PRISCILLA CHURA Principal

Priscilla Chura is founder and Principal of SMALL BIZ CFO. Chura has 25 years of professional experience working for small, world-class companies, including 2 high-tech start-ups, in the areas of finance, accounting and corporate administration. The revenue of these companies ranged from $0 at start-up to $25 million.

In the majority of Companies that she's worked for, Chura has been directly responsible for financial planning, budgeting, reporting, cash flow management, financial system improvements, and financial oversight. She has also successfully implemented numerous accounting and financial software applications.

Chura has been the company liaison with outside CPA firms, lawyers, lenders, and insurance companies regarding all financial and administrative matters. She has negotiated leases on new office space, coordinated leasehold improvements, been responsible for space planning and coordinating office moves. She has been responsible for every aspect of HR including recruiting, hiring, firing, compensation plans, policies and procedures, benefits selection and implementation.

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Chura’s extensive background and expertise makes her exceptionally qualified to help small businesses grow and prosper. Below are a few highlights with each employer:

Executive Vice President, CFO, COO, Treasurer - The Patricia Seybold Group, Inc. Chura significantly improved cash flow by changing payment terms and accelerating billings and collections while also significantly decreasing liabilities. Implemented and negotiated all corporate agreements. Implemented first-time financial planning, budgeting and variance reporting as well as having implemented an employee performance and salary review process. Implemented an incentive stock option plan and, in anticipation of rapid growth, secured a bank line of credit. Chura managed the Company’s growth and profitability during and after the dot.com years.

Treasurer, Director of Finance & Administration - Turbine Entertainment Software Chura prepared and presented a five year business plan to outside investors to seek additional operating capital. As part of managing the company’s first audit, reconciled the Company’s equity ledger and generated stock certificates and stock option agreements that had previously been promised but not delivered. Chura also successfully resolved significant ‘inherited’ payroll issues.

CFO, U.S. Region - PA Consulting Group, Inc. Responsible for implementing new financial and administrative policies and procedures in the Boston and Princeton offices that were being imposed by Corporate in the UK. Restructured the NJ accounting department, reconciled parallel accounting systems, and dealt with a major insurance claim. Routinely handled difficult communications regarding ‘inherited’ pension plan issues with former employees and corporate management. Successfully managed an extensive IRS audit.

Corporate Financial Manager - Pugh-Roberts Associates, Inc. Responsible for financial reporting, cash management, and financial system improvements. Maintained cash basis books for tax as well as accrual basis for managing. Managed the Company’s UK Branch finances including foreign transfers, foreign exchange hedging, reconciling foreign bank accounts and compiling UK branch tax return data.

Manager of Management Advisory Services - Hersch, Klingsberg and Diamond, CPAs. Chura evaluated clients’ financial data processing requirements, proposed solutions, ordered and installed PC hardware and software, wrote customized accounting and operation manuals and trained clients on how to use the new systems. Assisted clients in solving problems with their existing accounting software packages.

Controller & Manager of Finance and Administration - Camex, Inc. Negotiated short-term loans with bank and managed vendor relationships during periods of tight cash flow. Chura helped grow the Company from $0 to $21 million. As Operations Manager, Chura managed and supervised the accounting, personnel, production, shipping & receiving and customer field service departments and was responsible for cost accounting, materials requirements planning, production scheduling, purchasing and inventory management and negotiating OEM vendor contracts.

EDUCATION
MBA, Boston College, 1993
B.S. Finance (Summa cum Laude) Northeastern University, 1985
A.S. Business Administration, Northeastern University, 1982

All degrees were earned part-time while Chura was working full-time in management positions.

AFFILIATIONS, Member of:
• Financial Executives International (FEI)
• Women In Technology International (WITI)
• South Shore Women's Business Network - Finance Committee Chair
• South Shore Chamber of Commerce
• Financial Executives Network Group (F.E.N.G.)

Financial Modeling
Business Plans
Budget Preparation
Trend Analysis
Financial Analysis
Cash Flow Projections
Cash Management
Banking & Loan Relations
Equipment Leasing
Management Accounting
Cost Analysis
Productivity Metrics
Pricing Strategies
Risk Management
HR Administration
Stock Option Plans
Facilities Management
Business Agreements
Contract Negotiations
Corporate Governance
Due Diligence
Board Advisory
Financial Oversight