Melissa Colston
Green,OH
Work Preference
Summary
Results-oriented FP&A leader with 15 years of experience in subscription revenue forecasting, consumer behavior analytics, and financial performance. Specializes in MRR/ARR modeling, churn forecasting, and driver-based subscription models. Collaborates with cross-functional teams to enhance recurring revenue and retention strategies, driving growth and consumer engagement.
Overview
1
1
Certification
27
27
years of professional experience
9
9
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Financial Analyst
Akron Children's Hospital
09.2023 - Current
- Built subscription-aligned forecasting models incorporating MRR, retention curves, engagement frequency, and cost-to-serve metrics, improving forecast accuracy by 12%.
- Developed Power BI dashboards tracking active user counts, program participation, and recurring utilization trends, enabling leadership to identify high-value user cohorts.
- Partnered with clinical operations to evaluate initiatives impacting recurring service adoption, improving predictability of monthly revenue cycles.
- Automated reporting processes, reducing manual work by 40% and improving visibility into subscription-like clinical program performance.
- Led quarterly forecasting initiatives, improving financial predictability and resource allocation efficiency.
Senior Budget Analyst
U.S. Department of the Treasury
09.2021 - 09.2023
- Built multi-year financial models using cohort analysis, renewal rates, and long-term lifecycle value to enhance strategic planning for $700M federal portfolio.
- Designed KPI frameworks based on subscription metrics, including per-user cost, program renewal, and lifecycle value to increase financial transparency.
- Delivered executive-level financial narratives leveraging unit-economics storytelling to substantiate budget allocations and inform long-term investment decisions.
- Developed strong communication and organizational skills through working on group projects.
Commercial & Operations Finance Analyst
GE Lighting
08.2018 - 01.2021
- Managed $500M+ commercial portfolio with subscription-aligned metrics, enhancing insights on customer retention, repeat-purchase frequency, and margin per customer cohort.
- Streamlined 1,000+ rebate programs into unified reporting system, increasing visibility into customer lifetime profitability and recurring revenue streams.
- Consolidated 1,000+ rebate programs into a unified reporting system, improving visibility into customer lifetime profitability and recurring revenue streams.
- Automated monthly close cycle, reducing duration by 50% and accelerating reporting of recurring revenue KPIs.
- Compiled data, reports and year-end audit information.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to identify cost-saving opportunities, resulting in significant expense reduction.
Financial Consultant & Analyst
Sunshine Financial Solutions
06.2019 - 06.2020
- Built subscription-style revenue models including MRR, ARR, churn, LTV, and CAC, enhancing client pricing strategies and enabling more accurate retention forecasting.
- Built subscription-style revenue models including MRR, ARR, churn, LTV, and CAC, improving client pricing strategy and retention forecasting.
- Conducted scenario modeling to assess pricing elasticity, discount impact, and optimize customer lifetime value.
- Optimized resource allocation by conducting thorough cost-benefit analyses on potential investments.
Senior Budget Analyst / Administrative Officer
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
11.2010 - 08.2018
- Developed cost models incorporating per-patient recurring cost, program renewal rates, and service utilization patterns, enhancing financial planning accuracy.
- Standardized reporting processes, increasing visibility into recurring operational expenses and long-term cost trends.
- Analyzed budgetary data to identify trends and recommend financial strategies.
- Developed comprehensive budget plans aligning with departmental goals and objectives.
- Managed allocation of resources, ensuring compliance with federal regulations and policies.
- Created and managed project plans, timelines and budgets.
- Improved forecast accuracy with thorough analysis of historical data and identification of trends.
Assistant Manager
Internal Revenue Service, IRS
Mansfield, OH
09.2008 - 11.2010
- Led team in executing operational strategies to enhance customer satisfaction and service efficiency.
- Developed training programs for staff, improving onboarding processes and employee retention rates.
- Analyzed performance metrics to identify areas for improvement, driving consistency in service delivery.
- Collaborated with management to implement inventory management systems, optimizing stock levels and reducing waste.
- Assisted in recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding of new employees to maintain adequate staffing levels.
- Facilitated team-building activities, enhancing team cohesion and morale.
- Managed daily financial transactions, ensuring accuracy and compliance with company policies.
Military Training Instructor
United States Air Force, USAF
Lackland AFB, Texas
01.2003 - 12.2006
- Delivered comprehensive training programs to enhance soldier readiness and performance in diverse environments.
- Developed instructional materials and lesson plans tailored to specific training objectives and unit needs.
- Mentored junior instructors, fostering professional growth and ensuring consistent delivery of training standards.
- Assessed trainee progress through evaluations, providing constructive feedback to improve skills and competencies.
- Served as a subject matter expert for military training curriculum, providing input on content and delivery methods for maximum impact.
- Enhanced trainee performance by incorporating hands-on exercises and real-world scenarios into training sessions.
- Developed strong rapport with trainees, fostering an environment of trust and mutual respect that facilitated learning success.
Survival Equipment Specialist
U.S. Air Force
03.2000 - 01.2003
- Led training operations and logistics to ensure equipment readiness for mission success.
- Managed high-accountability programs, ensuring precision and compliance in operational execution.
- Held Secret Clearance to access sensitive information.
Education
Master of Science - Accountancy
University of Akron
Akron 05.2010 - 12.2012
No Degree - Business Analytics
ECornell University
Ithaca 10.2020 - 01.2021
Bachelor of Science - Sports & Health Sciences
American Public University
Charles Town 09.2004 - 09.2006
Associate of Applied Science - Instructor of Technology & Military Science
CCAF
Montgomery 09.2002 - 09.2004
Associate of Applied Science - Fabrication Technology & Science
CCAF
Montgomery 09.2002 - 09.2004
Skills
- Subscription FP&A & Recurring Revenue Modeling
- MRR/ARR Forecasting & Cohort Analysis
- Deep expertise in MRR/ARR forecasting
- Skilled in churn modeling and retention analysis
- Strong command of LTV/CAC, unit economics, and cohort reporting
- Churn, Retention & Engagement Metrics
- CAC, LTV, Unit Economics & Pricing Strategy
- Driver-Based Forecasting & Scenario Modeling
- Forecast Accuracy Improvement & Automation
- Executive Dashboards & Financial Storytelling
- Cross-Functional Partnership (Product, Marketing, Ops)
- Power BI
- Power BI analytics
- Advanced Excel
- Advanced Excel modeling
- SQL
- Tableau
- SAP
- Oracle
- Workday Adaptive
- Ability to translate subscription KPIs into actionable insights for product, marketing, and finance
- Proven track record of improving forecast accuracy and automating recurring-revenue reporting
Certification
Business Analytics Certificate, eCornell University
Timeline
Financial Analyst
Akron Children's Hospital
09.2023 - Current
Senior Budget Analyst
U.S. Department of the Treasury
09.2021 - 09.2023
No Degree - Business Analytics
ECornell University
10.2020 - 01.2021
Financial Consultant & Analyst
Sunshine Financial Solutions
06.2019 - 06.2020
Commercial & Operations Finance Analyst
GE Lighting
08.2018 - 01.2021
Senior Budget Analyst / Administrative Officer
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
11.2010 - 08.2018
Master of Science - Accountancy
University of Akron
05.2010 - 12.2012
Assistant Manager
Internal Revenue Service, IRS
09.2008 - 11.2010
Bachelor of Science - Sports & Health Sciences
American Public University
09.2004 - 09.2006
Military Training Instructor
United States Air Force, USAF
01.2003 - 12.2006
Associate of Applied Science - Instructor of Technology & Military Science
CCAF
09.2002 - 09.2004
Associate of Applied Science - Fabrication Technology & Science
CCAF
09.2002 - 09.2004
Survival Equipment Specialist
U.S. Air Force
03.2000 - 01.2003