Robbie Gershkowitz Email & Phone Number

Westlake Village, California, United States

Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

Teach Introduction to Financial Accounting at USC Marshall Business School. Focus on the development of students understanding of financial accounting information to analyze results and support business decisions. This course is required for all students in in the business school.

Los Angeles, California, United States

Promoted to this role based on the enhanced performance as the Tax Director of Zenith Insurance. As an officer of the company, the role was tasks with overseeing the business process improvement plan set forth upon hire. I coordinated with all areas of finance to properly report tax results in financial statement and IRS reporting, including state and local tax authorities. The position supported the entire company during a federal tax law change in 2017, and again in 2022 with changes to IFRS 17. Supervised and developed a staff of four, handling all areas of tax compliance. Prepared and reviewed quarterly tax disclosures, GAAP ASC 704, statutory, SAP 101, and IFRS basis. The roll also guided SOX internal audits and PWC audited GAAP and STAT financials. Leaned into further process improvements and automation including paperless work papers and tax filings. In addition, I monitored and implemented changes to current reporting standards as well as, helped establish a domestic insurance captive corporation including the quarterly financial and tax reporting. This required advanced tax planning strategy and work with Zenith leadership.With recognized need to increase Zenith's corporate social impact, I implemented and coordinated community outreach opportunities for the department then company wide. Through my passions, identified opportunities to volunteer or to sponsor nonprofit organizations in the community. Coordinated mentorship programs including - summer internship training in personal budgeting and finance, mentoring Thrive Scholars and internal management trainees.

Woodland Hills, California

Brought in to develop the Tax Department of Zenith Insurance, the subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings LTD. I identified process and control issues during a department leadership transition. In this role the process was monitored, documented, and road mapped toward process improvement. I worked directly across departments to establish workflows and then implement the process improvement strategy. The role was also tasked with building a collaborative working relationship with company leadership and other departments. This role also required coordination and proficiency in communication, as the liaison between the Zenith Tax Department, the Zenith Finance Department, and the Fairfax Financial Reporting group.

Los Angeles, California, United States

Recruited to lead the Corporate Tax Department for this subsidiary of a Fortune10 company. Supervised and developed the department of 8-10 employees in the Los Angeles office. Provided transactional review of the tax implications on the investment portfolio of treasury bonds, mortgage-backed securities and investments in various companies through partnership interests, corporate preferred and common stock holding.Partnered with the Finance Department to file stand alone company SEC filings and consolidated results into AIG corporate SEC Filings. Prepared and reviewed GAAP and statutory separate company financial tax results.Coordinated annual, five-year and ten-year business plans and effective tax rate projections.Monitored capital loss carryforward utilization in a Life/Non-Life Consolidation. This included and analysis of each investment's tax basis, assessing cash flow needs and overall risk portfolio balance.Analyzed cost benefit of Stock vs. Asset purchases on the effect of acquiring multi-state businesses.

Los Angeles, California, United States

Started my career with Arthur Andersen, LLP in the Los Angeles office, which included a 10 month assignment in the Taiwan and Tokyo offices. Worked at large national, and regional firms as well as local smaller firms during this time.

Bs - Business, Accounting And Finance

Activities and Societies: Beta Alpha Psi - Honors Accounting Association

Master Of Taxation, Taxation