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Heidi Levin

CFO | Private Equity Leader | Capital Raising Expert | Driving EBITDA Growth & Operational Efficiency | Expert in Financial Strategy, Risk Management & Tech-Enabled Solutions for Business Transformations

Greater Chicago Area

Overview 

Heidi Levin is a seasoned CFO with a strong track record in driving EBITDA growth and operational efficiency, specializing in financial strategy, risk management, and tech-enabled solutions for business transformations. With experience in leadership roles at notable organizations such as Fooda and The Whole Coffee Company, she excels in capital raising, financial reporting, and fostering investor relations to achieve financial results and equity financing goals.

Work Experience 

  • Chief Financial Officer

    2022 - 2024

    Private-equity-backed company, the largest tech-enabled food marketplace for workplaces (B to B to C), utilizing a SAAS model. Hired to bring a full range of executive expertise, including capital raising, FP&A, and systems implementation. Responsible for Accounting, Finance, and Business Intelligence/Data. Instrumental in post-pandemic turnaround from generating an EBITDA loss to being cash flow positive. Two direct reports with a total team of 14. - Generated positive EBITDA for the first time in the company’s history. Increased average cash balance by 150% while also making meaningful investments in operations. - Actively managed accounts receivable and introduced a more granular credit policy, resulting in a reduction of Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) from 40+ days to 30. - Integrated the Data and FP&A departments and improved financial and operational performance by developing timely reports with keener financial insights. - Improved profit margins by transforming the operational budgeting process; implemented performance-based budgeting that made additional investments and resources contingent upon meeting key profitability milestones. - Developed and enhanced reporting and metrics for internally developed software, allowing greater investments in new functionality. Achieved zero liability in the NY State audit that examined Fooda’s software capitalization policies. - Centralized company’s retail purchase accounts and negotiated with vendors, achieving $200,000+ savings on $1.5MM purchases in the first year. - Improved pricing of banking facility and obtained working capital line of credit; also raised new capital, a combination of equity and venture debt with new investors and lenders. - Overhauled sales tax remittance process to satisfy compliance requirements of a Marketplace Facilitator in 22+ states; developed strategy and implemented integration with third-party service provider. Zero liability results in three state audits.

  • Chief Financial Officer

    2019 - 2021

    Investor-based start-up CPG company with an innovative line of coffee products sold through major grocery retailers. Partnering with the CEO, led the introduction of the new branded product to major retail clients while managing cash flow and ensuring the company’s survival during a pandemic. Responsible for accounting, finance, human resources, information technology, and legal matters. Involved in strategy, capital allocation, partner/vendor negotiation, and board/investor relations. - Preserved the company’s finances during the pandemic by delaying a major roll-out, negotiating with lenders, vendors, and creditors, and cutting expenses. Supported the sales team in developing a distribution strategy for new products. - Introduced e-commerce capabilities, integrating DTC operations with financial systems and controls. Over time, DTC represented 30% of sales. - Raised $17MM of equity with a new investor leading the round and existing investors participating. - Saved the company $400,000 in local tangible personal property tax. - Reorganized the company’s financial statements to be more usable by investors, creating KPIs to measure results.

  • Business Intelligence Consultant | Advisor to CIO on BI implementation

    2018 - 2019

    Private equity real estate fund with $10B of assets under management (AUM) focused on the residential sector. - Led implementation of corporate-wide business intelligence (BI) solution to optimize and provide real-time access to data on the company’s 160+ investments, along with third-party data, enabling more informed investment decisions. - Developed BI system on time and on budget, working with the IT department as well as Accounting, Investments, and Portfolio Management to ensure the solution met each group’s needs. The resulting system is still used to track property performance on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis.

  • Vice President Client Services

    2017 - 2018

    Real estate private equity firm with over $11B of AUM, investing in a variety of sectors. Reported directly to the Partner responsible for fundraising and investor relations. Involved in all aspects of fundraising activities, including investor meetings, marketing materials, responses to RFIs, and due diligence. - Spearheaded systems upgrades, allowing the firm to manage and mine data from its 25-year track record (350 investments) more efficiently for more timely and insightful analyses. - Converted concepts and investment thesis into targeted marketing materials for two new strategies that leveraged the firm’s platform despite a somewhat limited track record in the selected subsectors.

  • Senior Vice President

    2013 - 2016

    Private equity firm controlled by Sam Zell that focused on investing in and managing emerging market real estate. Initially hired as VP, later promoted to executive team reporting to the CEO. Led investor relations and capital markets activities, managing a six-person team. Raised capital from multiple investor types, including endowments, foundations, pension funds, sovereign wealth, HNW, etc. - Raised $700+MM for Latin American companies in multiple sectors (office, industrial, hospitality). Structured and positioned proposed offerings, created marketing materials, managed due diligence, and negotiated documents. - Led $300MM fundraising for EI Fund VI, with a sophisticated public pension fund as an anchor investor. - Served as director for two portfolio companies in Mexico (industrial) and Brazil (residential).

  • Vice President

    2011 - 2013

  • Board Member

    2014 - 2016

    Advance Real Estate develops, leases and manages Class A industrial real estate in Central Mexico, primarily in ther Bajío region.

  • Board Member

    2014 - 2015

    Grupo Thá is a privately held homebuilder with a leading presence and recognized brand across the South Region of Brazil

  • Executive Director, Energy Initiative

    2009 - 2011

    First Executive Director of the university’s newly organized energy initiative; managed commercial aspects of the main project, a computational model investigating the interaction of the economy, energy policy, and climate change. On executive committee that set long-term objectives and approved budgets; led fundraising efforts with foundations, corporations, and government agencies. Secured a highly competitive $6MM grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

  • Vice President, Private Equity

    2004 - 2008

    Preeminent global firm providing asset servicing, investment management, and wealth management services A senior member of the team managing three separate fund-of-funds totaling $700MM invested in 70+ underlying funds (combination of venture capital, LBO, and distressed debt). Managed a relationship with the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office for a $75MM Technology Development Account.

  • Vice President, Personal Financial Services, Family Business

    2002 - 2004

Northern Trust Corporation provides asset management, wealth management, retirement, financial technology & investment management services.

  • Senior Vice President

    1996 - 2001

    Former Fortune 500 company; largest provider of disaster recovery services and a major IT leasing business. Reported to COO; directed multiple projects enhancing the company’s technology services and leasing business, including the creation of a platform for the next generation of products and services, contributing over $750MM to the company’s market value.

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