005

Corporate Controller

Directed the accounting group. Areas of responsibility included general ledger / financial reporting, cash management, inventory accounting, accounts payable, payroll, accounts receivable, fixed assets, and sales audit. Prepared financials and managed the external financial audit process.

Managed the company through bankruptcy process. (Last man standing)

Reorganized general ledger and accounting activities after management buyout.

Developed new suite of financial reports resulting in more efficient communication of information to management. Eliminated numerous reports.

Led GL systems upgrade from Lawson version 6.2 to version 7.2

Led Gift Card implementation team

Led Driscoll implementation team

Eliminated 20,000 accounts from the chart of accounts.

Implemented a closing schedule resulting in 5 day improvement in the month-end closing process.

ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

GEORGIA-PACIFIC CORPORATION

Senior Manager, Pulp & Paper Shared Accounting Service Center

Directed 25 member professional staff that maintained the general ledgers and prepared financial statements for 35-40 corrugated manufacturing facilities, five paper mills and 20 administrative departments. Total annual revenues $2.5 billion.

Reorganized staff to improve utilization and implemented processing changes that shortened the closing schedule by one and one-half days while eliminating four full-time positions.

Designed and implemented a GL input process reducing manual input by 90%.

Initiated retraining on inventory reconciliations resulting in substantially improved results and 300 monthly man hour savings.

Manager, Headquarters Accounting, Manager, Corporate Accounting, Atlanta, GA

Implemented “Business Partnering” with department heads. Resulted in substantially improved relations with departments and improved knowledge level of the accounting staff.

Converted the Corporate Accounting GL from Computer Associates to Software 2000.

Established a formal closing schedule significantly improving the timeliness and reliability of reporting while reducing staff by one person and substantially reducing overtime.

Controller, Kansas City, MO

Developed a new product profitability reporting system which greatly improved the accuracy, timeliness, and flexibility of reporting.

Improved plant rating in overdue receivables from 25th to 1st in division rankings.

Led the plant through the GNN / GP systems conversion.

Manager, Staff Accounting Services, Toledo OH

Directed the installation of the McCormack & Dodge general ledger at headquarters and participated in the division-wide installation of the M&D fixed assets system.

Developed administrative/accounting procedures for operating units.

Reorganized department reducing monthly overtime from 150 hours to less than 10.

Controller, Warren County, NC

Developed the administrative and accounting functions of the plant during a greenfield start up and continued managing through first three years of operation. Areas of responsibility included construction accounting, general accounting, purchasing/accounts payable, billing, payroll, inventory control and order processing.

Internal Auditor, Toledo, OH

Performed financial and compliance audits at company facilities throughout the U.S. and evaluated financial and accounting systems for adequacy of internal controls.

EDUCATION

B.S.B.A. Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH

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