Brian is available for hire
Hire BrianBrian Faust
Verified Expert in Management Consulting
Management Consulting Expert
Dayton, OH, United States
Toptal member since February 7, 2018
Bio
Brian co-founded a family of privately held global technology and media companies with 180 employees and offices in NYC, Ohio, LA, and Tel Aviv—serving as its board member and CFO. He is also an experienced corporate development executive having led more than $500 million of transactions, integrations, and capital raises. Brian joined Toptal because he enjoys working with leading companies and teams on interesting and dynamic challenges.
Career Highlights
Co-founder, President, and CFO
Krush Media
Board Member and CFO
ooVoo Video Chat
Director, M&A
Teradata Corp
Education Highlights
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
University of Dayton
Bachelor's Degree
Wright State University
Case Studies
Financial and Operating Model for a New Business Venture
ModelingOperating ModelsOperational FinanceBudget ModelingBusiness PlanningFinancial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)+ 1 more
Acquisition Candidate Valuation Analysis
Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)ModelingValuationDiscounted Cash Flow AnalysisIRR
Financial and Operating Budget
ModelingBusiness PlanningAnalysisFinancial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)Operating ModelsOperational Finance+ 1 more
Industry Expertise
- Business Services
- Advertising & Marketing
- Finance
- Banking
- Investment Banking
- Venture Capital & Private Equity
- Media & Internet
- Manufacturing
Other Expertise
- CFO
- Corporate Development
- Financial Management
- Financial Modeling
- Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)
- Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
- Operational Finance
Work Experience
Managing Director
2017 - PRESENT
ShelbyMac Advisory Services
- Provided CFO and other consulting services to mid-market technology and media businesses, ranging from management of administrative and accounting staff, cash and cash flow management, revenue and expense management, and monthly investor reporting.
- Raised around $10 million of equity financing from a network of angel investors. Evaluated potential investments for investor network and led due diligence for three investment opportunities.
- Developed bottoms-up operational and financial models and dashboards for small and medium-sized businesses. Updated models with actual results each month and produced "budget vs actual" reporting and variance analysis for management and investors.
- Helped client secure $1 million of investor debt financing by developing pro forma cash flow model and opportunity overview deck. Attended investor pitch meetings and provided input as a credible finance and business expert.
- Led the shutdown of an unsuccessful business for a client. Liquidated physical assets, terminated contractual obligations, and negotiated cancelation/reduction obligations. Brokered sale of patent portfolio and directed wind-up of legal entities.
Focus areas: Due Diligence, Acquisitions, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Operational Finance, Strategic Planning & Execution
CFO
2019 - 2023
JobsOhio
- Oversaw the financial planning processes of the State of Ohio's spiritous liquor enterprise, representing over 450 locations, $1.7B in revenue, and $400M+ in profits while managing the underlying financial forecast model.
- Refinanced the organization's corporate bonds to generate $80M in interest expense savings and elevate S&P and Moody's credit rating; successfully issued new bonds, resulting in new funding of $350M.
- Conceived a portfolio management concept to leverage the organization’s assets effectively by shifting $700M of the company’s assets into an allocated portfolio that led to an estimated 5% increase in ROI.
- Management and P&L accountability for cross-functional departments including finance, accounting, planning, analysis, compliance, marketing, legal and program lending representing over 50 personnel.
- Founded, launched and managed the JobsOhio Growth Capital Fund, a seed+ through growth stage $250M AUM venture investment fund with over 80 tech and med tech focused portfolio companies.
- Partnered with multiple investors and external agencies, like institutional investors, corporate venture arms, world-class institutions with compelling IP portfolios, etc., to nurture relationships for improved venture deal flow.
Focus areas: Strategy, Management, Finance, Operations, Venture Funding, Accounting, Business Development, Senior Executive Management
Co-founder, President, and CFO
2016 - 2017
Krush Media
- Developed investment strategic rationale, business plan, bottom-up operational model and budget and an investor overview deck. Pitched investors and secured funding (in the seven figures).
- Negotiated and implemented legal and corporate structure, and employee incentive compensation plan.
- Recruited and hired geographically dispersed team of eight highly skilled digital media and programmatic advertising experts. Established headquarters in Los Angeles, CA.
- Defined company mission and vision statements, and built the brand voice, corporate messaging, corporate culture and online social presence.
- Ramped from $0 revenue to approximately $5 million of annual revenue in the first 12 months.
- Conceptualized, modeled, negotiated, and closed four complex exclusive partnerships with strategic clients.
Focus areas: Management, Fundraising, Strategic Partnerships, Operational Finance, Strategic Planning & Execution
Co-founder, Board Member, and CFO
2015 - 2017
Krush Technologies
- Developed investment strategic rationale, business plan, bottom-up operational model/budget and overview deck. Pitched investors and secured funding of more than $130 million.
- Negotiated and implemented legal and corporate structure and employee profit sharing units plan. Negotiated employment agreements for COO, CTO, CPO, VP of HR, and VP of Engineering.
- Established offices in Los Angeles, San Jose, and Dayton OH and managed offices in NYC and Tel Aviv.
- Selected and implemented all infrastructure and services required to ramp the business, including insurance and employee benefit plans, payroll systems, accounting systems, IP phone service, physical security, office furniture, and equipment.
- Designed and implemented business processes, controls and policies including expense management policies, purchasing and contracting policies and process, levels of financial and contractual approval, monthly budget to actual reporting and variance analysis, travel policies, FMLA leave processes and many others.
- Designed and managed a hiring mechanism that enabled ramp from 0 to more than 70 engineering and product employees in 12 months.
- Built and led world-class monetization function increasing revenue efficiency by 60% in six months. The increase was driven by the onboarding of new high-value digital media revenue opportunities while simultaneously scrubbing legacy processes to uncover opportunities for optimization of existing revenues.
- Served on the board of directors and provided financial management, investment and transaction expertise and perspective to the other board members and the chairman.
Focus areas: Business Planning, Management, Fundraising, Strategic Partnerships, Operational Finance, Strategic Planning & Execution
Board Member and CFO
2013 - 2016
ooVoo Video Chat
- Led a 12-person team in New York and Tel Aviv responsible for all aspects of finance, accounting, planning, analysis, corporate development, HR, legal, privacy, user safety, and facilities management. Spent one week each month working in the Tel Aviv office and enhancing team performance by turning the U.S. and Israeli cultural differences into strengths.
- Implemented business processes, controls and policies, including expense management policies, purchasing and contracting policies and process, levels of financial and contractual approval, monthly budget to actual reporting and variance analysis, travel policies, and FMLA leave processes.
- Conceived, orchestrated, and executed simultaneous downsizing in New York and Tel Aviv, resulting in a 30% workforce reduction and annual savings of more than $4 million with no loss of productivity.
- Reorganized the management team and helped evaluate and select the new CTO, Head of Product, and EVP of Engineering.
- Restructured the monetization function and led the new team resulting in 50% increase in advertising revenue efficiency.
- Served on the board of directors and provided financial management, investment and transaction expertise and perspective to the other board members and the chairman.
Focus areas: Management, Fundraising, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Strategic Partnerships, Operational Finance, Strategic Planning & Execution
M&A Director
2010 - 2015
Myrian Capital
- Developed the formal concept, business plan, bottom-up operational model and budget and overview deck for a direct investing vehicle for a wealthy family, Myrian Capital.
- Built the investment hypotheses and defined the investment focus areas. Designed investment screening process, criteria and approval gates.
- Negotiated and implemented the legal and corporate structure of the management company and serial investment fund, including the management fee and carried interest plan.
- Developed and maintained contacts with investment banks, financial advisories, VC firms, and other corporate finance-related businesses to drive high quality, strategically significant deal flow. Compiled and curated a list of investment candidates and established a mechanism to actively track them.
- Led five new investments and completed more than $100 million of follow-on investments in the technology and media space. Negotiated all associated term sheets, definitive agreements, and ancillary deal documents.
- Served as a board director of three portfolio companies in the technology, advanced advertising, and medical technology spaces.
- Developed, implemented, and managed monthly investment reporting processes.
Focus areas: Investment Portfolio Management, Investment Monitoring, Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
Director, M&A
2006 - 2009
Teradata Corp
- Advised on all aspects of transactions including selection and evaluation, due diligence, negotiation of deal terms, earnouts, definitive agreements, management roles, employment agreements, media and analyst releases, integration planning, and post-closing performance tracking.
- Managed the large cross-functional due diligence teams of analysts, managers, outside and inside counsel, outside and inside accounting, tax advisors, and investment bankers.
- Created detailed financial models describing proforma results, synergy impacts, valuation analysis and EPS impact analysis on more than 50 acquisition candidates in the data warehouse, analytics, marketing technology and professional services industries, of which about half were based outside of the US.
- Negotiated letters of intent, conducted due diligence and negotiated definitive agreements for more than 10 acquisition candidates.
- Developed and maintained contacts with investment banks, financial advisories, venture capital firms and other corporate finance-related businesses to drive high quality, strategically significant deal flow.
- Developed and instituted a standardized financial reporting format across the organization in order to produce consistent results and presentations for management.
Focus areas: Integration, Due Diligence, Transaction Structuring, M&A Modeling, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
Business Development Director
2005 - 2006
Reynolds and Reynolds Company
- Led the financial, valuation and EPS analysis and deal structuring of 16 acquisition targets representing revenues of more than $600 million, where four of the targets were outside the US. The targets were in the automotive technology, business services, eCommerce, and professional services spaces.
- Led the formal due diligence process for acquisition targets including managing large cross-functional teams consisting of 20 to 30 internal functional area experts, external investment bankers, and legal counsel.
- Led the negotiation of agreements relating to asset purchase, stock purchase and strategic alliance. Worked closely with inside and outside counsel to create all transaction and ancillary documents.
- Presented acquisition and partnership opportunities and the associated progress reports to senior management in order to build consensus and create a buy-in for the transaction.
- Helped develop the overarching business strategy for three new business units.
Focus areas: Integration, Due Diligence, M&A Modeling, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
Education
2001 - 2003
Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Corporate Finance
University of Dayton - Dayton, OH, USA
1999 - 2001
Bachelor's Degree in Finance
Wright State University - Dayton, OH, USA
Skills
Finance
Revenue & Expense Projections, Valuation, Operational Finance, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), DCF Valuation, Due Diligence, Financial Management, CFO, Corporate Finance, Pro Forma Financial Statements, Revenue Optimization, Investment Thesis, Cash Flow, Revenue Management, Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), Projected Cash Flow, Fundraising, Financial Modeling, Budgeting, Profitability Analysis, Cost Management, Venture Funding, Private Equity, Investment Monitoring, Investment Portfolio Management, M&A Modeling, Transaction Structuring, Cash Flow Modeling, Capital Structuring, Reverse Mergers, Accounting
Output Software
Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel
Industry Expertise
Entertainment & Leisure, Technology, Venture Capital, Professional Services, Industrials
Geographic Expertise
United States, Israel, China
Data & Analysis Software
Capital IQ
Other
Acquisition Analysis, Strategy, Microsoft 365, Organization Building, Organizational Development, Organizational Design, Partnerships, Business Strategy, Strategic Planning & Execution, Strategic Partnerships, Corporate Development, Operating Models, Media, Acquisitions, Equity Investment, Small Business Management, Business Management, Pitch Decks, Corporate Analysis, Business Planning, Fractional CFO, Virtual CFO, Managerial Finance, Finance, Consulting, Post-merger Integration, Part-time CFO, Digital Media, Operations Management, Communication, Turnaround Management, Mobile Advertising, Business Models, Cash Flow Management, Early-stage Funding, Family Office, Joint Venture Development, Management, Integration, Modeling, Analysis, Budget Modeling, Structuring, IRR, Sensitivity Analysis, Negotiation, Discounted Cash Flow Analysis, Structure, Legal Structuring, CEO Compensation, Shareholder Activism, Strategy Planning, Manufacturing, Corporate Rationalizations, Entrepreneurship, Operations, Business Development, Senior Executive Management
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