Jim Cooper

JIM T. COOPER, CPA 242 South Old Orchard St. Louis, MO 63119 314-550-6530 jlcooper7@earthlink.net Proficient in: Turn Around Situations Debt Restructuring Mergers & Acquisitions Negotiations Strategic Planning Budgeting & Forecasting Financial Reporting & Analysis Analysis of Systems People Management and Leadership Process Improvement MIDWEST AERIALS AND EQUIPMENT, INC. CONTROLLER (2002-2004) Negotiated restructuring of debt to allow for survival of Company in turn around situation. Developed and implemented financial reporting system, including budgeting and forecasting. Developed and implemented internal controls. NES EQUIPMENT RENTALS. GENERAL MANAGER (1999-2002) Turned around unprofitable unit in first year as General Manager. Location was profitable for first time since acquisition in 1995. Recruited Professional sales force from within rental industry, resulting in increased market share. Expanded product offering and customer base, increasing revenues by 25%, winning Company wide National sales award. REDNECK TRAILER SUPPLIES (1988-1999) Leading nationwide distributor of utility trailer parts in OEM, wholesale, and retail markets. Grew from 4 to 16 locations and ten times over in revenue during my tenure. Director of Accounting and Finance: All financial, budget and accounting functions. (1995-1999) Authored employee handbook, evaluation form, and general personnel policies for 200+ Employees Company wide. Developed and implemented Company's first budget process. Managed budget process. Wrote credit policy and procedures to manage extension and collection, losses held to less than .1%. Conducted regular seminars to educate employees on investing, risk tolerance, and retirement planning. Explained how to utilize benefits of various retirement planning vehicles. Located and researched acquisition targets. Performed due diligence on projects from $200,000 to $25,000,000. With CEO, Director of IS, and other executives, selected and installed enhanced software/systems and hardware for client server distributed processing environment. Maintained Accounting Department staff turnover rate to less than one sixth the Company average over four years. Responsible for banking relationships. Director of Distribution: Responsible for MIS, purchasing, and centralized distribution. (1994-1995) Enhanced vendor partnering, reducing lead times, order requirements and consequently, inventory levels. Located alternative vendors, resulting in more competitive pricing. Developed branch replenishment system (order one-half SKU's each cycle, cutting cycle from two weeks to one), reducing inventories and lead times to customers. Developed and implemented cross-dock warehouse process in distribution facility, reducing lead times and warehouse cost. Restructured purchasing function, resulting in reduction of back orders by 50%. Operations Manager and Director of Operations: Operations Manager over 13 locations. (1988-1994) Changed management, reduced expenses, and improved customer service, which increased sales and made two unprofitable units profitable within 90 days. Located facilities, negotiated leases, and opened new locations, resulting in expanded market share and increased profits. At request of owner and CEO, moved to newly created position of Director of Distribution to resolve issues in Central Distribution, MIS, and purchasing functions. Controller: (1988) Collaborated with Owner, Sales Manager and Merchandising Manager to develop and implement strategic marketing plan. Participated in presenting plan to employees in series of regional meetings. Developed process and procedure for managing special pricing and quotations for key customers to sustain 25% compounded annual growth over 10 years. Taught management people how to analyze financial reports to identify cost saving opportunities. Promoted to newly created position of Operations Manager after eight months with the Company. BRAHLER TIRE COMPANY AND AFFILIATES (1975-1988) $10,000,000 multiple location company involved in manufacturing, commercial and retail tire sales & distribution, automotive service, women's clothing stores, and commercial and residential real estate. Controller: All financial, tax, and accounting responsibilities. Advised Executive Management and others in areas of personal finances, taxes, life insurance and estate planning. Tax strategies resulted in significant (50 % +) reduction in income taxes. Developed piecework compensation plan for manufacturing plant, providing increased productivity, improved employee morale, and reduction in direct labor costs. Sourced, selected and installed first software and hardware systems. Provided more accurate, complete, and timely reporting. Reduced turnaround time for reports from several weeks to next day. Inventory reduced 20% with 15% increase in sales. Assumed additional responsibilities as Plant Manager for multiple shift manufacturing plant. Responsible for relationships with several banks. DELOITTE AND TOUCHE (1969-1975) International Accounting Firm. Audit Staff: Performed audits, prepared tax returns, and GAAP and regulatory financial reports (SEC and NYSE) for diverse clientele, ranging from small and medium size entrepreneurial and family owned companies to Fortune 100 companies. Clients included financial institutions, wholesale distributors, retail (including the largest retail furniture chain in the US), nonprofit organizations, and manufacturers. Specialized in audits of broker/dealers in securities industry. EDUCATION: BSBA-University of Missouri-Columbia, Major in Accounting. Certified Public Accountant