James Baker Email and Phone Number

Advisory Services to public companies with respect to internal accounting controls, internal audit and compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley. Advisory services include the design, evaluation and examination of internal accounting systems along with providing support in accounting and credit functions.

Advisory Services to public companies with respect to internal accounting controls, internal audit and compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley. Advisory services include the design, evaluation and examination of internal accounting systems along with providing support in accounting and credit functions.

Responsible for centralized credit, accounts payable, payroll and accounting for all United States operations. Accountable for company general ledger consolidations, external and internal reporting requirements. Also responsible for budgeting, forecasting, cash planning and proper revenue recognition through percent completion job costing.

$45 million steel treatment sales and service/year with 9 product lines selling in North and South America, Europe and Asia - 2 plants, 5 joint ventures in Europe and Asia.; Top financial executive, responsible for accounting, tax planning and compliance, banking relationships, cash flow, insurance coverage, employee benefits programs, administrative support, budgeting, reporting and all system requirements. Advised ownership and management on all financial decisions.> Played… Show more $45 million steel treatment sales and service/year with 9 product lines selling in North and South America, Europe and Asia - 2 plants, 5 joint ventures in Europe and Asia.; Top financial executive, responsible for accounting, tax planning and compliance, banking relationships, cash flow, insurance coverage, employee benefits programs, administrative support, budgeting, reporting and all system requirements. Advised ownership and management on all financial decisions.> Played integral part in asset purchase of major competitor and successfully refinanced business. Purchase enabled ongoing business to close 4 out of 6 production facilities and reduced headcount from 165 to 76.> Identified and successfully attained annualized cost savings of $1.7 million. Included in savings were production consolidation and a 40% reduction in financial and administrative personnel. Show less

Responsible for overall financial and systems support for U.S. Stores Division's management and field personnel including budgeting, forecasting and reporting. Ensured sound accounting practices and procedures were followed, reviewing capital expenditures and acting in a proactive manner to influence planned and future actions by providing financial input.James G. Baker, Page Two330.278.2491 Controller Stores Division cont'd.:> Redesigned 12… Show more Responsible for overall financial and systems support for U.S. Stores Division's management and field personnel including budgeting, forecasting and reporting. Ensured sound accounting practices and procedures were followed, reviewing capital expenditures and acting in a proactive manner to influence planned and future actions by providing financial input.James G. Baker, Page Two330.278.2491 Controller Stores Division cont'd.:> Redesigned 12 incentive plans for 1998 to properly drive business's goals and reward individuals for achieving personal targets. Main thrust of plans was to compensate performance for generation of incremental gross margin dollars while controlling working capital and variable fixed cost spending.> Developed monthly financial reporting book for Division's management team encompassing high-level results with individual store and sales representative performance; all standard financial reporting for Stores Division was eliminated due to cost-cutting measures after 1996 acquisitions of Grow Group and Fuller O'Brien Paints.> Coordinated successful major upgrade of POS software giving stores ability to service another store's customer along with other time and efficiency benefits, resulting in better customer service and more time for staff to sell.> Directed completion of 430 bank-to-book reconcilements that were out of date due to cost-cutting staff reduction in 1996 following acquisitions. Reconcilement cleared up $11 million out of balance condition and avoided exceptional write-off. Show less

Responsible for overall financial and systems support for Macco's management and 2 manufacturing facilities including budgeting, forecasting, reporting, cost accounting, extension of credit, collections, payment of accounts payable and advising sales and marketing personnel on customer financial negotiations.> Led integrated team effort to determine gross margin leaks; team's success contributed to 8.9% increase in year-end trading profit.> Provided financial support and was… Show more Responsible for overall financial and systems support for Macco's management and 2 manufacturing facilities including budgeting, forecasting, reporting, cost accounting, extension of credit, collections, payment of accounts payable and advising sales and marketing personnel on customer financial negotiations.> Led integrated team effort to determine gross margin leaks; team's success contributed to 8.9% increase in year-end trading profit.> Provided financial support and was member of strategic pricing team that made recommendations, resulting in volume gain of nearly 40% in 1997.> Successfully led added value analysis of business's functional support areas; identified 42% cost savings and implemented findings, saving company $400,000.> Stabilized billing and inventory control system that was causing production and shipping delays, resulting in on time/in full (OTIF) percent to increase 11% and overtime to decrease by 5%. Show less