Laura is available for hire
Hire LauraLaura McCormally
Verified Expert in Finance
Finance Expert
Location
Morongo Valley, CA, United States
Toptal Member Since
June 29, 2018
An Ivey MBA, Laura has 10+ years of experience at RBC, a Top 10 Global investment bank, advising senior executives on transformational M&A transactions and capital markets risk management. She's closed ~$4 billion in M&A deals in the last three years in NYC, including for RSP Permian, Delek U.S., Zayo, and Windstream. Freelancing allows Laura to assist mid-market companies evaluate strategic alternatives, growth, and capital structures.
Career Highlights
Chief Operating Officer
Homestead Modern
Director
RBC Capital Markets
Vice President
RBC Capital Markets
Education Highlights
Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree
Richard Ivey School of Business, Western University
Industry Expertise
Other Expertise
Work Experience
Chief Operating Officer
2018 - PRESENT
Homestead Modern
- Redesigned financial process, implementing QBO and ancillary app automation and custom designed SaaS templates to classify revenue and expenses from third party reports, resulting in a 65% reduction in accounting costs and 75% reduction in time.
- Supported successful capital raising for two new real estate development funds with high net worth individuals, through production of financial models, pitches and ad hoc analysis.
- Held full P&L responsibility for $2.5 million+ revenue company in rapid early growth stage, bringing it into profitability despite challenges of global pandemic.
- Implemented new multi-platform reservation system, redesigned and automated field operations, including scheduling, time tracking, expenses management and standardization of program elements.
- Built and trained team of three full time employees, reporting to me, to service the property management business, including field operations, guest reservations, properties and cleaning and other vendors.
Focus areas: Modeling, Operations, Financials, Accounting
Director
2014 - 2017
RBC Capital Markets
- Provided thought leadership and execution support on structured public M&A mandates and advised senior executives on execution strategy, vision, and market position.
- Designed and presented updates, analysis, and information to help key stakeholders make informed decisions, aided negotiations and led proposal designs.
- Ensured required internal RBC and external legal and financial market regulations were adhered to; reviewed SEC disclosures and legal documentation, and assessed risks.
- Devised, managed and reviewed numerous M&A, financing and financial forecast models across multiple industries, through close collaboration with junior banking staff and client finance team.
- Led coordinated due diligence efforts across cross-functional and cross-company teams including clients, buyers/sellers, debt and equity providers, accountants, lawyers and environmental and other third-party advisors.
- Closed recent transactions include: 1) Buy-side and financing advisor to RSP Permian (NYSE: RSPP) on purchase of Silver Hill Energy LLC for approximately $2.4 billion in cash and stock; 2) Sell-side advisor to Delek U.S. Holdings (NYSE: DK) on sale of retail segment including MAPCO Express to Compania de Petroleos de Chile S.A. (SNSE: COPEC) for $535 million; 3) Sell-side advisor to The Sterling Group on sale of B&G Crane to NCSG Crane and other investors; 4) Zayo (NYSE: ZAYO) purchase of Allstream from Manitoba Telecom (TSE: MBT) and 5) Windstream's (NASDAQ: WIN) sale of Hosted Solutions to TierPoint.
- Partnered with a wide range of RBC supported charities, led recruiting efforts for Canadian undergraduates to investment banking in New York and championed ongoing women’s mentorship, development, and diversity sponsorship programs.
Focus areas: Transaction Modeling, Capital Structuring, Capital Raising, Financial Marketing, Financial Model Auditing, Corporate Finance, Investor Presentations, Capital Structure Analysis, Forecasting, Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), Valuation Analysis, Three-statement Modeling, Finance Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
Vice President
2011 - 2014
RBC Capital Markets
- Leveraged robust leadership and data analytics skills to drive and execute strategic initiatives spanning across global budgets, marketing materials, product penetration of U.S. loan clients, and internal strategy documents.
- Built a new platform to analyze capital market risks associated with cross-border investment banking transactions for the global client base and aided in pitching C-level executives on derivative and hedging products.
- Effectively translated investment banking transaction risks for fixed income professionals and organized global coverage for 24/6 operations in partnership with sales, trading, and research teams based in London, New York, Hong Kong, and Sydney.
- Achieved >$3 million P&L budget by fostering strong foreign exchange trading relationships and growing coverage universe to 50+ North American diversified corporate clients, with 50% representing new trading clientele.
- Negotiated trade volumes of up to $500 million in single day.
Focus areas: Forex Trading, Forward Contracts, Financial Options, Data Analysis, FX Risk Analysis, Foreign Exchange (FX) Hedging
Associate
2007 - 2010
RBC Capital Markets
- Supported execution of public and private transactions across multiple industries, including consumer retail, media, food service, industrial, media, mining, and oil & gas, as a part of Canada's leading M&A team.
- Built financial models for numerous transformational transactions and supported client budget and forecasts, utilized for valuation and financing of M&A mandates.
- Designed financial analysis, marketing presentations, and investor decks through primary and secondary company and industry research.
- Coordinated and managed strategic release of large data and information streams through the use of virtual data rooms with strict confidentiality and permission requirements.
- Select announced transactions: UTS Energy (unsolicited defense against Total S.A.), Frontera Copper (unsolicited defense against Invecture Group), and Canwest Media (restructuring advisory role).
- Designed the VBA shortcut set for modeling in Excel that was adopted as the basis for a global RBC tool for Excel still used ten years later.
Focus areas: Cash Flow Modeling, Cost of Capital, Forecasting, Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), Valuation Multiples, Investor Presentations, Three-statement Modeling, Leveraged Buyout Modeling, Financial Modeling, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
Summer Associate
2006 - 2006
RBC Capital Markets
- Initiated coverage on Resolve Business Outsourcing Income Fund through extensive industry research, site visits, and discussions with senior management.
- Published research notes for continuing coverage of six income trusts in various industries involving quarterly updates, research comments on new developments, participation in conference calls and attending annual general meetings and marketing lunches.
- Authored three original RBC Trust Weekly articles, one republished by the Canadian Investor Relations Institute.
Focus areas: Valuation Multiples, Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), Valuation Modeling, Equity Research
Co-op
2005 - 2005
Ford Motor Company
- Developed lobbying card on Ford’s initiatives and economic impact to educate government and key contacts.
- Researched marketing mix, product specifications, and provincial regulations to develop Ford lobbying platform to support Ford dealers to change the Quebec Heavy Duty Vehicle regulations.
- Supported senior management, Sales and Planning Committee, Ford USA and Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association (CVMA) with research and analysis packages for topical issues through research utilizing statistical databases, CVMA, Ford, and Ford US contacts, and public documents.
Focus areas: Government, Lobbying
Manager
1993 - 2002
Foots Bay Marina
- Devised accounting system and procedures for marina consisting of six small divisions catering to regular elite clientele to improve cost control, account payables and receivable turnovers, reporting, and efficiency.
- Hired and trained up to 15 staff per season for the small seasonal family run marina.
- Oversaw expansion of marina services and construction of new capital assets.
Focus areas: Payroll & Benefits, Tax Preparation, Double-entry Bookkeeping, General Management, Revenue Management, Cash Management, Account Preparation
Education
2005 - 2007
Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree in Finance
Richard Ivey School of Business, Western University - London, Canada
1999 - 2003
Bachelor's Degree in Economics
University of Toronto - Toronto, Canada
Collaboration That Works
How to Work with Toptal
Toptal matches you directly with global industry experts from our network in hours—not weeks or months.
1
Share your needs
Discuss your requirements and refine your scope in a call with a Toptal domain expert.
2
Choose your talent
Get a short list of expertly matched talent within 24 hours to review, interview, and choose from.
3
Start your risk-free talent trial
Work with your chosen talent on a trial basis for up to two weeks. Pay only if you decide to hire them.
Top talent is in high demand.
Start hiring