Cornelius M. Sullivan
Greater Atlanta Area,GA
Summary
Dynamic financial business partner recognized for delivering innovative, cost-effective solutions that drive bottom-line success. Expertise in financial analysis simplifies complex issues, fostering understanding across various organizational levels. Proven leadership in managing strategic project teams focused on ERP and HRM implementation, process improvement, organizational change management, and profit enhancement. Additional competencies include data analysis, financial forecasting, cash management, talent development, budgeting, and compliance with state and local tax regulations.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
3PL Logistics/ Warehouse 40 truck Transportation fleet Controller
JB Harris Transportation/ Logistics
01.2025
- Managed daily cash flow coordinating with lending/factoring company to ensure cash to pay payroll and other obligations.
- Successfully negotiated with vendors to manage payment terms to ensure service during cash crunch.
- Created prospectus deck for potential investors.
Finance Project Manager
Universal Forest Products
01.2023 - 01.2025
- Recruited to help with the transformation of the Transportation Division (450 tractors, 2000 trailers) into an independent profit center for internal and external customers.
- Designed a program to identify the cost of engine idling, communicate and incentivize frontline (driver) employees to reduce idling. First year impact expected to be $250,000.
- Standardized weekly financial reporting. Created two line P&L (supported by more detailed ones, to help base leadership begin focusing on financial elements (Revenue, operating profit).
- Manage invoice payment review process to examine compliance with terms, identify cost savings opportunities, and compliance with complex transportation sales tax rules. Identified savings of $250k annualized.
- $9 Billion Publicly Traded Wood Products Company
Independent Finance/ Accounting Consultant
01.2022 - 01.2023
- Partnered with client staff to build and implement Blackline GL reconciliations and reconcile the past and current year.
- Re-designed and implemented merger and acquisition integration process using project management methodology to speed up and streamline the integration of acquired companies.
- Interim Controller who rebuilt a divisional accounting team after significant turnover. Redesigned processes and trained replacements while executing monthly close and financial year end. Changed culture to be inclusive and empowering giving staff agency to find better ways of serving operations.
Site Controller/ Director of Finance
Exel Inc, ( DHL Supply Chain)
01.2019 - 01.2022
- Finance executive in a unique role within DHL serving as Finance leader at a local customer site (3PL) with $85 – 100 M in revenue. Manage accounting, payroll, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting for customer and DHL. Customer reported on a 4-4-5 basis resulting in managing two sets of books with two different fiscal years.
- Improved and combined weekly reporting process for operational and financial information in one tool to provide the leadership and the customer as current weekly results, current trends and future estimated results.
- Selected to lead five person data analytics team and refocused the team to become consultants/ advisors to the business instead of mainly focused on developing and delivering reports.
- Collaborated with a team of leaders that oversaw the on-site subsidized cafeteria serving 1,700 people daily. Drove change to focus on margin creation instead of solely cost control which drove $1M in annual savings by driving sales of higher margin more popular offerings.
Controller
GAT Inc.
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Reporting directly to the CFO, hired to bring order to accounting functions and drive effective reporting to the business. Responsible for Cash, accounts payable, accounts, receivable, forecasting, budgeting, and reporting.
- Implemented and strengthened financial controls over cash, accounts payable, and accounts receivable.
- Reorganized and grew accounting functions by developing clear responsibilities and necessary back up.
- Managed cash from daily cash flow and forecast to quarterly bank covenant compliance.
- Devised a capital purchasing program that provided the necessary flexibility to purchase field equipment as opportunities presented themselves while maintaining necessary controls.
- Airport ground services provider ($150 - $300M)
Manager Financial Planning and Analysis
Koppers Performance Chemicals (Formerly Osmose, Inc.)
01.2012 - 01.2018
- Finance leader serving on senior management team. Manage all financial reporting, planning, and analysis for worldwide company with more than 20 worldwide subsidiaries. Serve as connection between Business Unit and Corporate Finance.
- Using ABC cost accounting concepts, created tools to measure volume drivers, price differentials and evaluate raw material replacement options, exceeding $3 million dollars in savings.
- Spearheaded analysis, due diligence of acquisition targets in US, Brazil, Argentina, Europe, and Australia.
- Served as Subject matter expert for investor relations to develop information necessary for SEC reporting as well as management discussion and analysis (MD&A) to support discussions with investors and other interested parties.
- Led project team to replace PeopleSoft ERP with Microsoft Dynamics Navision completed in four months after Osmose acquisition by Koppers.
- Created and led administrative back office of seven in functions required after Koppers, Inc. acquired Osmose.
- Consolidated world-wide subsidiaries into corporate financial statements
- Doubled order volume over three years with no additional staff through constant process review and optimization, maintaining high quality standards.
- Introduced and developed necessary Sarbanes - Oxley (SOX) controls and managed change process for management team and staff, transitioning from private to public ownership.
- Specialty Chemicals ($350 - $500 M)
Independent Consultant
CM Sullivan & Associates
01.2012
- Led team of seven in all aspects of controllership including accounts receivable, accounts payable, financial reporting, budgeting, and creating a proactive consultative service based approach to enable Finance to become a business partner to the operation.
- Restructured staff (from 13 to seven) and processes to strengthen internal controls, decreasing month-end close time by 60%, and created an accountability culture with staff.
- Designed and led the implementation of “Green AP” Program, used procurement cards and ACH payments to pay over 90% of vendors, reducing costs by $200k annually.
Finance Manager Analytics and Business Transformation
The Atlanta Housing Authority
01.2009 - 01.2012
- Directed cross-functional team of internal and external resources charged with creating the framework for a project-based managerial accounting process based on “ABC” cost accounting principles and Balanced Scorecard measurement standards designed to measure the results of the company by combining operational data with financial data into one reporting database with robust reporting ability.
- Led the transformation of the Accounting Department from a traditional governmental model into a best-practice-driven, proactive, service-oriented Finance Department, decreasing FTEs by five and saving approximately $500k/annum.
- Created the company-wide Center of Excellence for business reporting and business intelligence uniting silos of information and pockets of expertise into a unified strategy for data and reporting across the company, applying best practices and providing innovative solutions tailored to each department’s needs.
- Real Estate Not-for-Profit providing Affordable Housing – Asset Management
Manager Financial Planning and Taxation
Rinnai America Corporation
01.2005 - 01.2009
- Wholly-owned subsidiary of a Japanese corporation specializing in green technology
Senior Financial Analyst
Rinnai America Corporation
01.2005 - 01.2006
- Directed annual budget of $195 million including establishing baseline data, strengthening review processes and integrating key metrics using Balanced Scorecard principles.
- Created sales reporting tools that enabled management to identify opportunities for higher sales and margins including a market model that measured past performance with potential future market opportunities, fully allocated (SKU level) product, and customer-level P&L statement.
- Managed the filing of all income in 36 states, including franchise, and sales/use taxes.
- Managed FAS 109/ASC 740 tax provision and FIN 48 implementation, lowering tax provision 2% ($300k) through detailed modeling and planning.
- Specialty Chemicals
Finance Project Leader FP&A
Song, LLC (Delta Air Lines Subsidiary)
01.2003 - 10.2005
- Developed Song’s virtual back-office process. Led team of 28 professionals from various functions across Delta, simplified processes and created procedures including payroll, HRIS and Benefits administration that resulted in a paperless back office with total employee self-service. Estimated cost savings was $500,000 per year
- Developed and managed financial planning and reporting models to reflect current trends, balance of year forecast, five-year operating plan, as well as scenario-specific models.
- Directed monthly-accounting close process for Song’s intercompany pro-forma P&L including direct costs and transfer pricing from Delta.
- Delta’s low-cost brand used as a test-bed laboratory for business processes, product offerings and marketing strategies now used by Delta Airlines.
Education
Graduate Studies - Taxation
Fordham University
New York, NYBachelor of Science (BS) - Accounting
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NYSkills
- CPA GA License #29732 - Active
- Skilled in enterprise software
- Cash flow management
- Cost control
- Preparing financial statements
- Financial statement review
- General ledger accounting
- General ledger management
- Staff management
- Account reconciliation
- Internal controls development
- Strategic planning
- Budget compliance
- Pricing and costing
- Financial management
- Budget preparation
Timeline
3PL Logistics/ Warehouse 40 truck Transportation fleet Controller
JB Harris Transportation/ Logistics
01.2025
Finance Project Manager
Universal Forest Products
01.2023 - 01.2025
Independent Finance/ Accounting Consultant
01.2022 - 01.2023
Site Controller/ Director of Finance
Exel Inc, ( DHL Supply Chain)
01.2019 - 01.2022
Controller
GAT Inc.
01.2018 - 01.2019
Manager Financial Planning and Analysis
Koppers Performance Chemicals (Formerly Osmose, Inc.)
01.2012 - 01.2018
Independent Consultant
CM Sullivan & Associates
01.2012
Finance Manager Analytics and Business Transformation
The Atlanta Housing Authority
01.2009 - 01.2012
Manager Financial Planning and Taxation
Rinnai America Corporation
01.2005 - 01.2009
Senior Financial Analyst
Rinnai America Corporation
01.2005 - 01.2006
Finance Project Leader FP&A
Song, LLC (Delta Air Lines Subsidiary)
01.2003 - 10.2005
Bachelor of Science (BS) - Accounting
Syracuse University
Graduate Studies - Taxation
Fordham University
AWARDS
2017 Fayette County GA Chamber of Commerce Carolyn Cary Dream Builder Award – For significant contributions to the community through exemplary volunteer public service
ADDITIONAL RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
- Delta Air Lines, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia Airport Customer Service (ACS) Project Manager– Customer Service Airport Customer Service (ACS) Senior Cost Analyst / Regional Controller-Southeast/Boston Senior Tax Analyst
- Medaphis Corporation, Atlanta, Georgia Senior Tax Consultant
- Deloitte & Touche, LLP, New York, NY Senior Tax Consultant Tax Consultant
Personal Information
- ID Type: CPA GA License
- ID Number: 29732