Financial Leadership Panel

CFO Panel: Financial Leadership

Join us for an all-around discussion with a panel of experienced financial leaders!

Our dynamic discussion will cover CFO perspectives, financial leadership insights, and an exploration of the future of finance and accounting.

When: Wed, February 21, 2024

Where: Maggiano's Costa Mesa, CA

Time: 5:30 PM-7:30PM

Cost:$40 professional attendees, $20 for students

What's included: Appetizer, Salad, Dinner, Dessert, & beverage.

1.5 CPE credits awarded.

Wed, February 21, 2024

5:30 PM- 7:30 PM Pacific Time

Registration Link

REGISTER TODAY!

Jerome S. Kaiser, CPA, MS, CFE

Mr. Kaiser began his career with PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Century City, CA. After 6 years in public accounting, he spent the next 10 years as a financial executive with Ultramar (now a division of Valero Energy) where he participated in a $1B IPO. Following Ultramar, he worked with such venerable companies as Meguiar’s, Liz Claiborne and Mikasa. Mr. Kaiser has also served privately held, family-owned, PE-backed, and VC-backed companies. 

Mr. Kaiser received his master’s degree in business taxation from California State University and graduated with honors from Pepperdine University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

Mr. Kaiser was twice nominated for Orange County Business Journal CFO of the Year and served for five years as Treasurer of the Make Sense Foundation, a private foundation dedicated to women and children in need.

He is a member of the California State Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. 

Jim Eckstaedt, CPA

Jim is a senior corporate executive who has been CFO of three public companies and member of the boards of domestic and multi-national organizations.

Jim graduated from Valparaiso University with a B.S. degree in Accounting and commenced his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He is a member of the California Society of CPAs, a board member and treasurer of a non-profit foundation, and past board member of Ancala Equity Partners, Sage Software North America, and numerous healthcare start-ups.

Currently, Jim consults with Private Equity Firms, Boards of Directors and takes on interim CFO consulting engagements. Jim was CFO of SM&A, a NASDAQ listed company, and one of the team members who took SM&A private in a private equity transaction.

Prior to joining SM&A he was the CFO of State of the Art, another NASDAQ listed company, which Jim helped sell to Sage PLC. As CFO of Sage North America and a member of the Executive Management team, Sage North America grew from $60 million to $1 billion in annual revenue while the employee headcount grew from 320 to 5,000. Prior to Sage, Jim held various executive financial management positions at Western Digital Corporation such as VP and Treasurer and VP of Finance for the semiconductor division. 

Xavier Joffre

Xavier is the Chief Operating Officer of P&P Imports LLC, a $100M import business specializing in innovative outdoor games and sporting goods.

He is an experienced and dynamic commercial, operational, and

finance leader in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, with a proven

track record in mid and large-sized omni-channel companies. Xavier has worked

with diverse private, public, and private equity ownership structures across

various company cultures in the USA, Europe, and Asia. He is well-versed in

both direct and contract manufacturing, 3PL, and internal fulfillment,

supporting D2C, B2C, and B2B retail distribution landscapes.

Xavier has led strategic and operational roles to drive robust

topline sales and margins. Prior to joining P&P Imports, he served as the

Director of Finance & Operations at Fox Racing and also worked at Walt

Disney Studios as a Senior Financial Analyst.

Nathan obtained his undergraduate degree in Accounting from the University of Phoenix at the Southern California campus. The CMA credential accelerated Nathan’s career from Accounting Clerk to Corporate Controller. As an entrepreneur, the CMA credential helped Nathan employ the best management accountant practices that made his businesses successful. Because of the value of the CMA, Nathan gives back to the accounting community and aspiring CMA candidates by helping them pass the exam with his CMA Exam Academy.