WILLIAMS BEDZRAH
West Orange,New Jersey
Summary
Strategic Finance Leader with a proven track record of collaborating with executive leadership to align financial strategies with organizational goals and deliver data-driven decision-making for sustainable success. Expertise in budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and risk management, with a focus on delivering accurate financial statements and actionable insights that drive business growth. Skilled in streamlining processes, optimizing month-end and year-end close operations, and implementing cost-saving initiatives to improve profitability and operational efficiency.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Finance Manager
MONDELEZ INTERNATIONAL INC.
12.2023 - Current
- Prepare financial analyses as needed to help drive improvements in the business
- Lead preparation of financial analysis and scenario modeling to support decision-making
- Lead forecasting processes (monthly, quarterly, annual, and long-range forecast)
- Developed budget, forecast, and actuals vs
- Budget/forecast reporting and analysis
- Oversee the month end close process by preparing journal entries, preparing account reconciliations
Financial and Planning Analysis Manager
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.
02.2020 - 08.2023
- Manage team of financial professional in budgeting/forecasting and management reporting across five business units within an operating segment with over $30B annual revenue, including two SaaS lines of business
- Led the automation of the manual weekly/monthly forecasting and reporting of KPIs process which resulted in about 40% time saving for the process
- Manage preparation of the annual budget, annual long-range business plan and quarterly forecasts and make recommendation to leadership regarding risks mitigation strategies
- Manage the preparation and distribution of monthly close reporting packages including executive presentations for Senior Management
- Review, evaluate and interpret financial analysis and KPIs that drive financial performance of the business, including SaaS business units
- Reviewed quarterly and annual information for inclusion in press release, 10-Q and 10-K
Financial Reporting and Analysis Associate Manager
UNILEVER USA INC.
08.2017 - 02.2020
- Managed the performance reporting of the North America division with over $10B annual revenue, including integration of acquisition as well as disposals and presented results to different levels of the organization
- Led the use of BOT to improve the expense allocation to product level, resulting in time savings of about 6 hours during the month-end close process
- This eliminated the need to work throughout the night to meet reporting deadlines
- Partnered with category Business Unit FP&A teams to developed sound fact-based business cases
- Managed the integration and restatement to reflect impact of five acquisitions and a disposal, to ensure accurate comparative analysis
- Managed North America month-end close, completion of financial statements and supporting analysis
Principal Financial Analyst
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
05.2014 - 08.2017
- Managed the development and management of $1.3 billion annual operating and capital budget.
- Provided executive-level financial analysis and insights that supported capital investment decisions.
- Collaborated with senior management to develop a five-year strategic plan, resulting in a 12% growth in revenue.
- Developed and implemented internal controls that lead to efficient use of materials, yielding 5% cost reduction in the first year.
Accounting Supervisor
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
06.2012 - 08.2014
- Analyzed and reconciled over $1.5 billion annual revenue for accuracy in computation and recognition
- Managed staff of three in the audit of over $300 million annual cash toll revenues and produced timely disciplinary reports, resulting in 8% reduction in annual shortages
- Streamlined billing process and uncovered $1M under billing and arranged recovery from client
Financial Controller
Advanced Parking Concepts
06.2006 - 01.2012
- Managed the finance department with a team of four handling controlling, finance and accounting needs of the organization, such as budgeting, financial reporting and analysis, cash flow and risk management
- Saved the over $100K in tax expense within the first month of assuming the role by correcting errors
- Implemented changes to the revenue recognition process which resulted in improved cash flow
- Provided financial guidance to the management team on process improvement and cost saving strategies which resulted in 10% reduction in overtime cost
- Managed staff of four in executing duties including payroll, accounts receivable/payable and preparing income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements
- Prepared and filled timely quarterly sales and corporate tax returns and all statutory required fillings
Education
Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Finance
Seton Hall University
Master's Degree - Education
University of Arkansas
Little Rock, ARBachelor's Degree - Accounting
University of Cape Coast
Skills
- Strategic Planning
- Financial modeling
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Profitability Analysis
- Forecasting/Budgeting
- Cash flow management
- Management Reporting
- Risk assessment
- Revenue generation
- Critical thinking
- Continuous Improvement
- Proficient in SAP, Microsoft Suite, Sage Accounting, MSBI, Hyperion and Essbase
Certification
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) - Virginia State Board of Accountancy
Timeline
Finance Manager
MONDELEZ INTERNATIONAL INC.
12.2023 - Current
Financial and Planning Analysis Manager
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.
02.2020 - 08.2023
Financial Reporting and Analysis Associate Manager
UNILEVER USA INC.
08.2017 - 02.2020
Principal Financial Analyst
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
05.2014 - 08.2017
Accounting Supervisor
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
06.2012 - 08.2014
Financial Controller
Advanced Parking Concepts
06.2006 - 01.2012
Master's Degree - Education
University of Arkansas
Bachelor's Degree - Accounting
University of Cape Coast
Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Finance
Seton Hall University
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