NORMAN ELS, CPA (NM), CMA

Ooltewah TN 37363 C: (423) 504-9008 normanels@yahoo.com http://www.linkedin.com/in/normanelscpa

CFO | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

Transformative Corporate Financial Leadership
Senior level Finance and Operations executive with over 20 years progressive cross-functional experience in emerging, growing and well established manufacturing and service businesses. Currently Group Director of Finance for three divisions of $2Bn Fortune 1000 company. Responsible for Procurement and MRP, with prior responsibility for Production and Distribution for Chattanooga operation. Strong systems background, leading five ERP implementations at site level, including SAP R3 and MS Dynamics GP. Previous background in turnaround management, implementing strategic changes and process improvements leading to cost reductions and improved liquidity and profitability. Strategic Planning Business Development Corporate Turnaround Mergers and Acquisitions Financial Reporting Cash and Working Capital Management Forecasting and Budgetary Control Cost Control Organizational Development Process Improvement Personnel Management Data Analysis

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Debitek, Inc. (subsidiary of Ingenico SA to 2006; then acquired by Heartland Payment Systems, Inc.) 2001 to Present Major payment solutions provider for $2Bn Fortune 1000 company. Manufacturer, software developer, service provider. Group Director of Finance Debitek Inc., dba Heartland MicroPayments and Campus Solutions Began tenure as Director of Finance and Procurement for single entity. Promoted to include responsibility for Production and Distribution functions, relinquishing these responsibilities after six years to focus on integrating three acquisitions. Manage and direct all aspects of financial oversight and accounting for three divisions. These include strategic planning and analysis, 8 Quarter Rolling Forecasts, budgeting, financial reporting and metrics, performance evaluation, cash flow management, payables and receivables, cost accounting and variance analysis. Divisional lead on all upgrades and new ERP system conversions. Operational responsibility for Purchasing, Materials and MRP system for Chattanooga site. Select Accomplishments: Transformed Finance function through implementing policies, procedures and controls, centralizing and restructuring functions, training and developing staff, creating and outsourcing functions where appropriate. Implemented accounting procedural improvements which compressed the month end close cycle from 20 + working days down to a 5 day hard close. Implemented procedures which Reduced Days Sales Outstanding from 120 days down to as low as 34 days. Led implementation of SAP R3 at Chattanooga site and implemented Microsoft Dynamics GP for all three divisions, while centralizing and integrating accounting functions of three acquisitions. Cut production costs by 18-23% on a new product through procurement initiatives and vendor negotiations. Negotiated with vendors for cost reductions, inter alia reducing costs by 33% and improving margins by 15% for a product comprising 14% of revenue. Improved material availability by implementing MRP without increasing costs or staffing levels. JIMCO, INC. Interim Cost Accountant Consultant 2000 to 2001

Provided cost accounting support functions for Ingenico ($140M turnover) prior to being brought on in a permanent capacity as Director of Finance for Debitek (see above). Assisted with corporate transition from manufacturer to distribution business. Acted as Cost Accountant and provided training for incoming hire to take over role. Continued

NORMAN ELS, CPA (NM), CMA Page 2 normanels@yahoo.com

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
Execucalibur Management Consultancy Principal Consultant |Turnaround Manager | Turnaround Consultant As an associate consultant with international consulting firm Byrne Fleming, and as an independent acting as interim CFO, worked with financially troubled businesses to restore liquidity and profitability. Project deliverables included analysis, problem diagnosis, recommendations, and hands-on solution implementation. Typical project elements involved cash flow management, accelerated accounts receivable (AR) collections, vendor negotiations, process reengineering, retrenchments and right-sizing, and identifying and eliminating loss making and low margin activities. Select Projects include: Clinicare Led project to improve liquidity and profitability of a manufacturer of hospital equipment during a cash flow crisis, including implementing and managing a disclosed factoring facility and renegotiating debt. Accsys Led project to improve liquidity and profitability of payroll software and access systems provider. Eliminated loss making activities, increased revenues, and accelerated receivables collections. Resulted in turnaround from projected loss to profit in year two of project, recurring annual profitability improvements, cash flow improvements of R1M and a 4:1 return on project cost. Conducted two ERP implementations. Flipdoor Performed viability studies, developed strategic business plans and applied for financing for group of timber product manufacturers. Barlan Forms developed business models and conducted feasibility studies concerning potential joint ventures, business restructuring and mergers and acquisitions. Conducted competitor analysis and evaluated product costing and pricing practices. Rent-A-Sign Developed and implemented tools for forecasting, managing and consolidating cash flows for group of fast-growing companies experiencing cash flow issues. ICAL part of project team charged with restructuring and strategic re-positioning of listed engineering concern.

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
Adjunct collegiate faculty, lecturing on Cost Accounting, Economics, and Management Information Systems. Created and presented Keep Your Business Alive and Predicting Corporate Failure courses to Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry members.

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

CPA Certified Public Accountant - New Mexico FCMA Fellow Status, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, United Kingdom (Equivalent to Master of Business Administration with Accounting Emphasis) Diploma, Insolvency Law and Practice Rand Afrikaans University, South Africa

SELECT PUBLICATIONS*
Food for Thought, Norman Els, courtesy of SA Entrepreneur Website Cash or Crash, Norman Els, courtesy of Entrepreneur magazine *Additional 25 articles published in publications such as Accountancy SA, Boardroom, Entrepreneur, and Your Own Business, all relating to financially troubled small businesses.