C ARY P REJEAN , CPA

Baton Rouge, LA Cell: 225.931.7453 caprejean@cox.net https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryprejean

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Internal Controls | Audit & Tax | Accounting & Finance| Regulatory Compliance | Bank & Client Relations
Multifaceted and resourceful senior management professional and CFO with comprehensive experience in leadership of
finance and accounting, tax, audit, human resources, and financial reporting in construction, manufacturing, and product
service environments. Critical-thinking and creative problem-solver with demonstrated success in strategic planning and
development of business solutions to enhance productivity and reduce costs. Collaborative and decisive leader with
excellent communication and interpersonal abilities to build rapport with clients, staff, bankers, vendors, and other key
stakeholders to resolve problems successfully and ensure positive customer relations with service excellence.

CORE COMPETENCIES
Financial & Accounting Operations Leadership Audit & Tax Regulatory Compliance Human Resources
Systems & Process Improvements Banking Relations Vendor & Supplier Negotiation & Management
Creative Problem Solving Customer Service Financial Reporting Conference & Seminar Presentations
Staff Supervision/Training/Performance Management Team Leadership & Training
Technical Proficiency:
Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook; Goldmine; QuickBooks; Sage Pro Accounting Software

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Accounting and Tax Management:

GAAP Compliance Restructured financial statements of three companies to synchronize and bring them into
compliance with GAAP regulations
Reduced Tax Assessments Provided leadership for tax audits that resulted in savings of 84% and 95% of
original assessment amounts with three subsequent audits with zero assessments
Audit Reporting Collaborated with independent auditors and managed staff interaction for inventory, accounts
receivable, and accounts payable to ensure accuracy and completeness for annual audit reporting
Internal Controls Revamped accounting procedures and internal controls to ensure daily cash accountability
and management
Tax Lien Negotiations Successfully negotiated a reduction in a payroll tax lien with the IRS by over 96% within
first two months of employment
Reduced Tax Liability Collaborated with outside tax advisors to lower tax liability by 59% of initial average
estimates of corporate income taxes
Recovery of Embezzlement Funds Uncovered $1.4M embezzlement within 5 weeks of employment and led the
process of recovery of $300,000 from ex-employees estate and introduced internal controls
Employee Theft Discovered employee theft of $17,000 in gas credit card funds and successfully prosecuted
employee and introduced internal controls to prevent future theft
Reduced Expenditures Implemented a credit card documentation procedure that successfully reduced credit
card expenditures by 18%
Online Reporting Developed and introduced online reporting for payroll, sales, property and income tax filing

Banking and Financial Relationships:

Construction Financing Negotiated financing for construction of 45,000 square foot manufacturing facility and
extruder line for Houston plant, and organized improved distribution and marketing to deliver global
manufactured products
Relationship Building Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with primary and secondary banks
and lending institutions
Credit Line Negotiation Successfully negotiated with lenders to increase working capital credit lines by 45% to
better facilitate cash flow
Equipment and Plant Expansion Achieved financing for equipment and plant expansion of over $25M over 5
years

Cary Prejean, CPA

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Operations and Cash Management

Strategic Planning Identified under-utilized assets and implemented plan to close one location to maximize
revenue and profitability and service customer base from Baton Rouge facility
Increased Net Operating Profits Successfully enhanced net operating profits over 1000% in three years with
implementation of process and systems improvements to manage profitability
Improved Sales & Revenues Coached and provided leadership for sales team to increase consolidated revenue
by 44% in three years
Process Improvements Introduced an ACH system for payment of vendors and direct deposit of payroll
Reduced Commercial Insurance Premiums Succeeded in negotiations that resulted in reduced commercial
insurance premiums by over 15% in first year renewal and continued to maintain savings over next 3 years in
spite of 50% increase in payroll, the addition of a sawmill and addition of 30 semi tractors to fleet
Savvy Negotiations Saved over 15 per gallon with savvy negotiation of diesel fuel at cost to cost plus 2 per
gallon for fleet of 72 trucks with national fuel card vendor
Vendor Management Successfully negotiated extended terms from 45 days to 75 days with primary and global
vendors and suppliers
Cash Flow Management Revamped Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable resulting in Accounts Payable
becoming current in less than a year and cash flow improvement of over 1000%
Safety Program Designed and introduced a safety program and hired a Safety Director that resulted in
reduction in injuries and accidents and reduced insurance costs
Staff Leadership Highly effective in training, development and performance management of top-performing
teams in a cohesive and productive environment

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Phylway Construction, LLC, Thibodaux, LA

o Chief Financial Officer
Industrial Fabrics, Inc.; Premier Concrete Products, Inc. & Southern Hardwood
Company, LLC, Baton Rouge, LA
o Chief Financial Officer and Sales Coach/Manager
Financial Design Consultants, Inc.
o Executive Business Consultant

April 2015 July 2015

April 2010 April 2015

Nov. 1987 Mar. 2010

EDUCATION

University of Louisiana, Lafayette, LA Bachelor of Science, Accounting with Minors in Finance and Economics,
GPA: 3.72

CERTIFICATIONS

Certified Public Accountant Texas and Louisiana, inactive

Certified Ontological Coach Completed Mastering the Art of Professional Coaching with Newfield Group
o Other Ontological Courses: Money, Wealth and Wisdom and Business, Power and Strategy
o Led Ontological Coaching Courses for Education for Living Seminars with over 4,000 participants
coached in these courses, 1989 - 1995