STRENGTHS

-  Demonstrated leadership, management and negotiation skills
-  Extensive knowledge of business process mapping and automation
-  Exceptional communication skills and situational intelligence
-  Excellent project management and multi-tasking skills
-  Solid quantitative, computer and financial skills
-  In-depth knowledge of mid-tier ERP, CRM and Accounting packages
-  Strong corporate finance, accounting and technology background
-  Strong inter-personal skills
-  Self-starter, entrepreneurial, deadline-oriented, efficient, work well under pressure
-  Ability to rapidly acquire a proficient understanding of business issues

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Founder, President and CFO, RKB CONSULTING GROUP, INC., New York, NY 1987 - current
Providers of middle-market financial, distribution, warehouse management, manufacturing, project accounting and CRM systems. Managed a staff of 25 professionals. Achieved growth of 453% in the last five years of operations prior to mergin American Express TBS. Provided hands-on management and leadership to build rapidly growing professional services firm. Nominated to Sage Software’s prestigious Circle of Excellence reserved for the Top 1% resellers in 1999. Appointed to the Chairman’s Club in 1998, in the first year of selling Sage products. Nominated to President’s Club for Great Plains Software in 1999, in the first year of selling Great Plains. Member of Solomon’s software President’s Club for three years in a row. Achieved Solomon software’s Master Consultant designation. Acted as part-time CFO for several clients across the country ranging in size from $4MM to $32MM in revenues. Assisted management in formulating strategic direction of the firm. Managed outside CPA and lender relationships.

Co-Owner, HAMILTON HOSPITALITY, INC., Allentown, PA 1995 - current
Built, own and managed an award winning, nationally ranked Holiday Inn Express 70 room franchise that returned original investment in less than 3 years. For the last several years the hotel operated independently without much need for active management while producing consistent financial and customer satisfaction results.

Strategic Advisor, CHL-APOLLO HOSPITALS, LTD., Indore, MP, India 2000 - current
Provide strategic direction to this nationally recognized super specialty 175 bed surgical hospital, first of its kind in state of MP (population 60 million) performing Brain, Heart, Kidney, GI track, Knee and Hip replacement surgery.

Co-Owner, COMMACK HOSPITALITY, INC., Commack, NY 2001 - current
Actively involved in providing direction in construction of 111 rooms Wingate Inn in Long Island. Hotel commenced operation in fall of 2003

Co-Owner, HILAIRE FARM SL & RC LLC, Huntington, NY 2006 - current
Co-Own and manage a 76 bed skilled nursing facility. This facility has been a landmark in the Town of Huntington for the last 53 years with excellent reputation for resident care and satisfaction.

Managing Director, AMERICAN EXPRESS TBS, New York, NY 1999 - 2002
Co-manage the fastest growing group (CIS group) within the NY office. Evaluate, develop and implement strategic alliances that foster expansion into new markets. Collaborated with other offices to retain clients, to optimize use of underutilized staff and standardize sales, marketing and implementation methodologies. Achieved high level of customer satisfaction by working closely with clients to continually deliver results.

Chief Financial Officer, EDITING CONCEPTS, INC. New York, NY 1986 - 1996
A Video, Audio and Film post-production firm. Played key role in revenue growth from $4MM to over $32MM in a less than a decade. Responsible for strategic planning, acquisition,JV and start up of 18 different entities within the firm, working with these divisional presidents to ensure compliance and milestone achievements. Created and executed financial and accounting strategies, including firm’s and stockholders’ tax issues, audits and accounting regulations. Implemented accounting and various operational software to streamline operations. Reduced accounting fee by 65% while increasing reporting level from compilation to audit. Managed several IRS, state income tax, sales tax and other agencies’ audits. Oversaw all legal issues including successful defense against a legal discrimination action by the EEOC. Raised over $28MM and reduced interest rates for equipment financing and acquisition. Analyzed lease/purchase decisions for equipment valued over $40MM. Maintained banking relations. Introduced, managed and selected investment options for 401k plan that grew in size to over $ 2MM. Reduced cost by terminating legacy pension plan that included costly whole life insurance policies.

Vice-President Finance, EASTERN ROLLING MILLS, INC. Bronx, NY 1984 - 1986
In-charge of Finance, Accounting and office administration. Implemented Solomon III PC based accounting system, eliminating costly IBM system 32. Responsible for IRS audit and dissolution of acquired entity. Managed banking and legal relations. Administered firm’s pension plan. Introduced several costs cutting measures and workflow procedures.

Vice-President Finance, WINDSOR VIDEO, INC., New York, NY 1981 - 1984
Started as Controller and subsequently became VP Finance and shareholder. Implemented strong financial management system, supervised billing, payable and receivable functions. Managed credit and collection functions.

Branch Manager, UNION BANK OF INDIA, Indore, MP, India 1975 - 1979
Started as Management Trainee, selected as top candidate out of 4,000+ applicants. Appointed as youngest urban branch manager in 1977 at the age of 24. Managed a branch of 22 employees. Improved profitability of the branch, increased loans by 340%, collected all doubtful debts granted prior to joining the office. Increased deposits by 240%, resulting in the branch upgrade within 16 months.

EDUCATION

ADELPHI UNIVERSITY, Garden City, NY 1979 - 1981
M.B.A. – FINANCE
Graduated on Dean’s List (3.9 GPA). Awarded Best International Student Award. Graduate Assistant for both years.

INDORE UNIVERSITY, Indore, MP, India 1975 - 1976
POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA - COST AND MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING
Graduated with 2nd rank merit holder and on the Dean’s List.

INDORE UNIVERSITY, Indore, MP, India 1972 -1974
M.A. - ECONOMICS
Graduated #1 of 1200+ students. Awarded R. C. Jall Gold Medal for academic performance. President of Economics Club. Completed first year of Bachelor’s degree in Law with 4.0 GPA.

INDORE UNIVERSITY, Indore, MP, India 1968 - 1972
B.Sc. – CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS AND BIOLOGY

CERTIFICATIONS, COMPUTER SKILLS
Certified in Impax sales process, Negotiating skill development workshop (Top Gun I and II)
Proficient in Financial / Distribution / Warehouse / CRM enterprise level software and MS Office products, OLAP tools.

OTHER

Sergeant, 2nd MP ARMED SQUADRON, INDIAN ARMY, Indore, MP, India 1972
Tank Battalion for campus-based Army unit. Represented unit as member of shooting team in State competition.

Graduate International Fellowship, ROTARY INTERNATIONAL 1978
Scholarship valued at $10,000. Represented Rotary district spanning over two states Gujarat and MP. One of 12 candidates selected that year from India out of several thousand that applied.

Adjunct Professor of Finance, ADELPHI UNIVERSITY, Garden City, NY 1981 - 1982

Lifetime Member, CEO CLUB, New York, NY
Active member of Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) until 1999. PAC worked as an unofficial board of directors for about a dozen member firms ranging in revenues from $3 MM to $30 MM. Advised fellow CEOs on issues they faced in successfully running their businesses e.g. merger, acquisition, systems, human resources and new business ventures.

Member, Representative of NY State, INTERNATIONAL CONSULTING NETWORK 1995-1999
An organization representing 40 different CPA and technology consulting firms. Focused on improving management, profitability and growth strategies of member firms. Collaborated to create best practice methodologies and implemented this model in our individual practices.

Various Charities; Social, Cultural and Self improvement communities
Involved as President, director or leader of several organizations that are dedicated to various causes.

Rakesh K. Bhargava, 24 Oak Lane, Roslyn Heights, NY 11577, Phone: (516) 603-9776

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