Chief Financial Officer
Resume:
Scott A. Squillace
Livingston, MT 59047
**********@*****.***
August 18, 2025
Hiring Manager
Montana Department of Corrections
Director’s Office
Helena, MT
Subject: Application for Chief Financial Officer
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am writing to express my enthusiastic interest in the Chief Financial Officer position with the Montana Department of Corrections, as advertised. With over two decades of experience in comprehensive financial leadership, I have a proven track record of driving efficiency, mitigating risk, and providing the strategic financial guidance necessary to support an organization's mission.
Throughout my career, I have demonstrated the ability to lead transformative initiatives that modernize financial operations and deliver significant results. As the CFO/Controller for Yellowstone Communications, I directed the financial strategy for a diverse portfolio of over 30 entities. I engineered and led multiple ERP implementations, which resulted in a 71% reduction in our month-end close cycle and over $150,000 in annual savings. I also developed and executed a risk management strategy that saved the company over $1.1 million in workers' compensation premiums. My experience in presenting complex financial information to diverse stakeholders, coupled with my ongoing professional development in data analytics, has prepared me to effectively communicate the Department's financial position and strategic initiatives to legislators, outside entities, and stakeholders. My early career as a Nuclear Reactor Operator in the U.S. Navy instilled in me a deep commitment to precision, discipline, and operational excellence. This foundation, combined with my extensive experience in the private sector, has equipped me with a unique perspective that I am eager to bring to the public sector. I am a forward-thinking leader who is passionate about leveraging technology to solve problems and drive continuous improvement. I am confident in my ability to quickly learn and adapt to the specific financial landscape of a state agency and to contribute to the important mission of the Montana Department of Corrections. Thank you for considering my application. I have attached my resume for your review and welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience and leadership can benefit the Montana Department of Corrections. Sincerely,
Scott A. Squillace
Scott A. Squillace
Livingston, MT 406-***-**** **********@*****.*** linkedin.com/in/scott-squillace Strategic Finance & Operations Leader
Over 20 years of experience directing comprehensive financial, operational, and technological strategies for complex, multi-entity organizations. Proven ability to drive efficiency, mitigate risk, and provide data-driven financial leadership to support strategic goals. Expertise in ERP implementation, M&A integration, and building high- performing teams. Committed to leveraging technology to modernize financial operations and deliver actionable insights.
Core Competencies
• Financial Strategy & FP&A
• Accounting Operations & GAAP Compliance
• ERP Implementation & Administration (NetSuite)
• M&A Due Diligence & Integration
• Risk Management & Internal Controls
• Data Analysis & Business Intelligence
• Team Leadership & Development
• Budgeting & Forecasting
• P&L Management
• Contract Negotiation
Professional Experience
Yellowstone Communications & Affiliates Livingston, MT CFO/CONTROLLER & HR DIRECTOR (Acting CTO) June 2006 – November 2022 Directed comprehensive financial, operational, and technological leadership for a complex $25M portfolio of over 30 entities across diverse industries, including Manufacturing, Real Estate, and Retail. Led all accounting, FP&A, M&A, HR, and IT functions from the ground up, culminating in the company's successful acquisition.
• Engineered and led multiple ERP implementations (QBO/QBE, SBS Financials), reducing the month-end close cycle by 71% (from 14 to 4 days) and yielding over $150,000 in annual savings.
• Engineered a transformative risk management strategy resulting in over $1.1M in annual savings (an 82% reduction) in workers' compensation premiums.
• Spearheaded financial and integration aspects of 5 M&A transactions, boosting bottom-line performance by 8.8%.
• Standardized FP&A procedures, reducing budgeting turnaround time by 50% and saving $215,000 in operating costs.
• Secured full $850,000 PPP loan forgiveness, ensuring business continuity and preserving 200 jobs. Adams Publishing Group Livingston, MT
Regional CFO, Regional IT Integration Manager November 2022 – May 2023 Retained post-acquisition to provide financial leadership and lead the full financial and technical integration of 13 regional business units, ensuring business continuity and process optimization.
• Reduced Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) by 31% by streamlining disparate billing processes.
• Deployed a KPI tracking system, which improved forecast accuracy by 30%.
• Drove 25% team efficiency gains by optimizing processes and aligning financial strategy. Independent Consultant / Fractional CFO Livingston, MT June 2023 – Present
Provide fractional financial and systems leadership to a portfolio of clients in the construction, healthcare, and service industries. Specialize in leading ERP/CRM migrations, establishing critical financial reporting frameworks from scratch, and driving process automation to enhance profitability and efficiency.
• Led a 6-month engagement for Total Electric of Montana, establishing comprehensive job costing and WIP (Work in Progress) reporting and leading a NetSuite ERP implementation that improved financial data retrieval speed by 35%.
• Recovered $160,000 in outstanding revenue for a multi-entity healthcare organization through a systematic business interruption analysis and identifying unbilled insurance claims.
• Automated project tracking and reporting for construction clients, eliminating over 10 hours of weekly manual work and enabling real-time performance monitoring.
• Streamlined month-end close processes by 25-35% for multiple clients by re-engineering workflows and implementing financial controls.
• Designed and deployed integrated cost accounting workflows and automated KPI dashboards to provide executive teams with real-time visibility into project performance and resource allocation. Earlier Career
RightNow Technologies (Oracle), Bozeman, MT – Revenue Accountant – SaaS Rio Tinto, Three Forks, MT – FP&A Manager
Level (3) Communications, Broomfield, CO – Financial Analyst U.S. Navy, USS Annapolis (SSN 760) – Nuclear Reactor Operator Board Governance & Fiduciary Leadership
Montana Newspaper Association & Foundation Helena, MT President & Finance Committee Chair, Board of Directors 2009 – 2023
• Elected President of the statewide association, providing strategic leadership and governance.
• As Finance Chair, spearheaded a complete overhaul of the member dues structure, reversing a trend of insolvency and returning the association to full financial self-sufficiency within 3 years.
• Oversaw all fiduciary functions, including budget approval, financial variance analysis, and cash flow management, reporting directly to the board on the association's fiscal health. Homestead Foundation Livingston, MT
Finance Director, Board of Directors 2006 – 2022
• Directed all financial operations and investment strategy for the foundation's ~$2.5M portfolio.
• Managed all accounting functions and presented quarterly financial analysis, investment performance reports, and strategic recommendations to the board of directors. Corporate Officer & Board Member (VP, Treasurer, Secretary) Yellowstone Communications Portfolio Companies
(Including entities in Media, Manufacturing, Banking, and Agriculture) 2006 – 2022
• Provided board-level governance and strategic financial direction for over 30 affiliated entities, ensuring financial alignment with overarching corporate objectives and compliance across diverse industries. Education & Certifications
B.S. in Business Administration (Finance & Accounting) Montana State University B.S. in Biology University of Montana
Google Career Certificate in Data Analytics Coursera (Anticipated Completion: October 2025) U.S. Navy Nuclear Power Training / Power School Graduate PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES
I have selected leaders and senior colleagues from my 17-year tenure as Yellowstone Newspapers
& Affiliates. Since this role represents the most significant and relevant portion of my professional experience, they are best positioned to speak to my leadership on complex systems transformations, my financial acumen, and my direct impact on business operations. 1. John Thomas Cribb, Director, Cribb & Associates Relationship: I hired John as Publisher as a publisher with Yellowstone Newspaper Group
(2010–2014). Years later, in his new role at his family’s brokerage firm, he re-engaged with us as the independent lead broker for Yellowstone Newspaper Group’s 2023 sale—giving him dual perspective as my former direct report and, later, external advisor who scrutinized my due-diligence financials and leadership under transaction pressure.
• Contact: **********@*****.*** / 406-***-****
2. Ian Nemec, Former IT Director, Yellowstone Newspapers & Affiliates
• Relationship: As my direct report, Ian and I collaborated closely on all major technology initiatives. He can provide insight into my leadership on projects such as our HRIS migration and digital platform rollouts, IT asset management, and my management during critical situations like a ransomware attack.
• Contact: ***.*****@*****.*** / 406-***-****
3. Jacques Rutten, Regional Managing Editor, Adams Publishing Group
• Relationship: Jacques and I were long-term peers at Yellowstone. As a key collaborator and beneficiary of the ERP system implementation, he can speak to my partnership skills and the operational impact of my work. We also served together on the Montana Newspaper Association board.
• Contact: *******@*******.*** / 406-***-****
Yellowstone Newspapers & Affiliates was the setting for my most consequential and relevant leadership work, so I’ve centered my reference list on colleagues from that organization. Everyone has been briefed on this opportunity and is happy to connect with you. Please let me know if you need anything else.
Best regards,
Scott Squillace
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