Core Competencies
CFO
Corporate Finance
Treasury
Accounting
Financial Reporting
SEC Reporting, Administration
M&A
Strategic Planning
IPO
System Implementation
Industry Experience
Aerospace OEM
Agriculture
Churches
Construction
Financial Institutions
Manufacturing
Not-for-profits
Oil & Gas
Restaurants
Retail
Specialty Pharmacies
Solar
State and Local Governments
Education & Certifications
BBA, Accounting
Texas Tech University
CPA
State of Texas
Executive Profile
Chas Michel joined SeatonHill as a Partner in 2009 in the firm’s Dallas office. He has 30+ years of experience within Chief Accounting and Finance Officer roles. Industry focus includes Oil and Gas, Agriculture, Services, Aerospace, Pharmacy, and Solar, with emphasis on the Restaurant and Manufacturing sectors. Throughout his career, Chas has been responsible for all aspects of finance, accounting, administration, IPOs, and M&A, including serving as strategic advisor to Executive teams and Board Rooms. Chas began his career at Big 8 accounting firm KPMG Peat Marwick in Dallas where he was an audit partner working in various industries including financial institutions, manufacturing, retail, not-for profits, and hospitality.
Key Experience
SeatonHill: As Partner and CFO Consultant for this national CFO services firm, Chas has provided his knowledge and expertise to numerous firms. Throughout his client engagements he has directed all accounting and reporting functions, including all SEC compliance. Chas has successfully raised senior debt and restructured existing debt. He has selected and managed professional relationships with legal, audit, insurance and banking firms, coordinated annual budgetary process, and managed company benefit programs and general office administration, including human resources and risk management.
Trinity Industries Inc.: As VP, Corporate Controller, and Chief Accounting Officer for this market leading provider of products and services to the industrial, energy, transportation, and construction sectors, Chas was a key member of the team that delivered an on- schedule implementation of Oracle General Ledger, AR, AP, and fixed assets while outsourcing accounting processing functions to the onsite accounting service center. Chas reduced the accounting service center by 40% from 125 FTEs to 75 FTEs, improved cycle time for AP processing, reduced monthly/quarterly close schedules to 5 days, and reduced cash receipts posting cycles to 2 days. He played a central role in raising $300 million in Senior Notes while renegotiating the company’s existing credit facility.
Dave & Buster’s, Inc.: As VP and CFO for the largest operator of large-format, high- volume restaurant/entertainment complexes, Chas played an integral role in transforming what was originally a 5-unit subsidiary of a $53 million shoe retailer in 1994, into a 28-unit multinational NYSE-listed entity with revenue of $350 million in 2001. He migrated the entity to a stand-alone, publicly held capital markets participant via complex, innovative financing activities, built the entire accounting staff, and implemented the company’s initial accounting software. Chas handled investor relations and presented at numerous investment conferences.
Sfuzzi, Inc.: As VP and CFO for this 20-unit high-end Italian restaurant chain, Chas raised private capital, managed a public offering process, and relocated corporate offices from New York to Dallas. He created budgeting processes, introduced cash management programs, established banking relationships, and implemented cost savings programs to accompany the relocation and staffing challenges. KPMG Peat Marwick: Chas began his career as an assistant accountant. He served on the audit staff and audit management group and was admitted to Partnership in 1986. During his employment, Chas worked in a broad variety of industries including financial institutions, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, state and local governments, oil and gas, and non-profits.