Jake Jarrell
- Global Finance Director
- MSX International
School Information
School: Michigan State University
College Major: Business
Years at College Works: 2011
Career Information
Working For: MSX International
Title: Global Finance Director
Industry: Automotive
Brief Description of Duties / Responsibilities:
I am a Global Finance Director at MSX International, a leading provider of technology-enabled business solutions for the automotive industry. I oversee the Actionable Insights and Parts, Accessories, and Service Performance divisions, collaborating with senior leaders and cross-functional teams to ensure we exceed client expectations and build successful relationships. Value Stream Operations • Portfolio: $160M+ Revenue across 15+ major clients in over 25 different countries • Provide support to the month end closing process • Provide guidance in the forecasting process • Drive the annual budgeting process • Analyze and present monthly results to Executive Leadership Team (CEO/CFO/COO) • Work daily with operations teams to find areas of potential improvement • Create financial business cases for new or expansion opportunities • Support/Review/Approve new business and renewal pricing • Review/Approve sales commissions • Support commercial and pricing negotiations • Manage and support the North America Controllership team • Global financial process and reporting improvement projects: – Created the new global P&L reporting structure – Project manager for redefining value and how we organize our business into the value streams – Created sales incentive template and process for price increase submissions – Assisted in implementing new pricing internal controls and procedures – Delivered financial training to global operations and sales teams
What Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?Obtaining my full-time position with Goodyear after graduation
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
College Works Painting was the first step in my transformation as a business professional and as a person.
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
I absolutely give credit to College Works Painting for everything I’ve accomplished. I have a full-time job for when I graduate and I have accelerated in everything I’ve done post-College Works Painting.
What do you want to tell your clients about what it meant to work with them and how it has helped you get to where you are today?
I believe his name was Dave Singer. He was a professor (engineering I think) at U-M. I would like to say thank you for being so encouraging and patient with me. Hopefully that paint has faded off of your siding! I hope your family is doing well!
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
I learned how to be persistent, driven, and sometimes unreasonable. I needed to be all three of those to navigate being a branch manager and all of my current/future endeavors.
How have the friendships and networks you built during CW affected you?
I’ve stayed good friends with my district manager and actually worked a couple various sales jobs with him.
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
College Works Painting isn’t for the weak of heart, but if you want a chance to grow and challenge yourself, I HIGHLY encourage this program.
What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?
Do the College Works Painting internship ASAP (as a freshman). It may seem difficult, but if you have an experience like that early on, you’ll have plenty of time to do a couple of industry specific internships. (And it will be easier to get them!)
What’s your favorite memory from CW?
The entire Chicago trip was a blast
Last words of wisdom?
Sometimes you have to push through what may seem impossible or improbable at the moment, to set yourself up for success in the future.