Denton is available for hire
Hire DentonDenton Lomax
Verified Expert in Finance
Management Consulting Expert
Location
Charlotte, NC, United States
Toptal Member Since
March 8, 2019
Denton is a seasoned finance executive, most recently as the US CFO for a medical device company where he improved the company valuation by over 40%. Denton has a wealth of experience in value creation, M&A, financial modeling, and pricing. At Johnson & Johnson, he led numerous projects, including valuations for a $20 billion acquisition, integration planning, and sales analysis. He now freelances to share his expertise and unique perspective.
Career Highlights
Co-founder | Managing Partner
The Birchwood Land Company
CFO — VP Finance & Operations
Corin USA
Captain | Commander | Platoon Leader
United States Army
Education Highlights
Executive Education
The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree
University of Wisconsin
Bachelor's Degree
Liberty University
Certification Highlights
Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
Institute of Management Accountants
Bronze Star
United States Department of Defense
Mensan
American Mensa
Case Studies
Industry Expertise
Other Expertise
Work Experience
Co-founder | Managing Partner
2018 - PRESENT
The Birchwood Land Company
- Co-founded a real estate company that was focused on wholesale land transactions and specialized in identifying undervalued assets for investment.
- Established financial forecasts, strategy, target markets, timing, and valuation opportunities.
- Automated multiple processes for scalability, including acquisitions, due diligence, marketing, and sales.
- Created positive, sustained cash flows within three months of opening.
- Secured financing availability of $5 million for a quick expansion.
Focus areas: Capital Raising, Advertising, Sales, Marketing, Financial Marketing, Transaction Modeling, Transaction Structuring, Valuation Modeling, Valuation, Finance, Real Estate
CFO — VP Finance & Operations
2016 - 2018
Corin USA
- Increased the valuation of the business by ~$100 million by investing strategically for topline growth, and improving margins across the P&L.
- Achieved EBITDA growth of $9 million in two years.
- Improved EBITDA margin from 29% of sales to 39% of sales in two years by improving price, leveraging commissions, distribution, and improved efficiencies driving down fixed costs.
- Gained access to over 700 new hospital systems, price erosion in market offset with accretive strategic plays across multiple hospital systems, equating to a net price increase of 5% overall ($2 million).
- Led working capital initiative to free up cash for growth; improved days sales of inventory (DSI) by 45% (600 days to 330 days), and improved instrument turns by 67% (1.8/month to 3.0/month)—$12 million in cash savings.
- Improved employee engagement from 60% satisfaction to a record 91% satisfaction while being the only permanent-based leadership team employee—zero voluntary turnover to date.
- Successfully launched and integrated seven new product lines—resulting in a 50% increase in new customers, territory expansion of 20%, and significantly increasing the competitiveness of portfolio.
Focus areas: Employee Engagement, Working Capital Management, Contribution Margin Analysis, Cash Flow Calculation, Cost of Capital, CFO, Operational Finance, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Price Analysis, Pricing Strategy, Finance Strategy
Senior Finance Manager
2012 - 2016
Johnson & Johnson
- Led the selection of new company headquarters for DePuy Synthes Spine post-acquisition close.
- Secured Mass Life Sciences Tax Credit of ~$3 million for a new building.
- Led the facility consolidation strategy for the combined DePuy Synthes company across Europe.
- Spearheaded the project for the global supply chain and manufacturing strategy for network optimization of DePuy Synthes.
- Oversaw the operating company restructuring project for Global Orthopaedic business units.
- Led the financial analysis for construction of new HQ campus in the United Kingdom; secured UK grant funding of ~$7 million.
- Developed the project financials for a worldwide quality remediation project addressing quality issues for the acquired company.
- Managed also the ongoing needs and cost of over $0.5 billion/1,700 headcount spanning three years.
Focus areas: Strategic Planning & Execution, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Financial Modeling, Value Creation, Valuation, Operational Finance, Project Finance, Cash Flow Modeling, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
Finance Manager
2009 - 2012
Johnson & Johnson
- Provided finance leadership and support to the worldwide VP of the R&D leadership team.
- Led the make vs buy valuation for input into the deal model of Micrus acquisition for ~$480 million.
- Was selected for high-profile project valuations and presented to multiple group and boards.
- Created R&D & NPV process for five presidents and boards, facilitating strategic portfolio decisions.
- Led the portfolio recommendation for the divestiture of $165 million instrument business.
Focus areas: R&D, Divestitures, Strategic Planning & Execution, Cash Flow Modeling, Financial Modeling, Value Creation, Valuation, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
Senior Financial Analyst
2007 - 2009
Johnson & Johnson
- Partnered with the US orthopedic marketing teams, providing forecasts and analysis of over $1.5 billion in sales, expense management of $30 million, and strategic plan modeling.
- Developed comprehensive price-volume-mix reporting methodology for J&J Investor Relations.
- Designed a sales forecasting model that integrated volume and ASP trends; received a CFO award for my work here.
- Built financial model supporting value creation of $250 million through $30 million capital investment of instrumentation—resulting in the project delivering on value forecasted.
Focus areas: Investments, Asset Valuation, Value Creation, Value Investing, Cash Flow Modeling, Revenue & Expense Projections, Revenue Optimization, Revenue Modeling, Sales Expense Forecasting
Captain | Commander | Platoon Leader
2003 - 2007
United States Army
- Led a 120-person team in Germany providing logistics and support for 810-person mechanized infantry battalion deployed to Iraq during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
- Oversaw and was responsible for maintaining 170 vehicles and equipment worth $50 million.
- Managed a 350-person family support system in Germany and the US.
- Planned the redeployment of 150 soldiers. I focused on minimizing in-processing delays, allowing soldiers to spend more time with family after 15-month deployment and resulting in a recovery time 50% shorter than previous units.
- Led a 39-person team in Iraq providing infantry support for a 702-person mechanized infantry battalion.
- Oversaw and was responsible for 4 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, weapons, and equipment worth $5 million.
- Led 400 patrols, 300 route clearances, and 50 ambushes—resulting in the seizure or destruction of 23 weapons caches, 17 IEDs, and the neutralization of 200 enemy combatants with zero friendly losses.
- Led a joint US/Iraqi Army team during 250 direct enemy engagements and 45 complex attacks in Iraq that resulted in the neutralization of 50 enemy combatants directly responsible for attacks.
Focus areas: Trading, Logistics, Strategic Planning, Military Operations
Education
2011 - 2011
Executive Education in Strategic Research and Development
The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, PA, USA
2004 - 2006
Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree in International Business
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, WI, USA
2000 - 2003
Bachelor's Degree in Finance
Liberty University - Lynchburg, VA, USA
Certifications
NOVEMBER 2009 - PRESENT
Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
Institute of Management Accountants
FEBRUARY 2008 - PRESENT
Bronze Star
United States Department of Defense
JANUARY 2008 - PRESENT
Mensan
American Mensa
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