Advanced Financial Modeler, CPA
Resume:
CARLTON ABSHER, MBA / CPA / AFM
Winston Salem, NC 27104
Email: ****************@*****.***
PROFILE
Extensive experience in both Corporate Accounting and Financial Planning & Analysis with a Fortune 100 retailer. Experience also includes serving as the principal financial officer at a startup retail entity.
WORK EXPERIENCE
LOWES HOME CENTERS
Finance Manager – Store Operations/Facilities Nov 2022-Dec 2023
Provide financial support in the areas of facilities management/energy management. Support monthly reporting and analysis related to MBM reporting. Create and support Annual Plan/Forecast.
FORSYTH COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Controller Mar 2022-Oct 2022
Support implementation and reporting for new Oracle GL system.
HANESBRANDS, INC.
Finance Manager – Retail Business Support 2016-2022
Business partner with the retail segment. Collaborate with store operations, merchandising, real estate and store planning to roll up monthly/quarterly/annual operating plans, closing and variance analysis, capital planning. Economic modeling on all new stores, expansions and lease renewals.
BB&T CORP.
Project Financial Analyst – Contractor role 2014-2016
Assigned to large software implementation project related to commercial lending software.
REVLON, INC.
Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis – Operations 2013-2014
Responsible for reporting and analysis in the areas of global COGS, US Distribution Operations and total corporate savings tracking. Providing primary support for VP of Ops Finance and VP of US Distribution.
Develop and maintain a concise monthly global reporting package for COGS, distribution and inventory.
Streamline reporting templates and processes, improve clarity of reports and reduce production time.
FAMILY DOLLAR STORES 2008-2013
Director of Real Estate Accounting and Financial Analysis
Manage and participate in all aspects of corporate accounting and reporting with a special focus on capital assets, real estate accounting and special projects. Provide financial analysis and support for a 7,000-unit retail chain in the areas of Rent, Lease Administration, Facilities Maintenance and Energy Management.
Evaluation of the FASB/IFRS proposal to revamp lease accounting requirements, and the resultant
changes to processes and reporting for a company with 6,000+ leases.
Development and maintenance of improved budgeting process for store expenses related to Real
Estate, Capex and long-term cash planning.
CPA/FINANCIAL CONSULTANT 2004-2008
Engage and assist various clients in the areas of tax preparation, payroll preparation, financial reporting, data handling, implementation and enhancement of specific software packages.
AMERICAN MATTRESS CENTERS / SEALY CORPORATION 2001-2004
Retail Controller
Developed the Finance function and provided financial leadership in a startup project to open 105 stores in the vestibule area of Wal-Mart stores.
LOWES HOME CENTERS 1988-2001
Director of Financial Planning and Analysis 1997-2001
Oversee and implement 5-year model to forecast total co. revenue, income, cash flow needs, etc. Also responsible for supervision of the detailed budgeting process for a 700 unit retail operation as well as forecasting total corporate sales and income on a monthly basis. Served as the principal liaison between Finance and the Executive Merchandising Staff. Supervision of a staff of 9 professional analysts.
Developed/enhanced detailed Long Range Planning model to assess future funding requirements.
Analyzed and selected new software package for store budgeting process.
LOWES HOME CENTERS
Director of Corporate Accounting 1995-1997
Manage compilation of financial statements for internal (monthly) and public release (10Q/10K/MD&A/variance analysis) along with monthly production and distribution of detailed revenue and expense booklet for internal release. Perform various quarterly analyses of total company expenses to accompany quarterly financial statements for public release. Supervision of 30 people.
Reduced the monthly/quarterly closeout time by 7 days.
Analyzed and selected new General Ledger software package (Peoplesoft).
Manager of Financial Reporting/Financial Systems 1993-1995
Controlled daily operation, maintenance and monthly closeout of Computer Associates general ledger package, which included production/transmission of profit and loss statements for all locations on a monthly basis. Also responsible for corporate and store level expense allocations on a monthly basis and supervision of financial hotline to assist store managers in understanding their financial statements.
Streamlined process for allocation/posting of expenses to General Ledger.
Enhanced customer service to field personnel through improvements and additional support to
financial hotline.
Assistant Manager, Corporate Accounting 1992-1993
Compile and audit quarterly and annual SEC financial statements. Devised and implemented system to track and analyze new store opening costs and annual Profit and Loss income statements. Trained and supervised staff of 5 professional accountants.
Created the first company-wide system to budget individual store units at the financial line-item detail level.
Senior Corporate Accountant 1990-1992
Corporate Accountant 1988-1990
EDUCATION
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Kenan-Flagler Business School
- Master of Business Administration, September 2008
- Electives included courses in Investments, Equity Valuation, Advanced Corporate Finance,
Advanced Financial Reporting
Gardner Webb University Boiling Springs, NC
- Bachelor of Science, May 1988
- Major: Accounting
Certified Public Accountant in N.C. since 1990
Advanced Financial Modeler from Financial Modeling Institute, 2025
Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst Certification (FMVA) from Corporate Finance Inst, 2025
Scored 730 on GMAT (97th percentile)
SKILLS
Advanced to expert level with MS Excel and MS Access. Very experienced in working with and manipulating large volumes of data to produce summary models and big picture answers. Proficient with Essbase, SAP G/L, BPC, SQL, Oracle Discoverer and Business Objects.
Contact this candidate