Christopher Williams, CFE, CPA, MBA

Experience

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  POINT.360 POST PRODUCTION

  Nov 2000 - May 2002

  Assistant Corporate Controller

  Recruited to maintain responsibility for accounting, billing, and A/P functions and to ensure ongoing operations for all business units during a financially challenging period. Led and trained staff of 16 financial professionals in best practices, new GAAP developments, and vendor relationship building. Took full responsibility for monthly close and the consolidation of subsidiary financial statements. Assessed and explained to executive management the discrepancies between actual results and budgeted projections. Reviewed all balance sheet account reconciliations. Monitored daily cash position and controlled payments to vendors. Implemented corrective procedures for noting sales and use tax implications on invoices. Conducted operational performance analysis for business locations.♦ Created monthly reporting package for senior executive management to communicate the cost of production projects versus budgeted expectations.♦ Resolved major tax problems regarding sales & use tax and property tax audits; negotiated a 50% discount in outstanding tax balance along with the elimination of penalties.♦ Enhanced vendor relations and boosted client retention by solving bottlenecks with invoicing, improving customer and internal communications, and increasing billing accuracy.♦ Reduced billing period from 2 weeks after job completion to 3 days, while significantly reducing errors.♦ Introduced Peachtree to track inventory and assisted with the implementation of Oracle software for billing.♦ Restructured A/P procedures in response to supplier stoppage and negotiated payment terms to convince suppliers, including Sony, to open up lines of credit and to re-establish product shipments. Show less

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  GOSPO CENTRIC RECORDS, LLC

  Jun 2002 - Jan 2005

  Accounting Controller

  Filled inaugural position tasked with organizing and improving accounting practices, while administering all aspects of financial recordkeeping and reporting, including royalties, budgeting, and forecasting. Created policies and procedures for accounting, human resources, vendor relations, and cash management. Established and held accountability for documentation of the audit process. Supervised, trained, evaluated, and mentored a staff of three in completing accounting activities and monthly close. Performed technical research and prepared various financial reports for institutional investors.♦ Supported executive staff in successful presentation and sale to Sony/BMG by restructuring the balance sheet, fielding financial questions, explaining variances, preparing audit schedules, and researching and explaining all acquisition entries.♦ Improved accounting processes and eliminated weaknesses in internal controls by revamping accounting close, establishing documented procedures, instituting operational budgets, and organizing document access and retention.♦ Utilized financial modeling and performance indicators to assist in operational efficiency.♦ Enhanced cash management and cost control by developing and distributing cash flow projections and revenue dashboard reports, operational budgets, and cost control reporting tools.♦ Frequently charged with operational leadership during the absence of executive management Show less

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  Universal Music Group

  Jan 2005 - Jan 2011

  Director of Central Accounting Group

  Lead accounting activities, ensuring proper preparation, verification, and accuracy of financial statements, while nurturing a collaborative departmental culture. Generated cash flow forecasting; oversaw assigned portions of the operating plan, and tracked multimillion-dollar capital expenditures versus the budget. Directed monthly close process. Supervised compilation of 100+ third-party profit participation statements, inclusive of record labels with $9M in annual sales. Performed a comprehensive review of all income statement, balance sheet, and key cash flow indicators. Hired, led, and mentored a staff of four and partnered with numerous internal departments to identify and prevent errors, increasing customer service. Produced management review package and coached staff on leadership strategies. ♦ Played an integral role in realignment of company structure and outlined more efficient flow for foreign revenue and expense activity accounting processes.♦ Conducted post-close meeting, via teleconference with N.Y. Finance Team, after moving department from N.Y. to L.A., and presented results to executive leadership, which included explaining budget variances.♦ Contributed to redesign and correction of flaws in third party profit participation accounting, including clean up of liability balances and 75% reduction in time spent to prepare statements.♦ Weathered shortages in staff and kept headcount down, even while workload increased by over 30%, with the creation and implementation of productivity enhancements.♦ Significantly improved overall reporting using Hyperion Enterprise; leveraged JD Edwards accounting system to automate many closing tasks, adding new procedures to ensure precision.♦ Collaborated with internal and external Big Four auditors and participated in the annual Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) compliance process. ♦ Completed a one-year training program in New York while transitioning department to Los Angeles. Show less

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  HSG Professional Window Cleaners, Inc. (HSG)

  May 2011 - Mar 2016

  Corporate Controller

  Managed monthly close to provide the executive team with quick and pertinent information to make key business decisions. Led the human resource function, which included compensation, health benefits, employee relations, recruiting, worker’s compensation, and training. Established and maintained financial tools to assist in analyzing business operations, consisting of, profitability analysis per project/building site, cash flow management and projections, operational budgeting, revenue forecasting and, cost control. Developed an acceptable cost structure for projects and assisted in selecting the appropriate price point. Other duties included institutional and governmental reporting, working with external auditors and tax preparers, negotiating with vendors, and resolving cash collection problems. ♦ Consistently inserted new analytical tools to offer various perspectives on ongoing business concerns as the company sought to grow 50% over the next 3-5 years, including analysis of; employee retention, the effectiveness of sales bonus program, employee development programs, A/R to revenue; revenue growth type; customer retention; growth sustainability.♦ Reduced debt from over $1.1 million to below $600k in the first 6 months of employment to meet institutional covenants and provide further financial flexibility. Further reduced institutional debt to less than $100k in the first 12 months by increasing collections and reducing “days sales outstanding”.♦ Improved monthly close from a 5-6 week process to 5-7 business days.♦ Convinced institutional lender to remove covenant requirements from $1 million Line of Credit.♦ Reduced the payroll reporting process from 12 hours to 2 hours and the payroll journal entry process from 6 hours to 20 minutes.♦ Implemented Affordable Care Act requirements that allowed access to medical benefits for low wage workers, while minimizing the increase in overall company costs. Show less

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  Charter Impact

  Mar 2016 - Feb 2019

  Director Of Accounting

  Provided financial leadership to non-profit school boards for non-classroom based and brick-and-mortar charter schools in the areas of revenue projection and usage, current and future expense obligations, projected fund balance, and school district authorizer relationship management, cash flow treasury functions, and any challenges that may stress cash levels. Worked closely with the auditors to ensure the accurate and timely reporting of the school’s financial results for the audit and the 990 tax return. Identify and implement cost-saving plans by thoroughly reviewing expense line items and then communicating with school leadership to convince them of the need. Worked with other back-office providers to transition their clients over to our internal systems for better customer support. Developed and maintained the school’s policies and procedures while working with internal accounting staff. ♦ Selected to oversee the bankruptcy proceedings and benchmark achievement of charter schools that were requested to change back-office providers.♦ Instituted reorganization plans for schools that were on the brink of a financial collapse that allowed them to stabilize their organizations and focus on the school’s academic performance.♦ Maintained a track record of never having a financial finding in any audit.♦ Negotiated $150,000 in vendor terms with McGraw-Hill after they were determined to disallow terms for an online charter school. Eventually increased to $600k.♦ Top financial advisor for a charter school with eight California locations, one out of state location, a district office, a foundation, and over $150 million in revenues from various categories. Show less

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  ThinkSuite

  Feb 2019 - Jun 2021

  Chief Financial Officer

  Manage the day-to-day financial operations of the organization including developing the fiscal policies and procedures, internal controls, and fiscal compliance responsibilities. Actively manage the revenue and cash flow forecasting. Responsible for the direction of the accounts payable, payroll, accounting, and facilities departments. Present the financial reports and analysis to the board of directors and other stakeholders on a monthly basis to compare actual results against plan. Develop a strategic plan to provide success during a corporate restructuring. Manage the administration of the 403B retirement plan with Lincoln Financial Group. Manage the audit process with the independent audit firm. Work with the Executive Leadership team and the Board of Directors to create the overall budget. Develop and implement the long-term facilities plan and capex purchases.♦ Established and reconstructed fiscal policy and procedures for an organization that had a five-year history of lax internal controls, to improve audit compliance and corporate operating processes.♦ Reorganized the accounts payable process to better use human resources and eliminate redundant work responsibilities and better define job functions.♦ Added a purchasing department to manage the procurement process that would allow the organization to meet audit expectations and recoup over $9M in bulk corporate-wide purchases.♦ Devised the methodology to properly allocate the cost of shared employees across multiple entities.♦ Managed cash deficits to address concerns around missing payroll deadlines, healthcare payments, and other company obligations by thinking through solutions that followed GAAP, audit compliance, and board-approved company policies. Show less

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  The Axia Group

  Jul 2021 - Jun 2023

  Chief Financial Officer
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  Absolute Charter Group

  Jul 2023 - now

  Chief Executive Officer