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David Lechner, Management Consulting Expert in Denver, United States
David Lechner

Management Consulting Expert in Denver, United States

Member since December 19, 2016
David is a CFO that has worked on over $25 billion of M&A and capital markets transactions over a 15+ year career with leading firms like Accenture, Rothschild, and Jefferies. He has a strong restructuring background, both in and out of court. He completed numerous research, diligence, and finance projects as a consultant. David joined Toptal to help clients with strategic transactions, financial improvement, and project management.
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Career Highlights

Education

Case studies

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Industry Expertise

  • Construction
  • Automotive Service & Collision Repair
  • Investment Banking
  • Manufacturing
  • Building Materials
  • Chemicals & Related Products
  • Retail
  • Telecommunications

Other Expertise

Employment

  • Lead Consultant | Chief Financial Officer

    2015 - PRESENT
    Independent Consulting
    • Conducted ~25 business planning, due diligence, investment, and fundraising projects. Responsible for market research, industry analysis, predictive models, strategy development, forecasting and project management.
    • Advised a Fortune 50 telecom company’s corporate strategy team. Built forecast model/scenarios and bolstered planning capabilities to address unreliable investment planning capabilities. Optimized $20 billion CAPEX; netted 3% annual ROI over 5 years.
    • Advised vertically integrated grower and drink manufacturer on valuation and structuring for acquisition.
    • Worked as the CFO at equipment supplier, advising on financial reporting, KPIs, sourcing and contract structuring.
    • Acted as the CFO at a transportation-and-logistics company pivoting to a SaaS model. Worked on all financial matters, including accounting, budgeting, legal/tax, board work, and raises of $3 million and $10 million raise.
    • Served as the CFO at device manufacturer through all steps of the process, raised $2.75 million in new funds while budgeting through R&D and manufacturing issues.
    • Advised a PE firm, providing buy-side diligence for $600 million acquisition of a transatlantic equipment provider.
    • Spearheaded the RFP development for an industrial IoT company which reduced annual connectivity costs by 40%.
    • Served as the CFO at B2B and B2C SaaS company. Advised on the product roll-out, accounting, budgeting, fundraising, and investor relations.
    • Served as an advisor to a $4-billion food and distribution company, advising on strategic investments and corporate activities.
    Focus areas: Valuation, Capital Markets, Due Diligence, External Financial Reporting, Finance Strategy, Market Research, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)

  • Chief Financial Officer

    2017 - 2018
    Salt Lending | Salt Blockchain Asset Management
    • Oversaw the scaling of a financial technology marketplace enabling asset-backed lending for blockchain and distributed ledger technology assets such as cryptocurrencies.
    • Drove all the aspects of finance and administration infrastructure creation. Was responsible for accounting regulation compliance, audit work, financial reports, HR/payroll/benefits, asset management, treasury, insurance, partnership development, and capital markets activities.
    • Managed a $200-million balance sheet, this included owning the treasury management, cash flow forecasting and financial statement creation; currently completing company’s first accounting audit and tax filings.
    • Built an accounting and finance team of six from the ground up.
    • Established first-time policies and procedures for accounting, controls, tax, transfer pricing, and insurance and expense management.
    • Produced accurate burn rate forecasts and growth projections which streamlined the reporting cycle times by 80%.
    • Supported $50 million of annual membership sales with related P&L management and sales targeting.
    Focus areas: Hedging, Management, Audits, P&L Forecasting, Growth Capital Raising, Management Accounting, Capital Budgeting

  • Vice President, Corporate Development

    2014 - 2015
    Zayo
    • Oversaw the M&A and integration planningnas well as capital markets transactions. Responsible for supporting financial reporting and accounting/audits, investor relations, board meetings, and special projects from executives.
    • Managed up to four direct and indirect reports and external professionals.
    • Completed debt issuances—refinancing and issuing $4 billion in debt and saving ~$200 million in annual interest expenses.
    • Drove equity issuances which brought to fruition a $450 million initial public offering and $600 million follow-on.
    • Drove a large-scale M&A which completed $675 million acquisition and bridge loan for Latisys, a data center company.
    • Solely ran smaller M&A and completed a $51 million acquisition of Ideatek, a Kansas-based fiber company.
    • Sourced M&A opportunities and drove acquisition pipeline—compiling actionable list of 30 targets.
    Focus areas: Accounting Consolidation, Finance Strategy, Financial Reporting, Due Diligence, Investment Memoranda, Capital Markets, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), M&A Earn-out Agreements

  • Vice President

    2012 - 2014
    Canaccord Genuity
    • Oversaw the debt financing and transaction execution.
    • Managed the business development across metals and mining, technology, sustainability, and health care.
    • Hired and trained junior staff and managed up to six direct and indirect reports.
    • Pitched for mandates—completing a $150 million convertible preferred financing for Iridium.
    • Supported public debt offerings; completed a $500 million dividend recapitalization for Authentic Brands.
    • Educated CEOs and CFOs on market opportunities; completed $150 million bond offering for Headwaters.
    • Drove lender/investor targeting by completing a $90 million acquisition financing for Intertain.
    • Devised flexible financing alternatives by completing a $25 million debt financing for Essar Steel Algoma.
    • Contacted potential hybrid lenders and investors which completed a $25 million equity raise for Dragonwave.
    Focus areas: Private Credit, Financial Modeling, Market Research, Capital Markets, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)

  • Associate, Industrials Group

    2010 - 2012
    Jefferies & Company
    • Drove the M&A processes from end-to-end aiding in the closing of a $250 million sale of TVC Communications (telecom) to Wesco.
    • Developed new business opportunities and pipeline which conducted a $145 million equity offering for XPO Logistics (transportation and logistics).
    • Educated investors on industry developments which helped complete a $225 million bond offering for Quality Distribution (transportation and logistics).
    • Raised capital to enable restructuring which completed a $95 million financing for Motorcar Parts of America (automotive).
    • Presented alternative structures to borrowers which supported the $260 million sale of Guilford Mills (automotive) to Lear.
    • Contacted potential buyers and conducted marketing for $300 million sale of Woodcrafters (building products) to Fortune Brands.
    • Completed ad-hoc requests from prospective clients.
    • Supported the new analyst and associate training.
    Focus areas: Financial Modeling, Market Research, Due Diligence, Capital Markets, Valuation, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)

  • Associate, Restructuring & Debt Advisory

    2008 - 2010
    Rothschild, Inc.
    • Valued distressed companies which aided in finishing off a $700 million recapitalization and restructuring of Accuride.
    • Navigated contested valuations by advising on a $1.3 billion valuation for GE Sea Containers.
    • Maximized creditor recoveries by conducting a $2.3 billion bankruptcy filing and liquidation of Circuit City.
    • Educated C-level executives on the market and devised alternative financial structures which kept Borders out of bankruptcy for two consecutive years.
    • Presented alternative structures which supported an ~$1 billion amendment for strategic hotels and resorts.
    Focus areas: Equity Valuation, Bank Debt Raises, Financial Modeling, Financial Restructuring, Debt Restructuring

  • Analyst, Consultant

    2002 - 2006
    Accenture
    • Improved material and asset utilization by reducing the inventory by $1 billion and improving the cash flow by $130 million/year.
    • Streamlined the distribution and warehousing by implementing process improvements that decreased costs by 20%.
    • Led the design of a risk assessment tool which improved data analysis by 20% while cutting the process time by 75%.
    • Facilitated change management and performed project management office functions which in turn created a supply chain shared service, resulting in a 15% cost reduction.
    Focus areas: Supply Chain, Warehouse Operations, Process Improvement, Requirements, Post-merger Integration, System Integration

Education

  • Exchange Student in International Business
    2008 - 2008
    Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - Hong Kong
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree in International Business
    2006 - 2008
    New York University - New York City, NY, USA
  • Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration
    1998 - 2001
    University of Western Ontario - London, Canada

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