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Cary J Berman

Global CFO/COO

About Me

I am a seasoned Global Operations and Financial professional. I uniquely blend cross-functional leadership to steer organization-wide growth and development through data-driven analytics, mentorship, and strategic insights. My dynamic approach has significantly influenced the operational frameworks of companies across fintech, healthcare, government, SaaS, BaaS, and the nonprofit sector. My strategic foresight has consistently propelled early-stage and high-growth companies to new heights, leaving a trail of successful expansions and fundraising triumphs in my wake. I have built a robust network in the US and Africa, tapping into a vast and innovative ecosystem of startup and early-stage companies and funders in the VC, Accelerator, and Venture Studio markets. This has allowed me to not only launch a pan-African consulting practice while serving as CFO for an African VC firm but also to work with over 25 companies across the world to facilitate scale and growth and to raise equity of over $30 million. Global Value Proposition My influence extends globally, with a robust network across the US, Africa, and Latin America. A cornerstone in the Fintech communities both domestically and abroad, I invest my expertise in nurturing ventures within the SME, SaaS, BaaS, Health/Pharma-Tech, and Green-tech arenas, driving significant advancements in these sectors. Combining best practices with an understanding of the uniqueness of each market and culture, I can positively impact every company I engage with and facilitate positive change. Career Highlights Currently, as the Chief Financial Officer at the CFO Centre, I have been instrumental in tailoring high-impact financial strategies for mid-sized US firms, with a keen focus on fintech and payment solutions. My strategic prowess was pivotal at MPost, where I spearheaded crowdfunding and VC efforts that markedly enhanced the company’s strategic focus, leading to significant growth and success. As the founding force behind Vibranium Partners and as Global CFO of Venture Garden Group, I didn't just lead—I transformed. My capital structure and fundraising strategies cultivated fertile ground for numerous startups, enabling them to secure essential capital and flourish under my guidance. My decade at SMART Payment Plan is particularly notable for overhauling operations to scale new heights in service delivery and country-wide compliance, significantly enhancing operational outputs and efficiencies, and opening new markets.

Jurisdiction

United States | South Africa | Kenya

Notable Employer

  • CFO at JumpStart Inc.
  • CFO at Berman Consulting
  • Global CFO-Manger East Africa Consultancy Practice at Venture Garden Group and Green House Capital

Experience

Seniority LevelExecutive
Years of Experience20+ years
Current StatusActive
CFONotableJumpStart Inc.
2024 - Present

CFO in Residence for health-Tech and SaaS cohorts ● delivers high-impact financial leadership and strategic support to tech entrepreneurs and small business owners. ● High-level strategic support to portfolio companies. ● Operational and transformational services to clients. ● Fundraising leadership, including creating CIMs, pitch decks, and detailed financial models.

CFONotableBerman Consulting
2013 - Present

Consultant | Interim CFO ● Provided high-level strategic consulting to VC-funded FinTech’s, including modeling, new revenue stream creation, and capacity planning. ● Scoped projects that spanned regulatory, customer service, financial system/ERP functions and performance, operational efficiency, and customer service enhancements. ● Facilitated $15 million fundraise. ● Developed and implemented customer referral programs, increasing sales by 23%. Clients Include: ● Koa -Digital Banking, ensuring inclusion for all Kenyans. ● Zanifu -Micro Lending platform for SMEs. ● Machinetools.com -B2B online marketplace for machines and equipment. ● Sonoma -10 location, payday lender. ● Twiva-online matchmaking for social content creators and CPCs. ● Travel Lacross USA- SaaS sport leagues and services. ● IrriHub- Sustainable green water and power solutions to small-scale farmers (current). ● Shamiri Health-Mental Health and Wellness company (current). ● EShow-SaaS, event planning and conference management company (current). ● Take5 Oil change-automotive services franchise owner

Global CFO-Manger East Africa Consultancy PracticeNotableVenture Garden Group and Green House Capital
2020 - 2023

Global CFO and Head of Consulting Services- Vibranium Partners ● Led strategic efforts on capital structure, fundraising, and new project and product development. ● Worked in support of Green House Capital (VC fund) to support portfolio companies and liquidation strategy. ● Launched a 70-person consulting firm that secured over 15 high-growth clients, raising $40M in equity. Enabled clients to grow and scale in profitable and sustainable ways. o Investor readiness and fundraising o Transactional due diligence and new market/product analysis o Financial transformation for growth and scale o Client acquisition strategy and analysis

CFO-COOSmart Pay
2013 - 2022

● Transformed 100% remote/global workforce to maximize efficiency and scalability. ● Launched Finance, HR, and Compliance departments. ● Led a rebuild of a $10M ERP project, prioritizing growth, scalability, and new functionality. ● Automated the reconciliation process for transactions of over $1B/year, creating the ability to scale operations by 500% and create a SaaS platform. ● Obtained licenses in 20+ states as a money transmitter. ● Managed audits for state regulatory agencies, banks, NACHA, and Reg-E compliance. ● Elevated the customer experience team, which reduced turnover by over 65%, decreased formal complaints by 70%, and improved KPIs across the board. ● Sourced and managed offshore IT services, saving the company 60% in development costs. ● Cultivated a marketing plan to reach the student loan market space, including social influencers and a complete redesign of the website for D2C.

Education

Masters of FinanceIndiana university
1989 - 1992

Skills

Core skills0
Languages1

Languages

English