Matthew Ficco

10/11- Present EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL (Subsidiary of US-based Constellis Group) DUBAI, UAE
Director of Finance & Chief Financial Officer
As Director of Finance and Chief Financial Officer, I am responsible for supporting and developing a strong, dynamic, and professional finance organization, which in turn can support its main client - Edinburgh International. As a team, our goal is to support the company-wide operations in such a manner that it has a fluid flow of the required financial information and resources. We are continuously striving to improve what we do in order to become as efficient as possible in supporting our clients and stakeholders. EI is a high-risk, private security risk management firm with logistic and construction capabilities serving the oil & gas industry, the US Government, and various other commercial and government entities throughout the Middle East and Africa. My leadership responsibilities consist of: • Active member of the Executive Team and Board of Directors;
• Lead, mentor, guide, and enable 30+ strong finance, IT, HR, and administrative professionals geographical dispersed around the Middle East and Africa;
• Management responsibility for all finance, IT, HR, and administrative functions;
• Implementation of the Group's ERP system;
• Enhance, standardize, and harmonize employee and consultant contracts company-wide while maintaining local law compliance;
• Acting country manager for an African, joint-venture subsidiary;
• Coordination and development of annual operating plans, which comprise of several business units, segregated geographic units, both wholly-owned and with joint-venture partners;
• Creation and maintenance of monthly financial reports and Board packs including variance analysis, project reviews, as well as developing, monitoring, and tracking key business performance metrics;
• Preparation and submission of monthly employee payroll tax returns and annual corporate tax returns, and annual audits in seven separate and distinct emerging markets as well as US and UK returns;
• Preparation & consolidation of financial results in accordance with both IFRS and US GAAP for 15 separate legal entities and rolled up into one consolidated set for onward submission to our US Group;
• Treasury management including weekly cash flow forecasting, optimization of working capital, maintenance of various international banking lines-of-credit, LCs, bank guarantees, and dozens of globally dispersed bank accounts;
• Development and coordination of M&A and JV activity (deal sourcing, analysis, structuring, negotiations, due-diligence) to enhance the Group's corporate footprint
• CAPEX & investment budgeting and return analysis.

08/09- 09/11 EMIRATES NBD CAPITAL LIMITED DUBAI, UAE
Vice President - Private Equity
I led, and managed a team of six professionals, which was responsible for several strategic initiatives for the largest bank in the Middle East, Emirates NBD. Two of the main initiatives involved the research and setup of captive private equity funds: an infrastructure fund and a SME fund and the development of a boutique investment bank. Main responsibilities included fund structuring, capital raising, deal sourcing/pipeline building, investment analysis & execution, and portfolio management. Additionally, the team was engaged in various strategic projects in order to assist the Bank and its various stakeholders with their value-creating/enhancing objectives. As such, I led several buy-side and sell-side corporate finance/M&A advisory initiatives both for the Bank and its clients. Main responsibilities consisted of: • Set up private equity funds: legal structuring, documentation drafting, capital raising/fund marketing, team recruiting;
• Business development: outwardly and proactively source deals, both private equity and corporate finance;
• Managed workflow of six professionals: ensure adequate staffing and skills sets tasked to each mandate;
• Developed strategy and implementation plan and "way forward" for the platform with senior executives;
• Maintained relationships with investor and clients: main point-of-contact for key clients and deals;
• Ensured deals were driven to the finish line: cradle-to-grave responsibility.

12/07 - 08/09 ABU DHABI INVESTMENT COUNCIL ABU DHABI, UAE
Private Equity Associate - Direct Investments Department
Member of a seven-person private equity investment team responsible for investing an allocation of the Abu Dhabi government's surplus revenues. The team focused on the MENA region plus Turkey and maintained an opportunistic approach to sectors. Responsible for all aspects of the investment management process: deal origination, screening, due diligence, valuation, structuring, portfolio management, and exit. The team invested in well-established businesses with strong track records of profitability and market share. The team typically made significant minority equity investments between US$20MM - $100MM in businesses with approximately US$50MM - $1, 000MM in revenue and US$10MM - $200MM in EBITDA. Main responsibilities consisted of: • Pro-actively and outwardly source, qualify, and screen potential investment targets;
• Interview various intermediaries: investment bankers, accountants, lawyers, consultants, etc. to screen non-solicited in-bound deal-flow;
• Interview CEOs, CFOs, COOs, and other key managers of investment targets to understand their businesses;
• Visit plants, factories, head offices, and other facilities of investment targets to further understand the operations;
• Develop complex operational, financial, and valuation models;
• Perform in-depth research of investment targets' industries, competitors, customers, vendors, etc. as part of economic and commercial due diligence;
• Perform in-depth research and analysis of historical accounting results as part of financial due diligence;
• Prepare investment-thesis write-ups in order to present investment opportunities to the Investment Committee;
• Coordinate all transactional activities, which include financial and accounting due diligence; legal due diligence; development of asset purchase agreements and operating agreements; development of creditor and inter-creditor agreements; sourcing and installing new management (if necessary); and integration of acquisition into portfolio;
• Continue monitoring, guiding, and measuring portfolio companies;
• Coordinate and execute investment exit strategies in order to maximize returns.

12/06 - 12/07 SOUTHPOINTE VENTURES, LLC ATLANTA, GA
Private Equity Associate
Worked side-by-side with the firm-founding Managing Partner of a middle-market private equity investment firm. Coordinated all aspects of the investment management process from deal origination to closing, portfolio management, and investment exits. The team invested in well-established manufacturing, distribution, and business services organizations located throughout the Southeast, United States. The team typically made control-position equity investments between US$1MM - $3MM in businesses with approximately US$10MM - $50MM in revenue and US$3MM - $5MM in EBITDA. Main responsibilities consisted of: • Strategically marketed the firm and investment team for business development purposes;
• Actively sourced, qualified, and screened potential investment targets;
• Interviewed the CEOs, CFOs, COOs, and other key managers of investment targets to understand their businesses;
• Visited plants, factories, head offices, and other facilities of investment targets to further understand the operations;
• Developed complex leveraged buyout models (LBO models) and discounted cash flow models (DCF models);
• Performed in-depth research of investment targets' industries, competitors, customers, vendors, etc. as part of economic and commercial due diligence;
• Performed in-depth research and analysis of historical accounting results as part of financial due diligence;
• Authored Investment Memoranda (IMs) for the purpose of attracting equity co-investment partners and debt capital (senior and mezzanine tranches);
• Coordinated all transactional activities, which included financial and accounting due diligence; legal due diligence; development of asset purchase agreements and operating agreements; development of creditor and inter-creditor agreements; sourcing and installing new management (if necessary); and integration of acquisition into portfolio;
• Continued monitoring, guiding, and measuring portfolio companies;
• Board of Directors participation and involvement;
• Coordinated and executed investment exit strategies in order to maximize returns.

08/04 - 12/06 UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION ATLANTA, GA
Senior Financial Analyst - Global Finance
Promoted from within the organization to a newly created position within the Global Finance department; reported directly to the Chief Financial Officer. This role required extensive international travel and exposure to our global divisions throughout EMEA, South America, North America, and Asia. Responsibilities consisted of: • Developed, measured, and monitored key financial metrics such as: orders, sales, EBIT, ROS, working capital turnover, asset utilization, cash conversion cycle, & cash funding needs;
• Analyzed and reported performance metrics of: inventory turnover, inventory quantities-on-hand, forecasted sales volumes, and budget performance analyses to senior managers for the global supply chain group;
• Managed multiple new product & asset acquisition projects, i.e. cash-flow modeling, DCF, NPV, IRR models;
• Performed free cash flow valuations & SWOT analyses for joint venture/acquisition targets;
• Presented monthly results & analyses to senior managers; worked as business partner in the decision-making process;
• Led UTC's continuous process improvement initiatives as a change-agent & cross-functional project team leader to improve internal business processes;
• Built, facilitated, & coached educational training programs for company associates & managers for process improvement/reengineering initiatives, i.e. process mapping, bottleneck analysis, project implementation, lean manufacturing.

Senior Financial Analyst - North America
Highly engaged role encompassing all aspect of financial management for US$100MM business unit (Onity) of US$50, 000MM multinational conglomerate (UTC) . Worked as the Director of Finance's right-hand confidant for all aspects of the company's financial undertakings. Responsibilities consisted of: • Developed annual budget for entire company consisting of 25 separate revenue and cost centers;
• Forecasted monthly revenue, COGS, SG&A, and EBIT targets;
• Performed journal entries and month-end closes;
• Prepared monthly profit & loss statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and retained earnings statements;
• Submitted monthly financial results to corporate headquarters (UTC);
• Authored monthly management letter, which highlighted the business' performance and outlook for senior management;
• Performed monthly actual-to-budget variance analyses;
• Maintained relationships with external banking entities for lines of credit, lockboxes, and other treasury functions;
• Evaluated international transactions and engaged in forward & futures contracts to mitigate FX currency exposure;
• Authored various company-wide policies and procedures.

01/03 - 08/04 BAE SYSTEMS, INCORPORATED SAN DIEGO, CA
Financial Analyst - Mission Solutions
Promoted from within the organization to the Financial Planning & Analysis group of a US$1, 000MM sector. The sector consisted of three separate companies ranging from US$200MM - $500MM in annual revenue each and comprised of approximately 12 individual lines of business. Reported directly to the Manager of Sector Consolidation and worked extensively with the Vice President of Finance and the Director of Financial Planning. Responsibilities consisted of: • Formulated annual budget and long-term value plan;
• Ensured financial salients of EBIT, ROS, ROI, CAGR, and net cash were met each month;
• Consolidated and reported monthly actual and forecasts for each line of business' budgeted targets;
• Generated variance analyses of monthly actual results versus the annual budget of financial salients;
• Set up and maintained budget and forecasting system;
• Assisted in G/L inputs and maintenance;
• Prepared management's monthly financial statements, operating statistics, and variance analyses;
• Managed cash conversion cycle including forecasting and corporate reporting;
• Assisted in forecasts of balance sheet, cash flow statement, and profit & loss accounts;
• Administered Hyperion and Essbase - the budget and forecasting systems.

Financial Analyst - Geospatial Exploration Group
Split role between the revenue management team for the U$1, 000MM sector and the financial analysis team for a U$50MM individual line of business. Reported to the Manager of Revenue Management and the Manager of Finance. Responsibilities consisted of: • Accurately recognized and accrued revenue according to US GAAP;
• Analyzed customers' contracts to ensure compliance with internal, government, and US GAAP regulations;
• Produced monthly management status reports of actual results versus budget;
• Forecasted cash receipts and facilitated collection;
• Managed intra company sales and revenue reporting;
• Prepared management reports for sales, cash forecast, FX position, and A/R status for monthly business review;
• Continuously improved processes through research of current accepted business practices;
• Authored various company-wide Finance policies;
• Extensive work involving US GAAP and FASB e.g. SOP 97.2-Software revenue recognition.

01/02 - 12/02 RESORT COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL, LLC SAN DIEGO, CA
Corporate Accountant
US$25MM resort management firm. Worked directly for Vice President of Finance. Managed all aspects of the accounting, cash management, and financial reporting for the resort rental division. Responsibilities included budget and variance analysis as well as the monthly preparation of financial statements and status reports for senior management. Assisted heavily in the daily maintenance of the G/L.

Internships

2001 VICTOR LUND GENERAL CONSTRUCTION, INC SAN DIEGO, CA
Accountant

2001 THE RETIREMENT GROUP SAN DIEGO, CA
Financial Analyst