Jeff Mikes, Finance Expert in Atlanta, GA, United States
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Jeff Mikes

Verified Expert  in Finance

Bio

Jeff has built, led, and advised dozens of companies over 25 years, focusing on financial services, retail, technology, and digital experience. He co-founded and scaled a digital transformation advisory company that was sold to a major consulting firm. A former CFO, managing director, and head of strategy with global experience, he joined Toptal to help clients find new avenues of profitable growth while building scalable organizations.

Career Highlights

SVP Strategy
Media Monks
Global Managing Director, Board Member
Zemoga
Managing Partner, Founder
Trade NTE

Education Highlights

Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree
Arizona State University - Thunderbird
Bachelor's Degree
Miami University

Case Studies

Work Experience

Strategic Advisor

2024 - PRESENT
Bravery Group - Contract
  • Led buy-side acquisition process for a global system integrator targeting US mid-market firms. Sourced, valued, and negotiated deal structures.
  • Partnered with an AI data science firm to provide transformation consulting to enterprise clients. Guided C-suite clients on use case prioritization, roadmap, and capital planning, operational measurement, and scaling.
  • Guided CMO of a cyber insurance firm on operationalizing AI use cases, focusing on marketing workflow automation and data integration.
  • Advised beverage industry eCommerce leader on AI opportunities in field service sales enablement. Guided selection of technology infrastructure and digital experience providers.
Focus areas: Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Business Models, Business & Digital Transformation, Artificial Intelligence (AI)

SVP Strategy

2022 - 2023
Media Monks
  • Led the post-acquisition integration of multiple global firms to create Media Monks' Technology Services group. The effort spanned sales, marketing, offerings, personnel, and systems.
  • Redefined market positioning and consolidated service offerings across teams in over a dozen countries. Introduced a formal strategic planning process to align people, processes, teams, and capital allocation.
  • Created an AI-first business strategy to pivot internal production processes and client-facing offerings to new platforms. Guided the rollout of tools across teams and drove initial client consulting engagements to define real-world business cases.
Focus areas: Growth, Integration, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Financial Modeling, Business Models, Strategy, SaaS, Microsoft Excel, Corporate Finance, Corporate Development, Excel Modeling, Forecasting, Financial Analysis, Financial Ratios, Market Research, Cash Flow, P&L Forecasting, Pitch Decks, P&L Analysis, Cost Analysis, Marketing Research & Analysis, Revenue Analysis, Pricing, Business Development, Marketing Strategy, Business Strategy, Fundraising, Monetization Models, Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Global Managing Director, Board Member

2016 - 2021
Zemoga
  • Served as a board member and guided the executive team and board through the sale of the firm to a global marketing holding company. Partnered with investment bankers to assess potential acquirers, cultural fit, valuation and deal structure, and integration plan.
  • Grew revenue by 30% annually for a nearshore digital production firm with 120 FTE personnel. Repositioned the firm's offerings and pricing strategy to a "managed resourcing" approach, increasing average contract term commitment by 40%.
  • Repositioned the firm's offerings and pricing strategy to better align with the market opportunity (high-end near-shore staff) and shift away from project-based, one-off efforts.
  • Led business and product strategy for the launch of a major financial investment firm's "robo-advisor" offering targeted to millennials. This effort included UX, design, and development for mobile, web, media assets, and CRM.
  • Restructured finance and accounting processes, teams, and systems. Implemented controls and procedures to manage expense growth and profitability monitoring in real time. Standardized the valuation approach for internal and external stakeholders.
Focus areas: Revenue & Expense Projections, Business Planning, Profitability Optimization, Profit & Loss (P&L), Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Pricing, Finance Strategy, Corporate Finance, Financial Modeling, Business Models, Strategy, SaaS, Microsoft Excel, Excel Modeling, Forecasting, Financial Analysis, M&A Due Diligence (Financial), Financial Ratios, M&A Modeling, Market Research, Cash Flow, Fractional CFO, P&L Forecasting, Pitch Decks, CFO, Investment Banking, P&L Analysis, Series A, Venture Capital, Cost Analysis, Marketing Research & Analysis, Revenue Analysis, Business Development, Marketing Strategy, Business Strategy, Fundraising, Monetization Models, Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Managing Partner, Founder

2009 - 2016
Trade NTE
  • Built a high-performing team across four offices in the US, scaled through great work, and sold the firm to a major international consulting firm for 9x EBITDA.
  • Advised consulting and technology buyers on marketing firm acquisitions (digital, PR, data) worth over $400 million.
  • Developed business model and digital marketing strategy for GE Capital Bank that helped drive deposit growth to over $32 billion.
  • Created and implemented a content marketing strategy for Bank of America Merchant Services, driving down customer acquisition costs by 30% versus traditional search engine marketing (SEM) and repositioning the firm as an industry thought leader.
Focus areas: Business Advisory, Pricing Strategy, Investments, Working Capital Management, Profitability Optimization, Revenue Management, Private Equity Valuation, Cash Management, Market Models, M&A Earn-out Agreements, M&A (Sell-side), M&A Modeling, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Financial Modeling, Business Models, Strategy, SaaS, Microsoft Excel, Corporate Finance, Corporate Development, Excel Modeling, Forecasting, Financial Analysis, M&A Due Diligence (Financial), Financial Ratios, Market Research, Cash Flow, Fractional CFO, P&L Forecasting, Pitch Decks, Startups, CFO, Investment Banking, P&L Analysis, Series A, Venture Capital, Cost Analysis, Marketing Research & Analysis, Revenue Analysis, Pricing, Business Development, Marketing Strategy, Business Strategy, Fundraising, Monetization Models

Chief Financial Officer

2006 - 2009
IQ Agency
  • Managed the doubling of revenue and headcount while increasing profitability and tripling company valuation.
  • Oversaw the implementation of a new corporate technology stack, including integration of data insights, media planning, project management, and financial reporting tools.
  • Delivered financial training for all staff on the firm's business model and their contribution. Advised clients on risk and growth potential for multi-million dollar investments.
  • Led operating logistics in founding the Society of Digital Agencies (SoDA), an international industry trade and peer group of over 100 firms.
  • Prioritized investment in new channels and technologies tied to increasing market demand, especially in mobile platforms and social media.
Focus areas: Operating Expenses (OPEX), Balance Sheets, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Tax Credits, Capital Structuring, Revenue Modeling, Profit & Loss (P&L), Working Capital Management, Cash Flow Forecasting, Accounting Systems, Finance Operation Improvements, Operational Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Financial Modeling, Business Models, Strategy, Microsoft Excel, Corporate Finance, Corporate Development, Excel Modeling, Forecasting, Financial Analysis, Financial Ratios, M&A Modeling, Cash Flow, P&L Forecasting, Startups, CFO, P&L Analysis, Venture Capital, Cost Analysis, Marketing Research & Analysis, Revenue Analysis, Pricing, Marketing Strategy, Business Strategy, Fundraising

VP Finance & Operations

2002 - 2005
Publicis S.A.
  • Managed the integration of agencies in a roll-up of marketing services organizations. Responsibilities included equity valuations, client conflict resolution, and financial and operating process harmonization.
  • Oversaw North American client finance teams across five offices with total sales of $120 million. Led all contract negotiations, pricing, and sourcing decisions. Managed adherence to revenue growth and profitability targets globally and member of the executive planning committee on investment and scaling.
  • Served as Finance & Operations lead for the largest business unit (Digital) with billings of $40 million. Managed scaling and sourcing, scope risk assessment, and profitability.
  • Partnered with account directors on strategy and planning. Led procurement relationships for Philip Morris, Diageo, and Purina globally.
Focus areas: Working Capital Management, Profitability Optimization, Profit & Loss (P&L), Cash Flow Modeling, Revenue Management, Operational Finance, Valuation, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Financial Modeling, Business Models, Strategy, Microsoft Excel, Corporate Finance, Corporate Development, Excel Modeling, Forecasting, Financial Analysis, M&A Due Diligence (Financial), Financial Ratios, Cash Flow, Fractional CFO, P&L Forecasting, CFO, Investment Banking, P&L Analysis, Cost Analysis, Marketing Research & Analysis, Revenue Analysis, Pricing, Marketing Strategy, Business Strategy

Director of Corporate Development, Director of Project Finance

1999 - 2002
Fluor Corporation
  • Modeled, structured, and negotiated project finance deals totaling over $1 billion with a primary focus on the engineering and construction for Telecom Infrastructure and Chemical Production.
  • Served as a member of incubation and launch team for a web-based trading platform focused on the global used heavy equipment market. This project was Fluor’s first internally incubated digital business with $50 million in internal committed funding.
Focus areas: Cash Flow Modeling, Debt Structuring, Equity Financing, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), M&A Modeling, Market Models, Project Finance, Financial Modeling, Business Models, Strategy, Microsoft Excel, Corporate Finance, Corporate Development, Excel Modeling, Forecasting, Financial Analysis, Financial Ratios, Market Research, Cash Flow, P&L Forecasting, Pitch Decks, Startups, P&L Analysis, Series A, Cost Analysis, Marketing Research & Analysis, Revenue Analysis, Pricing, Business Development, Marketing Strategy, Business Strategy, Fundraising, Monetization Models
1996 - 1998

Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree in International Management

Arizona State University - Thunderbird - Phoenix, AZ

1989 - 1993

Bachelor's Degree in Finance

Miami University - Oxford, Ohio

Finance

Corporate Finance, Pricing, M&A Modeling, Market Research, CFO, Profitability Analysis, Financial Modeling, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Forecasting, Cash Flow, P&L Forecasting, Fundraising, Monetization Models, Project Finance, Financial Systems, Series A, Finance Strategy, Profit & Loss (P&L), Profitability Optimization, Revenue & Expense Projections, M&A (Sell-side), M&A Earn-out Agreements, Market Models, Cash Management, Private Equity Valuation, Revenue Management, Working Capital Management, Pricing Strategy, Business Advisory, Operational Finance, Finance Operation Improvements, Accounting Systems, Cash Flow Forecasting, Revenue Modeling, Capital Structuring, Tax Credits, Balance Sheets, Operating Expenses (OPEX), Valuation, Cash Flow Modeling, Equity Financing, Debt Structuring

Output Software

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint

Geographic Expertise

United States, Europe, South America

Industry Expertise

Financial Services, Retail & Wholesale, Entertainment & Leisure, Technology, Venture Capital

Data & Analysis Software

Tableau

Other

P&L Management, Marketing, Digital Marketing, Digital Transformation, Management Consulting, Business Models, Strategy, Corporate Development, Excel Modeling, Financial Analysis, M&A Due Diligence (Financial), Financial Ratios, Fractional CFO, Pitch Decks, Startups, Investment Banking, P&L Analysis, Cost Analysis, Marketing Research & Analysis, Revenue Analysis, Business Development, Marketing Strategy, Business Strategy, Operating Models, Software as a Service (SaaS), Pivot Tables, SaaS, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Business Planning, Investments, Industry Analysis, Operations Strategy, Board Presentations, Growth, Integration, Business & Digital Transformation

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