Benjamin Hughes is a high-impact, seasoned Financial Executive with proven success in operations management and a strong...
B ENJAMIN R. H UGHES Snellville, GA 30039 (770) 388-0561
[email protected]
CAREER OBJECTIVE To use my analytical, organizational, & managerial skills to improve operations and reduce risk.
EXECUTIVE PROFILE High-impact, seasoned Financial Executive with proven success in operations management and a strong ability to identify initiatives and facilitate action-driven plans. Adapts well to change.
Successfully led 4 start-ups, each of which was cash flow positive within 6 months.
Accurately & timely performed the Finance function at 4 companies, including accounting, budgeting/reporting, and raising capital; raised nearly $300 million investment capital in my investment banking career.
Managed & protected a $400+ million investment portfolio by accurately analyzing & interpreting the 2007 Sub Prime Liquidity Crisis; grew/protected loan portfolios up to $1 billion through financial, econ, & market analysis.
Grew revenues at 4 companies and developed & led highly targeted marketing campaigns; software development.
Enhanced the Legal & Regulatory compliance and business processes for every company at which I have worked.
A proven values-driven executive with an inquisitive nature, a high energy level, strong market insight, who accepts criticism well and incorporates change with enthusiasm.
Collaborative leader skilled in facilitating open and inclusive environments that foster creativity, innovation, and optimal decision making.
Experienced in managing and collaborating with all stakeholders. Available for relocation.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE Corporate Finance Program/Project Management/Start-ups Financial Planning, Mgmt, & Reporting Cash Mgmt Risk Assessment/Mitigation Business Process Improvement Workout/Exit Strategies Stakeholder Communications Legal/Regulatory Compliance Portfolio Mgmt Commercial & Investment Banking Venture Capital Property Mgmt Business Consulting Software Development Team Leadership & Development Marketing Research Demographics Target Mkgt Negotiations Vendor Mgmt Legal Doc Drafting Patents Corp Records Mgmt
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE HFE Snellville, GA
10/09 – present
Property management & business consulting services
Senior Financial Analyst Manage company-owned and other properties. Manage all strategic initiatives, investment, finance, and accounting functions, handle all legal and marketing activities, and arrange maintenance. Provide business consulting services.
Notable Accomplishments:
Developed strongly positive cash flow properties by spreading risk among multiple properties and negotiating advantageous vendor arrangements. Developed a diverse business consulting practice.
Georgia Firefighters’ Pension Fund Conyers, GA
04/07 – 10/09
Pension fund with 11 employees, $28M annual revenue, and currently $480M portfolio
Assistant Treasurer Managed all finance and accounting functions, including bank reconciliations, accrual calculations, cash management, annual budgeting, asset reconciliation/validation, portfolio valuations, report analysis, due diligence, exposure analysis, and economic analysis. Analyzed, recommended, and executed global investment activities; authorized to trade the entire portfolio. Supported portfolio rebalancing, managed vendor agreements, and facilitated class action claims. Delivered
Benjamin R. Hughes
(770) 388-0561
[email protected]
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presentations at trade conferences, researched retirement issues, and wrote newsletter articles. Liaised with auditors, actuaries, custodians, asset managers, and the IRS. Supervised accountant. Reported to Exec Dir & the Board of Directors.
Notable Accomplishments:
Reduced risk from declining market value by advocating risk exposure reduction and liquidating more than 50% of entire portfolio. Transformed financial reporting to create more flexibility and provide a different view into the income statement by moving financials into a funds flow format; expanded monthly / quarterly / annual reporting; and enhanced external reporting. Standardized and systemized reporting & budgeting cycles. Partnered with Executive Director to develop a trade association, the Georgia Association of Public Pension Trustees (gappt.org), to promote professional development of trustees. Developed concept, database, communications, and bylaws for this new association. Enabled fire chiefs to accurately track and report volunteer/part-time member pension fund credible service by co-developing a software application to record incidents & training, with reporting and export capabilities. Maintained fiscal budget consistently at +/-3% in all controllable areas by developing a thorough understanding of prior years’ revenues and expenses, anticipating initiatives, and budgeting accordingly.
J.P. Turner & Company Atlanta, GA
12/06 – 04/07
Brokerage firm of ~350 brokers
Investment Banking Analyst Returned to process deals from initial customer contact, legal agreement drafting, and deal screening to preliminary & onsite due diligence and analysis, to the retail or institutional disclosure document, to solicitation & escrow running, to postoffering marketing and reporting. Trained and supervised newly hired analyst.
Notable Accomplishments:
Unblocked three stalled offerings in first three months return by analyzing bottlenecks, dealing with concerns, and proactively drafting legal documents to facilitate fundraising. Enhanced optimal deal selection by developing standard deal screening process, enabling deal scoring against predictable success factors. Drove business growth and development by creating and maintaining over 1,400-contact database, developing analytical models, preparing marketing presentations, and delivering internet-based presentations.
Virtuant Corp. Marietta, GA
02/02 – 10/06
Software development and services provider.
Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer Directed all business operations including finance, accounting, marketing, purchasing, facility maintenance, human resources, and legal/regulatory compliance. Established all administrative policies & procedures. Generated development/testing plans, stakeholder analyses, status reports, scorecards, and user surveys. Drafted sales, vendor, and employee agreements, maintained business license and registration, and managed patent applications.
Notable Accomplishments:
Landed contract with Fortune 50 client, Kraft, to develop core HACCP compliance software by initiating and cultivating client relationship. Played a key role in developing the HACCP software that transformed a manual process to an automated electronic system with tracking, alerting, and tracing capabilities, issue control log, and stakeholder communication links. Fueled business development through proactive marketing activities which included assessing competition, generating leads, developing project proposals and presentations, creating customer ROI analysis templates, preparing ROI and benefit analyses, placing advertising/free listings, and writing website content. Streamlined operations by establishing and maintaining filing system and weekly user issue log.
Benjamin R. Hughes
(770) 388-0561
[email protected]
J.P. Turner & Company Atlanta, GA
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10/97 – 04/01
Brokerage firm of ~350 brokers
Director of Research & Analysis, Investment Banking Department Executed all investment research & analysis functions, including: deal screening, business valuations (discounted cash flow projections and peer group comparisons), financial analyses, and industry analyses. Interfaced with clients to negotiate transactions; prepared meeting agendas, offering structures, & fairness opinions; and conducted M&A consultations.
Notable Accomplishments:
Founded Investment Banking Department that specialized in private placements for private/public companies and IPOs that has grown to participate in $4+ billion raised. All work completed on deadline. Key player in 14 public offerings and 20 private offerings (common stock, preferred stock, & debentures). Ensured SEC, NASD, and Blue Sky regulatory compliance through effective supervision, audit preparation, maintaining Watch & Restricted securities lists, and collaboration with Compliance department.
Public Opinion Research Norcross, GA
01/96 – 10/97
Market research survey service provider
President & CEO Conceptualized and founded business with $1M start-up capital, 3 direct reporting managers, and 60 staff members. Directed all business operations including planning, accounting, budgeting, vendor & site selection/negotiations, HR management, recruitment and hiring, and legal contract management. Reported to investors.
Notable Accomplishments:
Established and grew company to exceed benchmarks within first four months by hiring and training key personnel, instituting incentive-based compensation program, and analyzing & streamlining the surveys. Completed over 176,000 surveys, with the data being used to influence over 750,000 consumers. Enabled effective and accurate target marketing by developing innovative and automated B2C target marketing process that took advantage of opportunities through sophisticated direct mail and telephone marketing campaigns.
Swartz Institutional Finance, Roswell, GA, boutique investment banking, 10/94 – 12/95 – Financial Analyst Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, Atlanta, GA, international comm loan production office, 12/89 – 9/94 – Senior Credit Officer United Carolina Bank, Whiteville, NC, commercial bank, 9/84 – 12/89 – Senior Credit Analyst American Nat’l Bk, Chattanooga, TN, comm bank, 1/82 – 9/84 – Credit Analyst & Special Asst, Commercial Real Estate
EDUCATION Master of Business Administration (MBA) University of North Carolina Bachelor of Science in Corporate Finance & Investment Management (cum laude) University of Alabama
CERTIFICATION, LICENSURE, & TEACHING APPOINTMENTS Certified Pension Trustee Florida Public Pension Trustee Association FINRA Series 7, 63 and 24 (inactive) Georgia Life, Accident and Health Insurance License (inactive) Commercial Lending Certificates Accounting and Excel Instructor Gwinnett Technical College in Lawrenceville, GA Introductory Accounting Instructor Southeast Community College in Whiteville, NC
TECHNICAL INVENTORY Microsoft Office Suite Word Perfect ACT! Net Ledger Quicken/QuickBooks Peachtree Accounting financial forecasting programs Internet Research dBase Norton/McAfee Utilities DOS
