Jim is a strategic executive with over 30 years of financial and operating experience. Jim has a strong track record of driving growth and shareholder value. Jim has been a small business owner, led a public company through bankruptcy and built a leading environmental services company by acquisition. Jim’s industry knowledge is broad, spanning education and education technology, digital media, professional services, and industrial and light manufacturing. Jim’s expertise includes corporate restructuring, liquidity management, M&A, and organizational development... SEE MORE
Jim started his career in public accounting with Ernst & Young where he conducted audits spanning multiple industries. After public accounting, Jim worked as a senior financial analyst for larger corporations like Baxter, Nielsen & American National Can. Jim took an entrepreneurial turn by acquiring his own fast-food franchise. He doubled his sales over a five-year period and sold his business for 5x his investment. Jim has spent the last 20 years as a senior finance executive, 14 years as a CFO, focusing on helping privately held companies achieve their financial objectives.
Some highlights of Jim’s career include:
• Achieved double digit revenue and EBITDA growth by defining growth strategy, including new product investments, new sales channels, and search engine optimization (SEO).
• Achieved 10% revenue CAGR and 16% EBITDA CAGR with multi-pronged initiatives including 8 acquisitions, a new pricing strategy, supply chain capacity expansion, supplier negotiations, and expanded sales reach.
• Prepared company for multiple exit paths by strengthening business performance, drafting S-1 and pitch deck, fortifying control environment, implementing ASC 606 on public company timeline, hiring an investment bank, and conducting road shows.
• Secured an offer to buy the company at an attractive multiple. Drove company sale process, including creation of pitch deck, due diligence, and road shows with potential buyers.
• Facilitated $50 million dividend to owners and retirement of costly preferred equity by refinancing debt with a new unitranche credit facility.
• Improved liquidity by refinancing credit facility from $140 to $190 million.
• Reversed liquidity crisis by improving working capital $2 million, implementing detailed cash flow forecasting, and securing new debt financing.
• Enhanced commercial execution. Drove $2 million in new sales opportunities with free product trials as part of COVID go to market strategy. Delivered 40% CAGR in website traffic with SEO initiative.
• Realized $25 million in cost synergies and integrated 8 acquired companies’ back office operations. Established common information technology, 401k, business insurance, and HR policies. Combined operating facilities.
• Strengthened subsidiary finance capabilities, including upgrading talent, improving processes, and implementing cloud-based reporting platform. Created forecasting, budgeting and strategic planning processes. Accelerated close to 6 days.
Specialties: CFO, COO, private equity, PE, SaaS, Education Technology, Digital Media, Manufacturing, Finance, strategic planning, change management, negotiation, global business partner, executive leadership, talent development, business development, M&A, due diligence, accounting, IFRS, GAAP, SOX, Sarbanes Oxley, insurance, investor relations, debt financing, banking relationships, international tax planning, working capital, treasury, ERP, risk management, growth, restructuring, KPI's, board presentation, hedging, audit oversight, consulting.
