Rafael N. Ortega

522 York Dale Dr., Ruskin, FL, 33570 Tel. (813) 215-9454 Home (813) 645-8662 Email: rnortega2004@yahoo.com

Summary

My strengths are in the areas of Cost Accounting, Budgets, and Financial Analysis. After having worked for a number of years as a Cost Manager with Pepperidge Farms Inc. and Breed Technologies Inc., and later as a Supervisor of Logistics Finance with Tropicana Products Inc., I have become very skilled at managing and analyzing costs throughout the entire manufacturing process. During my career, and more recently as a Sr. Cost Accountant at Coca-Cola Refreshments Inc., I have fine-tuned my skills working with inventory controls, budgets, monthly forecasts, and financial reporting. As a result of this professional background I have also developed valuable skills interacting with all levels of management and plant operations.

Professional Skills

Management of monthly cost accounting cycle Evaluation of period results and P&L performance Budgeting for P&L Maintenance of standard costs and BOM Analysis of cost variances Inventory reconciliation Audit the integrity of all inventory and cost of sales accounts Implementing financial systems Working with auditors Enhancing financial controls

Accomplishments

After being hired by Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc. in April of 2007, I immediately acquired responsibility over five bottling facilities and related sales warehouses, supporting them in all areas of cost accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting.

Designed a process for validating production volume and labor data entered by all US plants into a manufacturing Labor Effic. Reporting system. The data is validated against the plant’s SAP based inventory ledgers, and monthly P&L Variance Analysis.

While employed at Tropicana Products Inc., I prepared numerous Annual Operating Plans for various distribution operations and their administrative centers which added to budgets of over $300 million, and within a combined dollar variance of less than 1.8 %. All assigned deadlines and corporate targets were consistently met.

Also while at Tropicana Products Inc., I improved inventory counting, shipping, and receiving SOPs being used by all company warehousing facilities, which led to an improvement in the Bradenton’s DCs internal audit rating from a “D” to an “A”.

While working for Pepperidge Farms Inc., I successfully replaced my Mftg. plant’s existing accounting system modules for a totally integrated financial/manufacturing software (BPCS) within a year's time. Accounting modules implemented were: Inventory, Costing, Accounts Payable, and General Ledger.

Also while working at Pepperidge Farm’s manufacturing plant in Lakeland FL, I successfully implemented an improved inventory tracking system at ten regional distribution outlets which in the first year reduced inventory shrinkage by $175K.

Education

Degree: Masters in Business Administration, University of South Florida, Tampa, FLMajor: Finance and EconomicsDegree: Bachelor of Arts, University of South Florida, Tampa, FLMajor: Business Administration, Finance

Experience

Coca-Cola Refreshments, Inc., Brandon, FL (April 2007 to Present)Type of Business: manufacturing, Soda Processing and BottlingSenior Cost Accountant, Northeast Region Team with plant managers and staff to prepare Annual Operating Budgets, and maintain

monthly Operating Forecasts for four manufacturing plants and supporting sales WH Supervise complete cost accounting cycle and month end closing for assigned locations Report to management and corporate on monthly P&L performance to Budget Lead monthly reviews with plant staff to explain manufacturing cost/volume variances Assist plant managers/staff by providing support with financial systems, data, and training Implement controls to ensure the integrity of all inventory and expense account balances Evaluate and process supervisors trimester incentive payouts for all five assigned locations

Tropicana Products, Inc., Bradenton, FL (2000 to 2004)Type of Business: Manufacturing, Juice ProcessingSupervisor of Logistics Finance Delivered the Annual Operating Plan and Quarterly Forecast for assigned customers,

which included three regional distribution centers, twelve offsite warehouses, eight administrative cost centers, and all raw material interplant freight.

Supervised one analyst, and all financial reporting of the Bradenton Distribution Ops. Provided monthly performance analysis and budget support to all assigned customers Evaluated the financial merits of proposed cost reduction projects Audited monthly inventory reconciliations of all offsite warehousing centers

Contract Work (1999 to 2000)1) Sterile Recoveries, Inc., Clearwater, FL (Surgical equipment leasing)2) Eaton Corporation, Cutler-Hammer Div., Tampa, FL (Mftg. Electronics)Senior Financial Analyst Reconciled all monthly inventory and COGS account activity Performed standard cost “roll-ups” and inventory re-valuations Analyzed and reported monthly manufacturing cost variances Reported monthly Budget performance to plant management and corporate

Breed Technologies, Inc., Lakeland, FL (1994 to 1998)Type of Business: Manufacturing, air bag systems for automobilesSupervisor of Cost Accounting and Accounts Payable Supervised complete cost accounting cycle and month end closing Developed corporate budgets for materials, labor, and overhead Reviewed and maintained all standard costs and B.O.M. Presented monthly analyses of manufacturing variances and performance to Budget Performed scheduled inventory revaluations and reconciliation to G/L Supervised all Accounts/Payable functions

Pepperidge Farms, Inc., Lakeland, FL (1987 to 1994)Type of Business: Food Processing, bakeryManager of Cost Accounting (1990 - 1994)Supervisor of Cost Accounting (1987 - 1990) Managed the entire month-end cost accounting closings Explained manufacturing and overhead cost variances Maintained and verified all manufacturing cost standards Reconciled all inventory and COGS account balances Reported monthly cost performance to plant management and corporate Prepared the plant’s Annual Operating Budget and Quarterly Forecasts