ON DEMAND CFO/CONTROLLER SERVICES

Creative Solutions,

Proven Results.

Art Chianese has over twenty-five years of professional experience, which encompass finance, strategic and financial planning, business development, public accounting, tax and legal matters.  Art's experience in accounting, finance and law has enabled him to identify business opportunities, develop management strategies and direct financial operations from a unique perspective.  The following is a brief description of his professional experience:

 

Controller of a division of a publicly-held, global, direct marketing company:

  • Managed the budgetary and financial responsibilities for multiple office/warehouse facilities.
  • Achieved 75% revenue growth and improved EBITDA by almost 200% over a six year period by identifying and implementing metrics to drive revenue, cost savings, process improvement and staff reduction.
  • Led the conversion from ACCPAC to a PeopleSoft accounting platform and implemented job costing, product and customer profitability modules.
  • Implemented internal control standards to comply with Sarbanes-Oxley legislation, and spearheaded SOX implementation and testing in the organization's European subsidiaries.
  • Performed Peer Review Audits and Mini-Audits of other divisions.

 

Chief Financial Officer & General Counsel of a privately-held distribution/logistics/e-commerce company:

  • Key player in the acquisition of this company by a public company from overseeing due diligence to contract negotiation and integration.
  • Managed the budgetary and financial responsibilities for multiple office/warehouse facilities.
  • Enhanced operating control and profitability by formalizing and improving budgeting and reporting processes, and implementing expense management and review programs resulting in a 22% increase in EBITDA.
  • Managed the company's relationships with auditors, banks, governmental agencies, financial consultants, legal counsel and Board of Directors.
  • Responsible for Human Resources and Administration and for developing leadership and management capabilities in a staff of 300 people.
  • Negotiated a joint venture and licensing agreements.

 

Chief Financial Officer of a start-up, e-commerce company:

  • Designed the corporate infrastructure and implemented a financial reporting system.
  • Structured and led the entire capital investment process including identifying and establishing relationships with potential funding sources, and negotiated and closed pre-IPO investment deals.
  • Developed the business model, established profit margin goals and steered the overall financial direction of the company.

 

Partner of a tax boutique law firm:

  • Provided legal representation on merger/acquisition transactions.
  • Consulted with client management teams regarding business succession planning and asset protection planning.
  • Income tax representation before the IRS and various State agencies.
  • Income tax preparation for business entities, non-profit organizations, estates and individuals.

 

Vice President of a global investment banking corporation:

  • Pioneered and marketed the first forward hedging mechanism for the Brazilian real.
  • Structured and negotiated hedging and trading strategies on behalf of institutional clients with foreign currency and interest rate exposures.

 

Manager of International Finance Division of a global commercial bank:

  • Reorganized banking and leasing subsidiaries in Canada resulting in significant income tax savings.
  • Established a system for recording withholding taxes on Brazilian loans resulting in significant income tax savings by utilizing foreign tax credits.

 

Senior Accountant of Big 4 CPA Firm:

  • Audited financial statements, pension plans and internal controls of Fortune 100 financial and manufacturing institutions.
  • Performed tax audits and tax research, as well as prepared income tax returns for corporate clients.