Thomas Kneller Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Responsible for assisting Harmer’s client, Stericycle, Inc. (a multinational provider of regulated waste and compliance services, hazardous waste disposal and document destruction operating in 21 countries with revenues of over $3 billion), advance key initiatives of their business transformation. • Aligned the US legal entity structure with the current business needs by reconstructing legal entity balance sheets for over 50 entities and performed solvency tests to support the… Show more Responsible for assisting Harmer’s client, Stericycle, Inc. (a multinational provider of regulated waste and compliance services, hazardous waste disposal and document destruction operating in 21 countries with revenues of over $3 billion), advance key initiatives of their business transformation. • Aligned the US legal entity structure with the current business needs by reconstructing legal entity balance sheets for over 50 entities and performed solvency tests to support the merger/dissolution of 35 of these entities. Projected cost savings were $500k.• Performed clean-up of intercompany investment and equity relationships for the remaining North American entities as part of the SAP S/4 ERP implementation business readiness actions• Supported Tax, Finance, and outside consultants with the 2019 country exits from Mexico and Chile and the 2020 $450+ million divestiture of its US hazardous waste business. • Prepared meeting agendas and tracked meeting issue logs for monthly LECC meetings to discuss and approve proposed actions including entity formations, capital infusions, distributions and dividends. Developed and maintained a comprehensive legal entity matrix. • Created and maintained balance sheet account reconciliations for six European holding companies previously unreconciled. Also, provided accounting close support, developed SOP’s and generated analysis for Stericycle’s estimated $35 million Maritime cruise-line waste disposal operations. Show less

Libertyville, Il

Responsible for assisting my client with their SAP implementation and monthly financial reporting.•Provided “go-live” and change management support to Finance for their ERP conversion from JD Edwards to SAP S/4 HANA. This included data validation, additional hands-on staff training and post-implementation support.•Lead month-end and fiscal year-end close in new SAP environment.•Assisted in the successful completion of external audit resulting in no significant audit… Show more Responsible for assisting my client with their SAP implementation and monthly financial reporting.•Provided “go-live” and change management support to Finance for their ERP conversion from JD Edwards to SAP S/4 HANA. This included data validation, additional hands-on staff training and post-implementation support.•Lead month-end and fiscal year-end close in new SAP environment.•Assisted in the successful completion of external audit resulting in no significant audit findings.•Identified and implemented “lean accounting” initiatives to improve the monthly close and balance sheet reconciliation process. Show less

Chicago

Responsible for assisting Salo LLC Fortune 200 clients, Mondelez International and Kraft Foods (manufacturing and marketing to over 165 countries with combined revenues exceeding $50 billion), advance transformation and strategic objectives. •Prepared US GAAP accounting transaction models and coordinated the recording of 2017 business divestitures of the Australia Grocery business and the sale of manufacturing facilities in France and the licenses to several local EU confectionery… Show more Responsible for assisting Salo LLC Fortune 200 clients, Mondelez International and Kraft Foods (manufacturing and marketing to over 165 countries with combined revenues exceeding $50 billion), advance transformation and strategic objectives. •Prepared US GAAP accounting transaction models and coordinated the recording of 2017 business divestitures of the Australia Grocery business and the sale of manufacturing facilities in France and the licenses to several local EU confectionery brands.•Provided US GAAP accounting support for the 2015 spin-off of the Mondelez coffee business in more than 50 countries into a new joint venture that resulted in a $6.8 billion pre-tax gain. Provided additional accounting support in the 2016 acquisition of a minority stake investment in Keurig. •Developed and implemented a transaction model that was the basis for recording the complex Kraft Foods spin-off transaction to create two separate publically-traded companies.•Designed accounting transaction models and coordinated their implementation to support on-going reorganizations, divestitures and dividend repatriation initiatives of the tax, legal and treasury functions. Show less

Wheeling, Illinois

Responsible for organizing, directing and controlling the accounting function including general accounting, financial statement preparation, budgeting and analysis, invoicing/collections, accounts payable and customer rebate analysis. Serve as primary interface for external audits and bank audits. Assure compliance for all corporate tax returns. Maintain valuation models for Members' equity units and determined stock compensation expense. Ensure foreign exchange derivatives are recorded in… Show more Responsible for organizing, directing and controlling the accounting function including general accounting, financial statement preparation, budgeting and analysis, invoicing/collections, accounts payable and customer rebate analysis. Serve as primary interface for external audits and bank audits. Assure compliance for all corporate tax returns. Maintain valuation models for Members' equity units and determined stock compensation expense. Ensure foreign exchange derivatives are recorded in accordance with GAAP.•Assisted CFO and owners in the marketing and sale of the company. Responded to all financial due diligence requests from potential buyers. •Participated in company initiative to raise $32 million of additional capital.•Realigned departmental responsibilities due to staffing reductions and cost savings projects. Show less

Schaumburg, Il And Wheeling, Il

Responsible for general accounting, financial statement preparation, technical accounting and statutory reporting. Serve as primary interface with external auditors. Assure compliance for all corporate and division tax returns.•Responsible for consolidating and integrating the accounting for two acquisitions – a $65 million manufacturer of salads, dips and spreads and a $4 million manufacturer of premium chicken salads.•Assisted CFO and Treasurer in accounting support for the… Show more Responsible for general accounting, financial statement preparation, technical accounting and statutory reporting. Serve as primary interface with external auditors. Assure compliance for all corporate and division tax returns.•Responsible for consolidating and integrating the accounting for two acquisitions – a $65 million manufacturer of salads, dips and spreads and a $4 million manufacturer of premium chicken salads.•Assisted CFO and Treasurer in accounting support for the divestiture of two wholly owned divisions of Chef Solutions Holdings LLC.•Developed and implemented a transfer pricing policy between plant locations. •Established monthly closing procedures and improved monthly reporting to management. Show less

Chicago

Responsible for all administration, HR, risk management, accounting, receivables, payables, financial planning, cash flow forecasting and financial reporting to the Board of Directors and investors. Served as Secretary to the Board.•Negotiated lower pricing with key service and reagent suppliers; annual savings of $50-$75k.•Implemented a company 401(k) program and developed a policy and procedures employee handbook.

Chicago, Il

Responsible for all accounting, financial planning, forecasting and financial reporting to the Board of Directors and investors.•Established monthly closing procedures, internal controls, and reporting tools to improve decision-making and issue resolution.•Participated in a three-year audit to ensure compliance with GAAP and to prepare the company for a potential public offering, interim financing, a merger or partnership with a pharmaceutical or another biotech company.•Provided… Show more Responsible for all accounting, financial planning, forecasting and financial reporting to the Board of Directors and investors.•Established monthly closing procedures, internal controls, and reporting tools to improve decision-making and issue resolution.•Participated in a three-year audit to ensure compliance with GAAP and to prepare the company for a potential public offering, interim financing, a merger or partnership with a pharmaceutical or another biotech company.•Provided support to the CFO in financing of previously acquired equipment ($1.7 million) and developed strategic initiatives to improve cash flow in support of the company’s research efforts. Show less

Skokie, Il

Finance liaison with Corporate IT and SAP teams to support, implement and integrate SAP financial modules for G.D. Searle & Co. (formerly the pharmaceutical division of Monsanto).•Participated on merger integration teams to consolidate the SAP ledger and financial systems of former Searle and Pharmacia & Upjohn to improve reporting and information systems flows that enhanced decision-making.•Teamed with Monsanto and Searle business partners to document business requirements and develop… Show more Finance liaison with Corporate IT and SAP teams to support, implement and integrate SAP financial modules for G.D. Searle & Co. (formerly the pharmaceutical division of Monsanto).•Participated on merger integration teams to consolidate the SAP ledger and financial systems of former Searle and Pharmacia & Upjohn to improve reporting and information systems flows that enhanced decision-making.•Teamed with Monsanto and Searle business partners to document business requirements and develop project plans to upgrade the SAP system and consolidate the pharmaceutical businesses.•Implemented the SAP CO-PA module that streamlined data flows to corporate and improved consolidated reporting. Estimated savings were $150k.•Led 3 SAP training classes to improve the knowledge and skills of system users leading to reduced transaction processing time and better analysis of costs. Show less

Skokie, Il

Responsible for domestic Searle financial controls and all phases of General Accounting.•Converted to the SAP general ledger and cost center reporting modules to improve accuracy and timeliness of management information. Projected worldwide savings were $200 million. Also, administered post-implementation support and end-user training (30-40 hours).•Developed accounting and reporting requirements to support a new transfer pricing strategy that increased cash flow and optimized… Show more Responsible for domestic Searle financial controls and all phases of General Accounting.•Converted to the SAP general ledger and cost center reporting modules to improve accuracy and timeliness of management information. Projected worldwide savings were $200 million. Also, administered post-implementation support and end-user training (30-40 hours).•Developed accounting and reporting requirements to support a new transfer pricing strategy that increased cash flow and optimized tax-restructuring strategies. Estimated savings over 5 years were $30-$50 million.•Accelerated closing cycle time by 2 days through system utilization.•Cross-trained and developed a staff of 5 people. Show less

Skokie, Il

Provided consolidated financial and operational information to Searle and corporate management. Prepared monthly internal financial reports, sales price-volume-mix analysis, board of directors' presentations and supporting analysis through a staff of 3 people. Prepared quarterly and annual SEC and annual shareholder reporting requirements related to Searle.•Installed Hyperion as a consolidation and reporting system to improve the accuracy of consolidated results and timeliness of management… Show more Provided consolidated financial and operational information to Searle and corporate management. Prepared monthly internal financial reports, sales price-volume-mix analysis, board of directors' presentations and supporting analysis through a staff of 3 people. Prepared quarterly and annual SEC and annual shareholder reporting requirements related to Searle.•Installed Hyperion as a consolidation and reporting system to improve the accuracy of consolidated results and timeliness of management reporting information. This project led to the retirement of a legacy system and the improvement of the consolidation process.•Reduced closing cycle time by 3 days through system utilization and streamlined reporting enabling faster decision-making and more time to focus on cost containment initiatives.•Designed and implemented a new sales reporting system to improve management reporting and retired an inefficient legacy system. Show less

Skokie, Il

Responsible for preparing monthly internal consolidated financial reports explaining actual deviations from budgeted and prior year results. Prepared supporting schedules and analysis for the monthly board of directors’ meetings. Supervised sales analyst in the collection, analysis and reporting of consolidated product sales data.

Skokie, Il

Responsible for analyzing and consolidating annual budgets and quarterly forecasts for ex-US affiliates. Prepared monthly quantitative analysis that explained actual variances from budget, forecast and prior year results to management.

Skokie, Il

Performed financial and internal control audits of US and ex-US Searle operations. Prepared written audit reports and communicated results and recommendations to management.

Chicago

Performed financial and company procedural compliance audits of US and ex-US operations.

Mba, Finance

Bs, Accounting