Stephen R. Cappellin, CPA

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

CPA/CFO/Accounting/Finance Professional with over 20 years of experience in accounting, financial reporting, financial analysis and business management. Sixteen years experience as a practicing CPA, focused on financial auditing and financial /operational consulting on numerous commercial entities, including over 150 manufacturing companies and contractors. Over nine years of direct CFO experience overseeing the financial activities of construction, manufacturing and logistics companies. Recognized as a team leader, with effective organization, leadership and communication skills, both vertically and horizontally. A management style that is collaborative in nature, to engage and develop high performance teams.


AREAS OF EXPERTISE

The value brought to a company is not only targeted construction and manufacturing experience, but also a rounded career experience that brings the best practices of numerous businesses together. Direct experience includes:
Developed, monitored and maintained corporate financial policies and procedures.
Experienced in oversight of accounting departments, financial statement preparation, budget preparation, internal and external audit functions, risk management analysis, negotiating and analyzing labor contracts, employment contracts, sales contracts, purchase contracts and leases.
Demonstrated ability to review and analyze revenue, expense and profit performance drivers to identify and recommend opportunities for improvement.
Experienced with activity based cost systems, as well as job cost and unit cost systems to monitor, maintain and manage projects. Demonstrated ability to identify the key metrics to monitor activities and enable effective management oversight.
Identified, researched, selected and successfully implemented technology and software solutions to enhance the accounting, monitoring and reporting systems of entities.
Experienced in negotiating and maintaining banking and broker relationships to ensure adequate capital and financing requirements are being met for equipment, expansion and strategic needs.
Demonstrated ability to break processes down to their basic metrics to facilitate the critical understanding needed to forecast, project and budget sales / expenses with precision and accuracy.
Experienced in due diligence procedures and business valuation engagements.
Demonstrated ability for strategic thinking and planning to capitalize on business strengths and competitive advantages, while managing exposure due to vulnerabilities.


PROFESSIONAL WORK HISTORY

2007 2008Senior Vice President, Commerce Bank, N.A., Springfield, IL
$16+ billion mid-sized regional bank, headquartered in Kansas City, MO.
Functional title of Senior Commercial Bank Relationship Manager
Responsible for introducing, developing and growing Commerce Banks new market in Springfield, IL, including market analysis, site selection, strategic planning and execution.
Operations in the Springfield, IL market ceased in September, 2008 due to general economic turmoil and uncertainty in the national financial markets.

2003 2007Partner and Office Leader, Clifton Gunderson LLP, Springfield, IL
13th largest CPA firm in the United States.
Leadership role, instrumental in the rebuilding and recovery efforts in an under-performing office of approximately 30 professionals.
Directly responsible for office budget development and achievement, personnel recruitment, retention and development strategies, and facilities planning for the Springfield, IL office. Also responsible for strategic marketing, client development and delivery of services to clients.
Selected as an industry leader on the Downstate Illinois Service Centers Manufacturing and Construction/Real Estate specialty teams.
Primary client practice focused on oversight of assurance and business consulting services for small manufacturers, telephone companies, contractors, and others.
Consulting services included work on business process improvement studies and recommendations, as well as due diligence work connected to mergers and acquisitions of closely-held entities.

2001 2003Owner, Stephen R. Cappellin, CPA, Champaign, IL
Established and built niche practice, focusing primarily on outsourced CFO services for small and medium-sized businesses.
Also provided traditional accounting, compilation, review, tax and business consulting services.

1999 2001Associate, Olive LLP, Champaign, IL
15th largest CPA firm in the United States
Hired to develop a new Construction/Real Estate audit and consulting practice in Central Illinois.
Developed a market niche in providing temporary outsourced CFO services for client companies.
Position eliminated in June, 2001 due to acquisition by BKD, LLP.

1991 1999 Chief Financial Officer, Champaign Asphalt Company, Champaign, IL
Group of closely-held construction and manufacturing companies.
Responsible for the oversight of all financial and reporting activities of the group.
Supervised and managed all office personnel and operations.
Responsible for the design and implementation of computer systems for accounting, job-costing, fixed assets, estimating and various utility programs.
Responsible for administering company-sponsored retirement, health and benefit plans.
Preparation and analysis of weekly job status and monthly financial statements.
Responsible for preparation of all annual audit support, financial statements, tax returns and various regulatory statements.
Maintained and enhanced the corporate and individual audit, insurance, investing, bonding and banking relationships.

1982 1991Audit Manager, Kerber, Eck & Braeckel, LLP, Springfield, IL
Progressive responsibilities in the audit and administrative functions of a mid-sized regional accounting firm.
Administrative functions included staff recruitment, training and scheduling of approximately 40 professionals.
Major areas of audit experience included manufacturers, construction companies, health care institutions, and insurance companies.


EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, Honors, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1982

Passed CPA Exam, Spring, 1982

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Member since 1982

Illinois CPA Society, Member since 1982

REFERENCES

Extensive referneces provided upon request.