James L. Benedict                                                                               20 Peter Coutts Cir.

(650) 906-0094                                                                                       Stanford, California 94305

 

SUMMARY:  Held various financial positions of increasing responsibility and complexity.  Managed accounting, finance, and MIS staffs of up to 22 employees.  Extremely computer literate.

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

S & S Precision Co., LLC

Controller – San Jose, California                                                                                                1999-2001

 

Direct accounting, financial, and MIS activities for a precision machine shop involved in manufacturing parts for semiconductor, telecommunications, and medical applications.  Developed internal controls, and performance measurements for operations, quality control, purchasing, and support staff.  The company was acquired twice during my tenure.  I facilitated both due diligence processes.  Also, during this time frame, I coordinated and facilitated 5 audits.   Twice by banks to secure loans, and the other three by the buyers and sellers accounting firms.  Prepare and publish monthly reports, analyses, and forecasts for management.  Direct and publish annual budgets for management.

 

Century Electronics Manufacturing Inc.

Consultant/Interim Controller – Santa Clara, California                                                                       1999

 

Worked with CFO, Corporate Controller, and auditors based out of the corporate office in Marlboro, MA, to clean up balance sheet and income statements, as this high volume contract circuit board manufacturer readied for it’s IPO.  Implemented costing system to determine cost of goods sold and margins.  Formed cross-functional team with production control, purchasing, and accounting to insure input of BOM’s, inventories, and shipping and receiving information were done consistently and correctly.  Prepared and published monthly reports, analyses, and forecasts for management.

 

ECS Refining

Controller - Santa Clara, California                                                                                               1996-1998

 

Directed accounting, financial, and MIS activities for an environmental services company involved in precious metals recovery.  Acquired four companies within 2 years increasing sales from $19 million to $28 million.  Plant handles about 1.2 million pounds of precious metal bearing material a month.  Purchased and implemented new computer system, network, and accounting software package operating in NT, Windows, and Mac OS environments connecting all companies into single network.  Coordinated and developed banking and insurance relationships.  Assumed duties of CFO, who became President of an acquired company.  Managed staff of 10.

 

 

United Can Company (a Hunt-Wesson, Inc./ConAgra Company)                                                  1988-1996

Corporate Controller - Fullerton & Hayward, California                                                                     1992-1996

 

Directed accounting, financial, and MIS activities for a high volume metal and plastic container manufacturing company.  UCC supplied 1 billion cylinders, 2 billion ends, and 450 million plastic containers per year to Hunts Foods, Rosarita, Wesson Oil, and numerous outside customers. The annual operating budget for our 4 manufacturing facilities, located in two states, was $160 million. For the first two years, our group was responsible for directing and monitoring the purchasing and packaging organization for the entire Hunt-Wesson organization.  I reported directly to the President of United Can, had a strong dotted line relationship to the CFO of the ConAgra Grocery Products company, and the corporate controller for Hunts Food Company.  I was the primary analyst and champion of two major restructuring initiatives, which netted company $5 million in savings resulting in the closure of one facility, consolidation of remaining equipment and operations, and the relocation of corporate headquarters. I recommended, and justified, upgrading and enhancing our mainframe computer system and software.  Our heavily customized software required considerable coordination by all departments and disciplines.  During my tenure, two other container companies regarding possible acquisition approached UCC.  I gathered and prepared all documentation for the due diligence process while maintaining absolute secrecy.  With my assistant controller, three plant controllers, MIS manager, and other operating departments, we coordinated and consolidated quarterly and annual forecasts, budgets, and capital expenditure requirements.  We consistently had a high degree of accuracy.  The President and I presented this information to the CEO and CFO of the ConAgra Grocery Products group on a quarterly and annual basis.  Managed staff of 22, which was reduced to 12 after restructuring.

 

Plant Controller - Oakdale, California                                                                                               1990-1988

 

Supervised A/P, production entry, payroll, and fixed asset activities, from plant startup, for a 10 line metal container manufacturing facility producing 700 million cans per year.  Performed month end closing and reporting activities.  Prepared quarterly and annual forecasts, budgets, and capital expenditure requirements.  Directly reported to Area Controller with dotted line to Corporate Controller.  Assisted Plant Manager and supervisors in developing reports and methods for tracking production quantities and efficiencies.  Provided in house computer support for plant management, operations, purchasing, and quality control.  Directed, recorded, and reported quarterly plant inventories.  Conducted variance analysis for all aspects of plant operations.  Developed spreadsheet application to reduce month end closing from 7 days to 3 days, which was ultimately used company wide.  Staff included 2 clerks.

 

 

Harris Moran Seed Company

Cost Accountant - Modesto, California                                                                                            1985-1988

 

Performed product costing for a $20 million seed manufacturing company with operations in 4 states.  Developed spreadsheet and database applications enabling seed production estimates and costs to be tracked from planting to sale.  Reported production and expense data, prepared plant budgets, and supervised A/P clerk.  Accounting representative on team involved in the evaluation and selection of mainframe software package.

 

 

Computerland of Modesto

Major Account Sales Representative - Modesto, California                                                           1984-1985

 

Handled sales of computer hardware and software to major customers in the Modesto area.   I met or exceeded monthly sales quotas and was extremely adept at conducting needs analysis, systems implementations, and training.

 

 

Arabian American Oil Company                                                                                              1976-1983

Administrator - Dhahran, Saudi Arabia                                                                                       1982-1983

 

Directed newly created division within our service organization.  Developed and implemented accounting procedures for improved operational control.  Justified the need for and obtained a computer to automate client information. Implemented controls to monitor materials usage, establish economic ordering quantities, and reduce number of orders.  Generated revenue and cost analyses to justify additional manpower requirements.  Identified need for and initiated new services.  Organized group of 17 employees into an effective team.

 

Budgeting & Planning Analyst - Dhahran, Saudi Arabia                                                   1979-1982

 

Coordinated and generated financial reports (five year business plans, operating plans, and year-end accountabilities) on a departmental and consolidated (nine departments - $450 million) level.  Skilled at budget planning, preparation, justification, administration, analysis, and review.  Effectively used numbers, graphs, and charts as reasoning tools.  Identified areas of budget reporting process that could be computerized, sought and obtained approval to do so.  Developed and gathered information by talking with people, conducting surveys, and through exhaustive research.  Promoted and brought about major changes by communicating effectively and persuasively to generate support for various projects and proposals.

 

Benefits Specialist - Dhahran, Saudi Arabia                                                                           1977-1979

Supervised six-member group responsible for monthly accounting and reporting of a $100 million benefits (savings, retirement, and insurance) program.

 

Accounting Staff Analyst - Houston, Texas                                                                         1976-1977

 

Performed material costing and general accounting functions.  Showed careful attention to and kept track of details.  Expert at getting things done and rendering support services.  Gathered, compared, and processed information accurately and systematically.  Displayed perseverance and high tolerance to repetition.

 

 

SKILLS:

 

·         Key member of the senior management team with demonstrated experience in the development and support of decision-making processes at an executive management level.

·         Adept facilitator with excellent interpersonal and communication skills with ability to make presentations to large groups.

·         Expert in all aspects of application development, data collection, processing, and reporting, for both PC based and mainframe environments.  Significant exposure to fully integrated AS400 business program CA-PRMS (includes MRPII), QuickBooks, SBT Accounting, MINX, DCD, and Great Plains Dynamics C/S+ SQL.  Some SAP exposure.  Supported 4 major systems selection, conversion, and implementation.  Excel, Lotus, Word, AmiPro, Paradox, Access, Freelance, PowerPoint, MS Internet Explorer, and Netscape Navigator proficient.

·         High creativity with ability to solve complex analytical problems in a hands on, fast paced environment.

·         Experienced team builder trained in process of continuous improvement concepts and techniques.

·         Adept at budget planning, preparation, presentation, and negotiating financial targets and operational goals.

·         Strong cost accounting background with extensive exposure to both standard and activity based costing.

 

 

EDUCATION

 

Masters of International Management - American Graduate School of International Management

Glendale, Arizona

 

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - University of Nevada - Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada