Michael A. Mehring

Hands-on accounting controller and finance leader with 35+ years of experience in general accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, reconciliations, internal controls, audit coordination, and team leadership.

Former

Controller/Acting CFO for a production-services organization that grew from $33 million to $190 million in annual sales, with direct responsibility for monthly close, financial reporting, operating budgets and forecasts, accounting integration, capital expenditure controls, and finance support to operations. CPA (Inactive) and Certified Fraud Examiner with strong GAAP, compliance, process-improvement, and financial-oversight experience.

Financial & Accounting Controls Consultant - INDEPENDENT CONSULTING - Ocala, FL

(2023-11)

Provide hands-on accounting, financial-control, analytics, audit, and advisory support to privately owned and nonprofit organizations in Central Florida.

• Perform accounting and control reviews covering cash receipts and disbursements, vendor payments, bank reconciliations, journal entries, account analysis, and reconciliation of operational systems to the general ledger and financial statements.
• Support month-end processes, financial reporting, budgeting, transaction review, documentation, and management analysis using QuickBooks, Excel, and other financial systems; recommend improvements to accuracy, efficiency, segregation of duties, and internal controls, including review of payroll-related and personnel-cost processes when within project scope.

Chief Risk Officer - FIRSTLIGHT FEDERAL CREDIT UNION - El Paso, TX

(2017-11 - 2023-11)

Led enterprise risk, internal audit, compliance, quality control, fraud prevention, vendor management, collections, legal, and insurance functions for a $1.4 billion financial institution operating in Texas and New Mexico.

• Oversaw financial-control and internal-audit reviews of transactions, deposits, payments, vendor processes, reconciliations, financial reporting, and technology-enabled operations.
• Coordinated annual financial statement audits, regulatory examinations, special reviews, management responses, and remediation of financial-control issues.
• Advised executive leadership and the Supervisory Committee on financial and operational performance, internal controls, policy compliance, emerging risks, and process improvement.
• Managed and mentored multidisciplinary professional teams, established priorities, reviewed work quality, and promoted accountability and continuous improvement.

Vice President - Head of Retail Credit Review - CAPITAL ONE - McLean, VA

(2013-05 - 2017-04)

Led independent analysis and assurance over major retail portfolios, including Card, Home Loans, and Auto Finance, with responsibility for reporting accuracy, analytics, controls, planning, and executive communication.

• Managed annual risk-based plans, function budget, staffing priorities, reporting commitments, and multiple concurrent reviews in a complex financial environment.
• Evaluated data quality, reporting controls, financial trends, policy implementation, and remediation plans; translated results into clear recommendations for senior management and governance committees.
• Led Tableau-based analysis and automated testing initiatives that improved management information, exception identification, and review efficiency.
• Collaborated with Finance, business leaders, Internal Audit, Quality Assurance, regulators, and external auditors while developing professional staff.

Director / Audit Manager - Consumer, Commercial & International - CITIBANK - Los Angeles, New York & London

(2004-01 - 2013-05)

Held progressive leadership roles covering consumer and commercial banking, financial controls, business monitoring, accounting processes, and international operations across Europe and the Middle East.

• Managed an eight-person professional staff and country audit leaders while coordinating plans, special projects, issue follow-up, and reporting across 13 countries.
• Evaluated assets, liabilities, transactions, reconciliations, accounting controls, and reporting; presented findings and recommendations to senior leaders, regulators, and governance forums.
• Chaired the Audit Financial Control Workgroup and supported executive and regulatory reporting across finance, risk, and business teams.
• Managed priorities and deadlines within annual budgets in a large, decentralized global organization.

Controller (Acting CFO), Creative Services Group | Worldwide Internal Audit Manager - THOMSON MULTIMEDIA - TECHNICOLOR - Los Angeles, CA

(2000 - 2004)

Provided hands-on controllership and financial leadership for a production-services group that grew from $33 million to $190 million in annual sales.

• Directed month-end close, annual operating budgets and forecasts, monthly financial statements, variance analysis, expense and labor-cost oversight, and management reporting packages for executive leadership.
• Integrated accounting activities for seven new business units, including five acquisitions and two start-ups; standardized the chart of accounts and supported migration to a common accounting system across international locations.
• Prepared journal-entry and account analysis, capital expenditure analyses, and budget controls; supervised expenditures for an approximately 100,000-square-foot production complex.
• Partnered closely with operations on staffing and cost decisions, due diligence, systems integration, corporate initiatives, and significant business decisions; trained accounting staff and chaired financial and production systems integration workgroups.
• As Worldwide Internal Audit Manager, recruited and developed international staff, managed service providers, evaluated accounting and operational controls, and presented recommendations to management and the Audit Committee.

B.S. - Business Administration - Accounting - California State University, Northridge

Graduate-Level Coursework - UCLA Anderson School of Management