Resume of a Finance Professional with Advanced Toastmasters skills and awards (public speaking, presentations and communication skills), military veteran (leadership, logistics, planning, execution), with strong MS Office Skills (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access) and systems skills including SAP and Oracle.

1. JAMES E. THIES, MBA
Schaumburg, IL 60193 (630) 697-7698
james.e.thies@gmail.com www.linkedin.com/in/jamesthies/
SENIOR FINANCIAL ANALYST
Military veteran and MBA, with Excel mastery, including experience and knowledge in SAP.ERP w/FICO
& BI, Oracle R12, MS SQL Server 2012, Hyperion Essbase with Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification,
secret security clearance inactive.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS & HONORS
 Reduced process time 87% by elimination of unnecessary steps in daily project.
 Scored 95% competence as an Expert/Strong in Excel, highly proficient in pivot tables and v-lookup.
 Increased Unit’s performance from 61% to 82% by leading continuous improvement and identifying
success metrics through analytical problem solving and modeling.
 Drove efficiencies with process improvement through analytical support by creating data metrics.
 Achieved Competent Communicator and Competent Leader Awards in Toastmasters.
 Achieved Advanced Communicator Bronze Award in Toastmasters – July 2016.
 Received Bronze Award for Finance & Insurance Automation Conversion – 2011.
 Named Employee of the Month for exceptional customer partnership – 1999 & 2000.
COMPETENCIES
 TECHNICAL EXPERTISE: Governance, Operational Control & Execution, On-Time Project Completion,
Strategic Planning, Budgeting, Trend/Variance Analyses, User Manual Creation (DLPs and SOPs)
 COMPUTER SKILLS (OTHER): Microsoft: Word, Excel (Advanced: V-Lookup, pivot tables, macros,
modeling), PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, Lotus Notes, Crystal Reports, JD Edwards, Cognos.
WORK EXPERIENCE
UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES, Northbrook, IL 2014
Senior Financial Analyst (Contractor)
 Worked on the FUS (Follow-Up Services) Pricing Redesign Project within Oracle.
 Transferred to a project as part of a team of 18 analysts; identified, documented, and corrected a
backlog of $96 MM in outstanding A/R account issues from an imperfect Oracle R12 implementation.
 Formulated an Excel plan (vlookup, pivot tables) of given accounts for expectations to management.
 Worked with A/P representatives from Fortune 500 client companies, resolved outstanding A/R
issues, secured payment, and worked to implement long term process improvements for IT solutions.
ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY, Schaumburg, IL 2007 - 2012
Senior Accountant (Financial Analyst)
 Developed tracking tool for management of expenses for review of actual spend versus budget.
 Collaborated with SAP IT team for resolution to enhancements for process implementation.
 Analyzed and resolved EFT Returns and Positive Pay issues (combined average of 30 per month)
with SAP, for Zurich and Farmers, in conjunction with the financial institutions’ online system.
 Executed $625MM ACH/Wire and check payment runs per month, including Farmers Insurance, by
collaborating with the Treasury department, thereby meeting company guidelines.
 Successfully implemented impactful Excel projects utilizing pivot tables, v-lookups and recognized for
streamlining the accounts payable processes for future referencing and time efficiencies.
 Resolved issues by developing extensive Excel Reports for compiling data retrieved from SAP.
U.S. ARMY RESERVE (Honorably Discharged in May 2011) 2004 - 2011
Mobilized / Deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 2005 - 2006
Finance Specialist & Sergeant (2004 – 2007) and Repairs & Utilities Engineer Officer (2007 – 2011)
 First Lieutenant ranking (1LT) - selected for a direct commission (rare occurrence) in 2007.
 Leadership role includes Senior Movement Officer (Logistics) to move a team of 12 personnel and
equipment safely and efficiently for training.
 Leadership experience as Range Safety Officer, a training leader for the qualification ranges.
 Performed exemplary work while disbursing over $1.5MM, with 100% accountability/internal controls.
 Paid contracts in excess of $800K under commercial vendor services through Contracting Officer.

2.  JAMES E. THIES, MBA 630-697-7698 james.e.thies@gmail.com
CONSULTING OPPORTUNITIES 2001 - 2005
Financial Analyst Consultant supporting firms of up to $7 Billion
Triple Canopy, Inc. - Verifying and implementing general ledger corrections for proper input of journal
entries charged to the correct department’s expenses and fixed assets accounts. Reviewed and
analyzed the timesheets of the different project teams for accuracy and completion, by task and location.
 Created a monthly management tool for review of expense fixed assets management reports to
ascertain the capitalization of items for the company.
 Rectified and reconciled amounts in the fixed asset categories to record all activities and items
contained on the invoices minimizing errors and discrepancies.
CNA Insurance, Inc. - Reviewing and analyzing the balance sheet accounts of various commercial
casualty insurance plans in accordance with company and industry procedures to check for
discrepancies.
 Improved accuracy by determining proper coding of accounts allowing the correct funding to post to
the correct ledger account.
 Reviewed account descriptions, suggested corrections, and maintained supporting documentation,
which reduced the amount of uncategorized balances.
 Coordinated reconciliation and validation performance with various internal audit groups achieving
compliance.
First Alert – BRK Brands, Inc., - Reporting and analyzing the weekly co-op expense/trade promotions
and advertising activity. This CoAms analysis enabled management to effectively plan and budget.
 Positively impacted forecast of future business models, creating monthly reports of customer activity,
analyzing trends, variance and activity progression across customer base and by product line.
 Presented report data and conclusions information to senior management utilizing Triad Vista Cognos
Powerplay, Crystal Reports and Internet research.
 Developed ad-hoc analysis reports for customer review and implemented special projects.
Navistar, Financial Group, International Truck Corporation - Creating an Access database of the
various features of the vehicles in the Used Truck inventory.
 Compiled information into one electronic location so that the department manager could for reporting
the data to effectively track and resolve inventory issues.
CORPORATE EXPRESS, INC., Woodridge, IL 1997 - 2001
Sales Analyst
Compiled and analyzed business and gross margin/profit activity related to budget goals.
 Increased business activity in excess of $750,000 by preparing business review presentations of the
sales activity of current Fortune 500 customers.
 Analyzed complete customer activity: spend, order frequency, products ordered, order method and
service initiatives reached, activity variance using MS PowerPoint in order to set new service goals.
 Collaborated with the sales leadership regarding the budgeting and forecasting of annual sales.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
New Horizons Computer Learning Centers, Chicago, IL, MCSA Program 2014
Includes: MS Access 2010, Crystal Reports 2008, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification, MS Excel
2010 (Level 4), MS SQL 2012 – 5 classes, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (exam passed/project to complete)
SAP.ERP Business Intelligence (SAP BI)
Advanced Computer Training (ACT), Glenview, IL, 2014
SAP.ERP Financial Accounting and Controlling (SAP FICO)
Advanced Computer Training (ACT), Glenview, IL, 2014
Toastmasters International, member since 2013, Competent Communicator Award – November 2014,
Competent Leader Award – April 2016; Advanced Communicator Bronze Award – July 2016
MBA Degree, Finance
Keller Graduate School of Management, Oak Brook, IL, 2001
BA Degree, Sociology
Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL, 1996