Mike O'Brien

Current

• Major Account Manager at Wellesley Information Services

Past

• Founder/Principal at M.L. O'Brien Communications, LLC
• Internal Auditor at Cole Hersee
• Senior Accountant at Grant Thornton

• Staff Accountant at Howe, Riley & Howe, PLLC

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Education

• Southern New Hampshire University

Recommended

6 people have recommended Mike

Connections

231 connections

Industry

Information Services

Websites

• Wellesley Information Services

Mike O'Brien’s Summary

Experienced, hardworking and resourceful communications professional has brought talents internally for account management and business development role at Wellesley Information Services (WIS), a business information provider and strategic partner with SAP and IBM.

Consultative approach focuses on presenting the unique value propositions of fee-based educational, training and informational resources to executives and teams that rely on SAP software -- and the IT professionals who support them.

Collaborates effectively with key clients, as well as internal team members, including conference and content production, customer service, editorial, finance, marketing, operations, and product management.

Mike O'Brien’s Specialties:

• Advising others in professional development planning
• Creating effective communication, marketing and outreach strategies
• Identifying areas for business process improvement
• Researching, synthesizing and disseminating information
• Writing, editing, and publishing

Mike O'Brien’s Experience

• Major Account Manager

  Wellesley Information Services

  (Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Publishing industry)

  November 2007 — Present (1 year 9 months)

  Identify and convey the value of educational resources and training opportunities to SAP customers, including Fortune 1000 and Forbes Global 2000 corporate enterprises, within major accounts and market segments, as well as individual IT professionals and consultants.
  
  Promoted from Conference Sales Representative within six months of hire.

• Founder/Principal

  M.L. O'Brien Communications, LLC

  (Writing and Editing industry)

  January 2000 — October 2007 (7 years 10 months)

  FREELANCE COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL
  Provided writing, editing, public relations & marketing support services.
  
  •Secured coverage for business authors with MSNBC, SIRIUS, NY Daily News, About.com, MarketWatch.com and MSN Money.
  •Contributing Editor, ePregnancy magazine.
  •Published in The Wall Street Journal, Consumers Digest, Woman’s Day and Bottom Line/Personal.
  •Memorable interviews included personal finance guru/author Suze Orman of CNBC and identity theft expert Frank W. Abagnale -- portrayed by Leonard DiCaprio in "Catch Me If You Can."
  •Subcontractor, Spectrumedia: SEO copywriting; brochure/Web content; corporate identity; tagline development.
  •Analyzed complex business/legal issues for online content industry newsletter.
  •Contributing Writer, Parents & Kids.
  •Columnist, The Business Journal of Southeastern Mass.
  •Created educational opt-in e-mails for Zooba.com.
  •Changed career to writer after decade in accounting. Wall Street Journal featured accomplishment.

• Internal Auditor

  Cole Hersee

  (Privately Held; Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing industry)

  December 1990 — June 1997 (6 years 7 months)

  Analyzed financial, operating and compliance activities to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness and profitability of the organization; performed special projects and reviews; assisted in the implementation of financial and related software packages; and prepared financial, governmental and statistical reports.
  
  •Identified areas for cost savings; substantially reduced freight and health insurance expenses.
  •Streamlined export document processing, resulting in timely foreign shipments.
  •Created flowcharts and procedural manuals for enhanced internal controls.
  •Trained staff and managers in sales departments in implementing more effective order entry procedures, which resulted in a 75 percent reduction in the sales order entry error rate.

• Senior Accountant

  Grant Thornton

  (Partnership; 1001-5000 employees; GT; Accounting industry)

  1986 — 1989 (3 years)

  Assessed client requirements to coordinate field work and in preparing financial statements, income tax returns, and reports for management. Supervised audits and review engagements for client companies in various industries, including health care, financial services, and professional services.
  
  •Consulted with client management on financial reporting and control issues, accounting systems, and management policies.
  •Gained diversified experience in budgetary controls, internal control procedures, financial statements consolidation, financial analysis, and tax planning.
  •Recommended and helped implement improvements in audit procedures to increase the quality and efficiency of client audit engagements.
  •Recruited top caliber college senior applicants to firm, involving school visits, interviews, and correspondence. Recommended candidates met or exceeded expectations as hires.

• Staff Accountant

  Howe, Riley & Howe, PLLC

  (Partnership; 11-50 employees; Accounting industry)

  1985 — 1986 (1 year)

  Performed compliance and substantive detail work for audit, review and compilation engagements.

Mike O'Brien’s Education

• Southern New Hampshire University

  B.S. , Accounting, minor in Management Information Systems , 1981 — 1988

Additional Information

Mike O'Brien’s Websites:

• Wellesley Information Services

Mike O'Brien’s Interests:

writing, reading, online media, marketing, public relations, customer collaboration, product management, business process improvement, advising on career change and career/professional development planning, new technology, personal finance, investing, Warren Buffett, Boston Red Sox baseball, travel

Mike O'Brien’s Groups:

•    SAP Professionals (Globally).
•    Southern New Hampshire University Alumni
•    Grant Thornton Alumni Network
•    Education@SAP

Mike O'Brien’s Honors:

Nominated, 2001 Editorial and Design Award, Parenting Publications of America, Personal Essay, “Finding Julia: A couple’s struggle with infertility.”

Mike O'Brien’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• career opportunities
• consulting offers
• new ventures
• job inquiries
• expertise requests
• reference requests
• getting back in touch