Winston Smith
Cypress,TX
Summary
I have a diverse education and experience with focus in Finance and Management. I am a committed professional with over 10 years of professional experience working with small and large enterprises in the financial sector. I have been able to work at the highest-level cultivating relationships between private and public entities and with Non-Profit Organizations. My experience involves over 7 years of specializing in Financial Planning and Analysis, team management, improving financial performance, and developing high impact strategies which have had positive impact on my employers. I have received the highest level of achievement as an analyst while at JP Morgan and Co. I have trained and mentored successful analysts at JP Morgan and Co. and The Vanguard Group. I have also managed financial teams and departments successfully in the capacity of a director. I provide strong leadership capabilities that have driven the success of individuals and teams. I come with an institution first mindset that immediately impacts the growth of the finance teams and the institution. Seasoned finance professional with background as Director, Finance. Bring experience in strategizing financial planning, managing budget processes and implementing effective cost control measures. Show strength in leadership skills, strategic decision making and problem-solving abilities. Have successfully driven financial stability and growth through careful analysis and management of key performance indicators in past roles.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Director, Finance
NewGlobe Education (Bridge Liberia Inc.)
Remote
04.2021 - Current
- Works with the leadership team within the region to identify and address material financial risks and opportunities and suggests process improvements on systemic usage patterns for efficiency, tailors the capabilities of internal systems to meet organizational needs
- Performs scenario base analysis on business initiative or project enhancement regularly to enhance the program
- Facilitates the Financial Planning and Analysis
- Analyzed the transportation costs and used the data to guide the institution in reducing costs while still being effective
- This was the largest reduction in the institution history
- Handles ad-hoc requests for solutions and supplement such requests with appropriate analysis and comments to support decision making
- Reviews the plans vs actuals on regular basis; analyses in-depth any variance and communicate this to all stakeholders on a monthly and weekly basis
- Develops rigorous financial plans along with regional operations teams on a quarterly basis to enhance the institution performance
- Performs scenario-based analysis and develops plans on product enhancement or new business initiatives
- Continuously tracks, creates, and accurately reports and circulates key financial metrics to relevant stakeholders on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis
- Analysis in-depth variances on the company’s budget plans vs actuals on a monthly basis
- Provides ongoing financial updates to stakeholders through donor reports
- Leads the tax planning and reporting
- Leads audit, tax filing, and all external reporting activities
- Works with the leadership team within the region to identify and address material financial risks and opportunities and suggests process improvements on systemic usage patterns for efficiency, tailor the capabilities of internal systems to meet organizational needs.
Consultant
Remote
04.2020 - 03.2021
- Drafted business plans, financial models, prospectus, and PowerPoint presentation
- Financial advisory on current and future investments
- Company valuation and stress test
- Personal financial advisory
- Consultancy in the extractive sector offering financial expertise.
Finance Director
Omega Insurance Group
Monrovia
10.2017 - 03.2020
- Assisted with high level decisions and policies
- Coordinated with Central Bank of Liberia regarding insurance policies and practices
- Oversaw the monthly reports for the Central Bank of Liberia and the Liberia Revenue Authority
- Helped the company and the Liberia Revenue Authority construct a robust approach to the taxation of individual life insurance
- Supported the recruiting process for the financial and other departments
- Oversaw fiscal activities, creation of budgets, reporting, and auditing
- Assured that all legal documents were in compliance with laws and regulations
- Helped the company grow its profit margin from 5% to over 15% over a two-year period
- Addressed all financial risks and opportunities
- Reduced Operating costs not related to claims by 40% over a two-year period
- Worked well with the CEO, CRO, and all other managers to help advance the company
- Improved payroll administration to reduce short-term borrowing
- Evaluated the viability of probable ventures through business planning, forecasting and simulations
- Coordinated with technical and subject matter experts to achieve investment milestones
- Oversaw the expansion of services into a full-service financial group
- Oversaw ongoing charitable community investments and corporate social responsibility initiatives
- Monitored and evaluated employees to analyze their performances and also created spreadsheet to track performances reported by various managers to distribute bonuses or salary increment.
Asset Management Senior Analyst
JP Morgan Chase and Co.
Houston
10.2015 - 09.2017
- Created and analyzed personal and business balance sheets
- Created and analyzed personal and business income statements
- Calculated and analyzed debt to income ratios for individual and business accounts
- Calculated and analyzed Loan to Value ratio projections for each deal
- Created and calculated liquidity ratio projections for each deal
- Prepared financial analysis and projections for individuals and business ongoing cash flows
- Analyzed and evaluated all documents to support each project to enable capital installments, estimates of tax credits and losses and all other project’s information
- Created and reported performance reports for all partners
- Coordinated asset depositions for assets within my assigned portfolio
- Developed and cultivated relationships with investors and potential investors as well as other business groups.
Graduate Intern Financial Analyst
Aegle Healthcare Venture Partners (Venture Capital)
San Francisco
10.2014 - 08.2015
- Effectively conducted market analysis on new projects for investment purpose, which resulted in accepting or rejecting a project
- Created DCF models for current investments opportunities and market comparison cash flow to present to investors
- Created budgeting and forecasting models from initial stage of a project to 5 years for every new investment opportunity
- Performed due diligence on prospective new opportunities which resulted to a selection of two projects for investment
- Conducted healthcare technology sector research that generated new investments.
Fund Financial Analyst
The Vanguard Group
Malvern
05.2012 - 08.2014
- Conducted the valuation of all fixed income securities that enabled the accurate reflection of mutual fund net asset valuations
- Interfaced with internal and external clients, which allowed efficient and timely security valuations for fixed income securities for announcement to the public
- Served to resolve client portfolio issues resulting into continuous and effective client management
- Fostered and nurtured relationships with cross-functional departments and consistently identified, monitored, and successfully resolved client issues
- Developed business expertise pertaining to brokerages, policies, and procedures.
Financial Services Representative
New York Life
Berwyn
09.2011 - 04.2012
- Provided recommendations to clients and facilitated information dissemination relating to mutual funds, annuities, life insurance, and assorted financial products and services
- Conducted individual meetings with multiple premier clients and established their financial objectives and successfully implemented plans to accomplish those objectives.
Education
Investment Banking Institute
Houston, TXMasters of Science - Finance
Hult International Business School
San Francisco, CABachelor of Arts - Legal Studies
Roger Williams University
Bristol, RISkills
- Microsoft Office (excel)
- Cross-functional team leadership
- Compliance Monitoring
- Budget Planning
- Financial Forecasting
- Strategic Planning
- Reporting
- Technology-savvy
- Stakeholder Communication
- Negotiation and Persuasion
- Bloomberg
- Tableau
- FactSet
- Business & Financial Analysis
- Valuation
- QuickBooks
- Microsoft 365
- SAP
- GAAP
- IFRS
- Financial Reporting
- Strategic Decision-Making
- Financial analysis expertise
- Cash Flow Management
- Cost-reduction strategies
- KPI Tracking
- General ledger entry
- General ledger accounting
- Account Analysis
- Business Forecasting
- Account Reconciliation
- Audit Coordination
- Financial Planning
- Financial statement preparation
- Regulatory Compliance
Accomplishments
- CFA Candidate
- Financial Trading Certificate
- JP Morgan E Rating Analyst
- NewGlobe Bridge Liberia Inc Director of the Year
Hobbies and Interests
- Learning how to make different meals
- Personal improvement
- Playing and watching soccer
- Giving back to the community mentorship for the youth
Languages
English
First Language
Spanish
Intermediate (B1)
B1
French
Elementary (A2)
A2
Timeline
Director, Finance
NewGlobe Education (Bridge Liberia Inc.)
04.2021 - Current
Consultant
04.2020 - 03.2021
Finance Director
Omega Insurance Group
10.2017 - 03.2020
Asset Management Senior Analyst
JP Morgan Chase and Co.
10.2015 - 09.2017
Graduate Intern Financial Analyst
Aegle Healthcare Venture Partners (Venture Capital)
10.2014 - 08.2015
Fund Financial Analyst
The Vanguard Group
05.2012 - 08.2014
Financial Services Representative
New York Life
09.2011 - 04.2012
Investment Banking Institute
Masters of Science - Finance
Hult International Business School
Bachelor of Arts - Legal Studies
Roger Williams University
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