Meredith Schuler Email and Phone Number

• Managed and oversaw all financial modeling, diligence and integration of more than $130M of strategic asset acquisitions for S&P 500 leading telecom company (SBAC).• Implemented financial processes for introduction of REIT business verticals that produced run-rate growth of more than 200% YOY.• Facilitated complex Data Center site expansions allowing for asset infrastructure improvement that resulted in EBITDA growth of more than $8M.• Liaison between C-Suite, senior executives and all other departments advancing the company’s financial reporting for new and strategic business lines.• Oversee the day-to-day and high-level accounting functions for new business initiatives ensuring accuracy and GAAP, IFRS and SEC compliance.

• Maintained full integrity for all revenues.• Oversaw capital assets projects.• Compiled, analyzed and reported department financial metrics.• Ensured compliance with accounting procedures.• Budgeted and forecast revenue, expenses and capital requirements.• Assisted on emerging topics, and identified and participated in strategic positioning of the company.• Coordinated and directed audits as they related to compliance certifications.

• Drove a successful multi-million dollar sale of the business to SBA Communications, a publicly-traded S&P 500 leading telecom company. Directly responsible for all financial facets of the sale including negotiations and sales agreement, all financial and contractual reporting as well as resolution of outstanding items and other M&A tasks. Responsible for distribution of funds from the sale to investors and other vested parties.• Lead the close of a $15M asset working with equity lenders and investors, including preparation and analysis on stock ledgers to exchange long term notes for preferred equity.• Transitioned the company to be GAAP compliant, including a complete overhaul of financial processes and procedures.• Created a powerful and integrated analysis on sales revenue to increase higher margin deals, as well as implemented a new budget process to include forecast insights.• Implemented a dynamic cash flow process and forecasting tool to provide accurate documentation and analysis.• Performed a cost analysis on payroll and benefit plans and executed a plan that saved the company $30K annually and provided better overall coverage, as well as established a framework to implement a 401K plan with company match. Also oversaw payroll and benefit plan administration.

• Proposed and undertook a significant reorganization of the month-end close process that implemented and updated our practices to include proper accounting standards, including a deep dive into General Ledger coding for more accurate and timely reporting to internal and external reviewers.• Created a new and holistic approach to the company-wide budgeting process, which took into account past trends and actuals, thereby increasing transparency to our lenders.• Built a sustainable and workable means to re-forecast any financial accounts due to the changing needs of the business to more accurately predict, reflect and help manage bottom-line profit numbers.• Key point person for all internal, external and state audits, of which no significant errors or omissions were recorded.• Oversee the corporate accounting department and account receivables and accounts payable personnel.• Administer monthly close, the deliverance of bank financials, prepare monthly reconciliations and investigate variances to maintain system integrity and controls.• Rolled out the delivery of monthly financial statements to departmental managers that includes variance explanations, helping to increase accountability to departmental budgets and curb unnecessary costs.• Worked with new company-wide ERP software becoming our organization's expert in the system, allowing us to enable various technologies to improve the accuracy of financial data being imported and exported through the system. This made the data more readable and meaningful and provided insightful feedback to key executives.• Designed and lead instructional beginner and intermediate accounting and finance classes for the company's clients. These presentations and sit-downs have been integrated into our core business offerings.

After serving in various finance and accounting roles, I chose to continue my education and earn my MBA with a specialization in Accountancy while at the same time raising my two children who were both under the age of 3. My family and I also traveled and lived in Boston for one year, and Austin for two years before returning to the Chicago area.

• As a member of the senior executive team, successfully managed and oversaw the divisional accounting and finance department comprised of three employees including cash and accounts receivable specialist, accounts payable and collections specialist, and payroll specialist.• Responsible for and lead annual external audit and quarterly bank audits for $5 million annual revenue company.• Managed and helped create the annual budget and maintained more than 150 General Ledger accounts. • Developed monthly and quarterly narrative variance reports for top executives.• Worked closely with Regional Controller on ad hoc projects.• Created and restructured annual budget process to help determine the profitability of business products.• Lead an internal audit on balance sheet accounts to comply with GAAP standards, resulting in a significant expense difference.• Identified system weaknesses and inefficiencies and developed solutions to ensure PCI compliance.

• Prepared journal entries and account reconciliations for month-end close.• Created and reviewed balance sheet roll-forwards and reconciliations.• Worked in tandem with senior accountants and managers to ensure proper accounting processes.• Closed and maintained fixed assets, accounts receivable, 401k and pension liability accounts.• Completed and helped facilitate year-end partner review of company’s more than 250 accounts.

• Managed month-end close and ensured General Ledger accounts were properly reported.• Created analytical reports to ensure correct accounting practices were used in accordance with GAAP, SEC and SOX requirements.• Oversaw revenue and expense projections, budgeting processes and daily transaction items.• Managed accounts payable and accounts receivable duties including preparing checks and verifying information regarding final bill, invoices, bank deposits and electronic transfer of funds.