PAULA DAVIDSON
Chicago,IL
Summary
Results-oriented Chief Operations Officer and Finance Director with expertise in financial planning and operational enhancements across startups and established organizations. Developed cost-effective solutions that foster executive collaboration, streamline workflows, and enhance profitability. Experienced in managing multi-million dollar budgets and utilizing data analysis to drive strategic financial growth.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER
CC TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Palos Heights, Illinois
08.2024 - 12.2025
- Oversaw budgeting and financial management for operational departments.
- Directed the development of budgets and financial plans, ensuring compliance and fiscal responsibility.
- Reviewed, analyzed, and interpreted financial statements.
- Prepared financial reports, including budgeting, profit and loss and legal analysis.
- Directed daily operations to improve efficiency and drive performance.
- Implemented process improvements to streamline workflow and reduce costs.
- Orchestrated strategic plans to align financial progress with business objectives.
- Negotiated contracts to secure extensions and preserve optimal leadership.
- Managed vendor relationships to ensure quality service delivery and compliance.
- Cultivated relationships with vendors to negotiate contracts that ensured quality service delivery.
- Maximized profits through reducing expenditures and evaluating prices.
- Hired and supervised outside accounting firm which produced monthly audited financials and state and federal tax filings.
- Oversight of all company bank accounts, QuickBooks accounts and general ledger activity.
- Audited existing procedures to identify areas where improvements could be made.
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF LAW LIBRARIES
01.2007 - 01.2019
- Prepared and managed a $4M annual budget and monitored $5M in Association investment accounts.
- Recruited to provide financial and human resource oversight, including financial reporting, investment reporting, general accounting, AR/AP, general ledger, and advising on wages, salary, benefits, and compliance.
- Coordinated annual audit by preparing supporting schedules and data for outside audit firm, ensuring compliance and accuracy.
- Evaluated and interpreted all financial policies; communicated policies to non-financial business leaders.
- Maintained reporting standards and proper documentation by ensuring the adequacy of accounting practices, handling of funds, and internal controls.
- Served as the administrator for the organization's compensation program in collaboration with and approval by the Executive Director.
- Prepared reports on employee benefits, sick leave, vacation accruals; administered benefits program, including group insurance and retirement plans.
- Acted as the liaison to the Executive Board and Budget Committee, and appointed Interim Executive Director for October 2018.
TREASURER
RJS BREAST CANCER HELP FOUNDATION
01.2005 - 01.2007
- Re-established non-profit organization by creating Board of Directors, setting up nonprofit accounts, reconciling bank accounts, and soliciting in-kind donations.
- Developed and managed fundraising initiatives, increasing community engagement and support for the foundation.
- Managed financial records and transactions for non-profit organization.
- Prepared budgets and financial reports for board meetings.
- Oversaw bank reconciliations and cash flow management.
FINANCE MANAGER
RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
01.2001 - 01.2005
- Brought into the organization to manage all financial accounting and reporting, including journal entries, monthly financial reporting for US corporate and worldwide offices.
- Engaged directly with the CEO, CFO, and Executive Board on ad-hoc reporting.
- Reviewed financial margins to approve project budgets up to $3M and ensured compliance with billing and project guidelines through client contract analysis.
- Streamlined accounting and operational practices by collaborating with senior team members to develop new policies and procedures, including a global finance package for budgeting and account maintenance.
- Collaborated with financial staff to prepare quarterly and yearly forecast budgets.
- Tracked all client projects to ensure the project met budget, timeline, and contractual agreements.
- Conducted bi-monthly reviews of accounts receivable aging up to $10M, reducing aged receivables from over 200 days to 90 days by collaborating with client-serving staff and clients.
- Prepared weekly sales activity reports and monthly CFO slides for the Executive Board meetings.
- Maintained compliance by working alongside internal and external auditors on collecting necessary documentation and keeping accurate reporting.
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
KBA MARKETING (a division of Draft Worldwide)
01.2000 - 01.2001
- Oversaw all revenue budget and financial functions for the firm, including revenue plan development and a full company budget of $34M.
- Managed budgets, billing, travel and expense reports, and contractual agreements to ensure financial accuracy and compliance.
- Maintained monthly revenue accrual lists and reported monthly revenue and receivables to the parent company.
- Collaborated with client services staff to develop project budgets and implemented a systemic budgeting system across all brands, enhancing financial oversight.
- Established consistent methods for creating client budgets and ensured program portability in collaboration with senior account executives, streamlining budgeting processes.
- Streamlined operations and improved accuracy by developing and implementing a timekeeping system.
- Functioned as a subject matter expert and participated in the implementation team for the conversion to a new financial system.
- Played a key role as a member of the company process team that developed a flowchart of operational standards and core competencies for each department.
Assistant Area Director of Finance
Ernst & Young
Chicago, IL
10.1994 - 12.1999
- Cultivated relationships with engagement partners while managing budgets and plans for clients with billings of $1B and $10M, ensuring alignment with financial goals.
- Led a remote team of 5 across the US, coordinating efforts to meet project deadlines and client expectations.
- Developed and enforced client engagement policies and procedures as a member of the Operating Committee, enhancing operational consistency.
Education
Master of Business Administration - Finance
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration, Hotel & Restaurant Management
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER
Skills
- Financial Planning & Analysis
- Budget forecasting
- Financial Consulting
- Data Analysis & Reporting
- Sales Analysis & Reporting
- Operational Improvements
- Cost-Effective Solutions
- Operations management
- Project Budget Approval
- Startup Operations
- Executive Collaboration
- Board of Directors Reporting
Core Professional Strengths
- Financial Planning & Analysis
- Operational Improvements
- Annual Budgets & Forecasts
- Cost-Effective Solutions
- Startup Operations
- Executive Collaboration
- Data Analysis & Reporting
- Financial Consulting
- Nonprofit & For-Profit Operations
- Project Budget Approval
- Sales Analysis & Reporting
- Board of Directors Reporting
Additional Accomplishement
- Licensed Illinois Notary
- Past Executive Board Member and Committee Chair of Sacred Heart School Parent Board
- Current Board Member and Past President of Condominium Association
- Invited Guest Lecturer at University of Vermont School of Business
Timeline
CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER
CC TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
08.2024 - 12.2025
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF LAW LIBRARIES
01.2007 - 01.2019
TREASURER
RJS BREAST CANCER HELP FOUNDATION
01.2005 - 01.2007
FINANCE MANAGER
RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
01.2001 - 01.2005
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
KBA MARKETING (a division of Draft Worldwide)
01.2000 - 01.2001
Assistant Area Director of Finance
Ernst & Young
10.1994 - 12.1999
Master of Business Administration - Finance
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration, Hotel & Restaurant Management
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER