Robert Davenport
Wetmore,MI
Summary
Utilize over 20 years of accounting management expertise to drive efficiency and finance transformation. Deliver impactful demonstrations and discussions to C-level professionals regarding SaaS based applications and the benefits of technology. Drive successful cloud-based implementations that strengthen client relationships. Provide effective communication and training, resulting in enhanced satisfaction and streamlined processes.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Principal Professional Services Consultant
BlackLine
Columbus, Ohio
08.2025 - 09.2027
- Promoted to senior level to provide guidance, coaching and support to various team members.
- Supported mega-enterprise Account Management team and top mid-market team as part of senior leadership role.
- Recommended process and system updates to close performance gaps, improve efficiency, and align work with best-practice standards.
- Tracked services requests and opportunity pipelines, and held regular check-ins and feedback sessions to keep work aligned and moving forward.
- Trained new and current sales staff on BlackLine internal processes, including Salesforce procedures, Solution Engineer inquiries, and BlackLine functionality.
- Supported corporate office operations in Woodland Hills, CA.
Principal Implementations Solution Engineer
BlackLine
Columbus, Ohio
09.2021 - 08.2025
- Acted as subject matter expert and primary contact for sales and account executives regarding BlackLine solutions, facilitating alignment on client needs and implementation strategies.
- Assessed and documented prospective client and existing customer needs, delivering accurate time and cost estimates to C-Suite in order to facilitate informed decision-making
- Communicated project estimates and prepared Statements of Work for implementation services, ensuring clarity and alignment among customers, sales, and account executives
- Provided implementation support and product demonstrations for the suite of BlackLine applications
- Oversaw special projects to improve business processes
MC Close & Reporting Manager
RSM US
Columbus, Ohio
11.2020 - 09.2021
- Managed implementation projects for full BlackLine suite, ensuring timely delivery and client satisfaction
- Guided sales process with insights on finance transformation best practices, enhancing client engagement
- Delivered product demonstrations for clients, highlighting key features and benefits to drive interest
- Provide training to clients for the full BlackLine suite of products. Prepare training agendas, pre-training exercises and supporting documentation examples
- Updated and created demo data and use case scenarios for training and demo opportunities
Project Manager
UHY Advisors
Columbus, Ohio
05.2018 - 07.2020
- Managed implementation projects for full BlackLine suite of products, overseeing all project management responsibilities.
- Developed project plans, schedules, and budgets for projects; managed execution in Changepoint Project Management system.
- Provide on-site training to clients for the full BlackLine suite of products. Updated and prepared user guides. Prepare training agendas, pre-training exercises and supporting documentation examples
- Supported sales process by engaging new and former prospects and collaborating with BlackLine sales reps to drive new logo and product upsell.
- Executed product demonstrations and event presentations for potential clients.
- Develop Training Service offering for clients that can be leveraged as a product offering.
- Leverage Camtasia software to create specialized training for clients.
- Corporate office located in Atlanta, GA
Implementations Solution Engineer
BlackLine
Columbus, Ohio
10.2015 - 04.2018
- Established group to support sales, pre-sales, and implementation teams throughout customer relationship lifecycle
- Functions as subject matter expert and primary contact for all of sales and account executives for the matching, journal and intercompany hub modules
- Perform assessments and document prospective clients' needs to determine time and cost estimate
- Communicate estimates to sales and/or account executives
- Recommended solutions to address performance gaps and optimize system options for best practice standards
- Provides implementation support as necessary on different modules
- Coordinated special projects to enhance efficiency of matching, journal, and intercompany hub modules as necessary for the matching, journal and intercompany hub modules
- Train new/current sales staff in BlackLine internal processes related to Salesforce process, Solution Engineer Inquiries
- Corporate office based in Woodland Hills, CA
Director Finance Transformation and Product Expert
BlackLine
Columbus, Ohio
06.2014 - 10.2015
- Develop a thorough understanding of BlackLine’s applications, markets, competitors, and client/user needs
- Possess core subject matter competency and credibility in financial accounting (especially around the accounting close process) and BlackLine’s products
- Serve as the product expert to the field, including, product evangelism and speaking/print opportunities
- Engaged in product-level marketing activities, participating in industry events, roundtables, webinars, trade shows, steering committees, and advisory councils to promote product visibility and gather market insights.
- Coordinated with lead generation to host webinars on general accounting, best practices for month-end close, and various BlackLine modules, enhancing product awareness and user engagement.
- Created and reviewed collateral (case studies, brochures, fact sheets, white papers, presentations, website text) for diverse audiences, highlighting product strengths and ensuring accuracy for target segments.
- Identify opportunities to speak at colleges and universities to educate accounting students on best practices around account reconciliation and the use of technology like BlackLine Systems
- Assist the marketing team in collaborating across the business to ensure effectiveness of marketing strategies, activities and materials
- Corporate office based in Woodland Hills, CA
Sales Executive, OH & KY
BlackLine Systems
Columbus, Ohio
04.2013 - 06.2014
- Achieve annual sales targets and average monthly revenue quotas on a consistent basis
- Assisted in developing sales strategies and tactics that generated new accounts and expanded business within assigned territory
- Prospected daily for new business and engaged assigned leads, educating potential clients on value proposition and importance of closing and compliance processes
- Scheduled and executed weekly activities, including cold calling, phone prospecting, and face-to-face meetings
- Work closely with other departments and support staff to assist with coordination of RFPs, demos, legal contracts and implementation of software and insure client satisfaction
- Corporate office based in Woodland Hills, CA
Senior Solutions Consultant
BlackLine Systems
Columbus, Ohio
11.2011 - 04.2013
- Demonstrated BlackLine suite of financial close applications, highlighting benefits for SOX compliance, internal controls, and acceleration of monthly financial close process
- Transformed complex Excel-based matching and reconciliation processes into automated workflows within BlackLine application, showcasing efficiency improvements
- Advised potential clients on best practices for reconciliation and close processes, and led discussions at trade shows on automation and reconciliation strategies
- Corporate office based in Woodland Hills, CA
Implementations Consultant/Trainer
BlackLine Systems
Columbus, Ohio
11.2009 - 11.2011
- Collaborated with clients to implement BlackLine’s financial close and account reconciliation software, focusing on desired functionality, customization options, technical specifications, and best practice solutions
- Have provided on-line training to over 5,000 attendees regarding use of BlackLine software from a user and administrator perspective as well as training in areas such as Auditing processes, internal controls and account reconciliation best practices
- Delivered on-site training for application users at accountant and upper management levels, covering basic functionality, reporting features, and administrative tasks
- Developed new training content for enhanced courses addressing new and advanced functionality and product offerings
- Corporate office based in Woodland Hills, CA
Adjunct Faculty
Franklin University
Columbus, Ohio
05.2003 - 01.2010
- Instructed undergraduate students in online and face-to-face settings on accounting ethics, GAAP, financial statement analysis, cash flow, and internal controls, enhancing their understanding of essential accounting principles.
Manager, Master Data and Financial Compliance
Hexion Specialty Chemical
Columbus, Ohio
01.2007 - 11.2009
- Maintained global chart of accounts and financial statement reports in SAP; created and updated reports based on new information or functionality.
- Review and maintain global financial reporting structure in SAP. Review and create new cost and profit centers. Maintain data integrity by review and updating configuration within SAP.
- Maintain and monitor global closing process, including open and close of GL periods and financial subsystems
- Collaborated with Finance and IT departments to gather technical specifications for SAP changes, ensuring alignment with financial compliance.
- Perform various audit compliance reviews on ledger system data, master data maintenance and financial reconciliations
- Functioned as System Administrator for BlackLine account reconciliation software, oversaw user access, imported GL data, created group reconciliations, and upheld overall system integrity.
- Trained and implemented BlackLine for approximately 20 company codes and 75 users in our European locations
Education
Masters of Business Administration -
Franklin University
Columbus, Ohio08-2000
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
Franklin University
Columbus, Ohio07-1997
Associate Degree - Accounting
Columbus State Community College
Columbus, Ohio06-1992
Skills
- Cloud solutions
- Implementation planning
- Implementation support
- Performance optimization
- Financial reconciliation
- Client relationship management
- Training design
- Product training
- Employee training
- Train-the-trainer
- Training material updates
- Presentation skills
- Stakeholder presentations
- Communication skills
Awards
- BlackLine Circle of Excellence winner 2025
- BlackLine Solutions Consultant of the Quarter – Q1, 2012
- BlackLine Solutions Consultant of the Quarter – Q4, 2012
- BlackLine “Busting Out” award - Q2, 2013
- Reached 100% of quota – Q3 & Q4, 2013
- Winner Demo2Win solution consultant presentation – BlackLine
Professional References
- Stephen Martocci, Retired - VP Corporate Controller and Global Finance BPO at Hexion Inc., 954-937-5924, Martoccisd@gmail.com
- David Adler, Senior Manager, Advisory at EY, 215-205-5752, david.adler@ey.com
- Chris Mortland, Senior Director, Solutions Management - Product, 404-964-5996, christopher.mortland@blackline.com
Timeline
Senior Principal Professional Services Consultant
BlackLine
08.2025 - 09.2027
Principal Implementations Solution Engineer
BlackLine
09.2021 - 08.2025
MC Close & Reporting Manager
RSM US
11.2020 - 09.2021
Project Manager
UHY Advisors
05.2018 - 07.2020
Implementations Solution Engineer
BlackLine
10.2015 - 04.2018
Director Finance Transformation and Product Expert
BlackLine
06.2014 - 10.2015
Sales Executive, OH & KY
BlackLine Systems
04.2013 - 06.2014
Senior Solutions Consultant
BlackLine Systems
11.2011 - 04.2013
Implementations Consultant/Trainer
BlackLine Systems
11.2009 - 11.2011
Manager, Master Data and Financial Compliance
Hexion Specialty Chemical
01.2007 - 11.2009
Adjunct Faculty
Franklin University
05.2003 - 01.2010
Masters of Business Administration -
Franklin University
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
Franklin University
Associate Degree - Accounting
Columbus State Community College