HOWARD CHESLER, CPA

8 Charlemagne Place Pine Brook, NJ 07058

973-865-5571 (mobile) howardchesler@optonline.net

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
SUMMARY
*Extensive experience and success in improving accounting processes and institut
ing cost efficiencies.
*Results oriented Big Four (E&Y) CPA with strong analytical, problem solving and
planning skills combined with excellent leadership, interpersonal and communica
tion ability.
*Extensive experience in all aspects of accounting, budgeting, planning, analysi
s and reporting.
*Proven ability to achieve results through effective interfacing with colleagues
and supervision of profession and support staff
RED APPLE GROUP NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Senior Corporate Controller 2008 – 2010
Functioned as the financial lead supporting the Real Estate and Aircraft groups
and the Compliance and Auditing functions in the Corporate and Supermarket areas
,
• Led the team that successfully investigated a lawsuit by a Grocery Store Union a
nd reduced the claims requested by 75 %.
• Established procedure to implement and control cutoffs at primary sourcing groce
ry warehouse and set-up physical inventory policies.
• Spearheaded the accounting controls and procedures and financial statement prepa
ration for major new building construction project. Functioned as a member of th
e team that met monthly with the Bank and general contractor to review progress
of project. Developed financial statements to comply with the Bank loan covenant
s and the State of New York to gain tax exempt status.
• Supervised the accounting and financial analysis for the Aircraft division. Esta
blished procedure for the monthly review of charges from third party providers o
f management services. Coordinated with the outside auditors to update the finan
cial data and to issue audited financial statements that were five years in arre
ars.
SCHERING-PLOUGH CORPORATION, KENILWORTH, NEW JERSEY
Finance Director/Senior Manager Global Functions 2001 – 2008
Provided financial support and guidance to the Worldwide General Counsel and Glo
bal Corporate Compliance functions (over $300 million spend). Supervised the pr
eparation of operating plans, forecasts and actual results.
• Spearheaded the multi-functional team that at Senior Management’s request, establis
ed the organizational structure and financial procedures for the Global Complian
ce and Business practices unit. This group was formed in response to a governmen
tal investigation. Identified and coordinated parts of the new entity already in
place and took the action steps to form the new cohesive unit.
• Researched and implemented the installation of a Matter Management and Electroni
c Billing System to enable the Law Department to more effectively control outsid
e counsel fees and provided data for a convergence process which selected core f
irms at
lower rates and higher discounts. Developed internal design and support as well
as requests for outside proposals to vendors.
• Redesigned the administrative staff and office layout of the General Counsel fun
ction. Reviewed the organization structure utilized by other in-house and extern
al law departments. Developed proposals and obtained concurrence of colleagues a
t various levels of management.
• Developed and controlled acquisition/integration related expenditures in order t
o allow for review of both continuing and future costs.
• Conceptualized and developed formalized budget meetings and reporting to senior
management for outside counsel spending (approximately $60 million spend).
Director Accounting Services 1999 - 2000
Supervised analysis/payment of worldwide royalties (over $500 million), accounti
ng for domestic banking transactions and the reconciliation of intercompany acco
unts.
• Implemented new system to image receipts on-line to improve and expedite the rev
iew of expense reports. Reduced the time of reviews over 25%.
• Supervised royalty audits by outside firms and auditors.
Director Corporate Budget Control and Coordination 1997 – 1999
Supervised planning and analysis for Headquarters support Function (Human Resour
ces, Information Technology, Law and Finance) of over $500 million.
• Perceived and facilitated the development of estimates and actual data by outsid
e consultants related to corporate fringe benefits (group insurance, pension) an
d operating insurance policies.
• Developed responsibility based methodology for fringe benefits to be reported by
operating units, which allowed for more effective utilization of results by sen
ior management.
Manager Accounting Services and Reporting 1991 - 1996
Supervised worldwide consolidation of multidivisional fortune 200 Company includ
ing the accounting for parent and elimination companies.
• Conceptualized and developed a process that accelerated the time needed to compl
ete the corporate consolidation by 20%.
• Designed and developed the computerization of a manual cash flow system to a PC
based environment to provide senior management with more flexible and effective
reporting.
• Developed balance sheet reporting package which allowed senior management to foc
us on the highlights of the multidivisional results.
• Coordinated with technical accounting to implement various pronouncements includ
ing FASB’s and SEC regulations and with Tax and Treasury areas to insure that all ac
counting procedures were followed and properly recorded.
EDUCATION
MBA – Accounting Rutgers Graduate School of Business, Newark, N.J.
A.B. – Economics Rutgers College, New Brunswick, N.J.