This is the functional version of my resume and showcasing my skills and experience along with the technical skills used within my finance and accounting career. I am a military veteran who has extensive experience in finance and can do process improvement and continuous improvement projects, along with doing variance and trends analysis of forecasting versus actual activity. Have done budgeting, forecasting within corporate financial planning. I have also conducted business reviews and auditing in my financial roles as well.

1. JAMES E. THIES, MBA
james.e.thies@gmail.com
630-697-7698
www.linkedin.com/in/jamesthies
Schaumburg, IL
FINANCIAL DATA ANALYSIS PROFESSIONAL
CAREER SUMMARY
An organized problem solver with proven analytical skills, communication skills, and an eye for details. Apply
strong business acumen and drive to resolve issues. I continually strive for efficiency with a continuous
improvement mindset for sustained organizational growth. I have a tenacious aptitude to learn processes and
improve them. Military veteran with inactive security clearance.
SKILLS
Financial Analysis, P&L Financial Planning Financial Reporting/Modeling
Trends/Variance Analysis Business Reviews Budgeting and Forecasting
Data Analysis Business Metrics Analysis Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
Process Improvement Proven Leadership Excellent Communication
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
 Utilizing organizational, leadership, and interpersonal skills to address customer needs.
 Have used several major ERPs in my experience including SAP and Oracle.
 Reduced by 55% lag time for payment received through improved customer interaction.
 Developed Excel tool for the management of $2M in expenses for actual spends vs. budget review.
 Resolved issues by developing a cross-company Excel report of 20 entities by compiling SAP data.
System Capabilities: ERP, SAP, Oracle, Hyperion, SQL, Tableau, Visio, Cognos, Crystal Reports, Microsoft
Office: Advanced Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Lotus Notes, Google Docs, Google Sheets
EXPERIENCE
Post Commander VFW Post 2202 Schaumburg, IL 2018 – 2022
Financial Trustee VFW Post 2202 Schaumburg, IL 2017 – 2018
Club Treasurer Career Communicators TM Club Palatine, IL 2017 – 2022
Financial Secretary Christ the King Lutheran Church Palatine, IL 2020 – Present
Senior Financial Analyst Underwriters Laboratories Northbrook, IL 2014
Senior Acct. (Fin. Analyst) Zurich Insurance Schaumburg, IL 2007 - 2012
1LT / Engineer Officer U.S. Army Reserve Arlington Heights, IL 2007 – 2011
SGT / Finance Specialist U.S. Army Reserve Arlington Heights, IL 2004 - 2007
Financial Analyst Consultant Contracting Opportunities Chicago Area 2001 - 2005
Financial Experience
 Collaborate with Treasurer, for audits, budgeting and controlling of post funds for fiscal responsibility.
 Manage TM club funds through reporting, budgeting, and controlling spending and annual audit success.
 Collaborate with Church Council on business operations including budgeting, expenses, and management.
 Reduced anomalies by 34% of pricing issues using financial analysis with the FUS (Follow-Up Services)
Pricing Redesign Project within Oracle R12, as a reporting tool.
 The project team of 18 analysts; identified, documented, and corrected a 2010 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.
 Created monthly reporting of club financial activities for transparency to the club’s officer board.
 Analyzed and resolved EFT Returns and Positive Pay issues (combined average of 30 per month) with SAP,
for Zurich and Farmers, in conjunction with Bank of America CashPro online system.
 Executed $625MM ACH/Wire and check payment runs per month, including Farmers Insurance, by
collaborating with the Treasury Department, to meet company guidelines in cost transparency.

2. JAMES E. THIES, MBA 630-697-7698 james.e.thies@gmail.com
Financial Experience Continued
 Did monthly reconciliation of bank activity and presented through bank statements to the club board.
 Performed journal entries for input to the general ledger in SAP.
 Collaborated with SAP IT team for the resolution to enhancements for process implementation.
 Handle collectively with Treasurer the financial responsibilities of the VFW Post.
 Created a donation box program through local businesses for customers to donate.
 Work as the donation/contribution function to accurately reflect and report the information.
Awards
 Received Bronze Award at Zurich Insurance for Finance & Insurance Automation Conversion – 2011.
 The VFW Post earned All-State and All-American honors for the 2018-2019 and 2020-2021 years.
 Toastmasters Club earned President’s Distinguished Club for the 2017-2018, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020
years respectively.
 Toastmasters Awards of six include Advanced Communicator Gold and Advanced Leader Bronze.
MILITARY EXPERIENCE
U.S. ARMY RESERVE (Honorably Discharged in May 2011) March 2004 - May 2011
First Lieutenant - Repairs & Utilities Engineer Officer (2007 – 2011)
 Leadership role includes Senior Movement Officer (Logistics) to move a team of 12 personnel and equipment
resources safely and efficiently for small arms training of the full battalion.
 Leadership experience as Range Safety Officer, trainer of 100+ soldiers.
 Achieved proper signoff as Physical Security Officer for the audit of unit fixed assets.
Finance Specialist & Sergeant (2004 – 2007)
Mobilized / Deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom - 2005 - 2006
 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.
EDUCATION
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Business Finance
Keller Graduate School of Management
Bachelor of Arts (BA), Sociology
Eastern Illinois University
New Horizons Computer Learning Centers, Chicago, IL, 2014
Includes: Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and SQL courses.
SAP.ERP Business Intelligence (SAP BI) and SAP.ERP Financial Accounting and Control (SAP FICO) -
Advanced Computer Training (ACT), Glenview, IL, 2014
Toastmasters International (for articulate speaking and leadership) Six awards have been earned including
Advanced Leader Bronze – February 2018; Advanced Communicator Gold – June 2020