F. THOMAS FREEMAN
131 Anthony Street
Brighton, Tennessee 38011
(901) 517-2052
email: tom.freeman57[at]yahoo.com

FINANCE / ACCOUNTING EXECUTIVE

CONTROLLER * DIRECTOR OF FINANCE * ACCOUNTING MANAGER




Professional with 20+ years of experience combining corporate management and financial accounting. Offer a record of leadership innovation and effectiveness in managing teams, departments and accounting services toward function and quality goals. Success in developing and managing accounting and financial solutions that guide companies through periods of dynamic change. Experience is supported by solid management capabilities combined with proven analytical and technical skills as well as management and accounting experience in the manufacturing industry. Have the ability to provide a full range of business operations analysis, audit, tax, and financial advisory services including with multi unit corporations. Skilled at investigating accounting systems to remedy internal control problems.

Strengths:
*Analyzing end to end processes for total operations, determining operational goals as well as coordinating company, financial, and personnel resources to ensure all goals are met.
*Expense budgeting/control for multi-site projects; forecasting, business plan development for new/major projects.
*Developing and implementing risk management/financial strategies to guide new business growth.
*Reducing corporate expenses through the removal of redundancy in operations.
*Controlling corporate financial base, overall corporate income stream, and reducing operational expenses of corporate and divisional level operations.
*Maintaining corporate awareness for detailed financial analysis of all processes and expenses to remain at the highest state of profitability.
*Managing accounting functions including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and personnel/payroll.
*Reviewing internal control structures/cash receipts, disbursements, and inventory.
*Skilled in professionally interacting with CEO's, attorneys, bankers, accountants, consultants, and investors.
*Experience providing a full range of business operations analysis, audit, tax, and financial advisory services relative to virtually any business situation, including to:
-Investigate accounting systems to remedy internal problems
-Direct accounting and total IT system upgrades
*Software proficiency: Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, Excel, Microsoft Dynamics GP 10, FAST, Oracle, Levitt 401/404/Best Practices, JD Edwards, Great Plains, PowerPoint, & various low level and mid level accounting packages.


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE


STARK AEROSPACE, Columbus, MS 1/10 Present
Cost Accountant Work with upper level management to evaluate new business opportunities by managing various business models, assist with the creation of proposed budgets for these opportunities, and submission of proposals.
*Setup / Implementation of new projects within existing accounting software.
*Analysis / reporting of inventory variances
*Approval / Entrance of accounting batches.
*Cash Forecasting, Budget Creation / Analysis.
*Assisting with streamlining current processes.



HOME DEPOT DIRECT, Baton Rouge, LA 3/09 11/09
Accounting Manager/Business Office Manager Coordinate, aggregate, analyze and submit data and recommendations to higher management in overseeing accounting activity for 3 distribution centers which supply 1900+ stores within the United States. Evaluate and improve accounting systems and develop related policy as required to improve distribution channels, and incorporate compliance, regulatory and corporate policy changes.
*Prepare audit schedules and assist external auditors in the annual audit.
*Review and analyze records and accounts for trends, errors, and discrepancies.
*Perform special projects from beginning through completion.
*Build vendor partnerships that have proven to advance profitability for both parties; review, develop, and manage relationships with international vendors.
F. THOMAS FREEMAN

Experience Continued:



*Use effective skills in coordinating departmental functions including:
- Monthly journal entries- Banking activity- Data entry of A/R and A/P posting
- Month end closeouts- Payroll- Software upgrades
- Balancing of checking accounts - Drug testing- Negotiate / enforce vendor contracts
*Accountable authority on legal, regulatory, and payroll accounting issues:
-Compliance with all federal, state, and local tax requirements and disbursements.
-Ensured Payroll expenses are booked appropriately to General Ledger.
*Streamlined departmental budgets to meet strategic goals.




LEVITT & SONS, Cordova, TN 5/01 - 1/09
Regional Director of Accounting Guided a successful 8-year effort to expand accounting infrastructure to support company growth for this multi-subdivision home builder that specializes in design and construction services for residential homes ranging from $250,000 to $750,000. Designed and administered a business plan that was instrumental in the financial turn-around of the company. Maintain high levels of records/reporting accuracy, staff productivity, and affected overall efficiency, security, and profitability.
*Key decision making, strategy and control of financial component of company to include:
- budget preparation - cash flow surplus investing
- financial planning - MIS & network resources
- construction cost reporting - loan draw administration
- preparation of annual report - audit processes
- annual tax planning & reporting - due diligence for land acquisitions
*Negotiated major construction and acquisition loan documents as well as purchase and sales agreements.
*Researched, implemented, and obtained SOX Compliance within six months.

U.S. ZINC, Millington, TN 11/95 - 2/01
Controller As Chief Financial Administrator over three 100+ employee production plants, provided leadership and development to a 12-person accounting / human resources operations team. Held primary responsibility for review and initiation of all accounting systems to emphasize accurate cost reporting for better management control. Identified opportunities and led effort to modify all primary recording procedures regarding personnel, material usage, production and inventory. Coordinated all phases of Human Resources program development, implementation and management with which included employee relations, compensation, insurance, benefits, productivity analysis and employee activities.
*Developed clarifications of general ledger accounts to capture expenses by cost center.
*Contributed in plant leadership meetings with plant and corporate personnel regarding problems/solutions.

Prior Position: ControllerBaptist Healthcare Systems
Vice President of Finance Montgomery General Hospital
ControllerWitcher Mining Company
BookkeeperDiVita Coal Company

EDUCATION

WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY, Morgantown, WV
M.B.A.5/83

B.S. Accounting5/79