Carlton Steele

Experience

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  Nordea

  Jan 1998 - Jan 2004

  Vice President

  Relationship Manager 1998 –2003Originated, structured, and underwrote numerous transactions, including both senior and subordinated debt instruments. Reveiwed and evaluated syndicated transactions and led bank’s participation in transactions. Managed bank's participation in several distressed company restructurings. Maximized recoveries by crafting structures that preserved collateral while allowing for operational flexibility.

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  IBERDROLA RENEWABLE ENERGIES USA

  Jan 2004 - Jan 2011

  Treasurer, Director of Finance

  Successfully led process of transitioning PPM Energy from an operating subsidiary into an independent company with specific responsibility for the development of Corporate Treasury function. Responsible for implementation of all treasury systems, recruiting and training of personnel, and development of procedures necessary to support an organization averaging $1.5 billion of transactions per month. Developed and implemented controls and tests of Treasury and Finance, to ensure full Sarbanes Oxley compliance. Responsible for departmental budgets, expense management and variance analysis.Manager of Corporate Finance - Financial and Strategic PlanningDeveloped and maintained the yearly and long-term financial plan for $3.0 billion of wind farm facilities located across the U.S. Managed process of implementing a new strategic focus for the company by developing an industry leading financing structure. Developed internal modeling methodologies, engaged necessary consulting expertise, and worked with financing partners to close profitable wind portfolio financing transactions. Show less

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  Evraz Inc NA

  Jan 2011 - Jan 2012

  Treasurer, Sr Finance Manager

  Managed staff and daily treasury activity; including cash management, investing, credit facility utilization, accounts payable, and financial reporting related to treasury activities. Responsible for debt compliance including managing the preparation of monthly borrowing base documentation and financial reports, as well as quarterly and annual reporting, audits and inspections.

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  Expedia

  Jan 2012 - Jan 2014

  Sr. Manager Currency Hedging and Foreign Exchange

  Developed processes and tools for successfully evaluating, hedging, and managing the currency exposures resulting from over US$40 billion in yearly transactions in over 60 currencies. Created processes for collecting and analyzing large amounts of data distributed across multiple systems and entities. Prepared investor presentation materials detailing hedging program and hedge effectiveness, participated in hedging discussions in investor presentations.

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  Direct Engagement and Contract Consulting Assignements

  Jan 2014 - Jan 2019

  Independant and Contract Consultant

  Numerous projects including financial modeling, forecasting and budgeting, dashboard creation, project modeling, benchmarking, process mapping and process improvement. Several engagements in accounting, tax preparation and documentation, merger, acquisition and divestiture analysis.

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  Portland Public Schools

  Jan 2018 - Nov 2018

  Interim Treasurer and Director of Finance - Intermediate-Term Contract

  Management of daily treasury and accounts receivable operations for Oregon’s largest school district with operating and capital budgets totaling over one billion dollars. Responsible for fixed income portfolio management and cash investments totaling over $900 million. Responsible for updating financial compliance requirements, bank account administration and managing numerous banking, credit, investment broker, and capital markets relationships. Treasury and Investment policy development, including school board presentation and approval.Treasury process improvement and new process development adjusting to new requirements and required central office budget cuts. Show less

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  SWICKARD AUTO GROUP / SWICKARD MANAGEMENT COMPANY

  May 2019 - Jun 2021

  Senior Manager Group Treasury and Finance

  Independently responsible for creating a centralized treasury function, consolidating the financial operations capital management of 26 independent dealerships and related auto and transportation services companies.Implementation and management of new groupwide bank relationship, structured to maximize the efficiency of working capital management, simplify reconciliation processes, reduce labor and cost, increase fraud prevention controls and increase access to accurate and timely information reporting. Responsible for managing credit and reporting relationships for numerous credit and debt facilities utilizing and a large portfolio of lenders and credit providers. Hired, trained and managed dedicated treasury and finance staff; saving group labor costs by consolidating the activities of operating unit level field staff into the corporate headquarters operation. Managed groupwide credit card merchant processing and POS system relationships, negotiated pricing and fee structures, implemented integration on new vendors, products and payment modalities. Show less

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  Lithia Motors, Inc.

  Jun 2021 - Jun 2022

  Manager Capital Markets

  Oversee the company’s capital strategy and structure including managing commercial lending, credit rating agency and banking relationships, monitoring debt structures, managing debt covenants and liquidity needs.Evaluates alternative short and long-term borrowing strategies and makes recommendations in accordance with the capital structure guidelines.Track credit metrics including leverage ratio, interest coverage, and free cash flow generation. Support high-yield debt and equity transactions, working with underwriters, external counsel, and ratings agencies to ensure optimal execution.Liaison between the Company and all partners in the securitization process including bankers, investors, accountants and vendors. Oversee or prepare accurate and timely monthly securitization servicer reports and other lending reports as required. Show less