Manager Accounting

THOMAS A. BLAZEK, MBA, CCM

**** ******* **** *.*.

Warren, Ohio 44483-1281

330-***-**** (Home) ********@*********.*** 330-***-**** (Cell)

CAREER PROFILE

Treasury services and accounting operations professional with over 20 years of experience in various

financial, treasury, and accounting disciplines. A passion for continuous improvement, highlighted by

an ability to be creative, resourceful, and analytical. Background primarily in manufacturing, with

exposure to retail, wholesale, and distribution operations. Successful at implementing new financial

systems with innovative features to attain business solutions. Effective manager and trainer of people

and teams. International experience conducting financial audits for foreign subsidiaries.

AREAS OF EFFECTIVENESS

Treasury Services Cash and Debt Management Accounting Operations

Working Capital Growth Banking Relations Systems Improvement

Financial Problem Solving Internal Audit & Controls 401k & Pension Plans

Payroll Operations Project Management Team Building

CAREER PROGRESSION AND HIGHLIGHTS

First Communications, Inc., Akron, Ohio 2008 to 2009

Manager of Financial Reporting & Analysis

Significant contributor to detection of over $20 million in fraudulent financial activities by review

of balance sheet reconciliations and internal controls.

Transferred accounting responsibilities for acquired Chicago subsidiary to corporate office.

Johnson Rubber Company, Inc., Middlefield, Ohio (business closed 2008) 2007 to 2008

Treasury / Accounts Payable Manager

Managed vendor payments during critical post-petition bankruptcy period.

Visual Edge Technology, Inc., North Canton, Ohio 2005 to 2007

Treasury Manager

Enhanced cash management system and controls with new bank and bank products.

Converted 153 investor ledger cards from individual spreadsheets to one Access database.

Implemented new policies to eliminate bank audit reductions to the asset borrowing base.

Participated in numerous Board of Director’s meetings.

The Sherwin-Williams Company, Cleveland, Ohio 1993 to 2004

Senior Supervisor - Corporate Payroll Operations 1996 to 2004

Migrated ten plant payrolls from local sites to corporate office. Created a procedure to simplify

this process for the remaining twenty plants.

Automated timekeeping for over 3,500 employees via a web-based system.

Determined and setup payroll tax legal requirements for employees in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Scheduled special year-end adjustment payrolls greatly reducing the number of W-2c’s.

Set up payroll procedures for a new company subsidiary used for expatriate employees.

THOMAS A. BLAZEK, MBA, CCM Page Two

Senior Supervisor - Corporate Payroll Operations 1996 to 2004

Eliminated manual handling of IRS form 1099’s for deceased employees.

Managed the processing of over $300 million in annual payouts to 10,000+ employees.

Treasury Analyst 1995 to 1996

Discovered and collected $92,000 in previously unrealized Canadian interest income.

Successfully rebuilt treasury workstation cash management accounting module.

Transferred treasury accounting duties to corporate accounting department.

Senior Corporate Auditor 1993 to 1995

Discovered and eliminated $6 million unauthorized factoring program at Brazilian subsidiary.

Determined a foreign exchange program was not following corporate hedging policy.

Worked as liaison with external auditors in coordinating 2,700 hours of audit assistance.

Copperweld Steel Company / CSC Industries, Inc., Warren, Ohio (business closed 1995) 1976 to 1993

Assistant Treasurer 1990 to 1993

Increased pension plan net assets by 22% in 2 years from $108 million to $132 million;

investment returns improved from 99th to 26th percentile by hiring new managers and changing

investment philosophies and allocations.

Initiated bidding process for GIC investments in 401k plan.

Changed 401k investment strategy that permanently improved returns by 50 basis points.

Reduced casualty insurance costs by 26% by changing premium base from sales to payroll dollars.

Treasury Services Manager 1987 to 1990

Developed an automated billing system with distinctive new invoice, resulting in an improvement

of two full days for accounts receivable day’s sales outstanding (DSO).

Installed new accounts payable system with uniquely rewritten cash management controls, and

added reporting tools for both “accrual basis” and “cash basis” accounting.

Designed and implemented new company auto policy, eliminating the need for cash collateral held

by leasing companies.

Appointed administrator of Employee Stock Plan. Worked closely with Plan Trustee.

Changed insurance brokers and found better coverages for less money.

Financial / Planning Analyst 1984 to 1987

Outsourced freight payments to third party, thereby eliminating one unionized clerical position.

Enhanced standard cost accounting reporting by development of an actual cost ledger.

Successfully negotiated 3.5% rate decrease with Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Designed and installed company’s first consignment program, satisfying a major customer.

Accounting Supervisor 1976 to 1984

Successfully installed company’s first on-line real time accounts receivable system. Used as a

model for other subsidiaries. Eliminated 50% of credit department clerical staff.

Billed and collected $162,000 in unearned cash discounts.

Saved $50,000 in cash balances through analysis of bank service charges.

Created SUB Plan ledgers, eliminating external auditor’s accounting fees.

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS

MBA Kent State University Kent, Ohio Finance

BBA Kent State University Kent, Ohio Accounting

CCM Certified Cash Manager (Permanent Status); Association for Financial Professionals

COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS

Volunteer as Treasurer and Finance Committee Chairman for non-profit organization. 2007 to 2009

Contact this candidate