 Manage and lead, with the CFO, the annual budgeting process. Responsible for quarterly forecasting of full year results, as well as monthly updates. Manage accounting team of eight with VP, Accounting. Manage month end, quarter end, and year end closing, reporting, and analysis. Prepare monthly board analysis and presentations. Co-manage audit process, including external half year, interim, and year end audits; internal audits, Department of Labor audits; escheatment audit. Coordinate month end process, budgeting, forecasting, audits, and other projects, including implementation of new IFRS standards, with international head office groups.  Integrate the accounting and finance functions of newly acquired companies. Lead and manage migration of Accounts Payable function to shared services group. Lead with shared services team the implementation and launch of online expense reporting system. Write and implement travel and expense policy. Partner with business operations leaders to provide the finance support and expertise required to launch new business lines. Partner with royalties and copyright administration teams to ensure proper client set up and payments. Partner with business operation leaders to provide information and support needed to successfully operate their respective lines of business.

 Manage and lead, with the CFO, the annual budgeting process; including working with division leaders to project revenue and expenses, set staffing levels, and determine capital needs; preparing all budget financial statements, and preparing and presenting the budget to the board. Responsible for mid-year forecasting of full year results. Manage accounting team of five. Manage royalty process, including coordinating receipts to be processed with royalties team in London, reviewing all statements, recording recoupments, reviewing payments, and coordinating distribution of payments and statements. Manage month end closing, reporting, and analysis. Work on new deal models and due diligence for new acquisitions. Co-manage year end audit process. Lead and manage various new system projects from planning to launch including launching online travel and expense booking and reporting, coordination of new corporate American Express program, implementing new accounting system module for managing sync licensing, transitioning processing of theatrical royalties to new system, transitioning to new chart of accounts, transitioning to new accounting system external partner, creating new reports for managing royalty accruals, implementing dashboard reports. Responsible for partnering with accounting software consultants on ongoing maintenance and improvement of accounting system. Perform internal audit and control testing on specific high risk activities. Organize and lead team meetings, including cross functional training and staff development.

 With the CFO and COO, restructured the Regional Controller team. Led, with the P&L owners, initial budget review, budget finalization, budget maintenance for all product lines. Ensured Controllers were analyzing monthly operating results and estimate, confirming accuracy and managing/solving for budget variances, and identifying and tracking risks and opportunities. Ensured appropriate and ongoing professional development for Controller team and School Operations Managers. Led and managed Regional Controllers in all day to day financial operations supporting the SVP Operations and the SVP Service Leads. Prepared, reviewed, and facilitated an accurate and timely monthly financial close. Prepared and reviewed actual financial performance in conjunction with forecasts to monitor financial performance of our clients and facilitate any corrective action needed. Reviewed contracts, financial models, and pricing for new business and renewals. Provided financial leadership for start-up financial initiatives with new business and ensure that the proper hiring and training occurs at the local level (School Operations Managers) that will ultimately ensure appropriate financial support and reporting at the local level. Collaborated with Business Developers, SVP Service Leads and Education Leadership to ensure that the models for new business are accurate for profitable operational implementation.

 Ensure that processes related to start-up, renewals, disengagement, transitions, and ongoing operations, across functions, are efficient and effective. Act as liaison between the regional personnel and functional support groups to ensure success. Provide support in the annual planning and budgeting process for the sites and regional HQ departments by standardizing templates, preparing analysis for senior management, holding regional review meetings, and managing revisions process. Coordinate monthly full year estimate update process for regional HQ departments including review of monthly reports, analysis of variances to budget, and creation of appropriate recovery plans. Participate in annual budget recovery team to ensure final year end results meet or exceed budgeted targets. Create templates for and manage monthly regional dashboard process to measure results against determined targets and create appropriate action plans. Ensure smooth transitions of new deals from the Business Development process to Start Up. Partner with other key stakeholders on central ownership of the School Operations Manager (SOM) function by: conducting regular meetings with the SOM team to disseminate information, gather feedback and provide ‘just in time’ professional development; working with the regional and headquarters teams to review job specs, requirements, responsibilities, accountabilities and performance levels of the role; coordinating in-person professional development opportunities for SOMs. Provide regional controller coverage as needed. Plan annual Operational Excellence Conference for all non instructional school leaders. Temporarily provide “chief of staff” support to COO / CEO during manager’s maternity leave.

 Coordinated month end close process with HQ Finance staff and Regional Controllers across the system to analyze and prepare monthly journal entries, analyze monthly operating results to investigate and explain significant variances, prepare consolidated view of operations to senior management.  Prepared and reviewed monthly estimates based on current actual results and expectations taking into account any possible risks and opportunities, and escalated issues to the appropriate level when necessary. Supported year-end close process including participating in corporate and site audits, reconciling accounts receivable. Provided technical accounting assistance and operational support to Regional Controllers, Regional General Managers, and SOMs as needed.  Coordinated with and supported local regional teams in the preparation of yearly annual plans and budgets. Participated in business process improvement initiatives including preparing dashboards.  Acted as Regional Controller in regions where the position remains vacant. Related responsibilities included supporting and overseeing financial activities of SOMs, providing financial information and analysis to the RGM, supporting RGM in any operational issues that arise, preparing monthly management estimates, tracking actual results and investigating variances, reviewing and investigating billing issues, attending charter board meetings and meeting with district personnel, and being the contact for charter board and district financial counterparts. Assisted in renewals of various expiring client contract including financial modeling and participating in discussions about renewal strategy, process, and goals. Participated in discussions of possible new clients and appropriate related strategy and modeling concerns.

 Coordinated month end close process with HQ Finance staff and Regional Controllers across the system to analyze and prepare monthly journal entries, analyze monthly operating results to investigate and explain significant variances, prepare consolidated view of operations to senior management.  Prepared and reviewed monthly estimates based on current actual results and expectations taking into account any possible risks and opportunities, and escalated issues to the appropriate level when necessary. Supported year-end close process including participating in corporate and site audits, reconciling accounts receivable. Provided technical accounting assistance and operational support to Regional Controllers, Regional General Managers, and SOMs as needed.  Coordinated with and supported local regional teams in the preparation of yearly annual plans and budgets. Participated in business process improvement initiatives including preparing dashboards.  Acted as Regional Controller in regions where the position remains vacant. Related responsibilities included supporting and overseeing financial activities of SOMs, providing financial information and analysis to the RGM, supporting RGM in any operational issues that arise, preparing monthly management estimates, tracking actual results and investigating variances, reviewing and investigating billing issues, attending charter board meetings and meeting with district personnel, and being the contact for charter board and district financial counterparts. Assisted in renewals of various expiring client contract including financial modeling and participating in discussions about renewal strategy, process, and goals. Participated in discussions of possible new clients and appropriate related strategy and modeling concerns.

 Responsible for yearly budgeting and quarterly forecasting of headcount, performance levels, expenses, and other metrics for legal departments based on information from practice area leaders. Performed various projection modeling exercises based on scenarios presented by practice area leaders. Responsible for monthly legal department financial analysis of performance and results, compared to budget and forecast, as well as written communication of such. Prepared monthly Account Receivable and Work in Process reserves in conjunction with monthly close process. Responsible for maintaining and reporting firm monthly headcount and fee earner utilization. Performed monthly expense allocations as well as non legal department to legal department allocations in conjunction with the monthly close process. Responsible for monthly Profit and Loss Statement, Peer Comparisons, and Management Reporting. Prepared quarterly profitability reporting of legal departments.

 Performed audits of clients across various industries; included supervising staff accountants, preparing audit plans, risk assessment performing internal control testing, statistical sampling, analytical reviews of financial statements, substantive analytical and detail tests of income statement and balance sheet accounts, and preparing auditor reports and financial statements in accordance with regulatory requirements. Assisted in purchase price disputes, acting as neutral, third party arbitrator and as an advocate for buyers and sellers to resolve disputes that arose regarding purchase price adjustments following the sale of a business. Participated in business interruption insurance claims, acting as an intermediary between an organization and its insurance company adjusters and accountants to assist clients in preparing and settling insured claims. Assisted in royalty and revenue recovery engagements, helping companies identify products that can be licensed for income, and to determine whether products that are licensed are generating adequate revenue. Performed investigations of accounting and methods of allocating expenses to partnerships by their management company. Investigated employees’ business expenses in accordance with company policies