CFO, Controller, and QuickBooks Consultant

Jeffrey T. Horst

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

Orlando, FL cell 682-***-****

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/pub/jeff-horst/63/a3/92b Finance Executive

I am a finance professional with broad global experience as a CFO and Controller with multinational manufacturing and retail companies of different sizes and business scope. Proven areas of leadership include FP&A, P&L management, Lean process implementation, and IT infrastructure. Areas of expertise include: FP&A with proven sustained results Strategic Planning Business Development Due Diligence Sales/Marketing Strategy Cost Analysis Competitive Analysis IT Management Financial Reporting Budgeting/Forecasting Process Improvement Team Building EDUCATION

M.B.A., University of Akron, Concentration: Finance B.S., University of Akron, Major: Accounting

LANGUAGE

Chinese – Successfully passed (92%) Chinese Government level II proficiency test for spoken Chinese. Some knowledge of Spanish and Portuguese.

EMPLOYMENT

Artech – March 2024 to Current

Consultant for Performance Improvement Partners

Assigned to Culligan which is a key client for PIP. Supported Quickbooks transitions for various Business Units. Accomplishments:

• Led Project to migrate APEC water systems to a 3PL vs in-house shipping.

• Constructed QBs structure to support virtual warehouses to monitor/track inventory movements from Monterrey, MX and overseas suppliers.

• Successful “go-live” conversion to 3PL in Feb ’25.

• Completed all management training, process flow designs, and documentation. IPS Adhesives, Durham, NC – January 2021 to January 2024 IPSA provides specialty adhesives used in the construction industry, plastics & components assembly, sign & display assembly, bus and truck manufacturing, and marine industry. With manufacturing facilities in North Caroline, Florida, and Newcastle, UK, IPSA is well diversified to support global customers. January 2021 - current Global Finance Director

Serve on the Executive Leadership Team, responsible for all accounting, finance, strategic planning, budgeting, working capital, capex management, and risk management across the group. Accomplishments:

• Led responses to all due diligence inquiries during the private equity acquisition of IPSA in 2021.

• Supported the commercial team to create and sales and marketing plan that resulted in 10%+ core growth for three years

• Improved AR collections in the UK resulting in £1.2m reduction in past dues

• Successfully combined two entities in the UK resulting in synergy savings of £1.5m

• Developed a strategy focused on increasing gross margin that resulted in 400bps improvement YOY

• For recent acquisition, driving synergies in material cost savings, SG&A reductions, and customer/product integration, yielding ROIC of 23%

Root Bioscience, Raleigh, NC – August 2019 to January 2021 With capabilities in bulk manufacturing, contract manufacturing, and retail branding, Root Bioscience is a CBD manufacturer that focuses first on material science and provides quality products among the best in the industry. The company is vertically integrated with farming operations through a JV with Green Root Extraction Services. Aug 2019 - current Chief Financial Officer

Responsible for Finance, HR, Purchasing, and IT functions across 3 entities including a majority owned joint venture. Established processes to monitor and control key elements of the business. Improved essential business relationships with financing partners, banks, suppliers, and customers. Accomplishments:

• Negotiated supply contract with farmers that is sensitive to fluctuating market prices.

• Created a working capital model that enables complete visibility to cashflow decisions. o DSO – improved 20 days

o DPO – improved 25 days

• Implemented Fishbowl ERP with integrations to Quickbooks and Shopify

• Increased Naternal Brands sales 50% by focusing on the addition of retail partners and merchant processing capability

• Introduced and implemented 401k Plan

• Transitioned health care to a high deductible HSA Plan resulting in 20% savings per year Coty Inc, Sanford, NC – January 2018 to July 2019

With a broad product offering in Fragrance, Skin Care, Color Cosmetics, and Nail Laquers, Coty is one of the largest beauty manufacturers in the world. With operations in North America, Europe, and South America, Coty is positioned to service customers in all regions.

Jan 2018 – Jul 2019 Finance Director

Responsible for Finance functions for facility that manufacturers 220m units per year. Designed a process utilizing SAP to provide mid-month soft close detail and month end close in 1 1/2 days. Created dashboards updated by SAP to monitor key performance metrics. Evaluated value stream performance to ensure year over year standard cost savings. Improved internal controls by implementing key account reconciliations and quarterly balance sheet reviews. Served as leader for Global Supply Chain Simplification Project providing continuous improvements and best practices for all group factories.

Accomplishments:

• Reduced number of invoices processed by 80% by introducing streamlined process.

• Implemented tool to track freight expense by lane and by supplier.

• Annual physical inventory result less than 0.5% of perpetual

• Manufacturing savings Year over year - $8M

• Material Purchase Price savings $4m per yr on $200M spend MAS US Holdings, Asheboro, NC – December 2015 to December 2017 (became MAS US Holdings Inc. via acquisition)

With a rich history beginning in 1909, core products include lady’s sheer hosiery, tights, seamless apparel, trouser socks, and children’s/infant’s tights. Acme-McCrary is considered the largest private label producer of hosiery and seamless products in North America. With operations in North Carolina and Honduras, Acme-McCrary is well positioned to service North American customers with short lead times. The company was successfully sold to MAS Holdings in Sri Lanka on May 1, 2017. We are now integrating the former Acme McCrary operations with the structure of MAS Holdings.

Dec 2015 – Dec 2017 Chief Financial Officer

Responsible for Finance, HR and IT functions globally. Designed a delegation of authority matrix to clearly define approval levels across all organizations. Created tool to evaluate capital spending projects with the goal of one year or less payback. Evaluated working capital structure through weekly ABL analysis. Detailed AR aging analysis was created with assigned action plans for improvement. Evaluated customer gross margin performance and successfully drove price increases with one customer and change in manufacturing sourcing with another customer. Reduced the month end closing cycle by 5 days. Successfully negotiated a consolidation of equipment leases. Conducted business process reviews to implement Great Plains as a common ERP platform. Implemented Concur travel and expense.

Accomplishments:

• Travel and expense savings of $10k per month by utilizing Concur.

• Reduce AR aging over 90 days from $1.2M to $30k.

• Annual physical inventory result less than 0.5% of perpetual

• Equipment lease savings - $300k per yr

• Material and other cost savings $850k per yr

Ametek Inc., Berwyn, PA – Apr 2014 to Nov 2015

With annual sales of $4 billion, AMETEK Aerospace & Defense is a leading manufacturer of highly engineered and cost effective engine sensor suites, aircraft data management systems, cooling and ventilating systems, environmental control systems, and a variety of sub-assemblies to military and aerospace customers. Apr 2014 – Nov 2015 Ametek, Inc., North America Finance Director, Miami, FL Responsible for Finance and all FP&A activities across North America. Developed control process to monitor and standardize SOX compliance across 8 business units. Improved gross margins 8 basis points by implementing weekly gross margin reporting and attaching action plans to customers/products with unfavorable performance to budget expectations. Created tool to monitor working capital daily resulting in 2 days improvement in collection cycle and $2M improvement in inventory. Developed common KPI performance tracking for all business units in NA. Implemented cycle count programs and lower of cost or market testing for inventory resulting in $5M improvement in year over year inventory write-offs. Successfully consolidated businesses in Miami and in the Midwest maximizing profitability and streamlining operations. Implemented Quantum as a common ERP platform.

Accomplishments:

• FP&A tools used to develop robust strategic plans that were implemented across all North American business units maximizing working capital performance and earnings.

• Sustained inventory reduction and best practices implemented across 8 MRO business units. Tranter Inc., Plano, TX – May 2009 to Jan 2014

With annual sales of $350 million, Tranter is a leading manufacturer and service provider for plated and welded heat exchangers. With key manufacturing facilities in Texas, Sweden, China, and India, Tranter is well positioned to support customers globally. I have served as the CFO for two of the three Tranter reporting regions. Jan 2012 - Jan 2014 Tranter, Inc., CFO Asia, Beijing, China Responsible for Finance and IT in China, India, Middle East, and Australia. Responsible for leading all FP&A activities across Asia. Developed process to reduce finished goods balance in China from RMB 10m to RMB 2m. Improvement sustained over last two years. Established metrics to monitor SG&A that resulted in 20% reduction in the region. Improved past due AR in China and India by 25%. Work with Sales Management to analyze customer payment terms and developed credit/collection process. Conducted employee survey to identify critical issues and developed action plans. Asian lead for Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis initiative. Executive Champion for Lean Project Teams. “Shows much improvement” rating for 2012 Risk Assessment audit. Improved process for spending approval and capital spending follow up. Improved gross margins by 15 percentage points in four months. Profit improvement over 50% for next two business plan cycles. Asian lead for new ERP implementation team. Currently implementing SharePoint across the Region including site pages for Finance, HR, and IT.

Accomplishments:

• FP&A tools used to develop robust strategic plans that were implemented across all Asian business units.

• Sustained inventory reduction and best practices implemented across the corporation.

• Lean process improvements developed and implemented.

• Metrics developed that supported cost reductions in excess of 20%. May 2009-Jan 2012 Tranter, Inc., CFO for the Americas, Wichita Falls, Texas Responsible for Finance and Administration in North, Central, and South America. Responsible for leading FP&A activities across the Americas including due diligence on potential acquisitions. Served as VP of Finance/Adm for Tranter Canada. Served on the BOD of Tranter Latin America. Facilitated merger of acquisition in Brazil. Work with Sales Management to analyze customer payment terms to achieve the correct balance of risk. Developed financial process mapping tool to identify improvement opportunities. Implemented dashboard metrics to track operations performance. Implemented paperless AP system (Opto) in the US. Improved over 90 days AR from 14% to less than 2%. Continuous improvement noted as a strength by external auditors. Reduced inventory write- off of over $1m through use of a robust cycle counting process. This resulted in error rates less than 1% annually in many locations. Process identified as a corporate best practice and implemented globally. Accomplishments:

• FP&A lead for due diligence in Brazil that resulted in successful acquisition and merger of a business unit.

• Successful implementation of common processes for AP and AR.

• Lean financial process mapping resulted in 20% reduction of process time.

• Developed robust inventory control tools resulting in reduced losses and physical counting efforts. AutoNation, Fort Lauderdale, FL – January 2006 to May 2009 With annual sales of $15 billion, AutoNation is the largest auto retail company with more than 200 dealerships in the US. The financial organization is structured such that Controllers manage multiple dealerships and report to a Region VP of Finance.

Jan 2006-May 2009 AutoNation, Controller, Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas Served as the Controller for Nichols Ford, Texan Ford, Bankston Chevrolet in Dallas and Fort Worth. And Bankston Nissan Irving. Responsible for accounting functions in dealerships of about 130 employees. Responsible for leading FP&A activities across multiple brands. Ensured dealerships operated within compliance of corporate policies. Monitored efficiency of sales and fixed operations and led improvements. Improved expenses 10% year over year. Increased cash flow by $200,000 per month in each dealership. Responsible for budgeting, forecasting, and closing financial statements using ADP.

Android Industries, Auburn Hills, MI – March 2005 to January 2006 Android Industries, designs, builds, assembles, and sequences vehicle systems for the automotive market. My Controller role was a short term contract during the period where Android replaced the previous sequencing supplier to the GM Arlington assembly plant.

March 2005-Jan 2006 Android Industries, Controller, Arlington Operations, Arlington, Texas Responsible for all financial operations for three plants that employ over 500 people and achieve sales in excess of

$30 million annually. Successfully hired employees from former company to supply General Motors without interruption. Responsible for establishing business systems, monitoring effectiveness, and ensuring compliance. Responsible for human resource function including labor relations. Manage consigned material of approximately

$1 billion. Responsible for all FP&A activities within a QAD environment. Delphi Automotive Systems, Troy, MI – September 1989 to March 2005 With annual sales of $29 billion, Delphi Automotive Systems is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of automotive parts. My experience with Delphi Automotive Systems includes multiple divisions, locations, and roles.

June 2004-March 2005 Delphi Holdings Group Division of Delphi Automotive Systems, Controller, Flint Operations, Flint, Michigan

Responsible for all financial operations for three groups that employ over 3,000 people and achieve sales in excess of $600 million annually. Responsible for consolidation of financial reports and metric reporting for multiple product lines. Reduced chronic annual physical inventory losses of $2 million to $500,000 through the use of six sigma tools. FP&A lead responsible for developing plans to stop or reduce losses in troubled units and to evaluate viable products versus legacy products. Developed tool used by operations to analyze required labor versus current staffing. Responsible for budgeting, forecasting, and closing financial statements in an SAP environment. Jan 1999-June 2004 Delphi Energy & Chassis Systems Division of Delphi Automotive Systems, Resident Controller, Brake Corner Operations, Saginaw, Michigan Responsible for all financial operations for five plants that employ over 1,700 people and achieve sales in excess of $1 billion annually. Reduced physical inventory loss year-over-year by $6.0 mil. Achieved “Strong” rating from Delphi Corporate Audit Services for random Internal Control audit. Utilize FP&A tools to reduce manufacturing expense by 3% annually. Facilitate Lean Principles training. 1997-1999 Delphi Saginaw Steering Division of Delphi Automotive Systems, Associate Administrator, Venture Development, Saginaw, Michigan FP&A lead analyst and liaison primarily responsible for ventures/subsidiaries in Brazil, China, Thailand, South Africa, and Australia. Developed financial models/business cases for potential joint ventures that comprehend the effects of inflation, foreign exchange, economics, and taxes. Performed on and off-site financial due diligence for acquisitions or Green-field sites.

1994-1997 Delphi Packard Electric Division of General Motors, General Supervisor, Finance, Gadsden, Alabama

Responsible for all financial operations during “green field” plant start-up. As a design team member, established policies that supported high involvement work teams. QS9000 Lead Assessor for the plant. 1989-1994 Delphi Packard Electric Division of General Motors, Accountant, Senior Accountant, Warren, Ohio

LICENSES, CERTIFICATES, & ADDITIONAL SKILLS - Certified Facilitator, Covey Leadership Center,

“Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”. QS9000 Lead Assessor. COMPUTER SKILLS - Proficient in the use of Quantum, Hyperion, MAPICS, SAP, QAD, ADP, Microsoft SharePoint, Excel, Powerpoint, Access, Word, Outlook, Great Plains, Concur, Quickbooks, JD Edwards (E1), and Fishbowl.

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