b'LINDA G. BRANSON , CPA\n\n1965 5TH Avenue \xc2\x8f New York, NY\nCell: 212.666.3132 \xc2\x8f lgbranson@yahoo.net\n\nC HIEF F INANCIAL O FFICER / V ICE P RESIDENT\n\nOF\n\nF INANCE\n\nStrategic and hands-on executive deeply experienced in accounting and financial management. Expert generalist in overseeing\nall aspects of a multi-million dollar business. Proven talent in managing and motivating teams of loyal and productive\nemployees.\nLeader who uses an \xe2\x80\x9cout-of-the-box\xe2\x80\x9d approach to problem solving, and consistently drives bottom-line\nperformance, efficiency, process and profit improvements. Spearheaded the turnaround of a $84,000,000 high-end fine\njewel conglomerate despite formidable international and economic challenges.\n\nP ROFESSIONAL E XPERIENCE\nDIAMONE\xe2\x80\x99S New York, NY \xc2\x8f1992 \xe2\x80\x93 present\nAn $84,000,000 division of Fine Gems, Inc., one of the largest importers and purveyors of fine jewels\nVP \xe2\x80\x93 Finance & Administration (2000 \xe2\x80\x93 present) / AVP \xe2\x80\x93 Finance & Administration (1992 \xe2\x80\x93 2000)\nTapped to co-lead division in 2000 following a period of slumping sales and to reinvigorate a division plagued with\nproductivity and morale issues. Challenged to help regain profitability. Hold full P&L of $84,000,000. Direct 16 managers\nwith 600 indirect and dotted line reports.\nScope of diverse responsibilities and achievements include:\nFinance, Treasury & Accounting \xe2\x80\x93 manage and negotiate all insurances, including business and travel plans. Manage primary\nbanking line and monitor cash flow and interest rates for US and UK divisions. Continuously seek debt reduction options that\ninclude leases, currency cap contracts and government loans. Oversee purchasing, payroll, inventory and pricing, tax and\ncurrency, audits and stock transactions. Perform capital budgeting and ROI analysis. Accountable for all regulatory reporting,\nincluding SOX. Sit on executive board with representatives from parent company.\nf Slashed bank loan debt from $30,000,000 to $6,500,000 in 4 years by developing weekly forecasts, controlling capital\nspending and splitting divisional capital needs.\nf Gained an average of $750,000 annually by successfully lobbying for a reduction in import duties through a\nmiscellaneous tariff rate on a raw product.\nf Successfully argued 5-year real estate tax assessments, winning back $50,000 to $100,000. Captured $2,400,000\nannual reduction in property tax through a capital inventory audit and write-off.\nf Generated a 26% savings on final product cost through NAFTA tariff that cuts final cost to customers by $475 \xe2\x80\x94 helping to\ndrive up sales by 40% on one of the biggest profit-making diamond rings.\nf Captured a tax shield of $14,000,000 and saved $1,200,000 in annual customs duties integrating 3 separate companies.\nf Realized $4,000,000 in interest earnings in 5 years by working with Goldman Sachs to maximize an underperforming\ninvestment portfolio.\nf Streamlined payroll processing from 4 remote locations and banks to 1, with a salary savings of almost $300,000, annually.\nGeneral Management/Operations \xe2\x80\x93 active in divisional initiatives regarding capital improvements, large-scale facility and\nmaintenance projects. Key strategist in corporate issues impacting US and international operations.\nf Co-orchestrated the transformation of the company from its multi-million dollar loss position in 2000 to a net income of\n10.5% at the close of 2005. Consolidated operations, reduced headcount, combined jobs, computerized operations and\nlobbied for legal changes on import taxes.\nf Secured financing through state and bank loans to fund the renovation and equipment for a capital project costing\n$13,400,000. Helped to work out a savings of $2,500,000 on original agreement following lawsuit with originally\ncontracted equipment manufacturer.\nf Currently working on an initiative that is projected to reduce overhead costs by $1,200,000 yearly by consolidating 7\nsmall retail stores into 3 stores in large mall complexes.\n\n\x0cLINDA G. BRANSON, CPA\n\nPage 2 of 2\n\nScope of diverse responsibilities and achievements continued\xe2\x80\xa6\nHuman Resources and Administration \xe2\x80\x93 administer employment policies, oversee all aspects of staffing that include\nhiring and terminations. Accountable for all retail operations and management training. Develop and manage\ncompensation plans. Negotiate and manage all employee benefit plans and serve as 401(k) plan administrator for a\nplan with $24,000,000 in assets. Oversee all benefits communications.\n\xc2\x83 Cut turnover amongst retail management staff from 15% to less than 5% per year by creating a sales bonus program\nand regionalized team builder meetings to exchange ideas amongst associates.\n\xc2\x83 Introduced management meetings within to create unity in decision-making, ensure consistency in policy development\nand interpretation, and resolve interdepartmental issues.\n\xc2\x83 Reaped a 20% savings on benefits plans without negatively impacting benefit levels by evaluating consolidating\ncarriers.\nInformation Technology \xe2\x80\x93 oversee accounting and financial systems, production and manufacturing systems, phone\nsystem and communications for all US locations with 10 servers, 12 virtual servers, 600 computers and terminals, 96\nfax- printer-copiers, 27 security systems, 2 video conference systems, wireless communications and dedicated line\ncommunications. Supervise a team of 3, providing technical support to all US locations.\n\xc2\x83 Spearheading implementation of computerized systems that include Oracle, purchasing, payroll and human resources\ntechnologies. Planned changeover, negotiated and purchased software for $130,000, put together a team of 3 and\nrolled out new system in 6 months with no consulting costs.\n\xc2\x83 Controlled costs and purchasing so effectively with new financial software that the company later adopted its use\nworldwide. Ramped up closings by 10 days.\n\xc2\x83 Led initiative to combine separate accounting systems into 1 that was accomplished in only 6 months. Facilitated\ncontrol of data, eliminated redundancies, and alleviated technical issues.\nAccounting & Finance Manager (1988 \xe2\x80\x93 1992)\nSupervised a team of 11 employees and managed all accounting and financial reporting functions.\n\xc2\x83 Automated all reporting systems, eliminating the need for 2 FT positions and improving accuracy of reporting by 50%.\n\xc2\x83 Developed a new analysis tool that was used company-wide to measure financial performance at each retail location\nand in each import facility on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis.\nPREVIOUS PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS:\nNEW ERA CREATIONS \xe2\x80\x93 Accounting Manager (1985 \xe2\x80\x93 1988)\nDESIGNERS EDGE Accountant (1984 \xe2\x80\x93 1985)\n\nEDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS\nYORK UNIVERSITY, New York, NY\nMBA \xe2\x80\x93 Concentration in International Finance\nUNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, Austin, Texas\nBachelor of Science \xe2\x80\x93 Double Majors in Finance and Accounting\nCertified Public Accountant, New York \xe2\x80\x93 1993\nMember, Association of Finance Professionals'