Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
General Management & Strategic Activities
Timeline
Generic

JAMES S. MIELE

LADERA RANCH,USA

Summary

Successful CFO with CPA credentials offering more than30 years of progressive finance and accounting experience. Solid background working with private equity, venture capital and publicly traded companies encompassing a broad range of diversified industry knowledge.

Seasoned Chief Financial Officer focused on helping companies accomplish missions and drive growth. Expansion-minded professional versed in navigating complex financial challenges.

Overview

34
34
years of professional experience

Work History

Chief Financial Office

Rachio, Inc.
03.2022 - 10.2024
  • Company Overview: Rachio is a VC backed IoT company that manufactures and sells smart outdoor technology to residential consumers helping them save water and create a Smart Yard
  • Rachio sells its smart home irrigation products through B2C, D2C, and B2B channels, including major retailers such as Amazon, Costco and The Home Depot
  • Through smart weather intelligence and advanced software features, Rachio has helped save over200 billion gallons of water
  • Senior member of the ELT that, as part of a turnaround, revamped the overall strategy to focus on core strengths of software, hardware, AI and connected outdoor technology
  • The “Smart Yard” and “Connect Outside” focus allowed Rachio to grow its accessible market and improve on its strengths in IoT hardware and software
  • This resulted in30% revenue growth over two years after two years of single digit growth
  • Developed and created monthly financial packages delivered to management, the BOD and lenders/investors that included business performance and key insights while improving and automating current FP&A practices
  • Led company through2023 SVB bank failure/crisis and later secured a working capital line of credit used to support and fund the Company’s operations including marketing and product development
  • Created a collaborative and effective budgeting/forecasting process that set up ownership and accountability of departmental expenditures, tied sales forecasts to production planning models and generated a detailed cash flow analysis providing a holistic view of the company’s current and future financial outlook
  • Actively involved in the acquisition and integration of a smart hose timer technology business which has delivered $9M in sales to date
  • Proactively forecasted and managed cash and cash projections on a weekly/monthly and annual basis
  • Ensured financial statements are GAAP compliant with efficient third-party audit processes
  • Managed business risk, including reviewing, negotiating, and executing all contracts; managing insurance coverages; and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations (certified B Corporation)
  • Venture Series B-Consumer Products Business

Chief Financial Officer

Full Spectrum Group, LLC
03.2020 - 02.2022
  • Company Overview: Full Spectrum is a national service organization specializing in the maintenance, repair and sale of chromatography, mass-spectrometry and thermal laboratory equipment
  • Replaced Interim CFO and Controller (2 for1) and transitioned accounting function from Pleasanton, CA to Orange, CA
  • Successfully integrated one small acquisition (June2020) and two additional acquisitions (March2021) adding approximately $12M in annual revenue and50+ new associates
  • Effectively managed P&L through COVID (small revenue growth and flat EBITDA)
  • Transitioned company to new health insurance plan providing richer benefits at a significant savings to employees and the Company
  • PE Med Device Managed Services Business

Chief Financial Officer

Axiom Materials, Inc.
01.2017 - 03.2020
  • Company Overview: Serving the commercial and military aerospace and defense sectors, Axiom is an advanced composite materials manufacturer that combines a quality prepreg (reinforced fabrics with resin), adhesives, and an ancillary composite products platform with customer-focused service and forward-thinking design
  • Aided company with first private equity recapitalization
  • In less than three years, Axiom grew both top line revenue and EBITDA on a trailing12-month basis by75% and30% respectively, which led to a successful $181M exit in July2019
  • Established first ever annual budget including budget vs
  • Actual comparisons and refined internal financial reporting to include relevant and actionable information (3-day month end close)
  • Worked across all functional areas to leverage existing and implement new software-based tools designed to capture and report on critical information vital to achieving the Company’s short and long-term strategic goals (e.g., sales backlog, revenue reporting/forecasting tools, Salesforce.com, inventory and product costing systems, labor/hours worked reports)
  • PE A&D Manufacturing Business

Senior Finance and Accounting Consultant

Blythe Global Advisors, LLC
01.2015 - 01.2016
  • Lead financial consultant in successful $100M private equity sponsored acquisition of a composite material manufacturer (Axiom)
  • Responsible for due diligence support, oral presentation of financial information to investors and lenders and post-transaction interim CFO support
  • Developed financial consolidation used as a bridge to meet lender and investor covenant requirements for a newly acquired franchise entity with multiple operating subsidiaries
  • Converted cash-based financial statements for a software company to GAAP accrual basis and managed issuance of first financial statement audit

Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Finance

Altura Communication Solutions
01.2013 - 01.2015
  • Company Overview: Altura is a nationwide leading provider of communication-enabled solutions and managed telecom services to government and commercial enterprises
  • During first year, navigated business through major cash flow constraints by managing critical vendor and banking relationships
  • Managed increase in cash-on-hand from $0 in November2013 to more than $3M by July2015 while dramatically improving aged payables
  • Instrumental in October2014 refinance of troubled debt securing a $9M working capital credit facility providing financial stability to the organization
  • PE Telecom Services Provider Business

Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Finance and Secretary

Iteris, Inc.
01.2004 - 01.2013
  • Company Overview: Iteris is a transportation technology firm that provides products, consulting services and software-based solutions to the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) market both domestically and abroad (EU, Asia & Middle East)
  • Played key role in taking Iteris public on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX)
  • Responsible for successful $1.5M company-wide Oracle ERP implementation
  • Negotiated and closed multiple credit facilities including a $19.5M facility providing working capital for operations and future acquisitions
  • Instrumental in the divestiture of Iteris’ vision-based lane departure warning business (Vehicle Sensors) for $14M (2x revenues) to Bendix/Knorr-Bremse AG
  • Managed increase in cash from $400,000 in2008 to more than $19M by2013
  • Provided financial analysis, performed due diligence, and led successful financial integration of two acquisitions with combined revenues of $7M and staff of more than60 associates
  • Publicly Traded ITS Business

Controller

Escrow.com
01.2000 - 01.2001
  • Company Overview: Founded in1999, by Fidelity National Title, Escrow.com provides online escrow services that facilitate and accelerate e-commerce
  • Responsible for all accounting functions as well as preparation of consolidated financial statements, treasury management and forecasts/financial models presented to the BOD and investors

Audit Manager - Audit & Advisory Business Services Group

Ernst & Young LLP (EY)
01.1994 - 01.2000
  • Company Overview: Responsible for managing audits and providing assurance/advisory services to public and privately held clients at Ernst & Young, the world’s third largest accounting and professional services firm
  • Industry experience includes Technology, Engineering Services, Retail, Life Sciences/Medical Device, Healthcare, Restaurants and Insurance
  • Notable clients: Avco Insurance, Anna’s Linen, EuroHealth, Micronet, Apria Healthcare, Islands Restaurants, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, Earth Technologies and the Richard Nixon Library

Staff Accountant

Considine & Considine CPA’s
01.1991 - 01.1993
  • Responsible for financial statement and payroll/sales tax return preparation for owner operated businesses.

Education

Certified Public Accountant -

Bachelor of Science - Accounting

San Diego State University
01.1991

Skills

  • Strategic financial planning
  • Financial management
  • Financial reporting
  • Financial policy creation
  • Audit coordination
  • Budget development
  • Financial strategy development
  • Corporate leadership
  • Cash flow management
  • Financial process improvement
  • Investor relations management
  • Tax planning and strategy
  • Cost reduction strategies
  • Financial leadership

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

  • Accounting and Finance Functions
  • Annual Audit and Tax Planning/Compliance
  • FP&A (Annual Budgets/Forecasting)
  • Investor Relations
  • Health, Benefit and Retirement Plan Admin
  • Contract Review/Legal Support
  • Internal & External Financial Reporting
  • Debt and Lender Compliance
  • Treasury and Cash Management (Cash Forecasting)
  • Human Resources
  • Risk Management (Corporate Insurance Programs)
  • Internal Controls (including SOX compliance)

General Management & Strategic Activities

  • Active participant in BOD and management meetings focused on strategic planning, M&A, corporate finance and overall corporate vision
  • Co-managed investor relations program and cultivated investment community relationships including institutional investors, research analysts, investment bankers and private equity firms
  • Managed financial requirements of strategic partners and commercial banks which included investments from Valeo (French tier-one automotive OEM), the Government Investment Corporation of Singapore and DaimlerChrysler Ventures GmbH
  • Directly involved and advised the CEO in all areas of company business: operations, corporate policy, facilities, Human Resources,401(k) plan administration (Plan Fiduciary), as well as health benefit and equity plan administration

Timeline

Chief Financial Office

Rachio, Inc.
03.2022 - 10.2024

Chief Financial Officer

Full Spectrum Group, LLC
03.2020 - 02.2022

Chief Financial Officer

Axiom Materials, Inc.
01.2017 - 03.2020

Senior Finance and Accounting Consultant

Blythe Global Advisors, LLC
01.2015 - 01.2016

Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Finance

Altura Communication Solutions
01.2013 - 01.2015

Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Finance and Secretary

Iteris, Inc.
01.2004 - 01.2013

Controller

Escrow.com
01.2000 - 01.2001

Audit Manager - Audit & Advisory Business Services Group

Ernst & Young LLP (EY)
01.1994 - 01.2000

Staff Accountant

Considine & Considine CPA’s
01.1991 - 01.1993

Bachelor of Science - Accounting

San Diego State University

Certified Public Accountant -

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
JAMES S. MIELE