Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

GARY D. ELLIS

Doylestown,PA

Summary

A highly organized, resourceful, and focused Executive. Providing and managing administrative and business needs in diverse environments and industries. Possess profound know-how of finance, non-profit, media, and government enterprises. Highly capable of working effectively and collaboratively in a challenging and fast-paced environment with various levels of professionals. Track record of decisive management, clear leadership, and consensus building with no qualms about hands-on direction.

Overview

39
39
years of professional experience

Work History

Interim Leader

James A Michener Art Museum
  • Board of Trustees
  • Maximize return on financial assets through financial policies, procedures, controls, and reporting systems
  • Manage endowment through Finance/Audit/Investment Committee and investment liaison
  • Manage accuracy and productivity of day-to-day financial activities
  • Plan, coordinate, and supervise Museum’s budget process; achieve budget objectives by scheduling expenditures, analyzing variances, and initiating corrective actions
  • Maximize return on financial assets by establishing financial policies, procedures, controls, and reporting systems
  • Consistently analyze financial data and present financial reports in accurate and timely manner
  • Oversee all audit activity and assists external audit firm with annual financial statement and tax return (Form 990)
  • Coordinate all grant financial management
  • Lead Museum’s systems and technology activity and adoption of new accounting system (Sage Intacct) and operations software (Salesforce/Veevart)
  • Manage IT to upgrade cybersecurity, ransomware and phishing protection
  • Manage relationships with investment and banking entities, auditors, State/Federal/Corporate/Foundation granting agencies, and is direct liaison to property management company for rental properties
  • Oversee Human Resources including personnel matters as well as health and retirement benefits
  • Manage Museum shop and Visitor Services personnel
  • Managed Museum with two other personnel on interim basis for six months.

Consultant

Columbia School of Broadcasting (CSB) and D2D Television)
  • Developed, along with the CEO and COO, models and business plan to drive the growth of company’s import and export sales business
  • Devised new and expand current lines of business to increase company’s profitability
  • Established financial systems, banking relationships, reporting requirements and monitor cash flow for the company
  • Maintained both accounts receivables and accounts payable
  • Collaborated with the CEO on ad hoc projects as needed to expand the business
  • Provided financial analysis and advise on the strategy surrounding the merger and acquisition of the Columbia School of Broadcasting’s planned purchase of a film and television production entity and a recording production entity
  • Represented CSB on its international expansion endeavors by creating business plans, and leading meetings (and discussions) with potential investors, domestic and foreign consultants
  • Provide financial analysis and advise on the expansion of D2D Television into sporting events, Roku and airport distribution.

Director of Finance

A&E Television Networks
  • Ad and Affiliate Sales, Managed $24 million budget for Ad Sales, Affiliate Sales, Creative Services and Research
  • Oversaw the incentive award program for the entire ad and affiliate sales force for the company
  • Conducted special projects for the SVP of Ad and Affiliate Sales Group.

Director of Finance

PolyGram Holding Inc
  • Oversaw day-to-day financial operations of the Information Technology Group, which included the management of a $13.7 million operating budget and $3.0 million capital budget
  • Negotiated lease activity, including $3.8 million facility to get off-balance sheet treatment
  • Performed special projects for SVP of Financial Operations including market analysis, project evaluation and monitoring and budget preparation.

Associate Director

Swiss Bank Corporation, UBS
  • Engaged in credit negotiations with clients on both bilateral and syndicated transactions
  • Performed credit analysis for Fortune 500 energy and manufacturing concerns
  • Evaluated the company risk associated with existing and proposed credit facilities
  • Promoted twice from Corporate Account Representative to Assistant Treasurer; Assistant Treasurer to Associate Director

Chief Financial and Administration Officer

James A Michener Art Museum
01.2020 - Current

Chief Financial Officer

Avant Motors International, LLC
01.2015 - 01.2019

Special Assistant

St Elizabeth East
01.2013 - 01.2015
  • The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED)]
  • Washington, DC
  • Executed major parts of the Mayor’s economic development strategy by managing the District’s largest real estate development project consisting of 183 acres and nearly 5 million square feet
  • Manage the day-to-day oversight of the $58 million infrastructure portion and $2.5 million operating budget of the project
  • Negotiated terms of infrastructure engagement with all utilities (DC Water, PEPCO, Washington Gas, Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority, DC NET)
  • Created financial protocol for the rental of the two community sites at the project
  • Managed access and activation of St Elizabeth with all District agencies including, but not limited to Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), Office of Planning (OP), Department of, Picture and Television Development (DMPTD) and Department of Employee Services (DOES) as well as the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions in Ward 8
  • Managed grant award process and review of grant to Humanities Council of Washington, DC.

Vice-President

Spiriterre Entertainment
01.2011 - 01.2012
  • Collaborated with team to forge the strategic direction of this start-up multi-platform media venture company that aimed to use exclusive content and domain experts to target viewers interested in green living, mind/body/spirit, self development and ancient philosophies
  • Adapted the business plan as needed for investor distribution and review
  • Fashioned presentations to highlight the core business plan, market sector, competitive advantage and mission
  • Planned the insurance, financial systems, human resources and general financial policy and practice for the company
  • Created pitches to potential investors and venture capital personnel
  • Coalesced marketing, production, broadcast transmission and revenue into a coherent business plan
  • Worked with team to rebrand company (came up with new name) and filed trademark for new name.

Vice-President

National Geographic Ventures
01.2006 - 01.2011
  • Maintained ongoing analysis of the television program P&L portfolio, Division performance and partner obligations for senior management
  • Prepared analysis and reported to NG Ventures CFO and NG Television President regarding accounts receivable analysis of partner revenue and contractual obligations totaling $45 million utilizing Microsoft Excel pivot tables
  • Communicated monthly financial results and provided insight into variances from budget to CFO
  • Responsible for weekly payroll oversight and 3rd party provider relationship for $9 million yearly spend
  • Collaborated with Business Development and Legal and Business Affairs to negotiate and evaluate deals
  • Consulted with Business Systems Development and Accounts Payable to maintain and develop protocol for proprietary Production Database system to increase productivity and ease of reporting
  • Spearheaded the adoption of payments system to reduce cash exposure and ease of access to funds in the field; able to cut cash exposure by 50% and reduced access time to funds from 5 days to 3 hours while gaining the ability to track expenditures in real time
  • Served as financial executive in charge of the program production of over 100 hours of programs per year
  • Provided financial analysis and return of investment (ROI) for equipment acquisitions and space requirements
  • Analyzed business partnerships with production service providers and others in order to leverage revenue and investment sources such as foreign government tax credits and currency exchange risk
  • Managed staff of four for the monthly variance reporting as well as quarterly and annual forecasting.

Director of Finance & Administration

A&E Television Networks
01.2000 - 01.2006
  • Performed monthly variance and annual analysis of $22 million operating budget for production, network services, post-production and interactive areas with staff of six
  • Oversaw $9 million capital budget and $9.6 million wraps and in-house production budget
  • Managed special and ad hoc projects for the SVP of Production and Broadcast Operations (e.g., spearhead digital asset management, broadcast facility analysis and digital commercial retrieval initiatives)
  • Oversaw budgets and monitored staffing for in-house productions, such as Breakfast with the Arts, and live specials, e.g., Live By Request
  • Negotiated license deals with image and video footage providers
  • Collaborated with Production Management team to allocate resources for in-house productions, wraps for acquired programs, promotional shoots and interstitials
  • Reported and tracked spending for all in-house production
  • Worked in conjunction with Human Resources, Payroll and Outsource Agents to establish and execute pay policy for freelancers and day players
  • Analyzed the financial impact of converting “permalancers” to staff.

Vice President

Bachelder Group
01.1996 - 01.2000
  • Analyzed and structured compensation on behalf of senior executives (primarily CEOs) for presentation to their corporate boards for the enactment of new salary structures and compensation parameters
  • Evaluated financial structures for specialized compensation for executives with regard to tax, estate and pension consequences and specific individual goals
  • Supervised and coordinated all analyst activity for both internal and external projects.

Arthur Andersen & Co
01.1985 - 01.1987
  • Created the testing format for the new payroll system for Morgan Guaranty
  • Implemented a tutorial program for users of a new computer system in the state of Pennsylvania's Bureau of Motor Vehicles
  • Designed teaching modules and formats
  • Wrote software for use in the Naval Air Logistics Command Management Information System.

Education

MBA -

Bachelor of Arts degree - Politics

Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey

Master of Business Administration - Finance

Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, Fuqua School
Durham, Carolina, North

Skills

  • SKILLS & EXPERTISE
  • Sage Intacct – Salesforce – Veevart – Microsoft Office – Microsoft Word – MS Excel – MS Outlook – PeopleSoft – Visio – Cost Control – Project Management – Grants Management – Consulting – Budget – Finance – Strategy

Timeline

Chief Financial and Administration Officer

James A Michener Art Museum
01.2020 - Current

Chief Financial Officer

Avant Motors International, LLC
01.2015 - 01.2019

Special Assistant

St Elizabeth East
01.2013 - 01.2015

Vice-President

Spiriterre Entertainment
01.2011 - 01.2012

Vice-President

National Geographic Ventures
01.2006 - 01.2011

Director of Finance & Administration

A&E Television Networks
01.2000 - 01.2006

Vice President

Bachelder Group
01.1996 - 01.2000

Arthur Andersen & Co
01.1985 - 01.1987

Interim Leader

James A Michener Art Museum

Consultant

Columbia School of Broadcasting (CSB) and D2D Television)

Director of Finance

A&E Television Networks

Director of Finance

PolyGram Holding Inc

Associate Director

Swiss Bank Corporation, UBS

MBA -

Bachelor of Arts degree - Politics

Princeton University

Master of Business Administration - Finance

Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, Fuqua School

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GARY D. ELLIS