Melvyn Cohen

Background

About Melvyn Cohen

I have 30+ years in the financial / accounting industry serving as a controller, vice president of finance & administration, and chief financial officer in middle market, privately held, wholesale distribution companies in the Chicago Metropolitan area. My areas of expertise are: • Financial and Business Operations Management • Administration and Personnel Management • Merger and Acquisition Planning • Long Range Financial and Business Planning • Financial Negotiations I have been responsible for successful projects which included: • Negotiating acquisitions and their integration without the loss of market share or sales • Identifying areas of synergy in the merged businesses that increased EBITDA • Developing financial reporting systems to shorten the monthly closing process to meet the requirements of the equity owners and lenders • Negotiating bank loans, lines of credit and real estate mortgages • Implementing systems to track rebates due customers and suppliers • Developing an exit strategy for the owners of a $75 million distribution company and a $60 million cellular phone reseller and wholesale distribution company, managing the sale process through the closing and assisting in the integration of the acquired business post closing. • Developing programs that reduced obsolete inventory by 50% • Negotiating leases for new facilities and equipment • Developing order processing procedures which reduced DSO by 7 to 10 days • Being part of a team that identified a new ERP system for a phone company reseller and then leading the team through the implementation process.