Michael Middlebrook Email & Phone Number

United States

Lead all Financial and Accounting functions for the Case Ready/Value Added Business Unit. I lead a team of 6 professionals who are responsible for all accounting functions which include weekly/monthly/quarterly/annual financial results for a $3B industry. Other responsibilities include projections and budgets, special projects, and leading SAP conversion team.

Springdale, Arkansas

Led team of 3 professionals which were responsible for the Sales Accounting / Finance for the Bakery / Specialty division. Oversaw financial analysis, reporting, projections, and profitability for $1.2B business. • Managed financial team on sale of Pizza Crust Division, and worked with PWC and Goldman Sachs to provide financial data meeting with executive management and potential buyers to help successfully facilitate purchase.• Drove financial transition team for sale of Kettle Division, consulting with buyers and providing reporting and financial analysis until buyers could integrate business into their system.• Performed detailed company analysis for executive management that led to restructuring, growth, and disposal of division.• Served as financial lead on obtaining long-term contract with our largest customer, meeting with customer to determine future volume needs and negotiating price which provided required ROI for $20M in capital investments.• Identified areas of margin improvement and helped drive change across department boundaries, pinpointing products or customers not meeting margin requirements and collaborating with sales and operations to determine if pricing action needed to be taken or operational changes needed to be made.• Analyzed weekly results, ensuring accruals and margins were in-line with expectations.

Springdale, Arkansas

Oversaw finance and accounting during creation of Wright Brand Raw Sausage Division, small specialized group assembled to create, produce and launch new group of products into retail marketplace. Presented financial information to executive management during quarterly business reviews.• Worked with operations and research and development to develop new process and formulation for producing raw sausage, which enabled company to maximize changes in pork commodity markets.• Collaborated with operations to help design a plant to utilize new process, producing financial information and presenting $30M project to executive management.• Developed strategy with Sales and Marketing for successful product launch for Wright Brand Sausage, achieving placement of product in Walmart before canceling launch due to Tyson buying Jimmy Dean Sausage.

Springdale, Arkansas

Directed finance and accounting for Tyson Foods Bacon / Smoked Meats Division, including 3 plants and $500M+ in sales. Managed accounting staff at 3 plants and ensured GAAP, SOX, and internal controls were maintained.• Operated on high-profile team which worked across divisions to determine optimum way to use pork bellies across company, analyzing how to expand range of pork bellies used in different products. • Improved production and quality while reducing staffing by 25%+, working with business division leadership to increase smoked meats plant productivity.• Led business unit finance team during SAP system conversion, setting up new cost standards and training all plant areas on new system. • Prepared financial information for quarterly business reviews, presenting results and projections to executive management to ensure goals align with corporate expectations.