Finance Manager/Controller

Lawrence T. Barrett

*** ****** *****, *********, ** 60030

847-***-**** *****@*******.***

SENIOR MANAGER – FINANCE / OPERATIONS / GENERAL MANAGEMENT

A seasoned financial manager with a successful background of planning and managing major initiatives achieving long term growth and financial stability in highly competitive environments. Especially skillful at identifying opportunities for improvement, translating into specific objectives, creating project plans, marshalling necessary resources, and managing through to completion. Proven capacity to rapidly analyze and resolve complex business problems – delivering significant and sustainable improvements in efficiency, cost control, risk management and profitability.

Extensive professional skills and expertise, including:

• Budgeting, Accounting, Reporting, & Forecasting • Re-Engineering Key Processes & Procedures

• Hiring, Training, Coaching & Team-Building • Providing Insightful Financial Reports & Analysis

• Improving Cash Collection Systems & Processes • Managing Complex Business Projects

• Managing Multiple Business Functions • Creating Effective Financial Controls

• Administering H.R., Payroll & Benefit Plans • Managing Relationships with Vendors/Suppliers

• Implementing Effective IT Systems • Controlling Costs & Boosting Profits

Working experience with MAPICS, BPCS, DEC/VAX, MAS90, ELITE, OSAS, Timberline, IBM S/36, 38 & AS400, STAR,

Navision, FRx. ADP HR/Payroll/Enterprise, JDEdwards, QuickBooks, Peachtree and all Microsoft Office products.

Possesses direct management experience in Construction, Services, Equipment Manufacturing/Service/Leasing, and

Distribution.

Professional Background

Mid-American Elevator Company (construction contractor & equipment manufacturer/lessor) Chicago, IL

-- Chief Financial Officer (2005 - 2010); Controller (1999 - 2002)

Primarily responsible for all Administrative, Financial, Risk Management and HR functions for this closely-held

multiple-entity, multiple-state company with up to 8 office locations and job sites nationwide with revenues to $60M.

• Managed the update of IT systems from heavily customized infrastructure to a common platform which was

easier to use and maintain. This allowed Mid-American to more accurately track inter-company costs,

and improved the capability for consolidated financial reporting.

• Streamlined administrative and financial operations by consolidating functions and improving internal

controls. Reduced administrative staff costs by 40%, and cut time needed for month-end closing by 20%.

• Restructured a multi-company / multi-bank cash management system into a single bank platform, with

all activity consolidated into a cash-revolver loan. Resulted in freeing up about $1M of cash for

immediate use, and the saving of about $100K of loan interest charges.

• Functioned as Project Manager for restoring Mid-American’s Headquarters facility after it was damaged

by fire. After receiving a $1M settlement, restoration was completed at a total cost of just over

$800K, and the facility was modernized by rolling remaining funds into other capital improvements.

Although virtually all office equipment, records, and offices were damaged or destroyed, no interruption

of payroll, financial, or administrative functions were experienced.

• Developed combined financial statements and reports that united results for separate companies under

common ownership and control. This was instrumental in Mid-American obtaining capital funding which

allowed expansion of operations.

LWG Consulting, Inc. (engineering consulting/equipment restoration) Northbrook, IL

-- CFO/Controller, Secretary/Treasurer, Equity Partner & Board Member (2002 - 2005); Controller (1997 - 1998);

Assistant Controller (1996-97); Project Manager (1995-96)

Primarily responsible for all financial administration, risk management, reporting results to partners/lenders, and

audit relationship for firm with over 20 offices across North America and annual revenues to $10M.

• Key member of the team that acquired LWG Consulting. Produced and presented most of the financial reports to

interested lenders; and led migration of Accounting and IT infrastructure, also installing financial controls.

• Instituted a lockbox system for bank deposits, accelerating the availability of cash deposits by 5-7 days.

• Designed an operational and cash flow budgeting model that established all staffing, revenue and cost goals for

individual consultants and operating units. These were rolled up into Regional and Corporate models and compared

on a monthly, annual, and historical basis -- giving ownership a comprehensive evaluation of results at all levels

of the company’s operations.

• Developed new Job Summary reports to provide a multi-faceted view of individual projects, including actual results

compared to quote. This led to better quoting methods and higher gross margins.

• De-centralized the purchasing function and integrated it into accounting operations. Allowed month-end close time to be

reduced from 7-10 to 2-3 days, and virtually eliminated cases of missing documentation.

• Successfully organized and managed equipment restoration projects on 24-hour call basis across the country.

Alfa Laval Separation, Inc. (industrial separator mfg) Indianapolis, IN Sr. Cost Accountant 1991 – 1995

Responsible for Cost Accounting and Shop Coordination functions for North American Repair Facility with annual sales

of $20-25M for Swedish-owned company serving the food processing, beverage and chemical industries worldwide.

Golden Eagle Archery (archery products mfg) Farmington, NY Controller 1989 – 1990

Responsible for all accounting operations for Holding Company and manufacturer with annual sales volume of $6M with plants located

in New York and Florida. Golden Eagle was a spin-off from the Coleman Company.

Cross & Trecker Corp. (Diversified machine tools mfg) several locations Division Controller 1985 – 1989

Division Controller for Shalco Systems – a manufacturer of Foundry equipment and parts located in Fraser, MI.

Promoted to Alliance Automation Systems, a manufacturer of automated assembly systems (manufacturing lines) with revenues of $40M

located in Warren, MI.

Tri-West Products, Inc. (Tier-I auto supplier) Detroit, MI Controller 1980 - 1985

Responsible for accounting functions for Fastener distributor serving the automotive industry with sales volume of $6M.

Public Accounting experience, as an undergraduate at Eastern Michigan University:

James F. Peters, PC Southfield, MI Staff Accountant (full time) 1978-1980

Danneels & Company Harper Woods, MI Staff Accountant (full time) 1978

Consulting Experience:

George S. May International Park Ridge, IL Field Consultant 1990

Operated own accounting/tax practice 1982-1995

Education:

B. S. - Business, accounting emphasis, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI, 1980.

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