Chief financial officer/controller

Scott Langeland

Chief Financial Officer/Controller - SAWYER NURSERY, INC

Hudsonville, MI

Work Experience

Chief Financial Officer/Controller

SAWYER NURSERY, INC -

Hudsonville, MI

2006 to Present

Financial leader assuming role of upper level financial management. Position initially blended responsibilities of CFO/Controller. With growth in the organization and extensive cash management complexity, a controller position was added to assist in the maintaining and development of the accounting system.
➢ Joined management team during the fall of 2006 to assist in turn-around plan.
➢ Directed financial management functions including preparation of monthly and annual financial statements, coordinated annual financial statement audit, financial forecasts, and budgets.
➢ Developed meaningful performance metrics with operations team.
➢ Assumed oversight of all general accounting functions, including AR/AP, Payroll, account reconciliation, and cash management.
➢ Created cost accounting system for management team members based on manufacturing type of costing (Standard Costing Model). Worked very closely with turn-around CEO to develop and implement turn-around plan and lender risk reduction plan.
➢ Created Budget process that linked Sales, Production and Top-level Budget (Three independent operational processes) into one cohesive budget.
➢ Member of Management team that increased revenue from $22 million to $27 million while reducing working capital requirements from $17 million to $13.7 million.
➢ Took over finances of Corporation that was in default and on the brink of insolvency. Successfully negotiated vendor & lender terms despite circumstances. Completed plan to pay vendors amounts over 90 days payable which exceeded $4.4 million.
➢ Implemented auto-generating monthly accruals and general ledger maintenance entries to establish a "quick closing" process for timely accurate financial reporting.

Certified Public Accountant

FERRIS, BUSSCHER & ZWIERS, P.C -

Holland, MI

1999 to 2006

Worked in various areas of public accounting including completion of audits, reviews and compilations.
➢ Excellent relationship with clients.
➢ Appointed by Partners to be one of three member team to standardize engagement documentation for operational efficiency.
➢ Prepared all aspects of tax reporting (1120, 1120S, 1065, 990, 1040 & Multi-State Tax Preparation) and assisted clients in tax planning.
➢ Industries served include: Manufacturing (Standard Costing), Auto Dealership, Agriculture - Growers, Agriculture - Grower Cooperative, Construction & Development, Retail, Mortgage Underwriting, and Non-Profit Agencies (Adult Foster Care Homes, Church, Private School, and Homeless Shelters).
➢ Clients ranged in size from $100 thousand - $125 million in revenue.

Accounting Staff & AR, AP Intern

JOHNSON CONTROLS INTERIORS -

Holland, MI

1999 to 1999

Accounting Staff - Tier one automotive supplier. Recruited by Corporate Controller when my internship was completed to stay on part-time upon completion of my internship, while completing my last term of college.
➢ Assisted corporate controller and plant controllers in reconciling inter-company accounts with Holland, Michigan location to other domestic and international production facilities.
➢ Internship - Accounts receivable and accounts payable intern. Responsibilities included various projects.

Education

Bachelor of Applied Science in Accounting

Davenport College -

Grand Rapids, MI

1999