Howard G Yu, Finance Expert in New York City, NY, United States
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Howard G Yu

Verified Expert  in Finance

Finance Expert

Location
New York City, NY, United States
Toptal Member Since
March 17, 2020

Howard spent 12 years working in PE and VC, co-founding a PE-backed company with $65 million and investing in over 15 companies across services, technology, and manufacturing. He attended Princeton University and began his career at the Audax Group (founders co-founded Bain PE), closing on $80 million of M&A. Howard is currently CFO of an $80 million revenue-services company, leading the finance team, FP&A, treasury management, and reporting.

Excel ExpertCash Flow ConsultantBusiness Plan ConsultingMarket Research AnalystBusiness ResearchInvestor Relations ConsultantManagement ConsultingIndustryBudgeting ConsultantFundraising ConsultantPitch Deck ConsultantInvestment AnalysisInvestment BankingCorporate GovernanceBusiness Transformation

Career Highlights

Mid-market M&A Expert
EoM Investment Advisors, LLC
Interim CFO
Smartpay Solutions PTE LTD
VP Corporate Development | Head of FP&A
Premier Group

Education Highlights

Graduate Degree
Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT
Bachelor's Degree
Princeton University

Certification Highlights

CPA
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Case Studies

Work Experience

CFO

2023 - PRESENT
Equate
  • Led the domestic and international finance teams at Equate, one of the largest software companies focusing on home services/lead generation technology. Responsible for all reporting, accounting, FP&A, treasury management, and closing.
  • Oversaw teams responsible for the company's accounting, finance, tax, treasury, FP&A, risk management, and corporate development matters.
  • Reported directly to the key shareholders and the board monthly, with detailed business and market overviews.
Focus areas: Venture Capital, Financial Modeling, Equity Research, Project Finance, Renewables, Renewable Energy, Pitch Decks, Forecasting, Valuation, Fundraising, Portfolio Management, M&A Due Diligence (Financial), IFRS Financial Reporting, CFO, Reporting, 13-week Cash Flow, Cash Flow Management, Financial Controls & Processes, Internal Control, Pricing, Board Decks, Excel Expert, Treasury Management, Excel 365, Corporate Governance, Strategic Planning, Business Transformation

Mid-market M&A Expert

2022 - PRESENT
EoM Investment Advisors, LLC
  • Led all M&A processes, including financial modeling, due diligence, and managing advisors (legal, regulatory, market, and QoE) for a $60 million buyout of a healthcare tech company focusing on measuring and improving patient treatment.
  • Organized investment committee memorandums and 60-page fundraising presentations. Prepared a data room for lenders and potential co-investors.
  • Synthesized financial statements, drafted LOIs, and analyzed add-on acquisitions as part of an aggressive roll-up strategy with comprehensive integration (strategic org chart modifications, compensation benchmarking, operational analysis).
  • Prepared valuations and detailed financial modeling for an $800 million acquisition in the agrotech space as well as the potential acquisition of a venture-backed portfolio of companies.
  • Was operationally focused: organized a post-acquisition 100-day plan, identified balance sheet improvements and cost synergies, evaluated key add-on acquisitions, and worked with management to drive operational improvements.
Focus areas: Financial Modeling, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Revenue & Expense Projections, Three-statement Modeling, Investor Relations, Agrotech, Renewable Energy, Clean Energy, Fintech Consultant, Cross-border M&A, Fundraising Strategy, Portfolio Management, M&A Due Diligence (Financial), IFRS Financial Reporting, Cash Flow Management, Financial Controls & Processes, Internal Control, Board Decks, Excel Expert, Treasury Management, Excel 365, Corporate Governance, Strategic Planning, Business Transformation

Interim CFO

2015 - PRESENT
Multiple Companies
  • Worked with five B2B and D2C consumer businesses in the past 10 years as the head of finance/CFO. Served as CFO to one of the largest online fun clothing consumer brands in San Diego ($20 million revenue/year). Built all financial models and KPIs.
  • Led data science initiatives and customer cohort analysis Tableau/data science packages to understand what drove business. Managed finance department's daily operations, led budget and company strategy/purchasing for a $10 million inventory budget.
  • Acted as the interim CFO at a $2 million revenue LA-based premium eCommerce consumer brand—built the cash flow management system, budget, operations metrics (inventory days and warehouse inventory management, to name a few), and KPIs.
  • Assembled the financial package and projections and led fundraising for $2 million. Interfaced with lenders/board and walked them through the financial model. The financial model was used to purchase inventory and decide on the budget.
  • Acted as the CFO of an $80 million revenue business services company being restructured. Assembled CF projections and models—led negotiations with lenders, helped the CEO with the financial strategy, and refinanced with $15 million of debt capital.
  • Served as a head of FP&A at five companies and led all financial planning and analysis, budgeting, and detailed pricing/volume forecasts (and sensitivity/scenario analysis).
Focus areas: Business Strategy, Cohort Analysis, Big Data, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Budgeting, Interim CFO, Financials, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Fractional CFO, Part-time CFO, CFO, Early-stage Venture Capital, Direct to Consumer (D2C), Go-to-market Plans, Go-to-market Strategy, Strategy, Reporting, Investor Reporting, Forecasting, Cash Flow, Xero, Management, Taxation, UK GAAP, P&L Management, Profit & Loss (P&L), International Finance, Administrative Procedures, Systems & Procedures, Business Planning, Financing, Consumer Products, CAPEX Budgeting & Inventory Management, Cash Flow Forecasting, US GAAP, B2C, Scaling, Inventory Management, B2B, ERP Implementation, Cash Management, Digital Banking, Business Services, Fintech Consultant, Virtual CFO, Price Analysis, Cross-border M&A, Excel Modeling, Models, Fundraising Strategy, M&A Due Diligence (Financial), IFRS Financial Reporting, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Enterprise Software, NetSuite, Cash Flow Management, Financial Controls & Processes, Internal Control, Pricing, Board Decks, Excel Expert, Treasury Management, Excel 365, Corporate Governance, Business Transformation

Interim CFO

2022 - 2023
Smartpay Solutions PTE LTD
  • Led all finance, accounting, pricing/commercial, treasury management, and FP&A functions at a leading fintech company with operations in Asia. Backed by leading global venture capital firms, Matrix and GFC.
  • Oversaw cash flow and expense management across four currencies and subsidiaries. Streamlined month-end closing and financial reporting and reviews with investors.
  • Provided financial leadership to the global team and 3rd parties, including vendor management, invoicing, cash flow projections, corporate strategy, and budgeting.
  • Led budgeting and expense management, directly reporting to the CEO and board of directors. Assisted with fundraising and capital raises as head of finance (data room, projections/forecasts, analysis, corporate documents, etc.).
Focus areas: Financial Modeling, CFO, Forecasting, Cash Flow Consultant, Consumer Lending, Startups, Cash Flow Modeling, Budgeting, Consumer Loans, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Singapore, Japan, Fintech, Reporting, Business to Business (B2B), Merchant Cash Advances, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Revenue & Expense Projections, Business Models, Process Design, Accounting, Direct to Consumer (D2C), Go-to-market Plans, Go-to-market Strategy, Interim CFO, Fractional CFO, Cash Flow, Xero, Management, Taxation, P&L Management, Profit & Loss (P&L), International Finance, Administrative Procedures, Systems & Procedures, Business Planning, Financing, Consumer Products, CAPEX Budgeting & Inventory Management, Cash Flow Forecasting, US GAAP, B2C, Scaling, Inventory Management, B2B, Cash Management, Digital Banking, Business Services, Fintech Consultant, Virtual CFO, Price Analysis, Cross-border M&A, Excel Modeling, Models, Fundraising Strategy, M&A Due Diligence (Financial), IFRS Financial Reporting, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Enterprise Software, NetSuite, Cash Flow Management, Financial Controls & Processes, Internal Control, Pricing, Board Decks, Excel Expert, Treasury Management, Corporate Governance, Strategic Planning, Business Transformation

VP Corporate Development | Head of FP&A

2018 - 2021
Premier Group
  • Led M&A at a PE-backed platform of a CSL portfolio company with $60 million of equity. Acquired four add-on acquisitions with an EV between $3MM to $20MM in the industrial services and SaaS spaces across Europe and North America.
  • Led all aspects of the deal processes: drafting IOI/LOIs, due diligence of potential acquisitions, including customer cohort analysis, managing third-party advisors, and organizing presentations to the board.
  • Analyzed add-on acquisitions as part of an aggressive roll-up strategy with comprehensive integration, including strategic organization chart modifications, compensation benchmarking, and operational analysis.
  • Worked closely with the president and chairman on detailed strategic analysis and budgeting.
Focus areas: Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Private Equity, Deal Analysis, Strategy, Interim CFO, Fractional CFO, Medical Devices, Manufacturing, Reporting, Investor Reporting, Forecasting, Cash Flow, Management, P&L Management, Profit & Loss (P&L), International Finance, Administrative Procedures, Systems & Procedures, Business Planning, Financing, Consumer Products, CAPEX Budgeting & Inventory Management, Cash Flow Forecasting, US GAAP, B2C, Scaling, Inventory Management, B2B, ERP Implementation, Digital Banking, Business Services, Cross-border M&A, Excel Modeling, Models, Financial Controls & Processes, Internal Control, Board Decks, Excel Expert, Excel 365, Corporate Governance, Strategic Planning

Vice President

2014 - 2018
CSL Capital Management
  • Closed over $300 million of acquisitions across the healthcare, manufacturing, industrials, energy/cleantech, SaaS, eCommerce, distribution, data science, B2B, and tech-enabled service spaces.
  • Acquired a leading downhole pumping technology company for $16 million of equity and the acquisition of cementing assets for $55 million of equity.
  • Sourced, structured, and closed the acquisition of a global laboratory services company for $15 million EV.
  • Co-founded a premier laboratory services testing company in the USA with +$40 million of equity backing; recruited the first employees and add-on acquisitions.
  • Assembled materials for the fundraising presentation used to raise $420 million PE fund (two closings). Negotiated LP agreement clauses and fee structures.
  • Led post-investment-related activities, including cash flow forecasting and operations improvements at four portfolio companies.
  • Acted as interim CFO at an $80 million revenue rental services company with P&L responsibility. Helped company restructure debt and negotiate covenant waivers with existing lenders.
  • Led primary research and assisted in negotiations for the sale of a niche specialty manufacturing company for $321 million. Assembled business plan for the greenfield manufacturing operations.
Focus areas: Budgeting, Director, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Due Diligence, Legal, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Lead Generation, COO, Trade Finance, Go-to-market Plans, Go-to-market Strategy, Strategy, Initial Public Offerings, Reporting, Financial Modeling, Investor Reporting, Forecasting, Cash Flow, Management, UK GAAP, Administrative Procedures, Systems & Procedures, Virtual CFO, Cross-border M&A, Excel Modeling, Models, Hedge Funds, Portfolio Management, Excel Expert, Excel 365, Corporate Governance, Strategic Planning

Associate

2012 - 2014
Siemens Venture Capital
  • Invested $62 million into seven venture stage tech companies, including the largest global electric vehicle charging network ChargePoint (NYSER: SBE), solar microinveter co. Enphase Energy (NASDAQ: ENPH), concentrating photovoltaics, and wind LIDAR.
  • Worked with partner on healthcare diagnostics and imaging (Viewray, NYSE: VRAY) and healthtech companies in telemedicine and hospital efficiency software. Organized termsheets and physician surveys/primary research.
  • Reviewed termsheet for Chargepoint and determined market sizing for the largest network of electric vehicle charging stations. Worked with management on 5-year projections and returns waterfall after Series B/C rounds.
  • Worked with VC partner to assemble fundraising materials and internal budgets/forecasts. Led portfolio company reporting and valuations and was a Board Observer on two companies.
  • Assembled ten investment committee memos, including financial models and conducted primary research in niche industries.
  • Led $25 million investment into three solar manufacturing (CPV and multi-junction wafer) companies. Negotiated off take agreement with clients and project financing for initial 10 MW project in Nevada.
  • Sourced 20 software/technology companies directly and conducted initial diligence meetings with management.
Focus areas: Startups, Financial Modeling, Investment Committee Advisory, Deal Sourcing, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Venture Capital, Medical Devices, Manufacturing, Reporting, Cash Flow, Excel Modeling, Models, Hedge Funds, Portfolio Management, Excel 365

Analyst

2010 - 2012
Audax Group Private Equity
  • Led analyst on ~$10 million of procurement for a $50 million revenue industrial distribution company: Total raw material cost savings of +$1 million.
  • Created a list of add-on acquisition candidates in the security software space. Led to two acquisitions.
  • Organized monthly operating review analysis for Chairman and managing directors.
  • Worked with the CFO of a leading business software company to improve debt covenant analysis and communication with lenders/banks.
  • Programmed software to allow the SVP of Sales to visualize monthly sales vs. quotas by sales personnel.
Focus areas: Acquisitions, Strategy, Board Presentations, Board of Directors, Budgeting, Data Science, Financial Modeling, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Manufacturing, Excel Modeling, Models
2010 - 2011

Graduate Degree in Clean Energy/Manufacturing

Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT - Boston, MA, USA

2004 - 2008

Bachelor's Degree in Physics (Minor in Applied and Computational Mathematics)

Princeton University - Princeton, New Jersey, USA

JUNE 2012 - PRESENT

CPA

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

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