Laura Byron, Cpa
About Laura Byron, Cpa
Laura Byron, CPA, is a Finance Manager at Alight Solutions in Lincolnshire, IL, with extensive experience in financial analysis and business finance across various organizations.
Current Role at Alight Solutions
Laura Byron currently serves as the Finance Manager at Alight Solutions in Lincolnshire, IL. In this role, she has implemented a new financial forecasting model that improved accuracy by 15%. Additionally, she led a cross-functional team to streamline the budget preparation process, reducing the time required by 20%. Laura is also responsible for developing and conducting training sessions on advanced Excel techniques for the finance team.
Previous Experience at Sears Holdings Corporation
From 2016 to 2018, Laura Byron worked at Sears Holdings Corporation as the Manager of Business Finance in Hoffman Estates, IL. During her tenure, she was recognized with the 'Outstanding Performance Award' for her exceptional contributions to business finance. Her role involved overseeing financial planning and analysis, and ensuring the alignment of business finance operations with the company's strategic objectives.
Role at MAT Holdings, Inc.
Between 2012 and 2016, Laura Byron held the position of Senior Financial Analyst at MAT Holdings, Inc. She played a key role in the financial integration of a major acquisition. Her duties included financial planning, analysis, and providing insights that supported business decisions. Her expertise significantly contributed to the company's financial strategies and operational efficiencies.
Background in Financial Analysis
Laura Byron has accumulated extensive experience as a Senior Financial Analyst at several companies. She worked at Scottish Re for six months in Charlotte, NC, and at Compass Group for three years, also in Charlotte, NC. Additionally, she spent four years at Nielsen in Schaumburg, IL, where she mentored junior analysts, helping them achieve professional certifications. Her early career includes roles at Tribune Interactive and PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she gained substantial expertise in accounting and tax analysis.
Academic Background and Early Career
Laura Byron earned her Bachelor's of Science in Accounting from Bradley University, where she studied from 1995 to 1999. Her early career began with a short stint as a Staff Auditor at Martin & Shadid, CPA’s in Peoria, IL, followed by roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers and Tribune Interactive. Her educational background and early professional experiences laid a strong foundation for her subsequent roles in financial analysis and management.
Industry Contributions and Volunteering
Laura Byron has contributed to the finance industry by publishing an article on financial modeling best practices in a leading industry journal. She has also presented at the annual Financial Management Association conference on the topic of financial analysis and decision-making. Beyond her professional work, she volunteers as a financial advisor for a local non-profit organization in the Greater Chicago Area, demonstrating her commitment to community service.