Michael Louis, Finance Expert in Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Michael Louis

Verified Expert  in Finance

Finance Expert

Location
Philadelphia, PA, United States
Toptal Member Since
February 22, 2017

A Wharton graduate, Michael has executed billions of dollars in debt and equity investments for Goldman Sachs, hedge funds, private equity, and venture capital firms. At PNC Bank, Michael has also led technology and financial integration projects associated with PNC Bank's acquisition of RBC Bank ($3.5 billion) and National City Bank ($5 billion). Michael has advised clients across the US and Europe and now freelances to travel with his family.

Financial ModelingReal EstateValuationFinancial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)Private EquityMergers & Acquisitions (M&A)CFOFintechStartup FundingCredit AnalysisInterim CFOComplianceBudgetingFinancial Reporting

Career Highlights

Outsourced CFO
Copana Partners
Managing Director
Long Short Advisors
Investment Manager
Goldman Sachs

Education Highlights

Chief Financial Officer Training
Executive Finance Partners
Bachelor's Degree
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Certification Highlights

CFO Leadership
Executive Finance Partners
Project Management
PNC Bank

Case Studies

Work Experience

Outsourced CFO

2018 - PRESENT
Copana Partners
  • Served as an outsourced and interim CFO focused on turnarounds, restructurings, cash flow and profit improvement, debt and equity capital raising, and management and strategy consulting for client companies.
  • Navigated international and US-based tax reporting.
  • Led refinancing efforts of European real estate investments.
  • Built the financial valuation models for realized deals and potential investments in private equity deals.
  • Improved cash flows and profits for several small business clients in various industries.
Focus areas: Real Estate, Capital Raising, Private Equity, Modeling, Taxation, International Finance, Budgeting, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Business Strategy, Distressed/Special Situations, CFO, Pricing, Business Planning, Business Consulting

Managing Director

2014 - 2018
Long Short Advisors
  • Led the turnaround of a former $200 million mutual fund company focused on alternative investments and hedge fund strategies.
  • Raised $25 million in early-stage investment from institutional investors.
  • Analyzed and performed due diligence on several investment management companies for partnerships, which resulted in a successful joint venture with a $700 million hedge fund firm.
  • Led the engagement with an investment bank for an M&A transaction.
  • Managed all areas of finance, operations, distribution & sales, business development, compliance, acquisitions, human resources, legal, technology, and strategic growth.
Focus areas: Entrepreneurial Finance, Legal, Compliance, Budgeting, Capital Raising, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Business Strategy, Pricing, Business Planning, Business Consulting

Vice President, Technology & Operations

2009 - 2014
PNC Bank
  • Spearheaded and managed one of the largest and highest priority PNC technology projects with over 200 employees to improve financial accounting at the bank.
  • Oversaw technology and financial integration projects for the merger and acquisition of both RBC Bank ($3.5 billion) and National City Bank ($5 billion). These transactions made PNC Bank the 5th largest bank in the US.
  • Led a technology project in a complete overhaul of the methods of how the bank measures and scores the credit risk of borrowers—this project influenced the entire operations of the bank.
  • Created the short sale loan modification division at PNC after the financial crisis, saving PNC over $100 million per year.
  • Supervised the financial budgets (technology spend, time allocation of employees and outsourced contractors, and more) for multi-million dollar technology projects.
Focus areas: TMT, Telecommunications, Media, Technology, Fintech, Project Management, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Business Strategy, Business Planning, Business Consulting

CFO

2000 - 2009
Copana Partners
  • Headed the firm’s investment banking and corporate advisory division focused on private placements, debt and equity capital raising, turnarounds, restructurings, and management and strategy consulting for client companies.
  • Participated as the lead investor in the private equity leveraged buyout (LBO) of a real estate company in Europe.
  • Led the acquisition of the exclusive rights to Tootsie Roll products in parts of Europe.
  • Built the financial valuation models for potential future investments in real estate and private equity deals.
Focus areas: Entrepreneurial Finance, Lending, Real Estate Development, Business Planning, Finance, Real Estate, Leveraged Buyout Modeling, Private Equity, Business Strategy, Pricing, Business Consulting

Investment Manager

1996 - 2000
Goldman Sachs
  • Invested $100 million of the firm's capital in activist investments and long and short equity.
  • Led the post-purchase strategies including debt & equity capital raising, recapitalizations, strategic consulting, operational improvements, marketing improvements, strategic alliances, and potential M&A in order to maximize stock value.
  • Performed discounted cash flow (DCF) and comparable company analyses for potential investments as a buy-side analyst.
  • Focused on investing in and valuation of small and mid-cap value companies, turnarounds, distressed assets, and special situations.
Focus areas: Cash Flow Modeling, Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), Investment Portfolio Management, Investments, Equity Financing, Equity Valuation, Valuation Modeling, Valuation Analysis, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Business Strategy, Distressed/Special Situations, Pricing, Business Consulting
2018 - 2019

Chief Financial Officer Training in Professional Chief Financial Officer Program Focused on Competencies for a Modern CFO

Executive Finance Partners - Philadelphia, PA, USA

1992 - 1996

Bachelor's Degree in Finance

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

FEBRUARY 2019 - PRESENT

CFO Leadership

Executive Finance Partners

JANUARY 2016 - PRESENT

Project Management

PNC Bank

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