EFTA00589925.pdf

JOSEPH R. AVANTARIO, CPA Phon EXECUTIVE PROFILE Seasoned financial executive with varied experience in front-office, middle-office and operational roles. Possess a remarkable business acumen, record of achievement. and depth of experience in dealing with complex situations and organizations. Key strengths include strong analytical, multi-tasking and problem solving skills, creative thinking, results orientation, and pride in producing superior results and exceeding expectations. Very personable and readily adapt to new environments; quickly having a positive organizational impact. Add value through analysis and profitability management, budgeting, forecasting and presenting action oriented suggestions. AREAS OF EXPERTISE Financial Accounting • Financial Analysis and Strategic Planning • Regulatory Compliance and Reporting • Equity, Fixed Income and Derivative Trading • Budgeting and Forecasting • Tax Preparation and Strategic Planning • Family Trust Accounting and Taxation • Policy & Procedure Development and Implementation • Internal Auditing • Internal Control • Project Management • Software Implementation • Operations • Team Leadership and Motivation • Work Flow Efficiency Evaluation and Strategy Implementation PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE SCHONFELD GROUP HOLDINGS Jericho, NY Chief Financial Officer April 2006 to Present • Chief Financial Officer for closely held family office with responsibility for operating businesses, private equity, and personal investments. • Lead the firm's accounting department handling taxes, audits, management and external reporting. Consistently assume more responsibility with less staff by focusing on automation and simplifying reporting. • Handle all the treasury functions at the firm, maximizing daily return on capital while forecasting and planning for asset/ liability management. • Contribute to strategic business planning and investment decision making by measuring and evaluating divisional and operational results and reporting on trends. • Liaison for bank and broker relationships, establishing credit lines and monitoring bank covenant compliance and reporting. • Participate in the implementation of the organizational vision as a member of the Operations Committee. • Consistently focus on opportunities to increase revenue, decrease expenses, achieve the founder's tax planning objectives and implement organizational efficiency and savings initiatives. • Responsible for the implementation and administration of the firm's PEO relationship as well as the firm's health and dental insurance and 40I k plans. EFTA00589925 Business Support Principal April 2005 to April 2006 • Responsible for developing business goals and objectives for new business initiatives and for implementing business plan execution strategy. Prioritized departmental project needs; developed written operational and supervisory policies and procedures. • Implemented the firm's soft dollar and commission recapture programs. Expanded the firm's offerings into the international securities market segment. • Managed the successful integration of acquired assets of another firm's customer and proprietary businesses into the Schonfeld Group of companies, simultaneously expanding Schonfeld's product offerings and clearing relationships. Divisional Controller April 2004 to April 2005 • Responsible for regulatory reporting, profit and loss statement preparation, MO reporting and financial analytical reviews for self-clearing entity. • Reviewed internal and regulatory reporting controls and procedures. Increased efficiencies in regulatory reporting through automation and process improvement. Discovered and corrected numerous erroneous reporting and accounting procedures. WORLDCO, LLC — New York, NY September 1998 to April 2004 Chief Financial Officer and Director of Operations • Supervised the firm's accounting, finance and operations departments overseeing as many as 40 professionals. Responsibilities included SEC filings, monitoring daily financial and operational compliance with margin, capital and customer protection rules. Created the firm's real-time margin system thereby resolving an outstanding regulatory issue the firm faced. JOSEPH AVANTARIO - Page Two • Implemented monthly reporting to the Board of Directors utilizing critical performance measurement tools to evaluate primary business drivers. Created and implemented a budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis system. • Expanded the proprietary trading division from less than 90 traders to over 800 and ultimately co- managed an orderly exit from the business and conclusion of the firm's financial affairs. Structured and negotiated joint ventures which increased the firm's operating margins and stabilized the trading business line. • Started the stock loan department. Navigated admission to membership in the Options Clearing Corporation, and implemented the OCC hedging program and an overnight repurchase agreement investment program. CAMBRIDGE HOLDINGS, LLC New York, NY January 1995 to August 1998 Chief Financial Officer/Controller EFTA00589926 Founding partner of an investment bank focused on structuring lease finance transactions, high yield taxable and tax-exempt debt transactions and petrochemical vessel acquisitions using capital markets finding. • Managed treasury, accounting and finance functions for a multi-entity organization with over $600 million in assets under management. Implemented accounting, budgeting, operating and regulatory systems and controls. • Responsible for SEC, regulatory and creditor reporting. • Created financial models for fixed income and equity offerings. Coordinated efforts with bond counsel and underwriters preparing prospectuses for public offerings. • Raised startup capital, negotiated loan agreements, corporate contracts and leases. CS FIRST BOSTON New York, NY May 1992 to December1994 Reinvestment Municipal Salesman/Frader • Identified security and contract instruments to meet client investment and funding needs. Structured new money investment portfolios and restructured existing investment portfolios. • Managed $1.2 billion Repo book including collateral calls and exchanges, and daily marks under tri-party and DVP/RVP relationships. • Pioneered the use of low-risk derivative products to enhance portfolio return and provide liquidity for various governmental agencies and corporations earning over $7 million dollars for our trading operation. • Monitored government and corporate debt markets to identify opportunities for client portfolios. Internal Auditor • Evaluated risk management, accounting, internal control and operational systems and provided management with recommendations to strengthen these systems and controls. • Reviewed and reengineered operational and clearance procedures for increased control and operating efficiencies. • Reverse engineered various fixed income and mortgage products and derivatives to test mark to market pricing. Evaluated commercial mortgages and underlying credits to ensure credit worthiness. KPMC PEAT MARWICK New York, NY September 1988 to May 1992 Financial Services Group Supervising Senior • Successfully completed accelerated promotion program. • Supervised and performed numerous, simultaneous audit engagements on a wide range of financial institutions to test their internal control and reporting procedures. EDUCATION STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT ALBANY EFTA00589927 BS — Accounting. Graduated Magna Cum Laude — 1988 -GPA - 3.87 CERTIFICATIONS, REGISTRATIONS AND OTHER Certified Public Accountant: Awards and Honors November 1990 National Association of Accountant's Award Signum Laudis University Honor Society/ Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society EFTA00589928