Everton Sewell

Finance and internal audit leader with extensive experience evaluating risk, strengthening internal controls, supporting compliance, and improving financial and operational performance across complex organizations. Brings deep expertise in audit, accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, process improvement, and executive-level financial analysis developed across a global manufacturing company, large urban school district, and not-for-profit environments. Proven ability to partner with senior leadership, audit committees, and cross-functional stakeholders to identify exposures, assess business processes, strengthen governance, and deliver practical recommendations that improve compliance, reporting accuracy, and operational effectiveness.

Manager, Financial Operations / School Business Executive I / School Business Official - WAYNE FINGER LAKES BOCES - Newark, New York

(2019-01)

• Lead business office and financial operations, including treasury, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, billing, purchasing, inventory, and claims audit.
• Direct financial operations and compliance oversight across treasury, payroll, payables, receivables, purchasing, inventory, billing, and claims audit functions.
• Evaluate business processes, identify control gaps and operational risks, and implement improvements that strengthen compliance, reporting accuracy, and efficiency.
• Provide technical accounting guidance, oversee year-end and regulatory reporting, and manage annual budgets, financial analysis, and long-range planning.
• Partner with auditors and leadership to address findings, remediate control deficiencies, and enhance financial and operational processes.
• Present financial, audit, and control matters to executive leadership and serve as liaison to the Board Audit Committee while supporting senior administrative decisions.

Chief Financial Officer/Budget Director/ Principal Management Analyst / Senior Budget Analyst - ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT - Rochester, New York

(2010-01 - 2019-12)

• Directed financial operations across payroll, budgeting, accounting, grants, payables, receivables, billing, purchasing, and inventory for a large urban school district.
• Led financial operations across accounting, budgeting, payroll, grants, procurement, and related compliance functions, progressing from Senior Budget Analyst to Chief Financial Officer.
• Directed districtwide budget development, monitoring, and financial analysis; partnered with department leaders on resource planning, grant alignment, staffing allocations, and long-range decision support.
• Strengthened policies, internal controls, and management processes to improve accountability, compliance, process efficiency, and audit readiness.
• Prepared executive analyses and reports, implemented audit recommendations, and managed cash flow, financial risk, and legislative compliance requirements.
• Trained more than 70 staff members on budget processes, improved cross-functional collaboration, and streamlined staffing modification processes, increasing efficiency by 25%.
• Served on the Superintendent's Cabinet and acted as liaison to the Finance Committee, Audit Committee, and Board of Education.

Finance Director, Electro photographic Solution Black & White Unit - EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY - Rochester, New York

(1998-01 - 2010-12)

Directed finance support for a $140M business unit, including strategic plans, operating budgets, forecasting, gross margin analysis, and management reporting for global operations, regions, and product lines. Prepared business cases for new product launches and assessed profitability and feasibility of new and existing product lines. Managed SG&A budgets and expenditures, developed cost and performance analyses for management reporting, and analyzed financial data related to merger and acquisition activity.

Assistant Controller, Mergers and Acquisition (M&A) - EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY - Rochester, New York

(1998-01 - 2010-12)

Provided accounting and financial support for corporate divestitures, mergers, and acquisitions, including due diligence, accounting research, purchase accounting, and review of sale and purchase agreements. Analyzed financial data for strategic business alignment, validated information from finance teams, and monitored adherence to corporate M&A processes across global and cross-functional operations. Supported integration of new businesses and carve-out transitions for accounting and IT processes.

Finance Transition Manager - EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY - Rochester, New York

(1998-01 - 2010-12)

Assumed project leadership for transitional service for company's largest divestiture ($2.5B). Reviewed, and interpreted contracts and statements of work. Created, monitored, and collected on statements of work for transition service agreements. Managed relationship between parent and divested company, partnered and provided financial support for cross-functional leaders, resolved issues relating to divestiture. Managed post-closing P&L and balance transactions and bill accordingly.

Manager, United States & Canada General Ledger and Fixed Assets - EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY - Rochester, New York

(1998-01 - 2010-12)

Provided accounting leadership, guidance, and management oversight to departments, supervised 15 individuals, prepared and delivered performance appraisal, interviewed, hired, coached, mentored, and coordinated team building activities. Directly managed service delivery for outsourced activities, partnered and liaised with outsourced vendor, traveled internationally and trained outsourced partner staff. Implemented corporate internal controls and process improvement procedures globally.

Managed and reviewed general ledger closing processes and financial statement input preparation. Reviewed and approved journal entries and accounts reconciliation.

• Managed outsourcing arrangement measurement matrix resulting in $750K savings in 9 months.
• Improved document retention efficiency by reducing storage cost resulting in $55K annual savings.
• Created and lead global team (Kaizen) improving operation process efficiency by 12%, saving $25K per month.

Corporate Functions Financial Controller - EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY - Rochester, New York

(1998-01 - 2010-12)

Drove consistency and simplicity in accounting operations across multiple functional areas and accounting systems, ensuring effective controls and proper implementation of accounting policies. Led process improvement teams for Sarbanes-Oxley implementation, identified compliance and control improvement opportunities, and implemented accounting and reporting processes. Developed and delivered training for senior management on accounting rules, control expectations, and shared service requirements.

Established and communicated internal control disclosure, records management, and reporting requirements, and managed restructuring costs, vendor contract reviews, and capital asset budgets.

• Developed and implemented company accrual policy to correct accounting deficiency, $25M correction.
• Trained seven senior managers on accounting issues, improved efficiency by 15% resulting in savings of $20M.
• Trained 405 purchasing employees globally, developed training material and video, 18% processes efficiency.
• Reviewed and oversee development of contract database, 10% efficiency with cost savings of $15M annually.

Audit Project Manager, Senior Auditor, and Auditor - EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY - Rochester, New York

(1998-01 - 2010-12)

Planned and coordinated national and international audit assignments, including risk identification, control evaluation, and mitigation planning. Led numerous international audit assignments and initiatives supporting Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, partnering with cross-functional and cross-border teams to improve processes and controls. Interpreted and analyzed financial and operational data, communicated findings and recommendations to management, supervised and coached audit staff, and performed forensic investigations in collaboration with Corporate Security.

Experienced Audit Staff Accountant - ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

(1996-01 - 1998-12)

• Managed relationships with external clients in the performance of external audits in manufacturing, construction, leasing, rental, not-for-profits, and pension benefit plans.
• Performed compliance and substantive testing of processes to ensure compliance with GAAP, accounting regulations, financial statement preparation, and footnote writing.
• Consulted with client personnel on accounting and audit issues, drive team building process.

MS - Finance - Rochester Institute of Technology

MBA - Executive Leadership - Rochester Institute of Technology

B.S. - Accounting - Rochester Institute of Technology

A.A.S. - Business Administration - Monroe Community College