Curtis H Short, Finance Expert in Franklin, TN, United States
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Curtis H Short

Verified Expert  in Finance

Bio

Curt has 30+ years of experience spanning large, mid-size, and small companies—private equity and public, for-profit, and not-for-profit (NFP)—specializing in process improvement. He has successfully led three sell-side M&A transactions and negotiated and implemented a 3-party transitional services agreement. Curt is a CPA with an MBA who loves learning new businesses and looks forward to driving client business success, leveraging his extensive background.

Career Highlights

CFO
Raybestos Powertrain
Director of Material Costs
Ford Motor Company

Education Highlights

Master's Degree
Purdue University

Certification Highlights

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Tennessee State Board of Accountancy

Case Studies

Work Experience

Interim CFO

2020 - 2022
Collegiate Enterprise Solutions
  • Corrected a wrecked set of financial books, completing an external audit of two fiscal years within three months—after taking over from the previous CFO, who had no NFP or higher education experience and had not closed the books for nine months.
  • Completed a 5-year strategic financial analysis demonstrating the school's financial viability over the period.
  • Simplified and streamlined the chart of accounts focusing on management required to make decisions.
Focus areas: Accounting, Board Decks, Audits, Design Strategy, Quickbooks, Dashboard Design, Budgeting Consulting, Cost Reduction & Optimization (Cost-down), Financial Closing, Financial Forecasting, FP&A, Grant Accounting, Higher Education, Forecasting, Finance, Investments, Financial Data, Migration Engineering, Automation, Financial Modeling, Business Processes, Business Analysis Consulting, Microsoft 365, Performance Improvement, Controller, Financial Reporting, Revenue & Expense Projections, Monthly Close Process, US GAAP Accounting, Interim CFOs, Reporting, Excel, Data Visualization, Three-statement Modeling, Nonprofits, CPA, Interim CFOs, Internal Financial Reporting, Business Planning, Budget Modeling, Cash Management, Chart of Accounts, Bookkeeping, Intuit QuickBooks, Fractional CFOs

CFO | COO

2015 - 2019
Christian Theological Seminary
  • Launched an all-new financial system with an updated chart of accounts.
  • Worked with investment advisors to manage a $120+ million endowment.
  • Led negotiations with Butler University to divest the campus in a sale and leaseback.
  • Established an all-new accounting system and chart of accounts.
  • Grew long-term investments by over 30% during my tenure.
Focus areas: FP&A, M&A, Financial Presentations, Dashboard, Process Redesign, Financial Reporting Dashboards, Strategy Planning, Accounting, Budgeting Consulting, Higher Education, Excel Development, Board Decks, Graphic Design, Prezi, Divestitures, Microsoft Development, Quickbooks, Meetings, Grant Accounting, M&A (Sell-side), M&A Modeling, M&A Valuation (DCF), Forecasting, Finance, Investments, Financial Data, Migration Engineering, Automation, Financial Modeling, Valuations, Business Processes, Business Process Consulting, Business Analysis Consulting, Microsoft 365, Business Process Refinement, Performance Improvement, Business Transformation, Controller, Financial Reporting, Revenue & Expense Projections, Monthly Close Process, US GAAP Accounting, Interim CFOs, Reporting, Excel, Data Visualization, Three-statement Modeling, Nonprofits, CPA, Internal Financial Reporting, Business Planning, Budget Modeling, Virtual Coaching, Cash Management, Chart of Accounts, Bookkeeping, Operations, COO, Vendor Management, Business Operations

VP of Corporate Strategy

2013 - 2015
Billerud
  • Led a 5-year strategic plan used to exit bankruptcy proceedings.
  • Directed the divestiture of two paper mills to satisfy antitrust concerns.
  • Negotiated and implemented a 3-party transitional services agreement.
  • Drove the response to the DOJ antitrust investigation of a proposed merger.
Focus areas: FP&A, M&A, Financial Presentations, NPV Calculation, Dashboard, Strategy Planning, Cost Reduction & Optimization (Cost-down), Excel Development, Board Decks, Graphic Design, Prezi, Divestitures, Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC), Microsoft Development, Meetings, Paper & Packaging, M&A (Sell-side), M&A Modeling, M&A Valuation (DCF), Forecasting, Finance, Financial Data, Financial Modeling, Valuations, Business Processes, Business Process Consulting, Business Analysis Consulting, Business Process Refinement, Performance Improvement, Business Transformation, Financial Reporting, Revenue & Expense Projections, US GAAP Accounting, Reporting, Excel, Data Visualization, Project Finance Consulting, Three-statement Modeling, CPA, Internal Financial Reporting, Business Planning, Budget Modeling, Virtual Coaching, Operations, Business Operations, Manufacturing, Spinoffs, Private Equity

Chief Accounting Officer

2009 - 2013
Billerud
  • Reduced accounting time to close books monthly from 16 days to 5.
  • Drove a 1-year inventory reduction of $120 million.
  • Improved financial forecast accuracy by 60% by focusing on physical drivers of financial results.
Focus areas: Financial Forecasting, FP&A, Financial Presentations, Financial Closing, Process Redesign, Financial Reporting Dashboards, Accounting, Budgeting Consulting, Process Design, Excel Development, Board Decks, Graphic Design, Working Capital Management, Paper & Packaging, Microsoft Development, SAP, Meetings, Forecasting, Audits, Financial Data, Automation, Financial Modeling, Business Processes, Business Process Consulting, Business Analysis Consulting, Business Process Refinement, Business Process Flow (BPF), Performance Improvement, Financial Reporting, Revenue & Expense Projections, Monthly Close Process, US GAAP Accounting, Reporting, Excel, Data Visualization, Three-statement Modeling, CPA, Internal Financial Reporting, Budget Modeling, Cash Management, Chart of Accounts, Bookkeeping, Manufacturing, Private Equity

CFO

2007 - 2009
Raybestos Powertrain
  • Streamlined and reduced close timing from over three weeks to only six days.
  • Negotiated bank loan terms to provide sufficient liquidity for operations.
  • Handled the sell-side M&A to divest Raytech operating companies.
  • Mediated the closing balance sheet negotiations with the buyers.
Focus areas: Financial Forecasting, FP&A, M&A, Financial Presentations, Financial Closing, Dashboard, Financial Reporting Dashboards, Strategy Planning, Accounting, Budgeting Consulting, Cost Reduction & Optimization (Cost-down), Process Design, Excel Development, Board Decks, Graphic Design, Working Capital Management, Divestitures, Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC), Microsoft Development, Meetings, M&A (Sell-side), Due Diligence, M&A Modeling, M&A Valuation (DCF), Forecasting, Finance, Investments, Audits, Financial Data, Automation, Financial Modeling, Valuations, Business Processes, Business Analysis Consulting, Business Process Refinement, Business Process Flow (BPF), Performance Improvement, Business Transformation, Controller, Financial Reporting, Revenue & Expense Projections, Monthly Close Process, US GAAP Accounting, Interim CFOs, Reporting, Excel, Data Visualization, Project Finance Consulting, Three-statement Modeling, Internal Financial Reporting, Business Planning, Budget Modeling, Cash Management, Bookkeeping, Vendor Management, Business Services, Business Operations, Manufacturing, Spinoffs, Private Equity

Director of Material Costs

1985 - 2007
Ford Motor Company
  • Oversaw budgeting, forecasting, and analyzing $35 billion worth of annual spend.
  • Drove a $1 billion cost reduction through re-engineering and supplier negotiation.
  • Reduced forecast error to under 0.2% by completely revamping the forecasting methodology and organizing strategy workshops.
  • Earned multiple Ford Leadership Awards signifying respect from peers and subordinates.
Focus areas: Financial Forecasting, FP&A, Financial Presentations, NPV Calculation, Dashboard, Process Redesign, Financial Reporting Dashboards, Strategy Planning, Budgeting Consulting, Cost Reduction & Optimization (Cost-down), Process Design, Excel Development, Graphic Design, Working Capital Management, Microsoft Development, Meetings, Automotive, Forecasting, Finance, Audits, Financial Data, Migration Engineering, Automation, Business Processes, Business Process Consulting, Business Analysis Consulting, Business Process Refinement, Business Process Flow (BPF), Performance Improvement, Business Transformation, Controller, Financial Reporting, Revenue & Expense Projections, Monthly Close Process, Reporting, Excel, Data Visualization, Project Finance Consulting, Internal Financial Reporting, Business Planning, Budget Modeling, Virtual Coaching, Operations, Vendor Management, Business Services, Business Operations, Manufacturing
1983 - 1985

Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA)

Purdue University - West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

1979 - 1983

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting

Albright College - Reading, Pennsylvania, USA

JANUARY 2020 - PRESENT

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Tennessee State Board of Accountancy

MAY 2005 - PRESENT

Six Sigma Green Belt

CSSC

Finance

FP&A, Accounting, Budgeting Consulting, Cost Reduction & Optimization (Cost-down), Forecasting, Financial Modeling, Controller, Financial Reporting, Revenue & Expense Projections, Interim CFOs, Project Finance Consulting, Three-statement Modeling, CPA, Internal Financial Reporting, Cash Management, M&A, Working Capital Management, CPA, Private Equity, Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC), M&A (Sell-side), Due Diligence, M&A Modeling, Valuations

Data & Analysis Software

Financial Data, Quickbooks, Intuit QuickBooks

Industry Expertise

Higher Education, Nonprofits, Paper & Packaging, Automotive

Output Software

Prezi, Excel Development

Other

Financial Presentations, Financial Closing, NPV Calculation, Strategy Planning, Financial Forecasting, Dashboard, Process Redesign, Financial Reporting Dashboards, Business Analysis Consulting, Business Process Refinement, Performance Improvement, Monthly Close Process, US GAAP Accounting, Reporting, Excel, Data Visualization, Interim CFOs, Business Planning, Budget Modeling, Chart of Accounts, Bookkeeping, Business Operations, Manufacturing, Fractional CFOs, Grant Accounting, Divestitures, Process Design, Dashboard Design, Board Decks, Graphic Design, Meetings, Migration Engineering, Automation, Business Processes, Business Process Flow (BPF), Business Process Consulting, Business Transformation, Virtual Coaching, Operations, COO, Vendor Management, Business Services, Spinoffs, Microsoft Development, SAP, Design Strategy, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), M&A Valuation (DCF), Finance, Investments, Audits, Business Process Modeling, Business Process Optimization, Business Process Flow Diagrams, Business Process Re-engineering, Microsoft 365

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