Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
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Ling Zhou

Fremont,USA

Summary

Results-oriented finance executive with 20+ years of experience driving financial success. Expertise in technical revenue recognition, revenue operations, and accounting process optimization, with strong data analytics and full-cycle accounting knowledge. Proven ability to leverage data-driven insights for innovative solutions and achieve strategic initiatives. Collaborative leader with a track record of developing high-performing teams and exceeding goals. Excellent communicator with unwavering ethics and integrity. CPA (inactive), MBA, and CFE (inactive) with Big 4 experience.experience at a Big 4 public accounting firm.

Overview

21
21
years of professional experience

Work History

Controller, New Business Opportunities (NBO)

Google LLC
02.2023 - Current
  • Build from scratch a highly skilled team and the Finance governance framework to support safe and fast launches of Google Cloud’s GTM programs and New Product Initiatives (400+ strategic launches per year and growing)
  • Assess new product offerings and go-to-market strategies, ensuring alignment with technical revenue requirements, operational feasibility, and internal control standards
  • Influence the design of go-to-market strategies to optimize financial reporting outcomes
  • Ensure that all launch initiatives are aligned with Google Cloud’s strategy and utilize Google’s billing, systems, and operations resources efficiently
  • Act as Cloud Controllership Guardian, ensuring that all Cloud business initiatives are accurately reported in accordance with financial reporting standards
  • Oversee the process of intake, assessment, approval and monitoring for all Cloud business initiatives related to billing, entitlement, new offerings, pricing and partnerships
  • Build for scale, collaborating across teams to create robust, scalable processes for seamless financial reporting in all Cloud launches
  • Foster cross-functional synergy by partnering with key teams to elevate launch processes and drive continuous improvement
  • Lead the tracking and reporting of Cloud business initiatives for Controllership
  • Think end-to-end, ensuring seamless launch execution and long-term financial success for all Cloud initiatives

Controller, Cloud Deals Revenue Recognition

Google LLC
12.2019 - 02.2023
  • Lead global team responsible for timely completion of revenue recognition assessment for executed Cloud revenue deals feeding into Google Cloud's continuously growing ~$41B annual revenue.(100+ enterprise deals per quarter with ~10% deals over $1B dollar total contract value)
  • Closely partner with cross functional key stakeholders (e.g. Sales, Sales Operations, GTM Finance, Taxes, Treasury and Legal) to mitigate financial risks and provide preliminary revenue recognition assessment and guidance for Cloud deals during negotiation
  • Collaborate proactively with back office Accounting teams to ensure revenue transactions are recorded in accordance with company’s revenue recognition policies and GAAP
  • Develop and maintain internal controls for revenue recognition associated with Cloud revenue contracts
  • Initiate and implement various process improvement projects, worked with finance system transformation team for QtC, RtR system initiatives, deployed offshore low cost shared service taskforce to improve scalability

Director, Global Revenue Recognition – Cloud GPO & New Products

Oracle Corporation
01.2016 - 12.2019
  • Interpret, present, and explain accounting treatment to various internal business contacts and external auditors for complex, high revenue impact deals
  • Develop and maintain internal controls for revenue recognition associated with Cloud deals and NPI process
  • Perform continuous review and improvement of Cloud revenue systems and business processes
  • Collaborate proactively with sales organization, sales operations, treasury, taxes and legal department to ensure revenue transactions are recorded in accordance with revenue recognition policies
  • Established streamlined and effective process for revenue team’s review of deals and New Product Offerings
  • Assess 606 impact, prepare memos and adopt new revenue guidance in Cloud and New Products areas
  • Ensure Oracle’s Cloud and New Products revenue recognition policies are kept up to date, in compliance with current accounting pronouncements and developments
  • Built functional team within Global Revenue Recognition group from scratch
  • Team is viewed as subject matter experts to provide revenue guidance for Oracle’s Cloud and New Products offering
  • Partner closely with Product Development, Order Administration, AR and other cross-functional teams during new product introduction to determine accounting requirements for new product and ensure operational feasibility
  • Partner closely with IT and Revenue Operations team to generate BRD (Business Requirements Document) for designing and implementing new revenue recognition automation solution
  • Developed high-performing teams by providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for professional growth.

Sr. Manager, Global Revenue Recognition – Technical Program Office

Oracle Corporation
01.2014 - 01.2016
  • Advise Deal Review team on weekly technical calls to ensure the consistent application of Oracle's Corporate Revenue Recognition Policies for complex, high revenue impact deals
  • Work closely with Deal Review, Sales, FP&A, and Development teams to resolve revenue accounting issues encountered
  • Support M&A diligence team in connection with buy-side (generally) transactions: understanding of targets’ business offerings, channels and go-to-market strategies; revenue forecast, bookings, backlogs and pipelines; contract negotiation, review and approval policies and processes; pricing policies; basis for separation of contractual deliverables; allocation of arrangement consideration to contractual deliverables; and revenue recognition models, with a view to assess revenue recognition risks
  • Draft revenue recognition policies, technical accounting memos, and provide internal training to cross-functional organizations including Legal, Sales, Operations and Finance
  • Develop and execute controls over NPI (New Products Introduction) process to ensure products with potential revenue recognition issues are identified and properly accounted for in the system
  • Participate in the impact assessment of ASC606

Sr. Manager, Global Revenue Group

VIAVI Solutions Inc. (previously JDSU Corporation)
12.2011 - 01.2014
  • Responsible for proper revenue recognition and timely revenue closing for Americas regions (~$1.6 billion annual world-wide revenue)
  • Review of contractual arrangements for identification of non-standard terms and potential revenue recognition implications
  • Specific focus on ASC 985-605 (SOPs 97-2), ASC 605-35 (SOP 81-1), SaaS (ASC 985-605-55), ASC 605 (as amended by ASUs 2009-13 (EITF No
  • 08-1) and 2009-14 (EITF 09-3)) and EITF Issues No
  • 00-21, 01-09, 99-19, and 00-3
  • Review of product introductions and other business offerings for accounting implications; specific focus on ASC 985-605, ASC 985-605-55, ASC 605 (as amended) and other EITF Issues and other sales-cycle related accounting pronouncements, including SFAS 13 (ASC 840)
  • Review BESP analysis to ensure proper allocation among multiple elements for bundled deals
  • Review deferred revenue reconciliation to ensure proper release of previously deferred revenue
  • Work closely with Sales, Operations and Legal to ensure contracts are drafted in accordance with internal revenue recognition rules and external accounting guidelines
  • Development of technical presentations and provide internal training to cross-functional organizations including Legal, Sales, Operations and Finance
  • Conduct quarterly post mortem, as appropriate, to continuously enhance the quarterly close / financial reporting process
  • Initiate process improvements in revenue accounting and reporting-related areas and automating manual processes
  • Manage internal and external revenue audits

Corporate Revenue Manager

KLA-Tencor Corporation
07.2009 - 12.2011
  • Review contracts to ensure consistent application of Company’s Corporate Revenue Recognition Policies (~$2.5 billion annual world-wide revenue)
  • Work with Sales, Operations and Legal team to maximize revenue recognition while ensuring compliance with internal and external accounting guidance
  • Responsible for quarterly revenue close, which includes preparation of revenue impacting entries, account reconciliations and internal memos for complex revenue issues
  • Prepare and present quarterly revenue analysis and metrics report in front of upper management and external auditors
  • Develop and administrate effective organizational revenue recognition policies and procedures
  • Review of period-end closing procedures and shortening of process from 2 to 1 business days
  • Support internal and external revenue audits
  • Design and provide live group revenue training classes to regional controllers
  • Design and implement new best estimate selling price (BESP) template to help early adoption of ASC 605/EITF 08-01, formerly SAP104/EITF 00-21

Senior Internal Auditor

KLA-Tencor Corporation
12.2006 - 07.2009
  • Perform annual risk assessment and SOX controls rationalization
  • Plan and execute risk-based operational audits and Sarbanes Oxley section 404 testing
  • Provide consultative services to management that enhance control environment
  • Coordinate with internal business units and external auditors to maximize effectiveness of audit resources
  • Manage audit budget and new hire training

Staff/Senior Financial Auditor

Deloitte & Touche, LLP.
09.2003 - 12.2006
  • Plan and execute financial statement audits, internal control audits, and quarterly reviews for various public and private technology companies.
    Research complex accounting transactions to ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP.
  • Interface directly with engagement partners, Audit Committee members, CEOs, CFOs and Corporate Controllers to facilitate audit process and financial statement reporting process.
  • Participate and successfully complete S-1 filings and pre/post-IPO audits for two start-up/pre-IPO stage companies.

Education

Master of Science - Accountancy

San Jose State University
San Jose, CA

Master of Business Administration -

National University of Singapore
Singapore

Bachelor of Arts -

Academy of Arts of Shanghai University
Shanghai, China

Skills

  • US GAAP
  • Technical & Operational Revenue Accounting (ASC606) for Cloud, software and high-tech manufacturing companies
  • Leadership/Coaching & Mentoring
  • Team Building & Strategic Planning
  • Process Scaling
  • SOX404/Internal Controls
  • Executive Communication
  • Collaborative Problem Solving / Stakeholder Management
  • Data Analytics
  • MS Office, gSuite, SAP, Oracle

Timeline

Controller, New Business Opportunities (NBO)

Google LLC
02.2023 - Current

Controller, Cloud Deals Revenue Recognition

Google LLC
12.2019 - 02.2023

Director, Global Revenue Recognition – Cloud GPO & New Products

Oracle Corporation
01.2016 - 12.2019

Sr. Manager, Global Revenue Recognition – Technical Program Office

Oracle Corporation
01.2014 - 01.2016

Sr. Manager, Global Revenue Group

VIAVI Solutions Inc. (previously JDSU Corporation)
12.2011 - 01.2014

Corporate Revenue Manager

KLA-Tencor Corporation
07.2009 - 12.2011

Senior Internal Auditor

KLA-Tencor Corporation
12.2006 - 07.2009

Staff/Senior Financial Auditor

Deloitte & Touche, LLP.
09.2003 - 12.2006

Master of Science - Accountancy

San Jose State University

Master of Business Administration -

National University of Singapore

Bachelor of Arts -

Academy of Arts of Shanghai University

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Ling Zhou