Steve Harms Email & Phone Number

Nashville, Tn

Direct General is a medium sized auto insurer concentrated in the southeast.Responsible for treasury and cash management functions, investment accounting, SEC reporting, process improvement initiatives, state insurance department correspondence and rating agency support. Led the process of selecting and transitioning the portfolio management to a new outside investment manager, resulting in staff reductions and enhanced yields. Designed and led the implementation of a new financial reporting system (Hyperion Essbase). Key decision maker in company privatization.

XL Life and Annuity is a newly formed division of XL Capital that sells spread based products to institutional clients.Responsible for all accounting, budgeting and reporting functions for this startup company. Designed, built and operated the deposit liability administration system. Designed and implemented all accounting and administrative systems. Established accounting policies, procedures and controls. Grew the company assets to over $4 billion in four years.

Responsible for the accounting and internal and external reporting for the Life group of companies. Led a staff of thirteen to perform all quarterly and annual statutory reporting and SEC reporting for the life companies and various internal management and ad hoc reports. Led the reporting team during the People Soft general ledger implementation. Designed the reporting tools that are now used for all of the internal and external reporting systems. Designed the special purpose tables for queries in the financial warehouse which greatly enhanced People Soft usability, query efficiency and response times. Led the People Soft implementation for the life companies, including the development of the custom allocations and customized training of all personnel. Resulted in an on time implementation, and significantly improved productivity and analytical capabilities. Developed various database applications enabling analysis of financial results on a laptop while not connected to the network.

Headed a unit including six direct reports and thirty two additional staff in the areas of general accounting, investment accounting, financial services, cash processing, accounting controls, payroll and financial actuarial. Streamlined the reporting process and interfaces, resulting in direct savings of over $100,000. Performed all of the purchase GAAP accounting required by multiple sales of the Company. Implemented GAAP accounting requirements and reporting systems and procedures. Successfully prepared the initial registration statement and subsequent reports required by the SEC for a public debt issue that was used to finance the leveraged buyout in 1993. Selected a general ledger package, designed the chart of accounts and converted historical data to the new general ledger, ultimately reducing clerical staff by three positions.