Jason McClain, Finance Expert in Birmingham, AL, United States
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Jason McClain

Verified Expert  in Finance

Finance Expert

Location
Birmingham, AL, United States
Toptal Member Since
March 2, 2021

A Wharton MBA and former CFO, Jason has executed over $3 billion in transactions as a Goldman Sachs and boutique investment banker. He joined Toptal because of the variety of challenging finance and accounting projects. He has worked with Fortune 500, middle-market, early-stage, and non-profit organizations across a wide range of industries. Previously, Jason was a Marine Corps aviator operating the F/A-18 fighter aircraft and holding a Top Secret security clearance.

Financial ForecastingFinancial ModelingRevenue & Expense ProjectionsValuationComparable Company AnalysisInvestment BankingTransaction AdvisoryAccountingCorporate FinanceProfitability AnalysisMergers & Acquisitions (M&A)Capital MarketsEconomicsAccounts ReceivableFinancial ReportingBank ReconciliationTransaction ProcessingFinancial Benchmarking Consulting

Career Highlights

Founder and Principal
Fox One Solutions
CFO
YWCA Central Alabama
Investment Banker
Goldman Sachs

Education Highlights

Master's Degree
School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Bachelor's Degree
U.S. Naval Academy

Case Studies

Work Experience

Founder and Principal

2019 - PRESENT
Fox One Solutions
  • Created the expected return and risk distributions for an $80 million venture capital portfolio leading to the client being awarded a long-term advisory contract by a company with $27 billion in assets.
  • Built a customized financial model overnight for an international client’s acquisition of oil and gas reserves.
  • Advised an eCommerce company on financial forecasting in support of a $7.5 million series A financing.
  • Provided a commercial real estate valuation consultation that resulted in the client receiving a $1.0 million higher purchase offer.
  • Performed statistical data analyses of multiple surveys that enabled a chamber of commerce to determine member engagement factors.
Focus areas: Financial Modeling, Finance, Accounting, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Economics, Valuation, Corporate Finance, International Finance, Finance Reports, Google Finance, Financial Accounting, Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Statements, Integrated Financial Statements, Financial Forecasting, Comparable Company Analysis, Transaction Comparables, Peer Comparison, DCF Valuation, Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), Discounted Cash Flow Analysis, Three-statement Modeling, Revenue & Expense Projections, Financial Analysis, Spreadsheets, Capital Markets, Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), GAAP, US GAAP, Microsoft Word, Profitability Analysis, Financial Markets, Leveraged Buyout Modeling, Leverage Analysis, Data Analysis, P&L Analysis, P&L Forecasting, Financials, Financial Reporting, Financial Ratios, Financial Benchmarking, Financial Data, Financial Presentations, Transaction Modeling, Precedent Transaction Analysis, Business Analysis, Accounting Software, Analysis, Cash Flow Analysis, Pro Forma Analysis, Peer Group Analysis, Ratio Analysis, Trend Analysis, Return Analysis, Valuation Analysis, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Microsoft 365, Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Revenue Projections, Five-year Projections, Outlook, Microsoft Outlook, Google Sheets, DCF Modeling, PV Analysis

CFO

2018 - 2019
YWCA Central Alabama
  • Supervised the accounting and finance functions for the sole YWCA in Alabama with ten departments, 30 real estate properties, a $9 million budget, and over 120 employees serving more than 15,000 women and children annually.
  • Established a detailed system for managing the organization’s more than 30 government grant awards each with individual applications, reporting (monthly, quarterly, annual), budgeting, and terms.
  • Recognized as a Birmingham Business Journal “Veteran of Influence” for contributions to the community.
  • Created a detailed budget using integrated financial modeling that resulted in receipt of more than $5 million in grant funding.
  • Leveraged Excel skills to complete a variety of analyses including budgets, variance analysis, forecasting, and trend analysis.
Focus areas: Accounting, Finance, Budgeting, Microsoft Excel, Financial Modeling, Microsoft PowerPoint, Economics, Leadership, Teamwork, Corporate Finance, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Bookkeeping, Finance Reports, Financial Accounting, Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Statements, Integrated Financial Statements, Financial Forecasting, Three-statement Modeling, Revenue & Expense Projections, Financial Analysis, Financial Model Auditing, CFO, Reconciliation, Bank Reconciliation, Spreadsheets, Team Leadership, Double-entry Bookkeeping, Management, Budget Modeling, Annual Budgets, Journal Entries, General Ledgers, Trial Balance, GAAP, US GAAP, Microsoft Word, Profitability Analysis, Data Analysis, P&L Analysis, P&L Forecasting, Financials, Financial Reporting, Financial Ratios, Financial Benchmarking, Financial Data, Financial Presentations, Business Analysis, Accounting Software, Chart of Accounts, Analysis, Cash Flow Analysis, Pro Forma Analysis, Trend Analysis, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Microsoft 365, Nonprofits, Revenue Projections, Outlook, Microsoft Outlook

Investment Banker

2016 - 2018
Arlington Capital Advisors
  • Led the analysis and execution for the $335 million take-private acquisition of the Ruby Tuesday chain of 596 restaurants.
  • Designed and managed a nine-person firm’s most successful recruiting process ever, resulting in four new hires (a 44% increase in firm size).
  • Created and supervised the firm’s first new hire training program, incorporating third-party and in-house instruction.
  • Led the firm's successful new industry expansions into healthcare and craft spirits.
  • Built a variety of financial models including discounted cash flow (DCF), comparable company, merger consequences, precedent transaction, and accretion/dilution.
  • Completed a complex leveraged buyout (LBO) that included a board approach, credit facility negotiations, and real estate sale-leaseback. Analyses included covenant compliance, returns analysis, scenario analysis, and debt capacity.
Focus areas: Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Investment Banking, Microsoft Excel, Finance, Financial Modeling, Microsoft PowerPoint, Economics, Leadership, Teamwork, Valuation, Corporate Finance, International Finance, Finance Reports, Financial Accounting, Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Statements, Integrated Financial Statements, Financial Forecasting, Financial Services, Comparable Company Analysis, Transaction Comparables, Peer Comparison, DCF Valuation, Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), Discounted Cash Flow Analysis, Three-statement Modeling, Revenue & Expense Projections, Financial Analysis, Financial Model Auditing, Spreadsheets, Team Leadership, Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), Management, GAAP, US GAAP, Microsoft Word, Profitability Analysis, Leveraged Buyout Modeling, Leverage Analysis, Data Analysis, P&L Analysis, P&L Forecasting, Financials, Financial Reporting, Financial Ratios, Financial Benchmarking, Financial Data, Financial Presentations, Financial Transactions, Transactions, Transaction Modeling, Transaction Advisory, Precedent Transaction Analysis, Business Analysis, Analysis, Cash Flow Analysis, Deal Analysis, Pro Forma Analysis, Peer Group Analysis, Scenario Analysis, NPV, Ratio Analysis, Trend Analysis, Return Analysis, Valuation Analysis, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Microsoft 365, Banking & Finance, Restaurants & Dining, Beer & Brewing, Revenue Projections, Five-year Projections, Outlook, Microsoft Outlook, DCF Modeling, PV Analysis

Investment Banker

2014 - 2016
Goldman Sachs
  • Executed a $500 million company sale to a private equity buyer that created the second largest security monitoring company in the US.
  • Completed a $1.1 billion dividend recapitalization for a financial sponso- owned consulting firm.
  • Prepared 50 client presentations averaging 40+ pages for CEOs, CFOs, board of directors, and partners that recommended strategic alternatives such as M&A, debt and equity capital markets, IPO, spinoff, share repurchase, and activist defense.
  • Supervised 1-3 analysts on 22 projects that integrated cross-department efforts with capital markets, risk, legal, tax, and compliance.
  • Built a debt repayment model and coordinated the credit analysis memo for a successful term loan financing.
  • Performed a due diligence of company financials that enabled a deal to pass leveraged loan criteria and return $125 million to its owners.
  • Served clients across a variety of industries including manufacturing, business services, consumer goods, aerospace and defense, building products, and transportation.
  • Built a custom operating model for a new container shipping company including an asset-backed valuation and an IPO.
  • Created multiple merger models under a short timeline for a prospective $2.0 billion transaction that would combine the leading consumer goods companies in their industry.
  • Participated in Wharton and military Veteran recruiting by selecting candidates for interviews and traveling to numerous events.
Focus areas: Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Investment Banking, Microsoft Excel, Finance, Financial Modeling, Valuation, Corporate Finance, International Finance, Finance Reports, Financial Accounting, Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Statements, Integrated Financial Statements, Financial Forecasting, Financial Services, Comparable Company Analysis, Transaction Comparables, Peer Comparison, DCF Valuation, Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), Discounted Cash Flow Analysis, Three-statement Modeling, Revenue & Expense Projections, Financial Analysis, Financial Model Auditing, Profitability Analysis, S&P Capital IQ, Microsoft PowerPoint, Leadership, Team Leadership, Financial Markets, Spreadsheets, Capital Markets, Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), Management, GAAP, US GAAP, Microsoft Word, Leveraged Buyout Modeling, Leverage Analysis, Data Analysis, P&L Analysis, P&L Forecasting, Financials, Financial Reporting, Financial Ratios, Financial Benchmarking, Financial Data, Financial Presentations, Financial Transactions, Transactions, Transaction Modeling, Transaction Advisory, Precedent Transaction Analysis, Business Analysis, Banking & Finance, Accounting, Analysis, Cash Flow Analysis, Deal Analysis, Accretion/Dilution Analysis, Pro Forma Analysis, Peer Group Analysis, Scenario Analysis, PV Analysis, NPV, Ratio Analysis, Return Analysis, Trend Analysis, Valuation Analysis, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Microsoft Outlook, Outlook, Microsoft 365, Teamwork, Five-year Projections, Revenue Projections, Economics, Industrials, DCF Modeling

Captain, Aviator, Department Head

2000 - 2009
U.S. Marine Corps
  • Operated the F/A-18D Hornet combat tactical jet aircraft on over 300 air-to-air and air-to-ground training missions including 12 months of international operations in Japan, South Korea, and Thailand.
  • Led the squadron’s largest division supervising 35 aircraft technicians who maintained 12 aircraft valued at over $360 million.
  • Instructed over 1,900 Marine Officers in demanding settings including dynamic training exercises in remote areas under harsh weather conditions while utilizing live explosives and ammunition.
Focus areas: Leadership, Teamwork, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Spreadsheets, Team Leadership, Management, Microsoft Word, Microsoft 365, Outlook, Microsoft Outlook
2011 - 2014

Master's Degree in International Economics and Development

School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University - Washington, DC, USA

2011 - 2014

Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance

The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

1996 - 2000

Bachelor's Degree in Systems Engineering

U.S. Naval Academy - Annapolis, Maryland, USA

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