Blake Kane Email and Phone Number

As part of the quota process transformation team I am responsible for owning and leading the development of Excel and web-based tools used for global sales target deployment. This position features exposure to some of IBM's most senior leaders and relies upon project management skills in a high-pressure and cross-cultural environment.

As a Pricing Analyst I was responsible for maintaining deep product-level insight into IBM’s hardware, software, and services divisions. This knowledge was leveraged with market and competitor analysis to deliver product pricing that is both highly competitive and protective of company profit margin. In order to be successful, this position required strong attention to details, the ability to read and interpret profit & loss statements, and analyze data culled from systems across Cognos and Hyperion environments.

As a Finance Manager within IBM I maintained personnel oversight of 30 Financial Analysts and two Team Leads. This entailed supervising daily activities and ensuring process compliance to both internal and external (Sarbanes-Oxley, GAAP, etc.) requirements. I also assumed a leadership role in process improvement and standardization across the entire organization. During my tenure as a Finance Manager, I achieved the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt designation. The project I led as part of the certification process involved incorporating business analytics into the expense/SG&A forecast process to enhance both efficiency and accuracy. This effort was deemed so important that two additional Lean Six Sigma projects were spun off of the initial findings and it was ultimately recognized by IBM's highest levels of leadership.

My primary responsibility as a Team Lead was to oversee the day-to-day technical performance of 10 Financial Analysts, including assuming all responsibility for the accuracy and timeliness of financial reporting and subsequent financial guidance. This position also afforded me the opportunity to work independently on various projects in the process improvement space, including supporting two different Lean Six Sigma teams.

I was brought into IBM as a Financial Analyst in 2006, which proved to be a rich and rewarding experience. Not only did I gain key skills critical to success in today's corporate finance environment, but I was also tasked with ensuring the overall success of a new finance center in Rochester, MN. This team had been established only two months before I began, so being able to make an immediate impact was crucial. As part of my initial role, I provided analysis of the IBM forecast, budget, actuals, and business dynamics for my particular internal brand, especially as it pertained to physical headcount. I was additionally responsible for interacting daily with and consolidating data from world wide business units and geographies on various reporting metrics.

As an Executive Team Lead with Target Corporation, I had a broad spectrum of responsibilities, requiring an advanced skill set in personnel management, driving change, being an independent operator and thinker, and the ability to perform under pressure. The primary focus of the role was dedicated to store replenishment and product in-stock levels while leading a team of 75 towards an annual revenue goal of $25M. I was held accountable for maximizing profits, driving sales and promoting guest goodwill while sustaining store operational excellence.

Although my role as a Business Analyst with Target Corporation served as an entry into corporate finance, my responsibilities were highly challenging and allowed me to develop the personal and professional traits that have made me successful since. From my first day in role, I acted as a liaison to vendors, ensuring accurate order entry and changes, complete item setup and the transition of discontinued products. I also had a direct impact on a critical business function with a high level of exposure, having a hand in creating nationally-circulated advertisements. Further, this position required a high degree of financial proficiency in order to develop thoughtful cost-benefit analysis.