The Team of Swain & Associates Inc.
The Swain & Associates Inc. team is a creative group of individuals who work well together, dedicated to serving the needs of their clients.
Christine Swain
President
Chris Swain is an energetic, intuitive entrepreneur who understands what it takes to successfully do business in Canada. The services she and her companies provide are fundamental to a positive corporate and financial growth experience in this unique marketplace. She has an extensive and diverse business background as the founder and President of Swain & Associates Inc. and has provided a wide range of services to both domestic and international clients in many industries since 1987.
Chris' early career included eight years as Vice-President of Finance with Devjo Holdings Limited. Subsidiaries owned by Devjo during Chris' tenure varied from mechanically engineered product manufacturers and distributors, speciality chemical formulators and a computer media storage and security company. As right-hand to the owner and CEO, and the liaison between the Chairman and all Presidents and/or General Managers of the operating companies, she was responsible for all aspects of the businesses in addition to the financial and administrative aspects. Acquisitions were successfully transacted under her full power of attorney and negotiating judgement.
Chris has been actively involved with many business ventures from inception, providing extensive experience and continuity to help ensure success. Involvement has varied from equity participation, appointments as a Director to consulting and support utilizing the resources of Swain & Associates Inc. Key strengths include a keen understanding of: Financial budgets/cash flow projections, accounting policy, year-end working paper files/liaison with auditors, bank financing including security negotiation, financial investments, investigation and negotiation of potential acquisitions and divestitures, legal matters (corporate and litigation), insurance arrangements (liability and fleet), Canadian payroll and human resources including group benefits, corporate policy, personnel, recruiting and pension matters, credit and collections policy, union negotiations and compliance, development of systems, and all other compliance and administrative processes.
Chris also owns and operates 700254 Ontario Inc., a Canadian company involved in commercial real estate development, with a division dedicated to the research, design and development of environmentally beneficial storm water management products.
Chris recently formed Swain Advance Corp. to further meet the expanding needs of clientele operating in the Canadian marketplace. Advance focuses on consulting and business development services for companies looking to do business in Canada, or companies already doing business in Canada seeking a better return on their investment. Her lifetime of relationships readily enable her to match resources with requirements, on an as-required consulting basis with a pay-for-performance advantage to clients.
Jeff Butler
General Manager / Consultant
Jeff Butler is a highly resourceful, hands-on business professional with over twenty five years' experience with a wide range of small, medium & large international companies and business groups doing business in Canada. Strategically focused, able to develop and execute relevant business building strategies, in harmony and balanced with corporate visions & goals, consumer needs & wants and brand strengths.
Jeff's early career included extensive media and account service experience at Canada's largest and most reputable advertising agencies - Baker Lovick, BBDO and J. Walter Thompson. Client assignments included Kodak (consumer & industrial responsibilities), Black & Decker, Sunflight Travel, Goodyear Auto Service Centres and Burger King. Later positions cascaded to include area marketing management, advertising & promotion management, national marketing management and Director level responsibilities at companies such as Burger King Canada, Arby's Canada, CARA Foods and SIR Corp. Jeff has had extensive experience with a number of Companies doing business in Canada, from those well established to those just entering the market place. His involvement has included roles supporting some of business's most respected leaders to leading the teams entering new markets. He was elected President of a Canadian Franchisee Advertising Association for four terms. He also was a Swain and Associates client. Initially, hiring Swain & Associates to provide back office support for 21 market, million-dollar advertising / marketing fund, in harmony with 7 other advertising coops. Jeff's strengths include solid communication skills, ability to integrate roles & responsibilities, knowledge of Canadian market place, understanding of marketing - media, promotions, PR, his ability to manage and optimize budgets in the 10's of thousand to 10's of millions... and his vast exposure to a broad base of business'.
In recent years, Jeff has enjoyed success as an independent business consultant, focusing on small to medium sized business with or wishing an improved end-user connection and return. Roles have included reviews & assessments of annual activities, general planning and brand review facilitation, independent S.W.O.T. analyses, needs assessments, general marketing reviews & assessments, organization & successor planning, facilitation, training & mentoring and general advisory services. Clients include restaurants & food service providers, provincial not-for-profit and charitable organizations, government, automotive, leasing, premium & incentive companies.
In summary, a successful Corporate Executive with broad experience, including the franchising sector, with hands-on strengths in building strategic alliances, business development and closing new business. And, he has an extensive database with personal connections based on more than 25 years in the Canadian Marketplace.
Chris Macleod
VP Manager, Financial Services
Chris has over twenty years of "hands-on" bookkeeping and accounting experience, her most recent 18 years as Vice-President of Swain and Associates Inc. Chris originally spent five years with Arthur Andersen Inc. in the special services department supervising the paraprofessional staff of five. The paraprofessional group provided support to the Insolvency and Small Business divisions and provided Chris with an opportunity to obtain experience in the operations of companies in varying industries. Her insolvency work included overseeing the accounting and day to day operations of an automotive part manufacturer, a trucking company, various retail outlets and many others. Other services included due diligence support to Chris Swain and the Devjo group of companies, a large Arthur Andersen client, to investigate potential acquisitions.
In 1986, Chris was engaged in the position of Assistant Controller and Office Manager for a pump manufacturer and distributor, one of the companies held in the group managed by Chris Swain, where she for three years gained further "hands-on" experience on the private side of business management. This position included full responsibility for accounting records and procedures. Computerized accounting was further established during her involvement to enhance management reporting including full costing information for the manufacturing process. Chris also provided support to the holding company for any due diligence review of potential acquisitions.
In 1988 Chris joined Chris Swain, who had established her own company, Swain & Associates Inc. Chris welcomed this opportunity, as client variety and new, alternate industry experience was very appealing. Special projects to her credit include complete systems and paperflow review of many client's businesses to analyze and provide a detailed report of recommendations including personnel restructure, paperflow and forms and computerization. Chris often fulfils the position of part-time Controller as part of a consulting arrangement to assist the client in establishing or redefining their requirements potentially resulting in a reorganization of personnel, procedures and systems. In this role, Chris acts as liaison between all personnel of the operations.
Responsibilities included: Financial budgets, cash flow input for projections, year-end working paper files and liaison with auditors, bank liaison, support in legal matters, insurance arrangements, recruiting, group benefits, personnel functions, credit, development of automation systems, liaison with all departments providing streamlined open communication channels and all other accounting and corporate policies. Further credits include taking responsibility for the smooth transition of company relocations, indicating the strength of her organizational skills and aptitude for detail. Chris has regularly travelled throughout North America to attend client board meetings on a consulting basis to provide input and advice on their financial matters. This consulting involves the co-ordinating of all departmental information to ensure the marketing and financial efforts and channels of communication are always open, providing for budget control while incorporating the necessary marketing efforts for business success.
Jennifer Devine Deveny
Controller/Bank Liaison
Jennifer Devine Deveny was appointed Controller/Bank Liaison for the Swain Group of Companies after almost ten years of working with the Swain & Associates Inc. team as a project based Account Representative. As a Contract Part-time Controller and Bookkeeper for many organizations, Jennifer has garnered extensive accounting and finance background and brings her entrepreneur based experience to Swain, now on a full-time basis. Small Businesses throughout the Toronto area have regularly relied upon her coordinated efforts, working with several Chartered Accounting firms in creating financial working paper files, performing internal audit functions as well as producing Management Financial Statements.
Jennifer's lifetime of experience has provided her with expertise on various types of accounting software. With a proven record of developing and implementing financial and operational controls that improve any P&L scenario, Jennifer oversees cash flow forecasting, project management, budgeting, contract administration and client billing to financially manage this service organization. As a cornerstone of the management team, Jennifer interfaces with all levels of staff performing internal benefits administration and payroll functions for the company, as well as assisting with Human Resource Management for recruiting and staff reviews.
As Bank Liaison Jennifer is entrusted with the responsibility for client treasury matters, at all times ensuring that corporate records are current and that all transactions are compliant. As the Liaison/Consultant for Director & Officer of Corporate Matters Jennifer overviews and communicates updates of requirements in all Canadian jurisdictions and proficiently ensures regular risk analysis is performed and monitored.
Jennifer is a strong communicator who is focused on creating and maintaining a positive environment for staff and clients alike. She is responsible for the daily overall corporate and financial management of the company and is responsible for ensuring that proper business practices and procedures are followed.
Cheryl McCutcheon
COO/Financial Analyst
Cheryl joined Swain and Associates in early 1988 and has grown with the company from providing full service bookkeeping, accounting, and computer software expertise to our clients to now managing internal compliance and reporting for all Swain processes. Her superior knowledge of professional practise and processes ensures continuity and accuracy in a fully supporting role. Cheryl's training abilities and computer confidence have provided excellent support for our clients needing side by side support, on location on an as-required basis. Cheryl supports all new client system implementations or reorganizations to establish procedures, systems, etc. Cheryl's expertise also extends to direct services as she handles the monthly bookkeeping/accounting services including payroll for several international and entrepreneurial clients of Swain. Cheryl is the main contact for all aspects of the day to day operations of the Corporate and Accounting Offices for many of our domestic and international clients and is highly regarded for her eloquent communications and superior organizational skills from start up to growth phases to complete success.
