San Francisco, California, United States
As a finance and accounting leader with over 20 years of experience, I have helped several technology companies in the enterprise software, SaaS, manufacturing and biotech industries achieve their financial goals and optimize their performance. I have a CPA certification (inactive) and a passion for process improvement, team building, and corporate finance. In my most recent role as VP Corporate Controller at Astra Space, a space technology company, I was responsible for leading the accounting, financial reporting, and compliance functions, as well as supporting the strategic planning and business development initiatives. I contributed to the successful IPO of the company, the integration of multiple acquisitions, and the implementation of new systems and controls. I also built and developed a high-performing and diverse finance team that enabled the company to scale and grow.
- Responsible for all accounting functions including SEC Reporting, technical accounting, cost accounting, revenue accounting, AR credit and collections, corporate accounting, payroll and travel management. - Seamlessly migrated technical accounting function from outsourced vendor to existing team members. - Successfully restructured corporate accounting team providing opportunities to existing team members. - Implemented automation tools for the AP and AR functions, reducing processing time while enhancing accuracy. - Successfully reengineered the accounts payable function reducing processing times, cleaning up four years of outstanding payables and credits, and reducing the size of the AP team from 9 to 5 FTEs, paving the way for outsourcing. - Identified and corrected a significant error in the intercompany accounts with a foreign sub within the first month of employment. The error would have resulted in a material weakness. Accomplishment was recognized by company’s audit committee and external auditors. - Implemented new accounting policies in intercompany account management, accounts payable and inventory reserves. - Reconciled and settled all intercompany accounts for twelve foreign subsidiaries and implemented policies and procedures to ensure monthly reconciliation and settlement. These accounts hadn’t been properly settled in four years.
- Collaborated with D&T ERP system consultants to make necessary configurations and repairs to NetSuite system which had been implemented a year prior which had significant data and functionality issues, and implemented payment system. - Departed due to company went bankrupt.
- Successfully led the company through three years of its first time annual financial audits, and quarterly reviews, with a tremendous number of accounting issues and adjustments in support of taking the company public via a SPAC merger of $0.5 billion, in just four months. - Integrated a $50 million acquisition of Apollo, Inc. on the same day Astra began trading on the NASDAQ. - Implemented Equity Edge stock administration system in two months and went live on same day of trading on the NASDAQ. - Successfully hired and trained a completely new accounting team of 16 professionals, by leveraging my professional network over three quarters to fill all Controllership functions, including stock administration, payroll, GL accounting, cost accounting, AP and internal audit. - Hired new public accounting firm to perform company audits (from a national firm to a Big 4). - Collaborated with other functional groups to build new business operations processes in anticipation of implementing a new ERP system coupled with implementation and integration with Coupa. Ensured the new fully integrated system was both ITAR and SOX compliant. - Reduced month end close process from a 30 day ‘soft close’ to a 5 day hard financial close during a one-year period of hyper-growth where headcount grew from 105 to 565. - Chaired the Disclosure Committee and managed the Audit Committee meetings comprised of three board members (two of which are my references).
- Successfully hired and trained completely new accounting and finance team of 8, by leveraging my professional network. - Implemented Zone/NetSuite billing system to augment original internally-developed billing system. - Developed FP&A function; including creation of the Company’s first bottom’s up approach to Company Plan, and including financial modeling for fund raising. - Successfully reduced the month end financial close from 15 days to 5 days with greater accuracy and detailed reporting. - Implemented treasury function and hired international accountants in EMEA to support new EMEA entities. - Performed internal financial audit and restated financials in accordance with US GAAP, including ASC 606. - Responsible for all financial, accounting, tax, investor reporting and treasury responsibilities.
- Developed FP&A function; including creation of the Company’s first bottom’s up approach to budget for 2018 and 2019. Implemented monthly BvA process for all departments, providing budget owners with insight to their actual spend vs budget. - Partnered with CFO on sell-side fund raising and due diligence with VC and PE firms, including modeling the Company’s financial forecasts. - Negotiated a significant discount and implemented NetSuite ERP, and replaced manually excel reporting and significantly reducing time spent closing financial accounts and providing financial reporting with KPI’s to management and Board. - Successfully reduced the month end financial close from 15 days to 3 days with greater accuracy and detailed reporting. - Negotiated and completed implementation of a Carta stock administration system. - Successfully hired completely new accounting and FP&A team by leveraging my professional network. - Completed the Company’s 2015, 2016 and 2017 financial statement audits with a Big 4 Accounting Firm in 1.5 years. - Implemented ASC 606 Revenue Recognition including impact to cost of sales commissions. - Responsible for all legal, investor reporting and treasury responsibilities, financial and operational due diligence for fund raising. Assisted CFO in fundraising of $19.5 million.